Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 25, 2007)

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Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Mack-Castor-Buchanan amendment to provide critical funding for red tide research.

Red tide threatens our environment, our health and our economy. But in recent years, the harmful effects of red tide have killed sea life, driven people from our beaches to our emergency rooms, and cost the economy millions of dollars in lost revenues.

This is a problem not just in Florida but in other coastal States.

Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon. Scientists differ on whether it is occurring more frequently and for longer periods of time. There is also disagreement on whether we should try to kill, contain, or minimize the impact of red tide.

That's why additional research dollars are needed. And that's why I support the Mack-Castor-Buchanan amendment.

My district is home to Mote Marine Laboratory, one of the Nation's premier private marine research laboratories. Mote conducts on-going red tide research and research related to new methods for early detection of red tide, the role of coastal pollution and studies of ways to mitigate and control blooms.

This amendment would fund additional research at places like Mote Marine to better understand the issue, and these results of these studies can be used to develop better methods to predict and detect red tide, and if a consensus can be developed, control and mitigate red tide.

I want to thank my colleagues Connie Mack and Kathy Castor for working with me on this important issue.

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