The U.S. Senate version of a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) that would require the first-ever federal assessment and action plan to combat harmful algal blooms in Florida is on its way to being signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act, S. 66, on May 11 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a 412-7 vote after receiving unanimous consent from the U.S. Senate on March 8. S. 66, introduced in January 2021 by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), is identical to H.R. 565, which Rep. Mast also introduced in January 2021 alongside original bill cosponsor U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL).
“The east and west coasts of Florida have been treated like the state’s own personal septic tank for years. Even the federal government has been in on the abuse, manipulating our waterways and flushing toxins into our communities with no regard for public health,” Rep. Mast said. “This bill will force the federal government to take responsibility for that harm and develop an action plan to combat toxic algal blooms in our community.”
Specifically, the measure directs the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to assess potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the ecosystem and to submit a plan, based on the assessment, for reducing, mitigating and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the region, according to the congressional record bill summary.