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From the Desk of
Representative Byron Donalds

Tackling The Threat Of Harmful Algal Blooms In Our Southwest Florida Community

by Congressman Byron Donalds
ater is Florida’s most important EPA’s “Water Quality and Environmental Innovation Fund” for
natural resource and serves as the grants and contracts to carry out projects. These projects will either
Wheart and soul of our Southwest use emerging technologies to address threats to water quality, or fund
Florida community. Every day, nutrient-filled the research, development, and design of such technologies. Threats to
water flows into Lake Okeechobee and is water quality that may be addressed under a project carried out using a
subsequently discharged throughout East, grant or contract may include acidification; the accumulation of plastics,
West and South Florida––ultimately resulting trash, and microplastics; hydrologic alterations such as restricting
in poor water quality and the outbreak of tidal flow; nutrient release and eutrophication including harmful algal
harmful algal blooms. Throughout the 118th blooms; sea-level rise; waste carbon dioxide accumulations; adverse soil
Congress, I am proud to have introduced health conditions; erosion and sedimentation; karst, sinkholes, and land
various commonsense, bipartisan legislative solutions to directly subsidence.
assist Southwest Florida and other similarly affected communities We know all too well that the threat of harmful algal blooms is a
throughout our nation. bipartisan challenge that must be addressed in our community. This
The first water quality bill I introduced this Congress is H.R. 325– practical bill is a commonsense measure that promotes efficiency by
“The Harmful Algal Bloom Essential Forecasting Act.” By definition, turning unused government waste into environmental restoration. I
this bill requires the “Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast am proud to introduce this bill on a bipartisan basis to directly assist
System” to continue to operate during a government shutdown by Southwest Florida and communities throughout our country.
designating certain services related to the system as excepted services Furthermore, I introduced H.R. 1008 – “The Combat Harmful
under the Anti-Deficiency Act. Algal Blooms Act.” This bill too received strong bipartisan support and
In other words, this bill utilizes federal resources for tackling the allows for the inclusion of algal blooms within the federal definition
environmental and economic challenges brought on by harmful algal of a “Major Disaster.” It also directs the CDC to submit to specified
blooms in Southwest Florida and throughout America. Over the congressional committees, a detailed study relating to the health effects
last sixty years, these events have increased substantially––impacting of exposure to cyanotoxins in the air that result from algal blooms. State
local economies, our nation's ecosystems, and the American people's and local leaders would be empowered with the opportunity to request
health. Safeguarding public health and our coastal ecosystems requires federal funding to protect their waterways for future generations as a
the collective collaboration of federal, state, and local governments. result of this legislation.
This necessary legislation bolsters the federal government's role in I’m committed to advancing bipartisan and commonsense legislative
combating harmful algal blooms throughout the United States by solutions that promote the preservation of our waterways against the
ensuring that during a lapse in appropriations, essential services relating potential long-term damage resulting from harmful algal blooms.
to harmful algal blooms receive critical federal funding. As your Congressman, you have my commitment to work on your
I then introduced, H.R. 873 – “The Water Quality and behalf and restore order and proper governance to The People's House.
Environmental Innovation Act.” This bipartisan piece of legislation
repurposes unused federal dollars and transfers those funds to the
CONTACT MY OFFICE

Collier County Office Washington, DC Office
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 105, Naples, FL 34112 1719 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 239.252.6225 Phone: 202.225.2536

14 Life in Naples | January 2024