WASHINGTON - Congressman Shomari Figures (AL-02) Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee led floor debate on three bipartisan suspension bills aimed at protecting coastal communities and strengthening maritime infrastructure. At the center of the discussion was Congressman Figures' own legislation, H.R. 3962, the Enhancing Science, Treatment, and Upkeep of America's Resilient and Important Estuarine Systems Act, or ESTUARIES Act, which would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program through 2031 and add the Mississippi Sound for priority consideration. Figures also spoke in support of H.R. 4183, the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025, and S. 216, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act.

Watch Congressman Figures' floor statement(s) on YouTube!

Below are Rep. Figures' remarks, as delivered on the House floor during debate:

(1:43) - S.216, Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I too rise in support of S.216, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act, but before I express support for that I want associate myself with the comments of my colleagues for the previous resolution condemning the violence against members of the national guard from West Virgina and condemning that horrific act that took the life of Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and has left gravely injured Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.

As it relates to the Save Our Seas Act, this bill will improve the administration of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program and the Marine Debris Foundation so it can respond more effectively to the growing threats facing our coastal regions of which I represent one in Mobile, Alabama. Each year more than 11 million tons of plastic debris enters the oceans endangering the livelihood of communities, small businesses, fisherman, and our food chain that rely on healthy waterways.

Along Alabama's coastal communities, we understand how critically important reliable waterways are. This legislation takes practical steps to support the federal programs responsible for removing debris and protecting the safety and resilience of our coastal communities. The bill improves NOAAs debris program by giving the agency clearer authority to use new and existing tools to address pollution more effectively and allowing NOAA to work faster and in closer partnership with state and local governments as well as tribal nations, nonprofits, and regional organizations. The bill requires the Marine Debris Foundation to develop and implement best practices for engaging with tribal governments to ensure that they are included in the programs and funding designed to protect the water resources.

Finally, this legislation extends vital funding for marine debris removal efforts through 2029. It keeps programs running, supports long term planning, and gives communities confidence that federal partners are committed to protecting our waters and natural resources.

I am proud to support my colleagues who have worked on this important bipartisan legislation both here in the House as well as the Senate, and I look forward to seeing it passed into law.

Thank you, and I reserve the balance of my time.

(8:00) - S.216, Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

Mr. Speaker, passing this bill is an important step that we can take right now to help address the health and resilience of coastal communities like those that I represent. I support Senate Bill 216 and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I yield back the remainder of my time.

(12:34) - H.R.4183, Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H.R.4183, the Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025 as amended. This bill updates and strengthens the authorities of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), an agency that plays a critical role in ensuring an efficient, competitive, and economical maritime shipping system. And as my colleague from South Dakota indicated, it ensures that we have the resources necessary to level the playing field.

The past several years have shown how essential it is to safeguard our shipping. Disruptions in global shipping, port congestion, and fluctuating freight rates have created serious challenges for American businesses and consumers alike. This legislation authorizes funding for the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal years 2026 as well as 2027, ensuring that the agency has the consistent resources it needs over the next several years to continue its core oversight and enforcement work.

The bill strengthens FMC's ability to address anti-competitive behavior which is vitally necessary throughout the shipping industry. It also authorizes the FMC to investigate complaints against shipping exchanges concerning market manipulations and other anti-competitive practices.

The bill creates a National Port Advisory Committee and National Ocean Carrier Advisory Committee which will provide critical informed insight to ensure a more fair and efficient international ocean freight system.

I support this legislation, and I thank my colleague from South Dakota, Congressman Johnson, as well as the democratic co-sponsors of this bill, and I ask that my colleagues support it.

Thank you, and I reserve the balance of my time.

(14:22) - H.R.4183, Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation that will strengthen our Federal Maritime Commission and ensure we have a competitive, effective, and efficient maritime transportation system.

I support H.R.4183 as introduced by my colleague from South Dakota as amended and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

(18:18) - H.R.3962, ESTUARIES Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise in support of H.R.3962 as amended the Enhancing Science, Treatment, and Upkeep of America's Resilient and Important Estuarine Systems Act, also more simply known as the ESTUARIES Act.

I am proud to be the lead on this bipartisan bill. I would like to thank the co-chairs of the Estuary Caucus, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, as well as Representatives Bonamici, Haridopolos, and Mast all of whom were original co-sponsors of this bill.

The National Estuaries Program, or NEP, is an important resource for supporting locally led efforts to restore and protect the health of our coastal estuaries nationwide. This bill reauthorizes the NEP for five years and adds the Mississippi Sound to the list of estuaries for priority consideration. Reauthorization ensures continued federal support for this critical program which has protected vital habitats, improved water quality, and fostered regional resilience since its creation in 1987. Protecting and restoring Mobile Bay, which is in the heart of my district, is essential to Alabama's environment-flood protection and sea faring economy as well. Mobile Bay is now home to the deepest port in the Gulf and so protecting its surrounding estuaries is critical not just to our local economy but to our regional and national economy as well.

I want to take a moment to recognize Roberta Swann, who has led the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program since 2009 and is calling it a career at the end of this year. Ranking Member Larsen and I had the privilege of meeting with her in Mobile this past August, and her dedication to building partnerships and advancing science-based solutions is a big reason the program has been so successful in Mobile. It could not be more fitting that in the same year in which she celebrates 16 years of leadership and her retirement that her congressman has the honor of leading this reauthorization and advancing it through the house of representatives here today.

And this year the Association of National Estuary Programs fall meeting was held in Mobile which is my hometown-a powerful reminder of the Bay's national significance and of how this program brings people together to share solutions across the country.

This program funds partnerships between the EPA, states, local governments, and community stakeholders. It is very successful at leveraging not just federal dollars but on average the local NEPs raise an additional $17 for every $1 in federal funding as my colleague, Representative Johnson, also noted.

These nonfederal dollars come through in kind local, state, and private sources which are utilized by the local program leaders in accordance with their comprehensive conservation and management plans. The NEP allows the locals to lead and address the water quality issues because they know best. Projects carried out using NEP funds cover a wide range of possibilities but always keep the locals in the driver's seat. They may include protecting shoreline habitats, increasing the ecological integrity of estuaries, or building coastal resilience. Projects also may aim to improve water quality or encourage community access to coastal ecosystems. In other instances, funds may support estuaries in a broader scope such as supporting adjacent land acquisitions or upgrading nearby wastewater or stormwater infrastructure. Regardless, these decisions are made locally and based on the specific NEP program and its unique location and specific needs.

Currently, there are 28 active NEP initiatives nationwide. This includes all corners of the country from the Puget Sound Washington to Santa Monica Bay California and my home in Mobile, Alabama all the way up to Casco Bay in Maine.

I will always champion efforts like the National Estuary Program which protect and restore our critical natural resources while utilizing local knowledge and ensuring the efficient use of federal funds.

This is a program that is working. It is popular, and it deserves our support. I urge passage of the ESTUARIES Act as amended and ask all my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

(25:32) - H.R.3962, ESTUARIES Act

Mr. Speaker, to date the National Estuary Program has restored more than 2.5 Millon acres of coastal habitat nationwide. The 28 programs, soon to be 29 with the addition of the Mississippi Sound, and partnerships will work hard to address challenges we are all familiar with like harmful algal blooms, coastal erosion, and runoff pollution.

Keeping our estuaries healthy means keeping our coastal communities strong. Estuaries protect these communities from flooding, store clean water, support commercial fish habitats, and provide recreational opportunities. Let's keep working together to restore and protect these essential ecosystems. Reauthorizing the National Estuary Program will allow us to do just that.

I support H.R.3962, the ESTUARIES Act, as amended and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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