House adopts fisheries, climate and nitrogen resolutions

The Florida House adopted resolutions Wednesday calling on Congress to roll back federal environmental regulations or not adopt new ones.

The House adopted HB 1589, which criticizes the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed water quality standards. The EPA says nitrogen and phosphorus reductions are needed to reduce algae that is clogging waterways, but utilities and industry groups say the standards would cost the economy hundreds of billions of dollars to meet. The memorial, by Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, calls on Congress to require that the proposal be reviewed by the agency's Science Advisory Board and either the General Accounting Office or the Congressional Budget Office.

HB 553 by Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, calls on Congress to consider "all available mechanisms" to reduce the impact of grouper and snapper fishing restrictions under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 2007. The Ocean Conservancy says reducing overfishing now will allow more fishing in the future as fish stocks rebound.

HB 1535 by Rep. Sandra Adams, R-Orlando, says calls on Congress to reject cap-and-trade regulation and other "over-reaching" actions relating to climate change. Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, argued during debate that the United States should create jobs by promoting renewable energy to avoid the human costs of air pollution. All three resolutions passed by voice votes.