Marine Disease Emergency Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, part of the wonder of being a
kid is discovering the world around us, you know, feeling the trunks of
trees, picking up sticks, going to the beach, and picking up whatever
you find, overturning rocks and looking for creatures. But around the
Puget Sound and on the Atlantic coast and the Pacific, marine disease
is ravaging sea stars, just like this, 20 species dying quickly,
literally melting away.

When disease like this breaks out, how are we going to stop it? The
truth of the matter is we have absolutely no system in place to
respond--none. So today I introduce the bicoastal, bipartisan Marine
Disease Emergency Act.

The Marine Disease Emergency Act speeds up the process to address
these outbreaks, providing the right resources and the right time to
the scientists and researchers so that they can respond quickly.
Responding fast is crucial to preventing widespread exposure or, worst
case scenario, extinction.

I ask my colleagues to please join me in supporting the Marine
Disease Emergency Act.

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