Estuary legislation passes House committee including protections for MS Sound

Legislation aimed at protecting our Mississippi Sound is progressing through the halls of the U.S. Capitol.

Legislation to direct the EPA to review Mississippi’s proposal to join the National Estuary Program was passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

If final approval is given, the law would open up the Mississippi Sound Estuary Program to potential federal funding for environmental protection and research.

Mississippi is currently the only Gulf Coast state without a nationally designated estuary.

In a statement after the bill’s passage through committee, Congressman Mike Ezell say it is a critical step forward to ensure Mississippi gets a seat at the table when it comes to environmental protections.