[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 50

       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 ``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 SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. 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. 50.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  S. 50 would add the Pensacola and Perdido Bays, located in 
northeastern Florida, to the list of estuaries given priority 
consideration under the EPA's National Estuary Program.
  The National Estuary Program was created by Congress in 1987. It aims 
to protect and restore estuaries of national significance across the 
United States.
  S. 50 was introduced by our Senate colleagues, Senators Rubio and 
Scott, earlier this Congress.
  The Senate passed S. 50 with a voice vote in March, and I encourage 
support for this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of S. 50, legislation sponsored by Senator Rubio of 
Florida. This bill adds Pensacola and Perdido Bays in Florida as 
priority considerations for the Administrator of the EPA to designate 
as part of the National Estuary Program.
  In the Pacific Northwest, we know that healthy estuaries like the 
Puget Sound support healthy fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as 
important economic activities such as trade, fishing, tourism, and 
outdoor recreation.
  That is why I worked over multiple Congresses to authorize the 
National Estuary Program and was pleased to see that the bipartisan 
infrastructure law not only authorize that program but provided $132 
million in investments for improving habitat and restoring estuaries.
  The legislation we consider today is the result of work of local 
organizations near these two critical Florida estuaries to add them to 
the National Estuary Program. It is further proof of the importance of 
this program. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, protecting healthy estuaries is good for the 
economic activities like outdoor recreation, as well as good for fish, 
birds, and other wildlife. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  In closing, S. 50 will help protect important habitat and water 
resources in Florida. This noncontroversial legislation has the support 
of the Florida congressional delegation, the State of Florida, the 
community, and local stakeholders.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 50.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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