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Congressman reintroduces bill requiring federal plan to combat harmful algal blooms

2019 year for better water quality
Angela Rozier
Reporter
Congressman reintroduces bill requiring federal plan to combat harmful algal blooms

2019 year for better water quality

WEBVTT TO LIMIT THOSE DISCHARGE THIS IS WHAT SOME HERE ON THE TREASURE COAST HAD TO DEAL WITH IN 2018, HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. BUT WITH THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA CLEAN COASTAL WATERS ACT, CONGRESSMAN BRIAN MAST IS EXCITED ABOUT 2019 >> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO AN AMAZING YEAR FOR THE WATER OF THE TREASURE COAST AND THE WATER OF OTHER AREAS. ANGELA: THE CONGRESSMAN SAYS IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS THE GOVERNOR REQUESTED ASSISTANC FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN CLEANING UP THOSE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. THOSE REQUESTS WERE DENIED. >> THE PASSAGE OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION NOW CREATES A ROUTE WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN SAY, YES, WE’LL BE YOUR 50-50 PARTNER ON CLEANING UP THESE ALGAL BLOOMS WHEN THEY OCCUR. ANGELA: HE EXPLAINS WHEN IT COMES TO BETTER WATER QUALITY, THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS NEW YEAR. >> WE PASSED THE APPROVAL FOR THE RESERVOIR SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE. WE’RE WORKING ON THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THA THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND HIS U.S. ARMY CORP ENGINEERS AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING FOR HIM UNDER THER THEY’RE WORKING TO EXPEDITE THEIR PROGRAMS TO GET ALL THESE PASSED SO WE CAN GET THEIR APPROPRIATIONS. THAT’S A BIG AND IMPORTANT POSITIVE. ANGELA: CRISTINA MALDONADO KNOWS FIRST-HAND ABOUT THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS THE STUART VETERINARIAN TREATED PETS WHO BECAME ILL AFTER DRINKING WATER TAINTED WITH BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. SHE LIKES WHAT SHE’S HEARING FROM THE CONGRESSMAN. >> ALL THE LITTLE THINGS A GOING TO HELP A LITTLE BIT AND EACH YEAR IT’LL HELP A LITT BIT MORE, AND SO I THINK THERE IS A GENERAL SENSE OF OPTIMISM RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT BETWEEN T CONGRESSMAN AND GOVERNOR-ELECT DESANTIS, I THINK THEY’RE
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Congressman reintroduces bill requiring federal plan to combat harmful algal blooms

2019 year for better water quality
Angela Rozier
Reporter
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast today reintroduced the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act."I think this is going to be an amazing year for the water on the Treasure Coast and the water of other areas," said Mast.He said that, in previous administrations, the governor requested assistance from the executive branch in cleaning up harmful algal blooms and those requests were denied."The passage of this piece of legislation now creates a route where the federal government can say, 'Yes, we'll be your 50-50 partner in cleaning up these algal blooms when they occur,'" said Mast.According to a statement released by Mast, the bill amends the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act. In late 2018, Congress passed legislation written by Mast and former Senator Bill Nelson, of Florida, to reauthorize this critical federal program that works to research and combat harmful algal blooms and make federal funding available to communities suffering from outbreaks and toxic algae.“We made serious progress last year with the authorization of the EAA Southern (Storage) Reservoir and the mandate to redo the Lake Okeechobee discharge schedule, but there is a lot more that needs to be done. Considering the massive damage algal blooms have caused in our community, it’s ridiculous that a federal program specifically designed to combat algal blooms has never done an Everglades-specific analysis,” said Mast. “This bill will mandate a comprehensive plan for the state and federal government to work together to clean up our waterways.”Cristina Maldonado, a veterinarian from Stuart, knows firsthand about the harmful algal blooms.Maldonado treated pets who became ill after drinking water tainted with blue-green algae.She likes what she's hearing from Mast. "All the little things are going to help a little bit and each year it'll help a little bit more and I think there is a general sense of optimism right now," Maldonado said. "I think that, between the congressman and Governor elect DeSantis, I think they're going to be a strong team to get as much done as possible."
STUART, Fla. —

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast today reintroduced the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act.

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"I think this is going to be an amazing year for the water on the Treasure Coast and the water of other areas," said Mast.

He said that, in previous administrations, the governor requested assistance from the executive branch in cleaning up harmful algal blooms and those requests were denied.

"The passage of this piece of legislation now creates a route where the federal government can say, 'Yes, we'll be your 50-50 partner in cleaning up these algal blooms when they occur,'" said Mast.

According to a statement released by Mast, the bill amends the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act. In late 2018, Congress passed legislation written by Mast and former Senator Bill Nelson, of Florida, to reauthorize this critical federal program that works to research and combat harmful algal blooms and make federal funding available to communities suffering from outbreaks and toxic algae.

“We made serious progress last year with the authorization of the EAA Southern (Storage) Reservoir and the mandate to redo the Lake Okeechobee discharge schedule, but there is a lot more that needs to be done. Considering the massive damage algal blooms have caused in our community, it’s ridiculous that a federal program specifically designed to combat algal blooms has never done an Everglades-specific analysis,” said Mast. “This bill will mandate a comprehensive plan for the state and federal government to work together to clean up our waterways.”

Cristina Maldonado, a veterinarian from Stuart, knows firsthand about the harmful algal blooms.

Maldonado treated pets who became ill after drinking water tainted with blue-green algae.

She likes what she's hearing from Mast.

"All the little things are going to help a little bit and each year it'll help a little bit more and I think there is a general sense of optimism right now," Maldonado said. "I think that, between the congressman and Governor elect DeSantis, I think they're going to be a strong team to get as much done as possible."