Connie Mack: “I rise today to engage the esteemed chairman in a colloquy concerning language and funding for Florida's red tide…”

“I rise today to engage the esteemed chairman in a colloquy concerning language and funding for Florida's red tide research problem. Mr. Chairman, earlier this year, my district in southwest Florida experienced a harmful red tide outburst off the coast which caused harmful effects that were felt by people, animals, and the environment that make up our precious ecosystem and economy. Hundreds of people endured respiratory ills, including sneezing, coughing, and other effects that are damaging to one's health. Moreover, the Florida manatee, an endangered species that everyone seeks to protect from far less harmful events, saw a gigantic spike in their death rate. This year, in the entire State of Florida, we have seen 29 manatees die due to boating accidents. However, from this red tide bloom, which only lasted a couple of months and was confined only to southwest Florida, we have a confirmed count of 46 manatee deaths. What is more, thousands of people, some from this very room, come to southwest Florida each year to vacation on our beaches and to swim in our waters. {time} 1900 This scourge of red tide not only has a hazardous environmental effect, but also drives away tourists who undoubtedly do not want to spend their time coping with the effects of the red tide.…”