I would like to begin by welcoming our witnesses here today. In particular, I would like to pay special tribute to my friend Ted Danson. As many of you know, Ted Danson has been a leader in environmental preservation for many years. During the 11 years since he founded the organization, Ted has been a valuable advocate for protection of our coasts and a valuable friend to me. I am pleased to see him here promoting a cause he truly believes in.
I am a co-sponsor of three of the bills on the agenda today: Senator Chafee's Estuary Bill, Senator Torricelli's Estuary Bill and Senator Lautenberg's Beach Bill. All three of these bills will assist California and the entire nation in protecting and preserving our precious marine resources. I look forward to the discussion about these bills.
With 1,100 miles of coastline in California, these bills are critical to protecting our marine environment, maintaining a healthy population and promoting a strong economy. Californians know that the health of our economy is inextricably linked to the health of our coastal and marine resources.
I commend you Mr. Chairman for your estuary bill. S. 835, the Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1999 establishes a program to restore 1 million acres of estuary habitat by 2010. This is a laudable and much needed goal. I strongly support this effort.
I would also like to commend Senator Lautenberg for his beach bill. This legislation is not only important for environmental restoration, but also for protecting public health and safety.
Mr. Chairman, when people go to enjoy our beaches, they should go home with a tan, not a tummy ache. Unfortunately, all along our nation's coasts, beach waters are being contaminated by land-based pollution. Bacteria, viruses, toxic chemicals, nitrogen, and other contaminants that are dumped into beach waters by storm drains, malfunctioning septic systems, and overburdened sewage treatment plants and threatening the health of swimmers, surfers, and other beach goers.
At best, this contamination must stop. At the least, we must ensure the health and safety of the American people by establishing uniform, national standard that will be used to test beach waters for contamination. And it's not enough to just have a standard in place. There must be monitoring, and most importantly, public notification of possible harm.
However, I would like to inform the Committee that I intend to offer an amendment to this legislation that will ensure that this national standard is set at a level that protects children and sensitive sub-populations. Are children should be free to play in the waves without getting sick.
Mr. Chairman, I am a strong supporter of the bills being discussed today. I look forward to working with you and the rest of this Committee to move these bills forward expeditiously.