Estuarine and coastal acidification is gaining political traction on the national level. During June, the following two pieces of OA-related legislation were introduced in Congress:
- National Estuary and Acidification Research (NEAR) Act (HR 6270): Requests a study by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Science examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors on American estuaries and nearshore waters. Co-sponsored by Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL-8), Brian Mast (R-FL-18), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), the co-chairs of the House Estuaries Caucus.
- Amendment of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act (HR 6267): Amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to: establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, expand and improve research on Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification, establish and maintain a data archive system for Ocean Acidification data and Coastal Acidification data, and recommend funding levels for OA research. Sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1).