Senator Nelson Talks Health Concerns as Toxic Algae Outbreak Continues

Press Release

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson met with local environmentalists and health care leaders today to discuss the health and economic effects of the toxic algae bloom crisis that is affecting communities across Florida.

"This toxic algae outbreak is a threat to our way of life and we must continue to have these critical conversations and work together to combat these threats," Nelson said Friday at Three Fishermen Seafood Restaurant in North Fort Myers. "These toxic algae blooms not only hurt our environment and our economy, but could have serious long-term effects on our health."

Concerned about the potential health effects, Nelson urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the potential effects of the toxic algae blooms and provide residents with more information.

"Senator Nelson is a dependable ally who has worked to protect our environment and our health while Rick Scott ignored or exacerbated environmental problems," said Dr. John Capece, a water quality engineer. "Rick Scott gutted the Department of Environmental Protection, slashed the staff of the water management districts that are the first line of defense, spent years fighting water quality standards and signed a bill killing mandatory septic-tank inspections."

Scott also refused to use money from Amendment 1, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters, to purchase land needed to direct the water south as intended. These shortcomings are part of Scott's abysmal environmental record, which includes him supporting drilling near the Everglades, being a climate change denier, not even allowing staff to say "climate change" or "global warming," and supporting drilling near Florida's shores and beaches even after the BP oil spill contaminated the Gulf with more than 200 million gallons of oil.

Senator Nelson led efforts to prevent the toxic algae blooms that are plaguing much of South Florida. He filed legislation to fund programs to study what causes these blooms to occur and how we can prevent them. He also fought to secure additional federal funding to speed up the work being done to restore the Everglades to send more water south as intended instead of east and west.

Along with his work to prevent the blooms, Nelson also led efforts to help those most affected -- including the legislation he filed recently to provide tax breaks to small businesses affected by the algae blooms.

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