Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1447, the COAST Research Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and modernize the Federal Government's ocean acidification research and monitoring programs.

Ocean acidification is the result of a gradual decrease in pH in the ocean chemistry. Even a small shift in pH can have a serious effect on marine ecosystems, including shellfish habitat, coral reefs, and fisheries habitat.

Congress recognized the need for a better understanding of the causes and effects of ocean acidification and passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act in 2009. That legislation created a framework for science agencies such as NOAA and the National Science Foundation to dedicate resources to studying the phenomenon. As a result, we made significant advancements in understanding ocean acidification over the last decade.

H.R. 1447 reauthorizes the funding for NOAA and NSF efforts through the fiscal year 2026, which lapsed in fiscal year 2012. It also modernizes their activities by updating the strategic plan governing the Federal Government's research efforts and strengthening cooperation among scientific agencies.

Additionally, the COAST Research Act designates NOAA as the lead agency for coordinating the Federal response to ocean and coastal acidification. This is an important step to streamline and organize efforts across the government.

Finally, this bill ensures that the voices of stakeholders and industry from multiple regions are heard through a newly established advisory board. This input is critical to effectively integrate the many research, monitoring, and adaptation strategies for coastal acidification.

This bill is the result of years of work in building a consensus among stakeholders, including ocean conservation groups, sportsmen, and coastal communities about how best to address this problem moving forward.

Coastal communities and businesses will greatly benefit from this legislation and how better knowledge of ocean acidification improves our ability to respond to its effects.

I thank Ms. Bonamici for introducing and leading this bill along with her House Oceans Caucus vice chair, Congressman Don Young, along with the many bipartisan cosponsors.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. Speaker, I again rise to support H.R. 1447, the COAST Research Act of 2021. It is necessary, bipartisan legislation with support from Members representing a diverse range of districts.

As I previously mentioned, significant progress toward our understanding the socioeconomic effects of ocean and coastal acidification has been made in the last decade. But to continue that progress, we need to update our priorities and our strategies.

That is what this bill does. That is what will keep our communities, our businesses, and our entire economy at the forefront of managing and mitigating the environmental challenges we face.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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