Floor SpeechBipartisan2024-12-09

PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024

EnvironmentForeign PolicyTradeInfrastructure

Context

On 2024-12-09, Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered foreign policy, trade policy. It referenced legislation: S50.

Full Text

PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)] [House] [Page H6529] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024 Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 50) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to give priority consideration to selecting Pensacola and Perdido Bays as an estuary of national significance, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 50 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS. Section 320(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``and Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington'' and inserting ``Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington; and Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida''. SEC. 3. INELIGIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO FISCAL YEARS 2024 AND 2025. With respect to the amendment made by section 2, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not use for the implementation of that amendment, including, with respect to Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida, convening a management conference, developing or carrying out a comprehensive conservation and management plan, or providing grants under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330)-- (1) any amounts appropriated to carry out the national estuary program under that section for fiscal year 2024; or (2) unless the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2025 is at least $850,000 more than the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2023, any amounts appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2025. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana. General Leave Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 50. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana? There was no objection. Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 50 would add the Pensacola and Perdido Bays, located in northeastern Florida, to the list of estuaries given priority consideration under the EPA's National Estuary Program. The National Estuary Program was created by Congress in 1987. It aims to protect and restore estuaries of national significance across the United States. S. 50 was introduced by our Senate colleagues, Senators Rubio and Scott, earlier this Congress. The Senate passed S. 50 with a voice vote in March, and I encourage support for this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 50, legislation sponsored by Senator Rubio of Florida. This bill adds Pensacola and Perdido Bays in Florida as priority considerations for the Administrator of the EPA to designate as part of the National Estuary Program. In the Pacific Northwest, we know that healthy estuaries like the Puget Sound support healthy fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as important economic activities such as trade, fishing, tourism, and outdoor recreation. That is why I worked over multiple Congresses to authorize the National Estuary Program and was pleased to see that the bipartisan infrastructure law not only authorize that program but provided $132 million in investments for improving habitat and restoring estuaries. The legislation we consider today is the result of work of local organizations near these two critical Florida estuaries to add them to the National Estuary Program. It is further proof of the importance of this program. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, in closing, protecting healthy estuaries is good for the economic activities like outdoor recreation, as well as good for fish, birds, and other wildlife. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, S. 50 will help protect important habitat and water resources in Florida. This noncontroversial legislation has the support of the Florida congressional delegation, the State of Florida, the community, and local stakeholders. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 50. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S50, S50

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PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024 Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)] [House] [Page H6529] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ACT OF 2024 Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 50) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to give priority consideration to selecting Pensacola and Perdido Bays as an estuary of national significance, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 50 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. PENSACOLA AND PERDIDO BAYS. Section 320(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``and Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington'' and inserting ``Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington; and Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida''. SEC. 3. INELIGIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO FISCAL YEARS 2024 AND 2025. With respect to the amendment made by section 2, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not use for the implementation of that amendment, including, with respect to Pensacola and Perdido Bays, Florida, convening a management conference, developing or carrying out a comprehensive conservation and management plan, or providing grants under section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330)-- (1) any amounts appropriated to carry out the national estuary program under that section for fiscal year 2024; or (2) unless the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2025 is at least $850,000 more than the total amount appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2023, any amounts appropriated to carry out that program for fiscal year 2025. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana. General Leave Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 50. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana? There was no objection. Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 50 would add the Pensacola and Perdido Bays, located in northeastern Florida, to the list of estuaries given priority consideration under the EPA's National Estuary Program. The National Estuary Program was created by Congress in 1987. It aims to protect and restore estuaries of national significance across the United States. S. 50 was introduced by our Senate colleagues, Senators Rubio and Scott, earlier this Congress. The Senate passed S. 50 with a voice vote in March, and I encourage support for this legislation today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 50, legislation sponsored by Senator Rubio of Florida. This bill adds Pensacola and Perdido Bays in Florida as priority considerations for the Administrator of the EPA to designate as part of the National Estuary Program. In the Pacific Northwest, we know that healthy estuaries like the Puget Sound support healthy fish, birds, and other wildlife, as well as important economic activities such as trade, fishing, tourism, and outdoor recreation. That is why I worked over multiple Congresses to authorize the National Estuary Program and was pleased to see that the bipartisan infrastructure law not only authorize that program but provided $132 million in investments for improving habitat and restoring estuaries. The legislation we consider today is the result of work of local organizations near these two critical Florida estuaries to add them to the National Estuary Program. It is further proof of the importance of this program. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, in closing, protecting healthy estuaries is good for the economic activities like outdoor recreation, as well as good for fish, birds, and other wildlife. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, S. 50 will help protect important habitat and water resources in Florida. This noncontroversial legislation has the support of the Florida congressional delegation, the State of Florida, the community, and local stakeholders. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 50. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S50, S50