Arizona Representative Matt Salmon and Representative Scott Peters of California launched the Congressional Algae Caucus on Thursday. They hope to provide a forum for Members of Congress and their staffs to learn about and interact with the nascent algae industry.
With new production facilities planned or operating around the U.S., the algae industry is rapidly emerging as an opportunity to address many of the energy, food, economic, and environmental challenges facing the world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans without harmful impacts on freshwater supplies or valuable agricultural land.
“Algae-based products deserve a chance to compete on a level playing field with other technologies,” said Representative Salmon. “In my own state, we are already seeing the economic development that is possible from a thriving algae sector, from jobs to research and development. High tech jobs will help grow our economy and through this caucus, I hope to draw attention to the great economic and environmental benefits of algae production.”
The bipartisan group of members in the new caucus are Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Rep. Tom Latham (IA-03), Rep. Trey Radel (FL-19), Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01), Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02), Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03), Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01), Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), and Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50).