U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, introduced legislation in the House on Thursday that will authorize increased funding for peer-reviewed scientific research on red tide.

U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, and Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, are original co-sponsors of the bill.

Red tide, a naturally occurring algal bloom, causes respiratory problems in humans and kills fish and manatees. It also contaminates and kills shellfish and destroys coral reef and sea grass communities.

"When I was growing up in Cape Coral, red tide blooms were short-lived nuisances that came and went. Today, however, they can last months at a time, and the effects of this phenomenon have long-lasting economic, environmental, and health implications for the region,'' Mack said in a statement.

Mack's legislation will:

• Authorize $90 million over a three-year period for peer-reviewed scientific research on red tide and other harmful algal blooms.

• Require federal funds used to conduct harmful algal bloom research under this legislation be awarded on a competitive, scientifically peer-reviewed basis.

• Require the task force, which is comprised of scientists from various federal agencies, to report the results of this research annually to Congress.

Mack spokeswoman Stephanie DuBois said Mack was optimistic the bill would pass because of bipartisan support and the fact red tide is a national coastal issue.

Mack and Buchanan are expected to hold two news conferences Tuesday, one in Sarasota and one on the Pier in Sanibel Island, to discuss the legislation.