Opening Statement By Chairman Nick Lampson

Good morning. I want to welcome everyone to today’s hearing on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and how HABs are impacting our coastlines, marine, and freshwaters.  Our marine and fresh waters are overflowing with life.  However under the right conditions some of the naturally occurring microorganisms found in these waters can create toxic conditions.

Harmful algal blooms can cause a tremendous amount of damage through the production of toxins and by reducing oxygen in the water.  Many of our coastal areas and the Great Lakes are experiencing the impacts of these blooms.  These impacts include alteration of the ocean’s food web, human illnesses, and economic losses to coastal communities and commercial fisheries.  Our Texas Parks and Wildlife Department monitors these blooms to communicate pollution threats to the public.  They have continued to work hard to respond to incidents where fish and other animals have been harmed.

The research and response needs for the U.S. have grown since the last reauthorization of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act in 2004.  There has been an increase in the number, frequency, and type of HABs in recent years.

We need to use the advances in our understanding of these blooms to better predict their occurrence and prevent them, if possible.  Fishery and beach closures are very costly events that can devastate the economies of coastal communities.  We have a distinguished panel of witnesses here today, and I hope they will offer us recommendations on how we can improve the prevention, control and management of Harmful Algal Blooms.

I want to thank all of our witnesses for being here today.  At this time, I would like to recognize our distinguished Ranking Member, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, for his opening statement.