H.R. 565 – South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:45 PM UTC

The South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021 directs the federal Inter‑Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to create a detailed assessment and a concrete action plan aimed at reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and low‑oxygen (hypoxia) conditions in South Florida’s waters and wetlands. It affects federal, state, tribal, academic, industry, and nonprofit stakeholders involved in water‑quality monitoring and management within the South Florida Water Management District, coastal bays, estuaries, and the Florida Reef Tract.

Key Provisions

Adds a new Section 605 to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, defining “South Florida” and setting the program’s scope.
Requires the Task Force to deliver an interim integrated assessment within 540 days and a final assessment within three years, examining causes, impacts, and research gaps.
Mandates a comprehensive action plan to be submitted to Congress within three years and 180 days, outlining monitoring needs, budgets, model development, and an early‑warning system.
Calls for extensive consultation with Florida state, local, tribal governments, and regional academic, industry, and nonprofit groups while avoiding duplication of existing efforts.
Requires the plan to be published for public comment 180 days before submission and to include biennial progress reports to Congress.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

February 22, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 28, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

January 28, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

January 28, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

February 22, 2021

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about H.R. 565 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. Haley M. StevensD-MI-11 · May 10, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 66) to require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 66) to require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other purposes.

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. 66, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 66, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021.

The South Florida region suffers from blooms of harmful algae in both its fresh and marine bodies of water. The impacts of marine red tide and freshwater blue-green algae in this region are felt in marine life, across the local economy, and on public health.

When these algae blooms die and sink to the bottom of water bodies, they can cause hypoxia or low oxygen events, which further impact marine and freshwater ecosystems.

This bill authorizes a scientific assessment and action plan to address the negative impacts of harmful algal blooms, HABs, and hypoxia in South Florida.

We know that many Michiganders enjoy the splendors of South Florida in the winter season. We have had this reported from colleagues from Florida. We are supporting this bill because this work can serve as a template for other communities suffering from HABs and hypoxia and help address these disruptive events.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC, April 29, 2022.

Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Chair, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chair Johnson: In recognition of the goal of

expediting consideration of S.66, the ``South Florida Clean

Coastal Waters Act of 2021,'' the Committee on Natural

Resources agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as

to provisions that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the

Committee on Natural Resources.

The Committee on Natural Resources takes this action with

the mutual understanding that, in doing so, we do not waive

any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or

similar legislation, and that the Committee will be

appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar

legislation moves forward so that we may address any

remaining-issues within our jurisdiction. Our Committee also

reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees to any

House-Senate conference involving this or similar

legislation.

I also ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this

matter be included in the Congressional Record. I appreciate

your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward

to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through

the legislative process.

Sincerely,

Raul M. Grijalva,

Chair, House Natural Resources Committee.

Madam Speaker, for those watching at home, a friendly reminder that S. 66 passed the House last session of Congress, the 116th Congress. We are now in the 117th Congress. We will pass this bill again. That is our intention, to send it over to the Senate yet again to get it passed and signed into law.

As a friendly reminder, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee oversees and has jurisdiction over the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, which is why we are passing it through not only our committee but, obviously, here on the House floor.

Madam Speaker, yet again, I join my colleagues in urging the passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I note that, with this bill, the task force to develop an action plan based on an integrated assessment that details methods for reducing, mitigating, and controlling HABs and hypoxia in South Florida is obviously essential.

This is an interagency effort involving the State, local and Tribal governments, as well as non-Federal stakeholder groups. I urge the passage of S. 66.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Stephanie I. BiceR-OK-5 · May 10, 2022

Mr. Speaker, we are now considering a Senate bill, S. 66, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021. I support this bill, and I would like to note that I especially appreciate that we are…

Mr. Speaker, we are now considering a Senate bill, S. 66, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021. I support this bill, and I would like to note that I especially appreciate that we are going through the normal legislative process here.

Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 335, a bill introduced by Representative Mast, to address harmful algal blooms, HABs, in South Florida. This Congress, Representative Mast reintroduced the

same language as H.R. 565 with Science, Space, and Technology Committee cosponsors Representatives Posey, Waltz, and Gimenez.

H.R. 335, H.R. 565, and the bill we are considering now, S. 66, are all one and the same. It is simple language that is critically important to my colleagues in Florida and their communities, which are dependent on clean, healthy waters.

The legislation requires the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to produce an assessment of the causes, consequences, and potential mitigation options to reduce HABs and hypoxia in South Florida.

The legislation also calls for the task force to assess our current work and identify gaps in research, monitoring, and management efforts. The task force will also develop an action plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling HABs and hypoxia.

This will build on the great work to reduce those in other parts of the country; namely, the Great Lakes region and the northern Gulf of Mexico.

It is solid legislation, and I look forward to seeing its results in Florida.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act will help Floridians enjoy clean, safe, and healthy waters. That helps families and our economy.

We have already seen how efforts like this can succeed in reducing harmful algal blooms in other parts of the country. This legislation will ensure southern Florida enjoys the same success.

This is a great example of solid policymaking through regular order, and I appreciate all the work that went into it. I thank Senators Rubio and Scott for their work on the bill across the Hill; Representative Mast for his willingness to collaborate with our Senate colleagues; and Representatives Posey, Waltz, and Gimenez for leading this effort for the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Eddie Bernice JohnsonD-TX-30 · May 10, 2022

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 66, the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021. South Florida suffers from blooms of harmful algae in both its marine and freshwater systems that have…

Rep. Chip RoyR-TX-21 · May 10, 2022

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 28, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 565

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2021

Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Soto, and Mr. Posey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021.

2.

South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia assessment and action plan

(a)

In general

The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating sections 605 through 609 as sections 606 through 610, respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after section 604 the following:

605.

South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia

(a)

South Florida

In this section, the term South Florida means—

(1)

all lands and waters within the administrative boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District;

(2)

regional coastal waters, including Biscayne Bay, the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and St. Lucie River Estuary; and

(3)

the Florida Reef Tract.

(b)

Integrated assessment

(1)

Interim integrated assessment

Not later than 540 days after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force, in accordance with the authority under section 603, shall complete and submit to Congress and the President an interim integrated assessment.

(2)

Finalized integrated assessment

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force shall finalize, and submit to Congress and the President, the interim integrated assessment required by paragraph (1).

(3)

Contents of integrated assessment

The integrated assessment required by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall examine the causes, consequences, and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and the status of, and gaps within, current harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research, monitoring, management, prevention, response, and control activities that directly affect the region by—

(A)

Federal agencies;

(B)

State agencies;

(C)

regional research consortia;

(D)

academia;

(E)

private industry;

(F)

nongovernmental organizations; and

(G)

Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).

(c)

Action plan

(1)

In general

Not later than 3 years and 180 days after the date of the enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force shall develop and submit to Congress a plan, based on the integrated assessment under subsection (b), for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida.

(2)

Contents

The plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

address the monitoring needs identified in the integrated assessment under subsection (b);

(B)

develop a timeline and budgetary requirements for deployment of future assets;

(C)

identify requirements for the development and verification of South Florida harmful algal bloom and hypoxia models, including—

(i)

all assumptions built into the models; and

(ii)

data quality methods used to ensure the best available data are utilized; and

(D)

propose a plan to implement a remote monitoring network and early warning system for alerting local communities in the region to harmful algal bloom risks that may impact human health.

(3)

Requirements

In developing the action plan, the Task Force shall—

(A)

consult with the State of Florida, and affected local and tribal governments;

(B)

consult with representatives from regional academic, agricultural, industry, and other stakeholder groups;

(C)

ensure that the plan complements and does not duplicate activities conducted by other Federal or State agencies, including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force;

(D)

identify critical research for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal bloom events and their effects;

(E)

evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based partnership approaches;

(F)

ensure that the plan is technically sound and cost-effective;

(G)

utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program activities;

(H)

publish a summary of the proposed plan in the Federal Register at least 180 days prior to submitting the completed plan to Congress; and

(I)

after submitting the completed plan to Congress, provide biennial progress reports on the activities toward achieving the objectives of the plan.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment and correction

The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by striking the items relating to title VI and inserting the following new items:

Title VI—Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia

Sec. 601. Short title.

Sec. 602. Findings.

Sec. 603. Assessments.

Sec. 603A. National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.

Sec. 603B. Comprehensive research plan and action strategy.

Sec. 604. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.

Sec. 605. South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.

Sec. 606. Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.

Sec. 607. Protection of States' rights.

Sec. 608. Effect on other Federal authority.

Sec. 609. Definitions.

Sec. 610. Authorization of appropriations.

.