Chellie Pingree: “I thank my colleague from Michigan for both being a strong supporter of this bill and yielding me the time. I thank the…”

“I thank my colleague from Michigan for both being a strong supporter of this bill and yielding me the time. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for understanding the role of the Great Lakes and how the role of ocean acidification impacts all of us. I truly appreciate his support of this bipartisan bill. I thank Chair Lucas and Ranking Member Lofgren for their work to address the impacts that climate change has had on our oceans Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 676, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act, a bipartisan bill that would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support the current efforts of coastal communities already facing the impacts of ocean acidification, particularly underserved and rural coastal communities, and better equip them with the resources to respond. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are now higher than at any time in the last 2 million years, and about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. More carbon dioxide in our waters creates challenging growing conditions for marine organisms, especially those with calcium carbonate shells, such as clams, lobsters, and oysters. Ocean acidification threatens not only our fisheries but the entire blue economy, our marine resources, industries, and jobs, as well as coastal communities like mine that depend on them.…”