Skip to primary navigation Skip to content
Learn More About the CHIPS and Science Act
report a concern
March 12, 2010

Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Brian Baird's Floor Speech on HR 3650, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 2010 under a rule

as prepared for delivery

H.R. 3650, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2010, is a good bipartisan bill. The bill represents a timely and necessary step to address the large and growing problems of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. The Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Hypoxia Research and Control Act was first signed into law in 1998 and last reauthorized in 2004. Since the last reauthorization there has been an increase in the number, frequency, and type of algal blooms and hypoxic events.

These events can terribly affect the marine and freshwater systems where they occur. Large fish kills, closed beaches, and poisoned seafood are all typical consequences of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. 

In addition, the threat of toxic freshwater HABs to our drinking water supplies is serious and growing.  It is our responsibility to protect our coast, oceans, and citizens from the threats that these blooms and hypoxia cause on our beaches, in the ocean’s food web, and in economic losses to communities and commercial fisheries.
 
We have taken some important steps and made great advances in our research findings due to the 1998 act and 2004 reauthorization. However it is now time to act upon the numerous reports and assessments that came out of these two laws.
 
The bill establishes a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tasked as the lead in overseeing the development of these plans and the execution of this National Program.
 
In addition, there needs to be more work done on the freshwater HABs. HABs affect not only our coastlines, but our inland waters as well. HAB events have occurred across the country from the Great Lakes to small creeks in West Virginia. I think my colleagues will agree that we expect to see a collaborative effort between NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in addressing the threat of HABs to freshwater.
 
We need to continue the valuable ongoing research while now implementing a strategic national plan and regional plans.

And we must use our research and advances in our understanding of these blooms and the hypoxic events they cause to better monitor, mitigate, and control these occurrences and even prevent them, if possible.
 
Legitimate questions have been raised about the authorized funding levels in this bill. Yet the increased investment this legislation calls for is necessary to address the harmful economic impact that HABs pose to our country. The conservative estimate from a 2006 study is that the economic impact from HABs is $82 million per year.
 
This bill is the product of bipartisan collaboration, and contains the input of both Democratic and Republican Members. I would especially like to recognize Dr. Vern Ehlers’ and Connie Mack’s contributions both to this bill, and the prior authorizations of this program.
 
The bill you have before you today is the product of two hearings, a subcommittee markup, a full committee markup, post-markup negotiations with the three House Committees with jurisdiction over the bill, as well as negotiations with the Senate Commerce Committee.
 
This bill represents a focused effort to address the specific issues of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.