Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the good Congressman from Texas (Mr. Cloud) for leading this important discussion.

When I visited the border, I saw the dangers of open borders, not only for Americans, but for thousands of illegal immigrants smuggled across the border.

Open borders empower drug cartels. Cartels are ruthless and inhumane in their treatment of their human cargo.

President Trump secured agreements with El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala that curbed the flow of illegal immigrant caravans. Those agreements, along with the Remain in Mexico agreement, deprived the cartels of billions and billions of dollars and saved hundreds of thousands of immigrants from sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of the ruthless drug cartels.

Sadly, on January 20, President Biden gave the ruthless cartels a green light to resume their exploitation of women, children, and young men when he signed executive orders effectively repealing those agreements, which had curbed illegal immigration and were defunding the cartels.

Now, the record-low crossings of immigrants and drugs have been replaced by record highs. Customs and Border Protection agents are overwhelmed and have resorted to catch and release, which rewards the cartels, further enriching those guys.

Rather than abandoning border security, the Biden-Harris administration must abandon the failed policies that created the crisis.

Restoring our border is essential to putting the safety and security of Americans first, to protect immigrants from exploitation and harm, and to deprive the drug cartels of victims and revenue.

The worst is still to come if this administration continues down this reckless road.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 10 years we have made a lot of progress in making Congress more transparent and accountable.

After years of persistence, I was pleased to see that the House finally adopted the comparative text rule that I proposed.

The comparative text rule made it possible for Members of the House and the public to actually see and understand exactly what a bill changes.

Every legislature in the country does that. But sadly, boom, in an instant this year the House abolished that rule, even though it was a top priority with the bipartisan Government Efficiency, Accountability, and Reform Task Force for commonsense solutions to a better government.

Now, Mr. Speaker, that is shameful.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to H.R. 1 and my great disappointment that the Majority refused to allow my commonsense amendments to be offered to this bill. This bill was written behind closed doors and though Members of Congress offered over 180 amendments to improve this bill only 56 were allowed to be offered on the House floor. That is a travesty for Congress and the American people who want and deserve honest and transparent elections. This bill bans voter identification laws and mandates States implement mail-in voting both of which will lead to massive election fraud. Even European countries have rejected these failed policies due to fraud.

While serving in the Florida Senate I was tasked with reforming Florida's election laws following the 2000 election and chaos that ensued. Having tackled election reform in the aftermath of an uncertain election, I know firsthand how important it is to restore confidence and eliminate existing grey areas that may lead to fraud or raise questions about fairness.

Events surrounding the 2020 election raised questions from my constituents about the operation and certification of voting machines used throughout our state and the nation. Chief among those concerns was whether our voting machines are connected to the internet and vulnerable to manipulation through hacking. To answer these and other questions I contacted the U.S. Election Assistance Commission which certifies voting hardware and software for use in our elections.

In her letter to me, the Inspector General of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission addressed this topic stating that the ``EAC believes Michigan may use modem transmission features in at least some of its Dominion voting systems.'' This is in direct conflict with assertions by the maker of the Dominion Voting System who stated, ``. . . Voting systems are by design meant to be used as closed systems that are not networked meaning they are not connected to the Internet.''

To end the confusion on this issue and restore confidence in our system, I filed an amendment that would prohibit voting systems from being connected to the Internet; specifically, stating that no system or device upon which ballots are programmed or votes are cast or tabulated shall be connected to the Internet at any time. That would ensure the integrity of voting machines. Unfortunately, that amendment was not allowed to be debated and voted on.

My second amendment would ensure that election machines are fully auditable--no longer would election officials and election equipment providers deny full audits of elections due to proprietary software or hardware. The American people have a right to a full audit of any election to ensure the full integrity of elections. There is no good reason to oppose this amendment but, again, it was not allowed to be debated and voted on.

And, my third amendment would have prohibited the use of voting systems produced by a foreign entity. It would also require all components of the voting systems be manufactured and maintained in the United States. Why should the votes of the American people be subject to counting using foreign equipment that cannot be audited and that may be connected to the Internet? My amendments would ban all three of these things.

By denying elected Members of Congress a vote on these amendments, Speaker Pelosi decided against providing full transparency and accountability in our federal elections. This partisan bill should be rejected.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to H.R. 1 and my great disappointment that the Majority refused to allow my commonsense amendments to be offered to this bill. This bill was written behind closed doors and though Members of Congress offered over 180 amendments to improve this bill only 56 were allowed to be offered on the House floor. That is a travesty for Congress and the American people who want and deserve honest and transparent elections.

While serving in the Florida Senate I was tasked with reforming Florida's election laws following the 2000 election and chaos that ensued. Having tackled election reform in the aftermath of an uncertain election, I know firsthand how important it is to restore confidence and eliminate existing grey areas that may lead to fraud or raise questions about fairness.

Events surrounding the 2020 election raised questions from my constituents about the operation and certification of voting machines used throughout our state and the nation. Chief among those concerns was whether our voting machines are connected to the internet and vulnerable to manipulation through hacking. To answer these and other questions I contacted the U.S. Election Assistance Commission which certifies voting hardware and software for use in our elections.

In her letter to me, the Inspector General of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission addressed this topic stating that the ``EAC believes Michigan may use modem transmission features in at least some of its Dominion voting systems.'' This is in direct conflict with assertions by the maker of the Dominion Voting System who stated, ``. . . Voting systems are by design meant to be used as closed systems that are not networked meaning they are not connected to the Internet.''

To end the confusion on this issue and restore confidence in our system, I filed an amendment that would prohibit voting systems from being connected to the Internet; specifically, stating that no system or device upon which ballots are programmed or votes are cast or tabulated shall be connected to the Internet at any time. That would ensure the integrity of voting machines. Unfortunately, that amendment was not allowed to be debated and voted on.

My second amendment would ensure that election machines are fully auditable--no longer would election officials and election equipment providers deny full audits of elections due to proprietary software or hardware. The American people have a right to a full audit of any election to ensure the full integrity of elections. There is no good reason to oppose this amendment but, again, it was not allowed to be debated and voted on.

And, my third amendment would have prohibited the use of voting systems produced by a foreign entity. It would also require all components of the voting systems be manufactured and maintained in the United States. Why should the votes of the American people be subject to counting using foreign equipment that cannot be audited and that may be connected to the Internet? My amendments would ban all three of these things.

By denying elected Members of Congress a vote on these amendments, Speaker Pelosi decided against providing full transparency and accountability in our federal elections. This partisan bill should be rejected.

Madam Speaker, transparency has always been a cornerstone of good government. Over the past 10 years, we have made important

progress toward making Congress more transparent and accountable to those we serve.

In 2010, I introduced a resolution calling for a 72-hour period of public availability before the House could bring a bill up for a vote, so Members of the House and the public could actually see what was in a bill before we were asked to vote for it. In 2011, the proposal was adopted into House rules as a 3-day rule.

But, sadly, this year's House rules package abolished that rule. It is incredibly sad to see that this House is moving backward and making government less open and less accountable to those we were sent here to represent.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise to pay tribute to a great man and my longtime friend, Capt. (Ret) James Michael Kuzma. Jim passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 5, 2021, just three days shy of his 60th birthday.

Jim was born February 8, 1961 in Steubenville, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF).

Jim served 28 years with the U.S. Navy before ``retiring'' to Cocoa Beach in 2011. I say ``retiring'' in quotations because anyone who knew Jim knew that it was nearly unthinkable for him to rest. He was always thinking of creative ways to solve challenges. For the last decade, Jim served as Space Florida's Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, working to cement the state's position as a world leader in aerospace.

Recruited to Space Florida to strengthen and grow its operational support for the commercial space industry at Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Jim embraced the mission and excelled at finding ways to respond to industry's needs. He led efforts to secure Federal Aviation Administration spaceport operating licenses for both the former Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) and other former Government sites on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Jim spearheaded the transfer of the SLF to Space Florida's management and operation, and he was instrumental in attracting Blue Origin to base its orbital program in Florida. For the past two years, he worked tirelessly to ensure a solution for replacing NASA's 1964 Indian River Bridge that would meet the spaceport's needs far into the future. These were only a few examples Jim's accomplishments to further America's space program in positive ways.

Jim visited my office frequently in Washington, advocating for the commercial space industry, offering creative solutions to problems, and urging needed regulatory reform to ensure America's leadership in space. He served on the Board of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, and more recently on the CSF Executive Committee.

Jim began his Naval service on the USS Jacksonville SSN 699. He went on to Naval Sea Systems Command, serving during 1988 through 90 as a Fleet Liaison and Systems Test Director for various submarine Combat and Weapons System Program Offices. He served as Engineering Officer on the USS Newport News SSN 750 from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, he was assigned to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. He served as the Executive Officer on USS Atlanta SSN 712 from October 1996 to July 1998 before reporting to Submarine Warfare Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) staffer where he served as Submarine Combat Systems Requirements Officer. Following that, he served as the Commanding Officer of the USS Boise 764 from March 2001 until October 2003. He then became Deputy Director for Operations on the staff of the Commander, Naval Submarine Forces from 2003 to 2005. From October 2005 to August 2007, Captain Kuzma served as Special Activities Division Chief on Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance staff before attending the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) from August 2007 to June 2008. He rounded off his impressive Naval career as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Ordnance Test Unit in Cape Canaveral (2008-2011).

Captain Kuzma's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Yet, he never spoke about them. Jim was indeed

passionate about his work, but his greatest joy in life was his family. Anyone who spent time around Jim instantly knew that he was a family man; he delighted in attending concerts and visiting theme parks with his family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by Karen, his wife of 36 years, their four children, James Michael II (Andrea Pinzon- Garcia), William Jordan (Patricia Kuzma), Lauren Rose (Aaron Possinger) and Candace Marie and five grandchildren, Ariana, Lillian, Camilo, Adelaide, and Maverick. He is also survived by his mother, Catherine Kuzma, and mother-in-law, Candace Jordan. He is also survived by innumerable friends and colleagues, who all miss him dearly.

On a personal note, I am proud to have called Jim my friend for many years. Jim served on my selection board for the U.S. Naval Academy. He believed in the importance of serving our nation and was a strong supporter of our brave men and women in military uniform as well as our military veterans. Jim was proud of our nation's space program, worked tirelessly to promote America's mission in Space along with our commercial space endeavors, and was champion for local businesses in Brevard County, Florida.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Captain James Kuzma for a lifetime of service to the United States and his fellow citizens. I would also like to ask my colleagues in the House to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Jim's family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I have been reading the COVID ``unrelated'' relief bill. At least when President Trump was borrowing money to keep the economy from crashing, he was creating jobs, making America energy independent--lowering gasoline and fuel prices for every American family--lowering unemployment, protecting our borders, rebuilding our military, and so on.

Now, however, with the assistance of this Chamber, this administration is doing just the opposite.

It sounds like something right from the pages of Saul Alinsky's book, ``Rules for Radicals,'' how malcontents propose to destroy America.

This COVID ``unrelated'' relief bill is more about keeping America closed and funding liberal policies than getting past this virus, and it is outrageous.

Mr. Speaker, through the National Security Act, Congress required that the Secretary of Defense be from civilian life and placed a limitation on the appointment of former military personnel to that position mandating that a nominee be retired from military service for ten years. In 2008, Congress shortened that period to seven years.

I have several concerns which I would like to express and go on record in opposition to providing a waiver. First, I thank the General for his service to our nation in uniform. I have reservations about providing yet another waiver from the law intended to preserve civilian leadership in the role of Secretary of Defense. If confirmed as Secretary of Defense by the U.S. Senate, after fewer than five years from his last military assignment, General Lloyd Austin (Ret.) will be expected to uphold the principles of civilian control of the military.

My hope is that General Austin's focus will be ensuring that our nation is prepared to meet head-on the threat posed by adversaries including China, Russia, and Iran. He should follow and focus on the bipartisan 2018 National Defense Strategy that stresses the need to strengthen our military for potential major conflict. Mr. Austin should work to preserve the strategic nuclear triad, protect and ensure American space superiority, and maintain Naval supremacy as cornerstones of our freedom.

Serving as our nation's Secretary of Defense is an awesome responsibility and I await the U.S. Senate vetting General Austin as the U.S. Senate has the responsibility under the Constitution of reviewing Presidential nominees.

In our campaigns, we may be adversaries, but usually, after campaign season is over, we have traditionally come together for the good of our Nation.

Now more than ever in our lifetimes, we are a divided Nation. One of the reasons? The resist movement, which has harassed, harangued, and otherwise denigrated the President since the second he became the nominee.

While his sins may be different than yours or mine, they are clearly not treasonous. Let our men and women in blue, who suffered a lot more stress than the Members of Congress they protected, have the time they deserve to recuperate, and do the same for millions of Americans who feel they have been disenfranchised.

I beseech my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: If you truly want our Nation to heal, vote ``no'' on this resolution.

It reeks of nothing more than revenge and sets a dangerous precedent. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the objection.

Madam Speaker, as you have heard from both sides of the aisle over and over and over today and tonight, Members of Congress take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Clearly, the Constitution says State legislatures make voting laws, period, end of subject. And, clearly, in Pennsylvania and some other States, nonlegislators changed those voting laws.

No matter who wins or who loses, those are violations of the Constitution whether you, me, or anyone else likes it or not.

As Congressman Davidson pointed out, over a dozen FBI agents were immediately dispatched to fully investigate Bubba Wallace's garage door. But, sadly, the FBI never responded to my request to investigate massive voting irregularity accusations, like the video footage from Georgia that we all wished we didn't see.

Neither has the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Postal Inspector General, the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and, saddest of all, the U.S. Department of Justice.

The right to vote is not only a constitutional right, it is also a civil right, and we must protect it. Running a fair and transparent election is not something America should run away from. It is something we must live up to.

Every eligible American has a right to have their vote counted and the right to feel confident that his or her vote was counted, not neutralized by an illegal vote.

Otherwise, I fear our Republic is doomed. That is why I implore you to support a full investigation.

Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the fine gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Madam Speaker, in addition to all of the evils of the new rules package, as you have already heard, eliminating the comparative print requirement is the single biggest damage you can do to transparency and accountability in this House.

The comparative print requirement was a top priority of the bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, a number one, top priority of the bipartisan committee. Every State in the country that I know of uses comparative print. It shows you clearly what language in the bill actually changes the law. States can do it, but this great U.S. House of Representatives just can't seem to do it.

It is an absolutely shameful thing, and I urge Members of the House to oppose this horrible rules package that destroys transparency and accountability.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Mr. Ronald E. Feile of Titusville, FL, a constituent who recently retired after thirty-six years of working at the Kennedy Space Center as an air traffic controller, and, most recently as a lead contractor for the Washington Consulting Group.

Ronald Feile began his aviation career in the U.S. Army where he served as part of a mobile VFR tower crew in Vietnam from April 1970 through November 1971. In 1971, he became control chief of combined tower and radar facility and was placed in charge of training personnel and scheduling logistical supply which was vital to our operation in Vietnam. He also served as flight operations liaison to the South Vietnamese army and earned the Army Commendation Medal.

Following his military service and service as an air traffic controller with the FAA, Ron was recruited to work on our space program at the Cape serving as the lead Air Traffic Controller for the Shuttle Landing Facility and the Military Radar Unit. In that role, Ron was intimately involved with our Shuttle program, coordinating air and ground support for Shuttle launch and landing events. He also provided his expertise for major satellite and launch payload deliveries.

Throughout his career, Ron has been awarded NASA's Silver Snoopy Award and NASA's Space Flight Awareness Award. He was also interviewed by NASA as part of its oral history of the Shuttle program. In addition to these honors, he will receive the highest tribute for those in aviation history. Ronald Freile's name will be inscribed in the wall of the Air and Space Museum. Ron's name will join the names of Buzz Aldrin, the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindberg, John Glenn, Ameila Earhart, and countless other pioneers of our aviation history.

Having worked on our nation's space program as a young man, I have come to know many of the great Americans like Ron who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation and making our space program so successful. I ask members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join me and Ron's family, friends, and colleagues at the Washington Consulting Group in recognizing his work and contribution to America's mission in space.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, it is about time for a bipartisan amendment after all that stuff, and we are going to offer one here. That is why I rise in support of this amendment offered by my colleague, Frederica Wilson, and myself.

The amendment highlights the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon and back, which launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. On July 20, 1969, NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first historic steps on the Moon and declared: ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.''

It was the greatest technological feat in the history of mankind. And what makes it even more remarkable is when we think back 50 years ago, this was all done with slide rules. Our daughters' iPhones have thousands of times more power than all of the Apollo computers combined.

This amendment is offered to honor Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, the men and women of NASA, and especially the contractors in virtually every State across the Nation who made that possible with the support of the American taxpayers, without whose support the Apollo program would not have been possible.

Space exploration is one of the greatest examples of American leadership and the boldness of the human spirit. It is important to our national security, our technological advancement, and, ultimately, the survival of our species.

Space is also vital to the American economy. The space industry generates more than $400 billion in economic activity. In Florida alone, the space industry impact totals over $19 billion annually and 130,000 jobs.

In recognition of the historic achievement of the Apollo 11 mission, I want to urge my colleagues to cosponsor H. Res. 443, the bipartisan resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Madam Chairwoman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), my good friend and staunch space supporter.

Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to join Congresswoman Wilson and I in supporting this bipartisan amendment and cosponsoring H. Res. 443.

I would like to thank Congresswoman Wilson for her working with me on this issue, and many other space-related issues, and I would also like to thank her staffer, Jean Roseme and our own John Schweikert for their help in moving this forward.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and his kind remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1237, the COAST Research Act, of which I am an original cosponsor.

Those of us who live on the coast understand that the coast is an essential part of our lives. In my own State of Florida, approximately 80 percent of the population lives along the coast. About 6 million people work in our coastal communities and produce nearly $280 billion a year in wages and contribute over $700 billion in gross domestic product.

Today, we face uncertainty about the sustainability and the resilience of our coasts. Parts of our coast have come under assault from the ocean itself, even before anyone imagined anything about sea level rise.

Acidification presents uncertainties in the ocean and could pose severe effects to the biodiversity of our marine wildlife.

Along the Space Coast, we have seen a recent plague of algal blooms that foul our estuaries and threaten our economy. It is serious and it is heartbreaking.

The message is clear: We need to take care of our precious coast so that we can continue to enjoy the lifestyle and the economic well-being that we all cherish.

We must work with the Federal Government in the interest of improving our coastal resilience. That is why I have joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici in directing NOAA to pick up the role of leading research for coastal acidification.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record four letters of support for the COAST Research Act from the following organizations: the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, the Surfrider Foundation, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Northwest fisheries groups.

Consortium for Ocean Leadership,

Washington, DC, March 1, 2019.

Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Bonamici: On behalf of the Consortium

for Ocean Leadership (COL), which represents our nation's

leading ocean science, research, and technology organizations

from academia, industry, and aquariums, I am writing to

express support for the Coastal and Ocean Acidification

Stressors and Threats (COAST) Research Act (H.R. 6267).

America relies on our ocean and coastal communities for our

basic individual needs as well as our overall security and

prosperity. Keeping these environments, and therefore their

communities, safe from the myriad threats associated with

ocean acidification is paramount to our ocean security. COL

applauds the COAST Research Act in its mission to strengthen

existing ocean acidification initiatives and introduce new

strategies to better understand and manage this environmental

stressor.

Ocean acidification, which occurs as the ocean absorbs

higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide,

threatens the health of the entire ocean. As corals,

shellfish, and many types of plankton struggle to create and

maintain their shells or exoskeletons in more acidic waters,

ocean food webs are disrupted. This, in turn, threatens the

crucial balance in many ecosystems, as well as our own food

security, and jeopardizes the stability of those whose

livelihoods depend on a healthy ocean. Combatting the causes

and mitigating the effects of ocean acidification requires

sustained congressional support and interagency

collaboration, as well as engagement from stakeholders in the

private sector and academia. I strongly commend the COAST

Research Act's commitment to advancing ocean acidification

research and monitoring efforts, as well as promoting

cooperation among stakeholder groups.

I offer my sincere thanks to you, Congresswoman Bonamici,

along with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Congressmen Don

Young and Bill Posey, for your bipartisan efforts to help us

better understand ocean acidification and improve overall

ocean health by strengthening federal investments in the

research and increasing monitoring of changing ocean

conditions. Our lives and our future may well depend on it.

Respectfully,

Jonathan W. White,

RADM (Ret.), USN,

President and CEO.

Mr. Speaker, we must not fail to preserve the sustainability and resilience of our coastal resources, our environments, and our economies.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the COAST Research Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and his kind words.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 988, the National Estuaries and Acidification Research Act.

First, I want to thank Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Congressman Brian Mast for working with me and our staff to advance this important bipartisan legislation. I also want to thank the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for their valuable input.

The NEAR Act is a national proposal with a very special connection. People in my district, the Eighth Congressional District of Florida, understand in a very deep way the economic and environmental importance of the ocean and our estuary.

My district is bounded on the east by the Indian River Lagoon, which is North America's most diverse estuary. As the name implies, our estuary is a lagoon. It is an estuary separated from the ocean by barrier islands. The exchange of waters between the lagoon and the sea makes it an estuary.

The lagoon is 156 miles long, but it is only a half mile to 5 miles wide and averages just 3 feet in depth. Our lagoon is a wondrous nursery for sea life, but its physical features make it especially vulnerable to environmental threats. Unfortunately, the Indian River Lagoon and other valuable estuaries throughout our country are being threatened by ocean acidification, along with other stressors.

EPA tells us that, when carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, about one-third of that carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater, creating carbonic acid. We have seen this happen in the ocean, but this process is now seeming to occur in estuaries and coastal zones.

Ten years of Federal investments in ocean acidification research show that acidification hurts tourism, recreational fishing, and coastal communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems. Shellfish are especially at peril.

The threats of coastal acidification to our environment and our economy

are significant. The story of my district and the Indian River Lagoon plays out along our entire national coastline. More than half of the U.S. population lives in coastal areas.

Coastal watershed counties provide an estimated 69 million U.S. jobs and contribute an estimated $7.9 trillion to the GDP, annually. That is why I joined with Congresswoman Bonamici to cofound the bipartisan Congressional Estuary Caucus to work for policies that preserve and restore our estuaries and to help support other efforts like research and development to contribute to healthy estuaries.

Regrettably, we don't know a lot about how increasing ocean acidification affects a nearshore water body like the Indian River Lagoon. That is because acidification often acts, alongside other coastal processes, like runoff, erosion, and upwelled water from the ocean.

These estuary conditions aren't present in the same way in the open ocean, and they make it difficult to measure acidification's impact from what we know about the open ocean. As a result, we don't yet have a great way to measure how acidification plays out in estuaries. We need more research to support efforts to prevent and mitigate coastal acidification.

The NEAR Act is a great step toward increasing our knowledge of how acidification affects our estuaries. The study proposed in this bill can give us invaluable information to bolster our efforts to preserve and restore healthy estuaries.

Mr. Speaker, when we take care of our environment, we take care of ourselves; and, therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in taking this important step toward understanding how ocean acidification affects our precious estuaries and support this bill today.