Rep. Mayes offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 239.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act and to increase and distribute more equitably funding for beach water quality monitoring to Michigan and other states.

            Whereas, Beaches provide recreational opportunities for millions of people and support a thriving tourism industry. However, disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from sewage and other sources can contaminate water at beaches and increase the risk of swimmers getting sick; and

            Whereas, Michigan has over 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and more than 905 swimming beaches but can only afford to monitor regularly water quality at less than 25 percent of those beaches. Swimmers at beaches without monitoring may be swimming in water that places their health at risk; and

            Whereas, The federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000 authorizes funding to assist state and local programs that monitor water quality at beaches and notify the public of any problems. This funding is critical to maintain viable monitoring programs that protect public health, detect pollution sources, and increase public confidence in beach safety; and

            Whereas, The current funding for coastal states does not accurately reflect monitoring needs. In the past, Congress has appropriated only $10 million annually for 35 state and territorial programs despite an authorization for up to $30 million; and

            Whereas, These limited funds have been allocated in a manner that creates gross inequities in funding among the states and territories. Michigan receives less funding per shoreline mile or beach than most other states and territories. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that some similarly situated states receive fifty times more funding than Michigan per shoreline mile; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act and to increase and distribute more equitably funding for beach water quality monitoring to Michigan and other states; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.