Alan Grayson: “I want to thank Chairman Calvert and his staff for working with me on this amendment. It simply seeks to decrease and…”

“I want to thank Chairman Calvert and his staff for working with me on this amendment. It simply seeks to decrease and then increase by the same amount within the $2.5 billion appropriation for the environmental programs and management account within the Environmental Protection Agency. More specifically, my amendment seeks to remove and then reapply $2.2 million from that account. The intent behind my amendment is simple. It is to put the House on record of supporting a final funding amount of $27,310,000 for the National Estuary Program and coastal waterways. Currently, the report accompanying this bill calls for $25,098,000 for the National Estuary Program and coastal waterways, which is $2,212,000 below both the Senate's proposed appropriations level and the President's request for fiscal year 2016. Hence, the amount specified in my amendment. The National Estuary Program and coastal waterways subaccount within the EPA does important work, including work in my State, especially on the Atlantic Coast. It addresses ocean acidification, seeks to remove coastal watersheds, furthers the National Estuary Program's restoration goals, and assists in the implementation of the very important Gulf of Mexico hypoxia action plan. Mr. Chairman, there is an area, a large area called the dead zone off of Louisiana that literally stinks. It has no fish. It has no recreational opportunities. It has no fishing. It is, in fact, a scar on the face of the Earth.…”