Lloyd Bentsen: “I rise in support of H.R. 1237, the National Estuary Program (NEP) Reauthorization. In 1987, the National Estuary…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1237, the National Estuary Program (NEP) Reauthorization. In 1987, the National Estuary Program was established to promote protection and restoration of the health of estuaries and their living resources. This program has made a profound difference nationally. This program has been tremendously important to the restoration of Galveston Bay which borders my district in Texas. In 1995, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) received approval for its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to improve water quality and enhance living resources. Galveston Bay's watershed lies in one of the most heavily industrialized and most heavily populated regions in the United States. Wastewater discharges from communities and industries in Galveston Bay account fully for half of Texas' total wastewater discharges every year. Since some pollution entering the Houston Ship Channel comes from industrial businesses located along or near the Channel, GBEP worked with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to decrease the amount of pollution through source reduction and waste minimization techniques.”