H.R.897 — Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
House Roll Call
H.R.897
| Bill | H.R.897 — Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended |
| Vote type | 2/3 Yea-And-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 349 / Nay 19 / Present 0 / Not Voting 64 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 173 | 19 | 0 | 27 |
| D | 176 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Bill Analysis
The Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (HR 897) aims to establish the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary, a designated area intended to protect and preserve significant underwater ecosystems off the coast of Alabama. The bill seeks to safeguard unique marine habitats, particularly the submerged forests of ancient cypress trees, which are critical for biodiversity and serve as essential nurseries for various marine species.
The legislation grants the Secretary of Commerce the authority to designate the sanctuary, which will encompass approximately 1,000 square miles of submerged lands. This designation will provide federal protection against activities that could harm the ecosystem, such as destructive fishing practices, oil drilling, and other forms of marine pollution. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be the primary agency responsible for the sanctuary’s management and enforcement of regulations.
Funding for the sanctuary’s establishment and ongoing management is anticipated to come from federal appropriations, grants, and partnerships with state and local entities, as well as potential contributions from nonprofit organizations and private stakeholders. The bill emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the sanctuary’s management, promoting educational programs and public awareness initiatives to foster stewardship of the marine environment.
Key beneficiaries of the sanctuary include local fishing communities, tourism operators, and conservation organizations, all of whom stand to gain from the enhanced protection of marine resources and the potential for increased ecotourism. Additionally, the sanctuary is expected to provide recreational opportunities for divers and nature enthusiasts.
The bill has been received in the Senate, where it has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for further consideration. The timeline for further action remains uncertain, pending the committee’s review and potential recommendations for advancement.
Yea (349)
C
Colin Allred
K
Kelly Armstrong
E
Earl Blumenauer
L
Larry Bucshon
M
Michael Burgess
C
Cori Bush
K
Ken Calvert
Y
Yadira Caraveo
J
Jerry Carl
M
Matt Cartwright
L
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
G
Gerald Connolly
J
Jason Crow
A
Anthony D'Esposito
J
John Duarte
J
Jeff Duncan
A
Anna Eshoo
A
A. Ferguson
S
Scott Franklin
M
Matt Gaetz
M
Mike Garcia
G
Garret Graves
M
Mark Green
J
Jeff Jackson
D
Daniel Kildee
D
Derek Kilmer
D
Doug Lamborn
J
Jake LaTurner
B
Barbara Lee
B
Blaine Luetkemeyer
K
Kathy Manning
L
Lucy McBath
L
Lisa McClain
P
Patrick McHenry
M
Marcus Molinaro
G
Grace Napolitano
W
Wiley Nickel
B
Bill Pascrell
K
Katie Porter
C
Cathy Rodgers
C
C. Ruppersberger
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
A
Abigail Spanberger
M
Michelle Steel
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
M
Michael Waltz
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
B
Brad Wenstrup
B
Brandon Williams
Nay (19)
D
Dan Bishop
B
Bob Good
D
Debbie Lesko
A
Alexander Mooney
B
Bill Posey
M
Matthew Rosendale
Not Voting (64)
J
Jamaal Bowman
T
Tony Cárdenas
L
Lloyd Doggett
R
Ruben Gallego
J
John Garamendi
K
Kay Granger
R
Raúl Grijalva
S
Sheila Jackson Lee
A
Ann Kuster
M
Mary Peltola
G
Greg Pence
D
Dean Phillips
J
John Sarbanes
E
Eric Swalwell
D
David Trone
J
Jennifer Wexton
S
Susan Wild