House Committee Advances Bonamici Legislation to Improve Tsunami Warnings, Address Harmful Algal Blooms

WASHINGTON, DC [11/8/23] – Today the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to improve tsunami warning systems and address harmful algal blooms.

The Committee advanced the legislation as amendments to the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, which was co-sponsored by Bonamici and designed to improve the United States’ ability to better forecast, understand, and communicate about weather. The two amendments were based on Bonamici’s Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act and Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act.

“Updating the Weather Act provides an important opportunity to make our communities safer,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m grateful that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology approved my bipartisan amendments to improve our tsunami warning systems and help protect coastal, lake, and river communities from harmful algal blooms that can disrupt local ecosystems and threaten health and the economy. I urge House leadership to quickly bring this legislation to the House floor.”

The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Amendments Act of 2023 strengthens tsunami research, detection, and warning systems, improves response and resiliency efforts, and better protects communities that are vulnerable to tsunami. Video of Bonamici’s remarks on the amendment can be found here.

The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023 (HABHRCA) helps coastal, lake, and river communities better prepare for, mitigate, and intervene in harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events. These events, which release toxins and create massive “dead zones” respectively, have deadly consequences for fish, shellfish, and local ecosystems. Video of Bonamici’s remarks on the amendment can be found here.

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