The House of Representatives has passed the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act, a bill introduced by Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio. This legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enroll the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program into the National Estuary Program, designating them as "Estuaries of National Significance." The Senate had unanimously approved the bill earlier this year, and it now awaits the president's signature to become law.
Senator Rick Scott commented on the development: “The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act will take important steps in our fight to protect and conserve Florida’s environment and natural resources. I am proud that our good bill was passed by the House of Representatives, unanimously passed by the Senate and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law—a major win for Florida’s panhandle.”
Senator Marco Rubio expressed his gratitude for the House's decision: “I am grateful for the House’s passage of my bill to designate the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program. The EPA’s National Estuary Program has a successful track record of cooperative federalism across the nation, including with the four existing Florida programs. Enrolling the PPBEP into this program will provide critical support for restoration, conservation, and monitoring efforts in Pensacola and Perdido Bays while enhancing economic activity in the Florida Panhandle.”
This legislative effort began in June 2021 when Senators Rubio and Scott introduced their proposal. In March 2024, they celebrated its passage through the Senate.
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