[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,

[[Page H4732]]

     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

[[Page H4733]]

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.

                          ____________________