[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 85 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2378-H2385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COASTAL AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION STRESSORS AND THREATS RESEARCH ACT OF
2021
Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1447) to amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory
Board, to expand and improve the research on Ocean Acidification and
Coastal Acidification, to establish and maintain a data archive system
for Ocean Acidification data and Coastal Acidification data, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1447
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal and Ocean
Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2021'' or
the ``COAST Research Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
(a) In General.--Section 12402(a) of the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C.
3701(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``development and coordination'' and inserting ``coordination
and implementation'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``acidification on
marine organisms'' and inserting ``acidification and coastal
acidification on marine organisms''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``establish'' and all
that follows through the semicolon and inserting ``maintain
and advise an interagency research, monitoring, and public
outreach program on ocean acidification and coastal
acidification;'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``establishment'' and
inserting ``maintenance'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''; and
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification that take into account other environmental and
anthropogenic stressors'' after ``ocean acidification''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 12402 of
the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act
of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3701(a)) is amended by striking ``(a)
Purposes.--''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of the Earth's oceans''
and all that follows before the period at the end and
inserting ``and changes in the water chemistry of the Earth's
oceans, coastal estuaries, and waterways caused by carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and the breakdown of organic
matter'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Joint Subcommittee on
Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and
Technology Council'' and inserting ``National Science and
Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology'';
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively;
(4) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(1) Coastal acidification.--The term `coastal
acidification' means the combined decrease in pH and changes
in the water chemistry of coastal oceans, estuaries, and
other bodies of water from chemical inputs (including carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere), freshwater inputs, and excess
nutrient run-off from land and coastal atmospheric pollution
that result in processes that release carbon dioxide, acidic
nitrogen, and sulfur compounds as byproducts which end up in
coastal waters.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) State.--The term `State' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, and any other territory or possession of the United
States.''.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
Section 12404 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``subcommittee'' and
inserting ``working group'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Joint Subcommittee on
Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and
Technology Council shall coordinate Federal activities on
ocean acidification and establish'' and insert ``Subcommittee
shall establish and maintain'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Wildlife Service,'' and
inserting ``Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of State, the
Department of Energy, the Department of the Navy, the
National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
Smithsonian Institution,''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), in the heading, by striking
``Chairman'' and inserting ``Chair'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including the
efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to facilitate such implementation'' after ``of
the plan'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by striking ``developed'' and inserting ``and coastal
acidification developed''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``and
coastal acidification; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) ensure that each of the Federal agencies represented
on the interagency working group--
``(A) participates in the Ocean Acidification Information
Exchange established under paragraph (5); and
``(B) delivers data and information to support the data
archive system established under section 12406(d).'';
(4) in subsection (c), in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``, and to the Office of Management and
Budget,'' after ``House of Representatives''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the interagency
research'' and inserting ``interagency strategic research'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(6) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Chair of the Subcommittee shall
establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board.
``(2) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall--
``(A) not later than 180 days before the Subcommittee
submits the most recent report under subsection (d)(2)--
``(i) review such report;
``(ii) submit an analysis of such report to the
Subcommittee for consideration in the final report submitted
under subsection (d)(2); and
``(iii) concurrently with the Subcommittee's final
submission of the report under subsection (d)(2), the
Advisory Board shall submit a copy of the analysis provided
to the Subcommittee to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives;
``(B) not later than 180 days before the Subcommittee
submits the most recent strategic research plan under
subsection (d)(3) to Congress--
``(i) review such plan;
``(ii) submit an analysis of such plan and the
implementation thereof to the Subcommittee for consideration
in the final strategic research plan submitted under
subsection (d)(3); and
``(iii) concurrently with the Subcommittee's final
submission of the strategic research plan under subsection
(d)(3), the Advisory Board shall submit a copy of the
analysis provided to the Subcommittee to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives;
[[Page H2379]]
``(C) provide ongoing advice to the Subcommittee and the
interagency working group on matters related to Federal
activities on ocean acidification and coastal acidification;
``(D) advise the Subcommittee and the interagency working
group on--
``(i) efforts to coordinate research and monitoring
activities related to ocean acidification and coastal
acidification; and
``(ii) the best practices for the standards developed for
data archiving under section 12406(e);
``(E) publish in the Federal Register a charter;
``(F) provide the Library of Congress with--
``(i) the charter described in subparagraph (E);
``(ii) any schedules and minutes for meetings of the
Advisory Board;
``(iii) any documents that are approved by the Advisory
Board; and
``(iv) any reports and analysis prepared by the Advisory
Board; and
``(G) establish a publicly accessible web page on the
website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, that contains the information described in
clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (F).
``(3) Membership.--The Advisory Board shall consist of 24
members as follows:
``(A) Two representatives of the shellfish and crab
industry.
``(B) One representative of the finfish industry.
``(C) One representative of seafood processors.
``(D) Three representatives from academia, including both
natural and social sciences.
``(E) One representative of recreational fishing.
``(F) One representative of a relevant nongovernmental
organization.
``(G) Six representatives from relevant State, local, and
Tribal governments.
``(H) One representative from the Alaska Ocean
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(I) One representative from the California Current
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(J) One representative from the Northeast Coastal
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(K) One representative from the Southeast Coastal
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(L) One representative from the Gulf of Mexico Coastal
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(M) One representative from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal
Acidification Network or a subsequent entity that represents
the same geographical region and has a similar purpose.
``(N) One representative from the Pacific Islands Ocean
Observing System or a subsequent entity that represents the
island territories and possessions of the United States in
the Pacific Ocean, and the State of Hawaii and has a similar
purpose.
``(O) One representative from the Caribbean Regional
Association for Coastal Ocean Observing or a subsequent
entity that represents Puerto Rico and the United States
Virgin Islands and has a similar purpose.
``(P) One representative from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall serve as an ex-officio
member of the Advisory Board without a vote.
``(4) Appointment of members.--The Chair of the
Subcommittee shall--
``(A) appoint members to the Advisory Board (taking into
account the geographical interests of each individual to be
appointed as a member of the Advisory Board to ensure that an
appropriate balance of geographical interests are represented
by the members of the Advisory Board) who--
``(i) represent the interest group for which each seat is
designated;
``(ii) demonstrate expertise on ocean acidification or
coastal acidification and its scientific, economic, industry,
cultural, and community impacts; and
``(iii) have a record of distinguished service with respect
to ocean acidification or coastal acidification, and such
impacts;
``(B) give consideration to nominations and recommendations
from the members of the interagency working group and the
public for such appointments; and
``(C) ensure that an appropriate balance of scientific,
industry, and geographical interests are represented by the
members of the Advisory Board.
``(5) Term of membership.--Each member of the Advisory
Board--
``(A) shall be appointed for a 5-year term; and
``(B) may be appointed to more than one term.
``(6) Chair.--The Chair of the Subcommittee shall appoint
one member of the Advisory Board to serve as the Chair of the
Advisory Board.
``(7) Meetings.--Not less than once each calendar year, the
Advisory Board shall meet at such times and places as may be
designated by the Chair of the Advisory Board, in
consultation with the Chair of the Subcommittee and the Chair
of the interagency working group.
``(8) Briefing.--The Chair of the Advisory Board shall
brief the Subcommittee and the interagency working group on
the progress of the Advisory Board as necessary or at the
request of the Subcommittee.
``(9) Federal advisory committee act.--Section 14 of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the
Advisory Board.''.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.
Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``acidification'' each place it appears and
inserting ``acidification and coastal acidification'';
(B) in the first sentence--
(i) by inserting ``, and not later than every 5 years
thereafter'' after ``the date of enactment of this Act'';
(ii) by inserting ``address the socioeconomic impacts of
ocean acidification and coastal acidification and to'' after
``mitigation strategies to''; and
(iii) by striking ``marine ecosystems'' each place it
appears and inserting ``ecosystems''; and
(C) in the second sentence, by inserting ``and
recommendations made by the Advisory Board in the review of
the plan required under section 12404(c)(2)(B)(i)'' after
``subsection (d)'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and social sciences''
after ``among the ocean sciences'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``impacts'' and
inserting ``impacts, including trends of changes in ocean
chemistry,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``improve the ability to assess the'' and
inserting ``assess the short-term and long-term''; and
(II) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a
semicolon;
(iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) provide information for the--
``(i) development of adaptation and mitigation strategies
to address the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification
and coastal acidification;
``(ii) conservation of marine organisms and ecosystems;
``(iii) assessment of the effectiveness of such adaptation
and mitigation strategies; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) improve research on--
``(i) ocean acidification and coastal acidification;
``(ii) the interactions between and effects of multiple
combined stressors including changes in water chemistry,
changes in sediment delivery, hypoxia, and harmful algal
blooms, on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and
``(iii) the effect of environmental stressors on marine
resources and ecosystems;'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``database
development'' and inserting ``data management'';
(ii) in subparagraph (H) by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(J) assessment of adaptation and mitigation strategies;
and
``(K) education and outreach activities;'';
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``set forth'' and
inserting ``ensure an appropriate balance of contribution in
establishing'';
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``reports'' and inserting
``the best available peer-reviewed scientific reports'';
(F) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by inserting ``and coastal acidification'' after
``ocean acidification''; and
(ii) by striking ``of the United States'' and inserting
``within the United States'';
(G) in paragraph (7), by striking ``outline budget
requirements'' and inserting ``estimate costs associated for
full implementation of each element of the plan by fiscal
year'';
(H) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by inserting ``and coastal acidification'' after
``ocean acidification'' each place it appears;
(ii) by striking ``its'' and inserting ``their''; and
(iii) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a
semicolon;
(I) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(J) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) describe monitoring needs necessary to support
potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders,
fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal
resource managers, and scientific experts on decision-making
and adaptation related to ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``surface'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification'' each place it
appears;
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``input, and'' and inserting ``inputs,'';
(ii) by inserting ``, marine food webs,'' after ``marine
ecosystems''; and
(iii) by inserting ``, and modeling that supports fisheries
management'' after ``marine organisms'';
[[Page H2380]]
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(8) Research to understand related and cumulative
stressors and other biogeochemical processes occurring in
conjunction with ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.''; and
(4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Advisory Board Evaluation.--Not later than 180 days
before a plan is submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee
shall provide the Advisory Board established under section
12404(c) a copy of the plan for purposes of review under
paragraph (2)(B)(i) of such section.
``(f) Publication and Public Comment.--Not later than 90
days before the strategic research plan, or any revision
thereof, is submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee shall
publish the plan in the Federal Register and provide an
opportunity for submission of public comments for a period of
not less than 60 days.''.
SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
``coordination,'' after ``research, monitoring,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``including the Integrated Ocean Observing
System and the ocean observing assets of other Federal,
State, and Tribal agencies,'' after ``ocean observing
assets,''; and
(II) by inserting ``and agency and department missions,
prioritizing the location of monitoring instruments, assets,
and projects to maximize the efficiency of resources and to
optimize understanding of socioeconomic impacts and ecosystem
health'' after ``research program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) by striking ``adaptation'' and inserting ``adaptation
and mitigation''; and
(II) by inserting ``and supporting socioeconomically
vulnerable States, local governments, Tribes, communities,
and industries through technical assistance and mitigation
strategies'' after ``marine ecosystems'';
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``its impacts'' and
inserting ``their respective impacts'';
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``monitoring and
impacts research'' and inserting ``research, monitoring, and
adaptation and mitigation strategies''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(G) research to improve understanding of the effect of--
``(i) other environmental stressors on ocean acidification
and coastal acidification;
``(ii) multiple environmental stressors on living marine
resources and coastal ecosystems; and
``(iii) adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the
socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``critical research
projects that explore'' and inserting ``critical research,
education, and outreach projects that explore and
communicate''; and
(D) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking
``acidification'' each place it appears and inserting
``acidification and coastal acidification''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Relationship to Interagency Working Group.--The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve
as the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating the
Federal response to ocean acidification and coastal
acidification, by--
``(1) leading the interagency working group in implementing
the strategic research plan under section 12405;
``(2) coordinating monitoring and research efforts among
Federal agencies in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal
government and international partners;
``(3) maintaining an Ocean Acidification Information
Exchange described under section 12404(b)(5) to allow for
information to be electronically accessible, including
information--
``(A) on ocean acidification developed through or used by
the ocean acidification program described under section
12406(a); or
``(B) that would be useful to State governments, local
governments, Tribal governments, resource managers,
policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in
mitigating or adapting to the impacts of ocean acidification
and coastal acidification; and
``(4) establishing and maintaining the data archive system
under subsection (d).
``(d) Data Archive System.--
``(1) Management.--The Secretary, in coordination with
members of the interagency working group, shall provide for
the long-term stewardship of, and access to, data relating to
ocean acidification and coastal acidification by establishing
and maintaining a data archive system that the National
Center for Environmental Information uses to process, store,
archive, provide access to, and incorporate to the extent
possible, such data collected--
``(A) through relevant federally-funded research; and
``(B) by a Federal agency, State agency, local agency,
Tribe, academic scientist, citizen scientist, or industry
organization.
``(2) Existing global or national data assets.--In
establishing and maintaining the data archive system under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that existing
global or national data assets (including the data assets
maintained by the National Centers for Environmental
Information, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and other
existing data systems within Federal agencies) are
incorporated to the greatest extent possible.
``(e) Standards, Protocols, and Procedures.--With respect
to the data described in subsection (d), the Secretary, in
coordination with members of the interagency working group,
shall establish and revise as necessary the standards,
protocols, or procedures for--
``(1) processing, storing, archiving, and providing access
to such data;
``(2) the interoperability and intercalibration of such
data;
``(3) the collection of any metadata underlying such data;
and
``(4) sharing such data with State, local, and Tribal
government programs, potentially affected industry members,
coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and
commissions, non-Federal resource managers, and academia.
``(f) Dissemination of Ocean Acidification Data and Coastal
Acidification Data.--The Secretary, in coordination with
members of the interagency working group, shall disseminate
the data described under subsection (d) to the greatest
extent practicable by sharing such data on full and open
access exchanges.
``(g) Requirement.--Recipients of grants from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under this subtitle
that collect data described under subsection (d) shall--
``(1) collect such data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to subsection
(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the data archive system under
subsection (d) after publication, in accordance with any
rules promulgated by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 7. NSF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12407 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706) is amended--
(1) by striking ``ocean acidification'' each place it
appears and inserting ``ocean acidification and coastal
acidification'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``its impacts'' and inserting ``their respective impacts'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and its impacts'' and
inserting ``and their respective impacts'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) adaptation and mitigation strategies to address
socioeconomic effects of ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Requirement.--Recipients of grants from the National
Science Foundation under this subtitle that collect data
described under section 12406(d) shall--
``(1) collect data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section
12406(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the Director and the Secretary
after publication, in accordance with any rules promulgated
by the Director or the Secretary.''.
SEC. 8. NASA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12408 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3707) is amended--
(1) by striking ``ocean acidification'' each place it
appears and inserting ``ocean acidification and coastal
acidification'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``its impacts'' and
inserting ``their respective impacts''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Requirement.--Researchers from the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration under this subtitle that
collect data described under section 12406(d) shall--
``(1) collect such data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section
12406(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the Administrator and the
Secretary, in accordance with any rules promulgated by the
Administrator or the Secretary.''.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 12409 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research
and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3708) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``subtitle--'' and all
that follows through paragraph (4) and inserting the
following: ``subtitle--
``(1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(2) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(4) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
``(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``subtitle--'' and all
that follows through paragraph (4) and inserting the
following: ``subtitle $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
[[Page H2381]]
Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Oregon.
General Leave
Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1447, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Oregon?
There was no objection.
Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of the Coastal and Ocean Acidification
Stressors and Threats, or COAST, Research Act, my bipartisan bill to
help coastal communities adapt to the climate crisis by expanding
scientific research, monitoring, and adaptation of ocean and coastal
acidification.
I want to thank all of the staff on both sides of the aisle, from the
committee and my personal staff, especially Maxine Sugarman, for all
their work on this bill.
Every person on this planet benefits from a healthy ocean. The ocean
covers more than 70 percent of the planet's surface. It supplies much
of the oxygen that we breathe and regulates our climate. It is linked
to the water we drink, and it is home to more than half of all life on
the planet. The power of its waves generates clean energy. The ocean
drives our economy, feeds, employs, and transports us. But despite our
intrinsic connection, for too long the ocean has taken the heat for us.
According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, atmospheric
carbon dioxide concentrations are now higher than at any time in the
last 3 million years. Approximately one-third of the carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere dissolves into our ocean and estuaries, causing them to
become more acidic.
Ocean and coastal acidification make it difficult for shellfish,
coral, and other marine organisms to build their shells and skeletal
structures. Some finfish, including endangered salmon in the Pacific
Northwest, lose their sense of smell necessary for identifying prey,
reproducing, and navigating their habitats. Our understanding of the
long-term consequences of ocean acidification is still limited, but we
do know that the changes in ocean chemistry are already affecting the
fishers and shellfish farmers who depend on the ocean's resources to
support themselves and their families and the Tribes that have treaty
rights and deep cultural and historical connections to diminishing
species.
The most effective strategy for mitigating ocean acidification is
reducing anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide pollution worldwide. I
have joined with colleagues on the Select Committee on the Climate
Crisis in releasing a bold, comprehensive, and science-based Climate
Action Plan to reach net-zero emissions no later than mid-century and
net-negative thereafter. But there are also actions that we can take
immediately to improve conditions, lessen exposure to ocean
acidification, and manage local pollution and conditions that can
exacerbate acidification.
This bill, which I introduced with my fellow co-chair of the House
Oceans Caucus, Representative Young from Alaska, and with
Representatives Pingree and Posey, would improve scientific research on
ocean and coastal acidification in the context of other environmental
stressors and direct Federal agencies to assess adaptation and
mitigation strategies. Funding has lagged behind the needs of the
scientific community for years, and this bill would provide a modest,
but important, increase for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the National Science Foundation to scale up research
efforts. Importantly, the bill also expands the definition of ocean
acidification to include estuaries and recognize mechanisms that cause
changes in coastal chemistry.
NOAA is already leading interdisciplinary efforts to expand our
understanding of changing ocean conditions in its role as chair of the
Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification. In fact, this year
marks the 10th anniversary of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, and
I hope my colleagues will join me in applauding their work to truly
advance regionally coordinated scientific research.
A September 2015 Government Accountability Office report suggested
that an independent national ocean acidification program could advance
our understanding of changing ocean conditions. The COAST Research Act
designates NOAA as the lead Federal agency responsible for implementing
the Federal response to ocean and coastal acidification, further
empowering the Ocean Acidification Program to scale up its efforts with
its first reauthorization in more than a decade.
Additionally, the COAST Research Act increases our understanding of
the socioeconomic effects of ocean and coastal acidification and,
importantly, it engages stakeholders. The bill creates an advisory
board of representatives of the shellfish and crab industry, finfish
industry, seafood processors, recreational fishing, academia,
nongovernmental organizations, State, local, and Tribal governments,
and regional coastal acidification networks. The regionally balanced
board will advise NOAA and the Interagency Working Group on coastal and
ocean acidification research and monitoring activities. This
collaborative process will help make sure that vulnerable and affected
communities, industries, and coastal and ocean managers have the tools
they need to adapt and mitigate the effects of coastal and ocean
acidification.
For example, at Oregon State University, Dr. Burke Hales developed
the ``Burke-o-Lator,'' a device the size of a piece of carry-on
luggage, that can analyze when shellfish growers across the Pacific
Northwest should grow larvae based on the ocean acidity and the effects
on calcium carbonates needed for shell formation. Other research at
Oregon State has demonstrated how growing particular seagrasses and
kelps can help counteract ocean acidification. These examples help
demonstrate what is possible when we invest in science and research to
help coastal communities adapt to the climate crisis.
The COAST Research Act directs NOAA to maintain a system to process,
store, archive, and provide access to data on ocean and coastal
acidification from federally funded research, including existing global
or national datasets, and research from State and local agencies,
Tribes, academic scientists, citizen scientists, and industry
organizations. These efforts will help provide for the long-term
stewardship and standardization of ocean acidification data and better
help communities adapt and mitigate the worst effects.
Madam Speaker, the health of our ocean reflects the health of our
planet. Today, we have the opportunity to help it become more resilient
by passing the bipartisan COAST Research Act.
I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas and my co-
sponsors for their leadership. I urge my colleagues to support the
bill.
I reference letters from Earthjustice, Ocean Conservancy, Wild Salmon
Center, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Integrated Ocean
Observing System Association, Surfrider Foundation, Oregon Coordinating
Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia, Consortium for Ocean
Leadership, Oregon State University, Northwest Association of Networked
Ocean Observing Systems, and Pacific States Marine Fisheries
Commission, in support of the COAST Research Act.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record several of the above-
referenced letters.
Oregon State University,
Corvallis, Oregon, 10 February 2021.
Re The Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats
(COAST) Research Act.
Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,
House of Representatives.
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Bonamici: We write to offer Oregon
State University's support for The Coastal and Ocean
Acidification Stressors and Threats (COAST) Research Act.
As marine habitats face new and daunting pressures
threatening their sustainability, the COAST Research Act
identifies the growing need for strategic and robust
investments in ocean acidification (OA) research, monitoring
and stakeholder collaboration.
Oregon State University is committed to interdisciplinary
approaches to address the national and global challenges
facing our
[[Page H2382]]
oceans and coast communities. OSU has a deep history of
global leadership in oceanography and engages in nationally
ranked oceanographic monitoring programs and world-leading OA
research. Further, the university recognizes that Oregon's
estuaries and coastal regions are home to some of the world's
most productive ecosystems and economically vital shellfish
farms.
The university is encouraged that the COAST Research Act
expands the definition of OA to include coastal and estuarine
systems, and identifies OA as being affected by a combination
of factors, including hypoxia. The university believes that
by expanding federal definitions of OA and by increasing
funding opportunities, researchers and managers will be able
to best utilize resources to find solutions to address OA.
The university also is encouraged that this legislation
recognizes the need for federal engagement to continue
important investments to understand and address ocean and
coastal acidification. Doing so will enhance the integration
of OA research, monitoring and adaptation strategies across
principal federal research agencies, including the National
Science Foundation, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Oregon State University understands that effective and
collaborative partnerships and communication are essential
for our state and nation to find adaptive and mitigation
solutions to address OA. For example, the proposal to
establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board will be
essential for facilitating the important work still to be
done.
The world's ocean belongs to everyone, and ocean health is
critical to our future. In the coming decades, it will be
essential for the nation and its universities to work
collaboratively to improve and sustain the health of our
oceans. Doing so, we will assure human wellness,
environmental health and economic prosperity for future
generations.
In closing, Oregon State University believes that the COAST
Research Act proposes important new strategic tools to expand
understanding and address the problems facing our oceans and
coastal communities.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser, Ph.D.,
Provost and Executive Vice President.
Irem Tumer, Ph.D., ASME Fellow,
Vice President for Research.
____
Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission,
Portland, OR, February 9, 2021.
Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Bonamici: On behalf of the Pacific
States Marine Fisheries Commission, I am writing in support
of the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats
(COAST) Research Act.
The COAST Act would dedicate greater resources and focus on
the issue of ocean acidification. The legislation increases
Federal research, planning, interagency coordination, data
collection, stakeholder input, and socioeconomic study into
this growing and vexing problem impacting our marine
fisheries and wildlife. The Commission appreciates the
thoughtful and bipartisan approach you and Representatives
Young, Pingree and Posey have taken in developing the bill.
The Commission's membership includes the State fisheries
and wildlife agencies of five West Coast states, including
Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Our coastal
members have seen the firsthand impact of ocean acidification
with early research showing a detrimental effect on shell
formation in our crab and shellfish species. Over time, these
chemical changes to shell composition could be devastating to
our valuable Dungeness crab fishery and inshore shellfish
aquaculture operators. There is much more that needs to be
learned about the effect of ocean acidification on these and
other marine species so that appropriate public policy
measures and solutions can be pursued at both the Federal and
state levels.
Ocean acidification is one side effect of other changes in
ocean temperatures and conditions that have been harmful
along the West Coast. Regional temperature oscillation during
the El Nino/La Nina cycles has increased dramatically in
recent years. Average sea surface temperatures have increased
by as much as 7 degrees in some years resulting to many
unfortunate effects to fisheries and marine mammals,
including harmful algal blooms leading to Dungeness crab
season closures; low salmon returns due to reduced ocean
survivability of juvenile fish; shifts in whale migration
patterns causing greater entanglement in fishing gear and
shipping vessel strikes; and sea lion stranding and die-offs
from consumption of crab and shellfish poisoned by domoic
acid.
Thank you for your leadership in reintroducing the COAST
Act. The Commission stands ready to assist and serve as a
resource for you and your staff as the bill moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Randy Fisher,
Executive Director.
____
PCSGA, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association,
March 18, 2021.
Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Bonamici: On behalf of the members of
Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA), I am
submitting this letter of support for the Coastal and Ocean
Acidification Stressors and Threats (COAST) Research Act of
2019. Shellfish growers were the first community to call
attention to the problems associated with ocean acidification
when, in 2007, they experienced severe oyster larvae
mortality in two out of three major west coast shellfish
hatcheries. Since then, PCSGA has engaged in several local,
state, and federal efforts and initiatives to ensure a future
for this historic industry.
Shellfish farming on the west coast began in the late
1800's, fueled the California Gold Rush and was the reason
for the development of many coastal towns. Today, PCSGA,
proudly represents 120 shellfish farms in Alaska, Washington,
Oregon, California and Hawaii which farm mussels, clams,
oysters and geoduck. Our members not only produce
sustainable, healthy, food, but also provide significant
ecosystem services such aquatic habitat and water filtration,
and support thousands of family-wage jobs within rural
coastal communities.
For nearly a decade, the shellfish industry has benefited
from NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program and the Integrated
Ocean Observing System (IOOS), both of which relate to the
Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM)
Act of 2009. These programs and the directives within FOARAM
have influenced the way shellfish growers operate their farms
among the uncertainty of changing ocean conditions.
Historically, growers only consulting their tide charts. Now,
growers rely upon a variety of real-time data and tools to
understand the ocean changes and adapt methods and practices
which allow them to continue farming in a productive and
profitable manner. There much work ahead of us and much yet
to learn. COAST Research Act provides an essential pathway
forward.
We are excited by the intent of COAST Research Act, the
opportunities it provides and that it's been included as part
of the Climate Action Plan. We see how COAST will further
investments in ocean and coastal acidification research and
monitoring, assist shellfish community with much needed
adaptation strategies and coordinate work with stakeholders.
Simply put, COAST is a logical and necessary follow-up to
FOARAM and allows us to continue asking questions and seek
innovative approaches to mitigate the impacts related to
ocean acidification.
Thank you very much for your leadership on this and for
your commitment to ensuring the long-term health of our
coastal and marine areas upon which shellfish growers depend.
Respectfully,
Margaret A. Pilaro,
Executive Director.
____
The Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification
and Hypoxia,
February 12th, 2021.
Re Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats
(COAST) Research Act.
Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,
Washington, DC.
As the Co-Chairs of the State legislatively mandated,
Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and
Hypoxia (or ``Oregon OAH Council''), we appreciate the
opportunity to provide you with a letter of strong support
for the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats
(COAST) Research Act. Addressing intensifying ocean
acidification (OA) conditions here in Oregon, as well as
across the United States, is critical to our Nation's
understanding of larger impacts from CO2
emissions.
Oregon is among the first places in the world to observe
direct impacts of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH), due
to our unique geographic and oceanographic context, putting
our fragile marine ecosystem at risk. Our coastal economies
rely on our vibrant marine ecosystem. Our nearshore waters
are home to sport and commercial fisheries, all of the
State's mariculture operations, and contain critical nursery
grounds for economically important species including
rockfish, oysters, salmon, pink shrimp, and Dungeness crab.
Oregon is not alone in experiencing the impacts from OA or
hypoxia. Through actions such as those in the COAST Research
Act we must act together as Americans to develop solutions
for our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems to
prepare for future conditions.
In the coming years, the Oregon OAH Council will continue
to take a collaborative, science-based approach to developing
recommendations to address OAH in our state and beyond.
Through further investments and initiatives, Oregon and the
United States will benefit from adaptation and mitigation
measures and will model to the world how to develop
actionable solutions for OA adaptation and mitigation.
Oregon has identified three urgently needed strategic
actions, which directly align with objectives within the
COAST Research Act.
(1) Monitoring of key oceanographic and biological
indicators of impacts from OAH.
At the same time that OA has been impacting our coasts,
oxygen-depletion is on the rise; Oregon and much of the West
coast has seen several seasons in a row with extended periods
of hypoxia in our coastal
[[Page H2383]]
waters. The Oregon OAH Council is encouraged that the COAST
Research Act identifies the need to strengthen investments in
OA research and monitoring in the context of other
environmental stressors. Ocean acidification and hypoxia are
compounding stressors for a wide range of marine animals, and
as such must continue to be studied together. Through the
COAST Research Acts reauthorization of funding of NOAA, NSF,
and NASA, much needed resources will be made available to
researchers across the United States to continue to expand
our knowledge of OAH. The Oregon OAH Council also supports
the initiative of the COAST Research Act to create data
processing, storage, and archive facilities to provide for
the long-term stewardship and standardization of data. By
creating a central repository for OAH data it provides
governments, scientists, and industry better access to the
information need to inform their mitigation and adaption
planning. Only by maximizing our current data and filling our
knowledge gaps of OAH, can we as a Nation begin to be able to
piece together for solutions for our coastal communities.
(2) Projects or programs that promote coastal economic and
ecosystem resilience to OAH.
Fisheries and aquaculture are central to our history, are
enjoyed by Americans across the nation year-round, and remain
key to many of Oregon's coastal economies today. Yet, the
future sustainability of these marine resources and
communities' ability to rely on them, are uncertain in the
face of significant ocean changes, including OAH, and
uncertain in the face of our current state of preparation to
adapt to those changes over time. This is why the Oregon OAH
Council supports activities and initiatives that promote
resilience to increased OAH conditions, for both human
communities and ecosystems. The COAST Research Act also
stresses the importance of increasing our understanding of
the socioeconomic effects of OA by expanding federal research
to assess adaptation and mitigation strategies. There will be
costs of inaction relative to CO2 mitigation and
the United States has an obligation to relieve these costs
wherever possible for our citizens.
(3) Tools and strategies to increase awareness of OAH
science, impacts and solutions.
As the impacts of OA intensify, it is going to be vitally
important for our Nation to identify and advance
opportunities to raise awareness of and communicate OAH
science, impacts, and mitigation solutions. This is why the
Oregon OAH Council is encouraged by the fact that the COAST
Research Act recognizes the need to address the effects of OA
on estuaries and integrate research, monitoring, and
adaptation strategies. By integrating OA causes and effects,
it better demonstrates the complexity of this climate issue,
and provides a clearer message to communities. The Oregon OAH
Council also supports the COAST Research Act establishment of
an Advisory Board to increase coordination among
stakeholders, including members of industry, to work with
State and Federal governments to improve coordination.
Recognizing the importance of a broad membership, our Oregon
OAH Council includes members from industry, academia and
state government agencies. For the benefit of our marine
ecosystem and the human communities that rely on a healthy
marine ecosystem, the Nation's adaptation and mitigation
approaches to OA should include successful communication of
new science, monitoring, and adaptation strategies.
As Co-Chairs of the Oregon OAH Council, we appreciate the
opportunity to provide you with a letter of strong support
for the COAST Research Act. The strategic investment and
coordination opportunities outlined in this act are
meaningful and will make a difference in our understanding of
OAH science, impacts, and solutions. Through passage of this
Act and the subsequent investment in science, adaptation and
communications, the United States will demonstrate meaningful
action in fighting OA and the global challenges of climate
change, and preparing our citizens and economies for the
changes ahead.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
John Barth, PhD,
Co-Chair, Oregon OAH Council, Executive Director, Marine
Studies Initiative, Oregon State University.
Caren Braby, PhD,
Co-Chair, Oregon OAH Council, Marine Resources Program
Manager, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
____
Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing
Systems,
Seattle, WA, 14 May 2021.
Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,
House of Representatives,
Washington DC.
Dear Congresswoman Bonamici: As the Director of the
Northwest Association of Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS), I
write in support of the Coastal and Ocean Acidification
Stressors and Threats (COAST) Research Act.
NANOOS provides access to near-real time observations,
forecasts, and other tools that can be used to observe water
properties in the Salish Sea and the coastal waters off
Washington and Oregon. NANOOS can only serve our stakeholders
via NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which
links together Federal agencies with our collective of local
universities, government agencies, tribes, nonprofits, and
industry organizations who collect quality oceanographic and
meteorological data from moorings, buoys, and satellites from
across the Pacific Northwest region. But our resources are
limited and this COAST Research Act would help to highlight
the payoff investments can make.
In the Pacific Northwest, we know that ocean acidification
is an issue already, as witnessed by the difference that
monitoring water chemistry has made to shellfish growers. We
know that impacts from ocean acidification may affect
shellfish harvesters, fishermen, resource managers, and
tribal and other coastal communities. NANOOS' work with IOOS
and NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program have been instrumental
in aiding adaptation.
The COAST Research Act will enhance these and other efforts
to understand, monitor, and manage the nation's ability to
respond and adapt to ocean acidification. NANOOS will be
better able to meet the needs of our stakeholders if this Act
is passed.
My thanks for your leadership and insights.
Sincerely,
Jan Newton,
NANOOS Executive Director.
Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, April 19, 2021.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairwoman Johnson: In recognition of the goal of
expediting consideration of H.R. 1447, the ``Coastal and
Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of
2021,'' the Committee on Natural Resources agrees to waive
formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall
within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural
Resources.
The Committee on Natural Resources takes this action with
the mutual understanding that, in doing so, we do not waive
any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or
similar legislation, and that the Committee will be
appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar
legislation moves forward so that we may address any
remaining issues within our jurisdiction. Our Committee also
reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees to any
House-Senate conference involving this or similar
legislation.
Thank you for agreeing to include our exchange of letters
in the Congressional Record. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to
work with you as this measure moves through the legislative
process.
Sincerely,
Raul M. Grijalva,
Chair,
House Natural Resources Committee.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology,
Washington, DC, April 16, 2021.
Chairman Raul M. Grijalva,
Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Grijalva: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
1447, the ``Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and
Threats Research Act of 2021,'' which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on March 1, 2021.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
bill. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural
Resources. I acknowledge that your Committee will waive
further consideration of H.R. 1447 and that this action is
not a waiver of future jurisdictional claims by the Committee
on Natural Resources over this subject matter.
I will make sure to include our exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record and will support the appointment of the
Committee on Natural Resources conferees during any House-
Senate conference. Thank you for your cooperation on this
legislation.
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman.
{time} 1600
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1447, the COAST Research Act
of 2021. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and modernize
the Federal Government's ocean acidification research and monitoring
programs.
Ocean acidification is the result of a gradual decrease in pH in the
ocean chemistry. Even a small shift in pH can have a serious effect on
marine ecosystems, including shellfish habitat, coral reefs, and
fisheries habitat.
[[Page H2384]]
Congress recognized the need for a better understanding of the causes
and effects of ocean acidification and passed the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research and Monitoring Act in 2009. That legislation
created a framework for science agencies such as NOAA and the National
Science Foundation to dedicate resources to studying the phenomenon. As
a result, we made significant advancements in understanding ocean
acidification over the last decade.
H.R. 1447 reauthorizes the funding for NOAA and NSF efforts through
the fiscal year 2026, which lapsed in fiscal year 2012. It also
modernizes their activities by updating the strategic plan governing
the Federal Government's research efforts and strengthening cooperation
among scientific agencies.
Additionally, the COAST Research Act designates NOAA as the lead
agency for coordinating the Federal response to ocean and coastal
acidification. This is an important step to streamline and organize
efforts across the government.
Finally, this bill ensures that the voices of stakeholders and
industry from multiple regions are heard through a newly established
advisory board. This input is critical to effectively integrate the
many research, monitoring, and adaptation strategies for coastal
acidification.
This bill is the result of years of work in building a consensus
among stakeholders, including ocean conservation groups, sportsmen, and
coastal communities about how best to address this problem moving
forward.
Coastal communities and businesses will greatly benefit from this
legislation and how better knowledge of ocean acidification improves
our ability to respond to its effects.
I thank Ms. Bonamici for introducing and leading this bill along with
her House Oceans Caucus vice chair, Congressman Don Young, along with
the many bipartisan cosponsors.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), a cosponsor of the COAST
Research Act.
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.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), one of the most outstanding
individuals in this body; the dean of the House Republican Conference;
the dean of the United States House; but, most importantly, and
fortunately for his constituents, the dean of the Alaska congressional
delegation.
Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Mr. Lucas for his kind
compliments. It is the best I have heard all day.
I thank Ms. Bonamici, the chair of this committee, for bringing this
bill to the floor.
I am excited about it because the oceans and our waterways are
important to our lives. More than anybody recognizes, water is the next
big issue. Oceans do cover 76 percent of our globe. In doing so, if
they get acidified, then we lose the oceans, not only what it provides
to us, but livelihoods to many fishermen in my communities, which is
very, very important.
I am, very frankly, very excited about this legislation. We have to
do more than legislation, though, because the acidification of the
ocean, what causes it, we have to address. Some say it is climate
change. Let's do that. Let's look at why.
I have just been reading a very serious set of articles on e-fuels,
which I was unaware were created by capturing CO2 and making
it into another fuel which is cleaner, especially for maritime fleets.
I am a mariner, and that would be very, very important because they are
one of the more pollutant factors we have, yet they transport world
goods. So we have to address that.
As we pass this legislation, let's really go forth and make sure not
only NOAA has the authority, but make sure they do the job. That is
oversight. That is your job, Madam Chairman. That is what we have to do
to make sure it is done and address the problem.
You talk about your lobster. It is good, but not quite as good as our
salmon, but it is okay. We have to work on that to make sure that we
have a continued sustainable yield that we will be working with.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I again rise to support H.R. 1447, the COAST Research
Act of 2021. It is necessary, bipartisan legislation with support from
Members representing a diverse range of districts.
As I previously mentioned, significant progress toward our
understanding the socioeconomic effects of ocean and coastal
acidification has been made in the last decade. But to continue that
progress, we need to update our priorities and our strategies.
That is what this bill does. That is what will keep our communities,
our businesses, and our entire economy at the forefront of managing and
mitigating the environmental challenges we face.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
The basic chemistry of our ocean is changing at an unprecedented
rate. We know that even if carbon dioxide emissions were halted today,
many of the residual effects on our oceans will continue to occur over
the course of the next few decades.
Without intervention, ocean acidification is projected to become more
intense and increasingly common, especially on the Pacific Coast. We
must support vulnerable communities, industries, coastal and ocean
managers by strengthening research on how they can best prepare for
and, when possible, adapt to ocean and coastal acidification.
By passing the bipartisan COAST Research Act, we are taking one
important step forward in advancing ocean climate action.
I, again, thank Chairwoman Johnson; Ranking Member Lucas; and my co-
leads on this bill, Representative Young, Pingree, and Posey for their
support.
I know Mr. Young from Alaska talked about his salmon. We would
compete with salmon in the Pacific Northwest. We also have the prize
dungeness crab, and Ms. Pingree has her lobsters. It is so critical for
these industries that we pass this bill and advance ocean climate
action.
[[Page H2385]]
I, once again, urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
support this bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to join Congresswoman Bonamici as
an original cosponsor.
For those of us who live on the ``coast,'' the coast is that unique
place where our lives, our environment, and our economy participate in
a special relationship with the ocean.
In my own State of Florida, we know that about 6 million people work
in our coastal counties. They earn nearly $280 billion dollars in wages
and produce close to $700 billion in gross domestic product.
Life on the coast is rich in rewards, but also uncertain and often
perilous.
Those of us who live on the coast have known for a long time how
important sustainability and resilience are for our coasts. We have
weathered the storms of the past and we must do so in the future.
Science and research are our best hope for continuing to live in
harmony with our coasts.
Research can prepare us for assaults on our coasts and help us defend
our wildlife and biodiversity from threats like acidification.
We must take care of our precious coasts so that we can continue to
enjoy the lifestyle and the economic well-being we cherish.
That is why I've joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici in directing
NOAA to pick up the role of leading research for coastal acidification.
I ask my colleagues to support the COAST Research Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cuellar). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1447, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________