National Estuary Programs Reauthorization

Floor Speech

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

First, I want to thank Mr. Shuster, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Bishop, and Mr. Larsen for helping me bring H.R. 5266, the National Estuary Programs Reauthorization, to the floor.

I also want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Posey and Mr. Murphy of Florida, in helping me get this legislation drafted and ushered through the committee in a bipartisan way.

This version of the National Estuary Programs Reauthorization is fiscally responsible by reducing the authorization levels by $8 million, while ultimately increasing the amount of money each estuary program will receive. This reauthorization will detail just how the EPA is to spend the authorized and appropriated money.

Unlike many programs under the Clean Water Act, the National Estuary Program is a nonregulatory program; instead, it is designed to support the collaborative voluntary efforts of Federal, State, and local stakeholders to restore degraded estuaries.

Unfortunately, National Estuary Programs have been losing money due to the EPA administrative costs. By setting limits of 5 percent for administrative costs for the EPA, we can guarantee 80 percent of the funding goes to the end user and the NEP and not bureaucratic salaries and red tape.

In this year's reauthorization, we have also set aside 15 percent of the funding for a competitive award program. This program will seek applications meant to deal with urgent and challenging issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of coastal areas.

By structuring how the money is spent and lowering authorization levels, this legislation strikes the right balance of fiscal and environmental responsibilities. I urge all Members to support H.R. 5266.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Source