[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4731-H4733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOUTH FLORIDA CLEAN COASTAL WATERS ACT OF 2021
Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 66) to require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal
Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and
controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 66
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``South Florida Clean Coastal
Waters Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SOUTH FLORIDA HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA
ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN.
(a) In General.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-383; 33
U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 605 through 609 as sections
606 through 610, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 604 the following:
``SEC. 605. SOUTH FLORIDA HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA.
``(a) South Florida.--In this section, the term `South
Florida' means--
``(1) all lands and waters within the administrative
boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District;
``(2) regional coastal waters, including Biscayne Bay, the
Caloosahatchee Estuary,
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Florida Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and St. Lucie River
Estuary; and
``(3) the Florida Reef Tract.
``(b) Integrated Assessment.--
``(1) Interim integrated assessment.--Not later than 540
days after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force, in accordance
with the authority under section 603, shall complete and
submit to Congress and the President an interim integrated
assessment.
``(2) Finalized integrated assessment.--Not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force shall finalize,
and submit to Congress and the President, the interim
integrated assessment required by paragraph (1).
``(3) Contents of integrated assessment.--The integrated
assessment required by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall examine
the causes, consequences, and potential approaches to reduce
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and the
status of, and gaps within, current harmful algal bloom and
hypoxia research, monitoring, management, prevention,
response, and control activities that directly affect the
region by--
``(A) Federal agencies;
``(B) State agencies;
``(C) regional research consortia;
``(D) academia;
``(E) private industry;
``(F) nongovernmental organizations; and
``(G) Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)).
``(c) Action Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years and 180 days
after the date of the enactment of the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force shall develop and
submit to Congress a plan, based on the integrated assessment
under subsection (b), for reducing, mitigating, and
controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South
Florida.
``(2) Contents.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) address the monitoring needs identified in the
integrated assessment under subsection (b);
``(B) develop a timeline and budgetary requirements for
deployment of future assets;
``(C) identify requirements for the development and
verification of South Florida harmful algal bloom and hypoxia
models, including--
``(i) all assumptions built into the models; and
``(ii) data quality methods used to ensure the best
available data are utilized; and
``(D) propose a plan to implement a remote monitoring
network and early warning system for alerting local
communities in the region to harmful algal bloom risks that
may impact human health.
``(3) Requirements.--In developing the action plan, the
Task Force shall--
``(A) consult with the State of Florida, and affected local
and tribal governments;
``(B) consult with representatives from regional academic,
agricultural, industry, and other stakeholder groups;
``(C) ensure that the plan complements and does not
duplicate activities conducted by other Federal or State
agencies, including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration
Task Force;
``(D) identify critical research for reducing, mitigating,
and controlling harmful algal bloom events and their effects;
``(E) evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based partnership
approaches;
``(F) ensure that the plan is technically sound and cost-
effective;
``(G) utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and
program activities;
``(H) publish a summary of the proposed plan in the Federal
Register at least 180 days prior to submitting the completed
plan to Congress; and
``(I) after submitting the completed plan to Congress,
provide biennial progress reports on the activities toward
achieving the objectives of the plan.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment and Correction.--The table of
contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of
1998 (Public Law 105-383) is amended by striking the items
relating to title VI and inserting the following new items:
``TITLE VI--HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA
``Sec. 601. Short title.
``Sec. 602. Findings.
``Sec. 603. Assessments.
``Sec. 603A. National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.
``Sec. 603B. Comprehensive research plan and action strategy.
``Sec. 604. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
``Sec. 605. South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
``Sec. 606. Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.
``Sec. 607. Protection of States' rights.
``Sec. 608. Effect on other Federal authority.
``Sec. 609. Definitions.
``Sec. 610. Authorization of appropriations.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Ms. Stevens) and the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.
General Leave
Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 66, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 66, the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021.
The South Florida region suffers from blooms of harmful algae in both
its fresh and marine bodies of water. The impacts of marine red tide
and freshwater blue-green algae in this region are felt in marine life,
across the local economy, and on public health.
When these algae blooms die and sink to the bottom of water bodies,
they can cause hypoxia or low oxygen events, which further impact
marine and freshwater ecosystems.
This bill authorizes a scientific assessment and action plan to
address the negative impacts of harmful algal blooms, HABs, and hypoxia
in South Florida.
We know that many Michiganders enjoy the splendors of South Florida
in the winter season. We have had this reported from colleagues from
Florida. We are supporting this bill because this work can serve as a
template for other communities suffering from HABs and hypoxia and help
address these disruptive events.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, April 29, 2022.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chair, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Johnson: In recognition of the goal of
expediting consideration of S.66, the ``South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021,'' the Committee on Natural
Resources agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as
to provisions that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on Natural Resources.
The Committee on Natural Resources takes this action with
the mutual understanding that, in doing so, we do not waive
any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or
similar legislation, and that the Committee will be
appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar
legislation moves forward so that we may address any
remaining-issues within our jurisdiction. Our Committee also
reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees to any
House-Senate conference involving this or similar
legislation.
I also ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this
matter be included in the Congressional Record. I appreciate
your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward
to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through
the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Raul M. Grijalva,
Chair, House Natural Resources Committee.
____
Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, April 29, 2022.
Chairman Raul M. Grijalva,
Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Grijalva, I am writing to you concerning S.
66, the ``South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021,''
which was passed by the Senate on March 8, 2022.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
bill. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural
Resources. I acknowledge that your committee will waive
further consideration of S. 66 and that this action is not a
waiver of future jurisdictional claims by the Committee on
Natural Resources over this subject matter.
I will make sure to include our exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record and will support the appointment of the
Committee on Natural Resource conferees during any House-
Senate conference. Thank you for your cooperation on this
legislation.
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman.
Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, we are now considering a Senate
bill, S. 66, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021. I
support this bill, and I would like to note that I especially
appreciate that we are going through the normal legislative process
here.
Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 335, a bill introduced by
Representative Mast, to address harmful algal blooms, HABs, in South
Florida. This Congress, Representative Mast reintroduced the
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same language as H.R. 565 with Science, Space, and Technology Committee
cosponsors Representatives Posey, Waltz, and Gimenez.
H.R. 335, H.R. 565, and the bill we are considering now, S. 66, are
all one and the same. It is simple language that is critically
important to my colleagues in Florida and their communities, which are
dependent on clean, healthy waters.
The legislation requires the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal
Blooms and Hypoxia to produce an assessment of the causes,
consequences, and potential mitigation options to reduce HABs and
hypoxia in South Florida.
The legislation also calls for the task force to assess our current
work and identify gaps in research, monitoring, and management efforts.
The task force will also develop an action plan for reducing,
mitigating, and controlling HABs and hypoxia.
This will build on the great work to reduce those in other parts of
the country; namely, the Great Lakes region and the northern Gulf of
Mexico.
It is solid legislation, and I look forward to seeing its results in
Florida.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, for those watching at home, a friendly
reminder that S. 66 passed the House last session of Congress, the
116th Congress. We are now in the 117th Congress. We will pass this
bill again. That is our intention, to send it over to the Senate yet
again to get it passed and signed into law.
As a friendly reminder, the House Science, Space, and Technology
Committee oversees and has jurisdiction over the Harmful Algal Bloom
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, which is why we are passing it
through not only our committee but, obviously, here on the House floor.
Madam Speaker, yet again, I join my colleagues in urging the passage
of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, the South Florida Clean Coastal
Waters Act will help Floridians enjoy clean, safe, and healthy waters.
That helps families and our economy.
We have already seen how efforts like this can succeed in reducing
harmful algal blooms in other parts of the country. This legislation
will ensure southern Florida enjoys the same success.
This is a great example of solid policymaking through regular order,
and I appreciate all the work that went into it. I thank Senators Rubio
and Scott for their work on the bill across the Hill; Representative
Mast for his willingness to collaborate with our Senate colleagues; and
Representatives Posey, Waltz, and Gimenez for leading this effort for
the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I note that, with this bill, the task
force to develop an action plan based on an integrated assessment that
details methods for reducing, mitigating, and controlling HABs and
hypoxia in South Florida is obviously essential.
This is an interagency effort involving the State, local and Tribal
governments, as well as non-Federal stakeholder groups. I urge the
passage of S. 66.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 66, the
South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021.
South Florida suffers from blooms of harmful algae in both its marine
and freshwater systems that have led to worsening ecologic and economic
impacts. This region is impacted by toxic red tide and massive
freshwater blue-green algae blooms which can choke waterways and
coastlines. Red tide and other types of HABs also pose health risks to
humans from direct exposure and from eating infected seafood. When
these algae die and sink to the bottom of water bodies and decay, it
creates low oxygen conditions known as hypoxia.
This bill is largely similar to what we passed out of the House last
Congress on a bipartisan basis. It would authorize a scientific
assessment and action plan to help address the problem of HABs and
hypoxia in South Florida. This assessment and action plan will help
identify research gaps, and detail methods for mitigating and
controlling HABs and hypoxia in South Florida.
This bill takes an important step in helping address the HABs and
hypoxia issue in South Florida, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Garcia of Texas). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 66.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________