I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1008 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2023 

Mr. DONALDS (for himself, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, 

Mr. FROST, Mr. POSEY, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, 

Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Mrs. LUNA, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. MAST, 

Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. WALTZ, and Mr. C. SCOTT

FRANKLIN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combat Harmful Algal 

5 Blooms Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1008 IH

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) The presence of harmful algal blooms 

4 threaten public health, interrupt economic activity, 

5 and contribute to the ongoing degradation of ecologi6 cal communities. 

7 (2) Algal blooms are part of healthy and pro8 ductive freshwater and saltwater systems, but harm9 ful algal blooms may become intense, long-lasting, 

10 expansive, and may contain enough poisonous 

11 neurotoxins to harm marine life and humans alike. 

12 (3) Water conditions and ecological balance in 

13 marine environments depend on nutrient and salinity 

14 conditions, which are often influenced by— 

15 (A) tidal flow and circulation; 

16 (B) freshwater input from the land; 

17 (C) coastal nutrient recycling; and 

18 (D) urban development. 

19 (4) Harmful algal blooms, depending on the se20 verity, may result in the widespread mortality of ma21 rine life and aquatic specimens, which may result in 

22 unpleasant sights and smells around the impacted 

23 body of water. 

24 (5) Harmful algal blooms can force the closure 

25 of beaches, impose fishing and shellfish harvesting 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1008 IH

1 restrictions, and could even result in banning the 

2 sale of seafood at restaurants. 

3 (6) Tourism numbers can drop dramatically 

4 during harmful algal blooms, which may result in a 

5 significant economic impact to certain economies 

6 that heavily depend on bringing in visitors. 

7 (7) Property values near water sources that ex8 perience harmful algal blooms may decrease substan9 tially. 

10 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con11 gress that Congress should focus on decreasing the over12 arching impact of harmful algal blooms on public health, 

13 the economy, and the degradation of ecological commu14 nities. 

15 SEC. 3. ALGAL BLOOMS. 

16 Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

17 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)) 

18 is amended by striking ‘‘or drought’’ and inserting 

19 ‘‘drought, or algal blooms’’. 

20 SEC. 4. IMPACTS OF ALGAL BLOOMS ON AIR QUALITY. 

21 Not later than 365 days after the date of enactment 

22 of this Act, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 

23 and Prevention shall submit to the Committee on Environ24 ment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee of 

25 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1008 IH

1 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen2 ate, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the 

3 House of Representatives, the Committee on Science, 

4 Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, 

5 and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

6 House of Representatives a detailed study relating to the 

7 health effects of exposure to cyanotoxins in the air that 

8 result from algal blooms. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS