From the office of Congressman Andy Harris:
Today, Rep. Andy Harris’ first bill – H.R. 2484 Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011- was approved by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. The bill will likely be considered by the full Science, Space and Technology Committee later this month.
“The Chesapeake Bay is a national environmental treasure that so many Marylanders depend on for jobs,” said Rep. Andy Harris. “During these tough economic times, it is important that we continue research on the latest technologies to prevent further damage to one of Maryland’s most important economic engines.”
The bill reauthorizes and modifies the program, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Under the bill, increased emphasis is placed on developing technologies to control and respond to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and the dead zones caused through oxygen depletion. In particular, a new streamlined protocol will help move technology from the laboratory to the field. An information clearinghouse will also include toxin standards for comparative research.
It’s incredibly convenient to notice that Mr. Harris’ office puts out this press release, but fails to mention that he also voted just last week to amend the Clean Water Act in such a way that the EPA would have far less power to manage the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay.
Here’s a link to the editorial with some details. Despite the partisan swing of the editorial, the facts of the vote are pretty clear.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-harris-water-20110717,0,627885.story
I have even less respect for the integrity of Congressmen Harris’ office due to these continuing poor press releases.
What a insideous failure this Rep Harris – who voted for the guy???
Paragraph 608 of the bill fails to appropriate any money for the Chesapeake Bay. The bill gives $18M over the next 4 years specifically stating funds for the Gulf so apparently Rep Harris expects the Chesapeake Bay to take yet another one on the chin as it suits him to further his career.
Plus Section 608 says that the majority of funds should not go towards university-based research. Don’t universities get a bunch of free labor via students? Pretty clear that Rep Harris is instead making sure the money goes to BP and other polluter’s scientists as a subsidy for manufactured research that will undoubtedly prove that the Algae blooms and dead zones aren’t their fault without getting us any closer to a true root cause.
I seem to remember how reliable BP’s scientists were during the oil spill. The fact that Rep Andy Harris is giving them government handouts while voting to take grandma’s social security and medicare is truly sickening.