Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) has cosponsored H.R. 1893, the Great Lakes and Fresh Water Algal Bloom Information Act, and H.R. 4417, Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017. These bills seek to combat algal blooms that threaten our waters, including Lake George.
“As a Member of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, I am pleased to lend my support to advance these important environmental bills,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Harmful Algal blooms threaten to disrupt the health of our North Country waters, and these bills will increase research and help provide resources to protect our natural ecology. In Congress, I will continue to work across the aisle to protect our North Country treasures.”
Background:
H.R. 1893, Great Lakes and Fresh Water Algal Bloom Information Act
This legislation would require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to create an electronic database of research and information on the causes and corrective actions being taken with regard to algal blooms in the Great Lakes, their tributaries, and other surface fresh waters.
H.R. 4417, Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017
This legislation would increase inter-agency, regional, state, and local collaboration to address harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events. The legislation would establish a process for declaration of an “Event of National Significance” which triggers disaster-like funding to be available for affected communities and would allow private donations to help fund recovery in an event of national significance.
