Lawmakers approve ocean acidification research bill

"Every person on this planet benefits from a healthy ocean," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), the bill's sponsor, said in a speech on the House floor Monday afternoon. Bonamici, the co-chairwoman of the House Oceans Caucus and the Congressional Estuary Caucus, said oceans and estuaries have grown more acidic as they absorb more carbon dioxide, threatening fisheries and coastal communities alike. But she said more federal research is needed because "our understanding of the long-term consequences of ocean acidification is still limited."