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www.sea-technology.com July 2014 / st 51 Amendments Act of 2013, which reauthorizes the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when colonies of al- gae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful ef- fects on people, fsh, shellfsh, marine mammals and birds. The bill maintains and enhances an interagency program led by NOAA, which will be responsible for promoting a national strategy to help communities understand, predict, control and mitigate freshwater and marine HAB and hy- poxia events; enhancing, coordinating and assessing the activities of existing HABs and hypoxia programs; providing for development of a comprehensive research plan and ac- tion strategy, including a regional approach to understand- ing and responding to HAB events; and requiring an assess- ment and plan for Great Lakes HABs and hypoxia. "Authorization for the programs under the Harmful Al- gal Bloom Research and Control Act expired in 2010, so this reauthorization is long overdue," said Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.). "The rapid overproduction of algae can have devastating ef- fects on aquatic plants and animals, as well as on human health. For coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems and com- munities that depend on fshing and tourism to sustain their economies, the effect of algae blooms is a threat to their livelihood. The cost of these blooms has been estimated to be around $82 million each year, a signifcant hit to the economy in areas that are still struggling to recover." The programs authorized by the act "will become in- creasingly important as coastal populations increase and changes in the environment, such as warmer water temper- atures, have the potential to alter the growth, toxicity and geographic distribution of algal blooms," Bonamici said. Ocean Champions Endorses Aimee Belgard For House New Jersey Seat Ocean Champions, which works to build political power for the oceans by helping to re-elect pro-ocean candidates to the U.S. Congress, endorsed Democratic nominee Aimee Belgard for the U.S. House of Representatives seat being va- cated by Rep. John Runyan (R-N.J.) in New Jersey's Third District. This district has been represented by Runyan, who opposes the National Ocean Policy, for the past four years. Belgard, an environmental attorney, has a long career in local politics where she has prioritized environmental is- sues at all levels of state and local government. She aims to continue that record in Congress by working to expand al- ternative energy sources, curb pollution, and keep the Jersey coast clean for generations to come. US House Passes Bill Prohibiting NOP Funding, Increasing NOAA Weather Research Funding The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4660, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science and related agencies for the fscal year ending September 30, 2015. The bill includes Rep. Bill Flores's (R-Texas) amendment that prohibits funds from be- ing used to implement Executive Order 13547 (75 Fed. Reg. 43023, relating to the stewardship of oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes), including the National Ocean Policy devel- oped under this Executive Order. Rep. Jim Bridenstine's (R- Okla.) amendment increases funding, by offset, for NOAA by $12 million for weather research. n Sen. Levin to Introduce Great Lakes Cultural Heritage Assessment Act Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) announced at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's (NMSF) 12th annual Ocean Awards Gala in June that he would introduce the Great Lakes Cultural Heritage Assessment Act in July. Levin's pro- posed bill would direct NOAA to identify underwater areas in the Great Lakes that possess signifcant historical and ar- chaeological resources and consider recommendation for designation as national marine sanctuaries. The bill followed an announcement from Counselor to the U.S. President John Podesta that NOAA is releasing the fnal rule reopening the Sanctuary Nomination and Evalua- tion Process. More information is available at www.NMSFo cean.org/sanctuary-nomination-process. NOAA had not been able to accept nominations for new national marine sanctuaries since 1995. Obama Signs WRRDA Into Law, Authorizes Georgia SHEP Project to Begin After a seven-year hiatus in reauthorizing new U.S. wa- ter resources legislation, President Barack Obama signed the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) into law. "This WRRDA legislation will produce a more effcient maritime infrastructure that strengthens our position as a global trade leader," said American Association of Port Au- thorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle. Nagle lauded the leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works who crafted the new WRRDA legislation, along with the WRRDA reforms, that enables expedited navigation project studies, creates more fexibility for capital investment, advances construction on new maritime infrastructure, and establishes a means for donor port equity. Nagle noted that by establishing targets for full use of the Harbor Maintenance Tax revenues for their intended pur- poses, "Congress has achieved a major milestone by setting the bar for putting the 'trust' back into the Harbor Mainte- nance Trust Fund." The signing of WRRDA authorized construction to begin on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). Georgia will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to defne how the costs of the project, estimated at $706 million, will be shared between the state and federal government. Georgia's government had set aside $266 million for construction. Federal studies show that for every dollar invested in the port deepening, the U.S. economy will reap $5.50 in net benefts. Lower prices per container slot on Post-Panamax vessels will save U.S. companies moving goods through Sa- vannah 20 to 40 percent on transportation. US House Passes Reauthorization of Act To Control Algal Blooms, Hypoxia The U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control capital report