[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              CORAL REEFS

  (Mr. KLEIN of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Last week, the House passed critical 
legislation to protect one of Florida's most treasured national 
wonders. The Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and 
Enhancement, which I strongly supported, will be a key tool in 
protecting this endangered ecosystem.
  The bill will support grants for coral reef conservation and 
scientific research at our outstanding institutions like the National 
Coral Reef Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  Coral reefs are integral to our safety and economy in south Florida. 
They act as a first line of defense against hurricanes and storm surges 
and they drive our tourist economy by bringing divers, snorkelers, and 
fishermen from all over the world to our community. In Broward County 
alone, coral reefs contribute over $2 billion annually to our local 
economy.
  Madam Speaker, this is not a Democrat or a Republican issue. 
Protecting our national treasures is something we can all agree on. I'm 
proud that my colleagues came together to pass this important piece of 
legislation.

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