Steve Kagen: “Thank you to Madam Johnson and subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone for putting together a tremendous bill. Madam Chairman…”

“Thank you to Madam Johnson and subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone for putting together a tremendous bill. Madam Chairman, as a Member who has the honor of representing one of the largest States in the country that has shoreline beyond measure in its value, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2537, the Beach Protection Act. This critical piece of legislation will increase grant funding overseen by the EPA for water quality surveys and for pollution source tracking programs, and it will also set a new standard for public notification. H.R. 2537 will take important steps to address the serious threat to public health and the economic vitality of coastal economies in northeast Wisconsin posed by beach water pollution and human pathogens. I would be remiss, however, if I did not also recognize the exemplary job performed by the State of Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources, who has been monitoring 34 of the 35 beaches in Door County, Brown County and Kewaunee County. While I am also proud to applaud the beach monitoring standards employed by the State of Wisconsin, this act will also improve upon the quality of these observations and heighten public safety. After all, clean water gets good health.”