Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and the ranking member, who have shown a true willingness to address the impact climate change has had on our oceans; and to Congresswoman Bonamici and Congressman Young for their leadership on ocean and climate issues.

I rise today in support of the gentlewoman's bill, H.R. 1447, the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act, a bipartisan bill that would expand scientific research and monitoring to improve our understanding of ocean acidification.

Our oceans absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide each year. That process is critical for regulating the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, but this comes at a high cost for oceans and dependent marine life.

Coastal communities produce about 40 percent of our Nation's total jobs and 45 percent of our gross domestic product. Given those significant numbers, the financial implications will ripple across all American communities if this problem continues to intensify.

We are already experiencing these impacts in my home State of Maine. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99 percent of the world's oceans, and it is particularly susceptible to the effects of ocean acidification.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, my State is renowned for its lobster and shellfish, so you can imagine we take this threat seriously. Bill Mook, an oyster farmer on Maine's Damariscotta River, has explained to me how he has adjusted his operations to mitigate for ocean acidification. Bill and so many growers are worried about how future oyster production will be affected when the problem outpaces the adaptations that can be made.

I support the COAST Research Act because it would strengthen investments in ocean acidification research and monitoring, increase our understanding of the socioeconomic effects of ocean acidification, and more.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1447. It is critical that we act to protect our oceans and our coastal communities so they are here for future generations.

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