[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2023

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 50 and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 50) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control 
     Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency to give priority consideration to selecting 
     Pensacola and Perdido Bays as an estuary of national 
     significance, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Rubio substitute 
amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to and the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1694) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to 
as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pensacola and Perdido Bays 
     Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS.

       Section 320(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
     Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``and 
     Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington'' and inserting 
     ``Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington; and Pensacola 
     and Perdido Bays, Florida''.

     SEC. 3. INELIGIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO FISCAL YEARS 2024 AND 
                   2025.

       With respect to the amendment made by section 2, the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not 
     use for the implementation of that amendment, including, with 
     respect to Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida, convening a 
     management conference, developing or carrying out a 
     comprehensive conservation and management plan, or providing 
     grants under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330)--
       (1) any amounts appropriated to carry out the national 
     estuary program under that section for fiscal year 2024; or
       (2) unless the total amount appropriated to carry out that 
     program for fiscal year 2025 is at least $850,000 more than 
     the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for 
     fiscal year 2023, any amounts appropriated to carry out that 
     program for fiscal year 2025.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  If not, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, 
Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 50), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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