South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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 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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source