Committee reauthorizes National Estuary Program through 2031 and adds Mississippi Sound to list of estuaries of national significance

Representative Figures of Alabama, the lead sponsor in committee, described HR 3962 as a bipartisan reauthorization of the National Estuary Program and said it provides ‘‘long‑term certainty and stability for 28 estuaries of national significance,’’ including an addition of the Mississippi Sound. The committee adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute and, after a recorded vote, ordered the bill favorably reported to the House by a tally of 57 yeas and 2 nays.

Supporters described estuaries as critical for filtering pollutants, buffering flooding and storm surge, providing nursery habitat for fish and wildlife, and supporting local economies tied to recreation, shipping and fishing. Representative Figures noted the program’s value to Mobile Bay and thanked Roberta Swan, who leads the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and will retire later this year. Ranking Member Larson and other members emphasized the program’s bipartisan history and importance to places such as Puget Sound.

Representative Perry spoke in opposition, arguing the program is outside the scope of the federal government and that restoration efforts should be led by state and local officials; he urged that taxpayers should not be asked to pay for projects that local communities do not prioritize. The committee recorded the vote after a request for a recorded vote was made; the final tally reported in the transcript was 57 yays and 2 nays. The amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted and HR 3962 as amended was agreed to and ordered favorably reported to the House.