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Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) today joined Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 14 of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives on a letter urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to immediately begin work on a Congressional mandated examination of the causes, consequences and approaches to reduce hypoxia and harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes and freshwater bodies.

“Our Great Lakes are one of our greatest national treasures,” said Latta. “Therefore, it is imperative that we have comprehensive information regarding the causes, consequences and approaches that have been taken to combat harmful algal blooms that are threatening the lakes’ health. NOAA’s prioritization of the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act is vital to these efforts, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement long-term solutions that will protect our Great Lakes for current and future generations.” 

The President recently signed into law the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, which prioritizes the combat of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes and freshwater bodies for the first time. Section 605 of the law requires NOAA to conduct and report on research regarding how to combat harmful algal blooms and to complete it by January 1, 2016.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

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