“Washington, DC – 395 Members of humhe U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, to help fight ocean acidification Wednesday.

The Ocean Acidification Innovation Act, which was also co-sponsored by Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Don Young (AK-AL), would allow federal agencies to use existing funds to conduct prize competitions to increase the ability to research, monitor, and manage ocean acidification and its impacts.

“We know that changing ocean chemistry threatens entire livelihoods and industries in our state. So, this bipartisan bill is really about jobs,” said Rep. Kilmer.“There are generations of folks in our coastal communities who have worked in fishing and shellfish growing, but that’s endangered if we don’t maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean. This bill creates a strong incentive for experts to focus on developing innovative solutions to this serious challenge. I’m proud that the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act passed the House today and hope the Senate will move swiftly to consider this bill and the other legislation passed by the House today to help combat ocean acidification.”

According to a report by the Washington Sea Grant in 2015, Washington state is the nation’s leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels. The Washington Shellfish Initiative estimated that state shellfish growers directly and indirectly employ more than 2,700 people and provide an estimated total economic contribution of $184 million.

The Ocean Acidification Innovation Act was approved in the House 395-22.”