What This Bill Does
This bill changes the law to treat harmful algal blooms (rapid growth of algae in water that can be poisonous) as a major disaster. The bill also requires a health study about the dangers of breathing in toxins (poisons) from algal blooms.
Who It Affects
The bill affects people and communities experiencing harmful algal blooms. It also affects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the federal agency that tracks diseases and health threats) and Congress members who receive the health study.
Key Provisions
* Algal blooms are added to the list of events considered a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Sec. 3)
* The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must submit a detailed study about health effects from breathing in cyanotoxins (poisons from algae) in the air that result from algal blooms to six different Congressional committees within 365 days after this law takes effect (Sec. 4)
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, harmful algal blooms will be classified the same way as droughts and other major disasters in the existing federal disaster relief law.
Important Definitions
* Harmful algal blooms: Intense, long-lasting, expansive algae growth that may contain poisonous neurotoxins (poisons that harm the nervous system) and harm marine life and humans
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1008
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Mr. DONALDS (for himself, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. DIAZ-BALART,
Mr. FROST, Mr. POSEY, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS,
Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Mrs. LUNA, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. MAST,
Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. WALTZ, and Mr. C. SCOTT
FRANKLIN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the defi-
nition of a major disaster, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combat Harmful Algal
4
Blooms Act’’.
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•HR 1008 IH
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
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(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
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(1) The presence of harmful algal blooms
3
threaten public health, interrupt economic activity,
4
and contribute to the ongoing degradation of ecologi-
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cal communities.
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(2) Algal blooms are part of healthy and pro-
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ductive freshwater and saltwater systems, but harm-
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ful algal blooms may become intense, long-lasting,
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expansive, and may contain enough poisonous
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neurotoxins to harm marine life and humans alike.
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(3) Water conditions and ecological balance in
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marine environments depend on nutrient and salinity
13
conditions, which are often influenced by—
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(A) tidal flow and circulation;
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(B) freshwater input from the land;
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(C) coastal nutrient recycling; and
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(D) urban development.
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(4) Harmful algal blooms, depending on the se-
19
verity, may result in the widespread mortality of ma-
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rine life and aquatic specimens, which may result in
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unpleasant sights and smells around the impacted
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body of water.
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(5) Harmful algal blooms can force the closure
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of beaches, impose fishing and shellfish harvesting
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•HR 1008 IH
restrictions, and could even result in banning the
1
sale of seafood at restaurants.
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(6) Tourism numbers can drop dramatically
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during harmful algal blooms, which may result in a
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significant economic impact to certain economies
5
that heavily depend on bringing in visitors.
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(7) Property values near water sources that ex-
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perience harmful algal blooms may decrease substan-
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tially.
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(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
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gress that Congress should focus on decreasing the over-
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arching impact of harmful algal blooms on public health,
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the economy, and the degradation of ecological commu-
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nities.
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SEC. 3. ALGAL BLOOMS.
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Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
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Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2))
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is amended by striking ‘‘or drought’’ and inserting
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‘‘drought, or algal blooms’’.
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SEC. 4. IMPACTS OF ALGAL BLOOMS ON AIR QUALITY.
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Not later than 365 days after the date of enactment
21
of this Act, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control
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and Prevention shall submit to the Committee on Environ-
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ment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee of
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Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the
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•HR 1008 IH
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
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ate, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the
2
House of Representatives, the Committee on Science,
3
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives,
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and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
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House of Representatives a detailed study relating to the
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health effects of exposure to cyanotoxins in the air that
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result from algal blooms.
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Æ
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