Vernon Ehlers: “Mr. Speaker, it is timely that we are considering this bill about harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. Just last week…”

“Mr. Speaker, it is timely that we are considering this bill about harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. Just last week, beaches in the Chesapeake Bay were closed due to a harmful algal bloom. I introduced H.R. 1856 more than a year ago after learning about the nationwide problems caused by harmful algal blooms, also known as HABs, and also, the harmful effects from hypoxia. Harmful algal blooms are dense mats of toxic algae that can harm marine animals and humans. Hypoxia occurs when an algal bloom depletes oxygen in the water and leaves behind conditions that essentially choke all of the marine life in the affected area. Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia occur nationwide in areas including the Chesapeake Bay, California, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1998, Congress passed a 3-year bill authorizing harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research programs with a focus on the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and Pfiesteria in the Chesapeake Bay. Since the authorization of these important research programs expired, I decided to reexamine the issue at a hearing in the Committee on Science last year.”