Welcome to the 50th Congressional District of California Represented by Congressman Brian Bilbray
Welcome to the 50th Congressional District of California Represented by Congressman Brian Bilbray
For Immediate Release
April 4, 2007
Contact: Kurt Bardella
(202) 225-5452		  
     

CONGRESSMAN BRIAN BILBRAY

INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY OF OUR NATION’S BEACHES
   
   
(Washington D.C.)- Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) recently introduced H.R. 909, the Safe Water Improvement and Modernization (SWIM) Act of 2007.  “San Diego’s beaches are national treasures and are a vibrant example of the world-class quality of life San Diegans enjoy,” Congressman Bilbray said.  “Every year, our region is a destination for vacationing families, making our coasts vital to the health of our region’s tourism industry.  That is why we need to make every effort to keep our beaches clean, healthy and safe.”

 

The SWIM Act of 2007 reauthorizes the programs included in the Beaches Environmental and Coastal Health Act (BEACH) authored by Congressman Bilbray in 2000.  Signed into law by President Clinton, the BEACH Act required local, state and the federal government to work in cooperation with one another to update their water quality criteria and established national standards for beach monitoring and public notification.  The BEACH Act expanded the federal government’s role in beach monitoring and public notification programs and provided federal funding to help states develop and implement these necessary programs.  In return, states adopted enforceable standards for water quality and regularly tested coastal waters for health-threatening pollution. 

 

Since its implementation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that the BEACH Act has resulted in significantly improved and expanded beach monitoring.  In 1997, only 1,000 beaches were being monitored nationwide.  After 2000, when the bill was signed into law, that number rose to more than 3,500.  As of 2004, 35 coastal and Great Lakes states have up-to-date water quality criteria, up from only 11 in 2000.

 

Congressman Bilbray added, “Our beaches are widely used and it is a matter of protecting public health to ensure they are safe for everyone.  We have made tremendous progress in strengthening efforts to ensure we have healthier beaches and cleaner coastal waters.  These successful programs must be allowed to continue,” he continued. 

 

The SWIM Act of 2007 will reauthorize these programs through 2012.  It also allows for the EPA to conduct a three-year study on the benefits of utilizing new technology to produce more efficient water-quality testing results.   

 

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Congressman Brian Bilbray Representing the 2nd Congressional District of California