Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3717
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:07:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025 aims to address the threat posed by the golden mussel, an invasive non-native species that can harm aquatic ecosystems, water infrastructure, and fisheries. It establishes a targeted demonstration program to prevent, monitor, control, and eradicate this species, building on existing federal efforts to manage invasive aquatic nuisances.
Key Provisions
- Demonstration Program: The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (a federal interagency group) must partner with state and local governments, port authorities, industry, universities, and nonprofits to create a program focused on:
- Research into the golden mussel's biology, environmental limits, impacts on fish populations, water quality, and ecosystems, plus testing control methods and technologies.
- Tracking its spread with an early warning system for potential infestation areas.
- Developing control and eradication strategies for high-risk sites like abandoned boats, public infrastructure (e.g., water pipes or dams), fish screens, and waterways, including boat hull inspections.
- Providing technical help to regional, state, and local groups.
- Implementation Area: The program starts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California and expands to other U.S. waters at risk of infestation.
- Information Sharing and Guidelines: The Task Force must share research and plans via reports and publications. Within one year of enactment, it must issue guidelines for controlling and eradicating the mussel, including setting up boat inspection stations to prevent spread.
- Grant Program: A competitive grant system awards funds to states, locals, universities, nonprofits, and industry for projects developing technologies to remove mussels from water intakes, infrastructure, boats, and waterways, or studying its biology and containment.
- Allows agreements for using or selling new technologies to speed up eradication.
- Coordination and Delegation: The program guides federal agencies, states, ports, and others in implementation. The Task Force can delegate tasks to qualified entities if it improves efficiency.
- Funding: Authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to the Task Force.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "demonstration program," "grant program," and "institution of higher education" (referring to accredited colleges and universities as defined in federal education law).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 1202 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 by adding a new subsection (j) specifically for the golden mussel. It redesignates existing subsections (j) and (k) to (k) and (l). Previously, the 1990 Act focused broadly on invasive aquatic species through the Task Force but lacked a dedicated program for this particular mussel, which is not yet widespread in the U.S. but poses risks via trade and travel from regions like South America.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding for the Task Force and partner agencies (e.g., environmental and transportation departments) to coordinate research, grants, and inspections, potentially improving invasive species management nationwide.
- Citizens: Protects water quality, fishing, boating, and local economies in affected areas like California's Delta by reducing mussel-related clogs in water systems and ecosystem damage; may involve more boat inspections, affecting recreational users.
- International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. efforts in global invasive species control, as the golden mussel originates abroad, but focuses domestically without direct foreign policy changes.
- Broader Environment: Could prevent ecological harm, such as biodiversity loss in waterways, benefiting agriculture, drinking water, and wildlife.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Task Force and Agencies: Leads implementation, including environmental (e.g., EPA, Fish and Wildlife Service) and infrastructure groups.
- State and Local Governments: Receive grants, technical aid, and responsibilities for monitoring and inspections, especially in California.
- Port Authorities and Industry: Involved in hull inspections and technology development; shipping and water utilities face risks from mussel infestations.
- Institutions of Higher Education and Nonprofits: Eligible for grants to conduct research.
- Citizens and Communities: Particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and other at-risk waters, including anglers, boaters, and farmers reliant on clean waterways.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances federal authority under existing environmental laws without creating new regulatory bodies; emphasizes voluntary partnerships and delegations, reducing potential legal challenges over overreach. The one-year guideline deadline sets a clear timeline for action.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate interstate waters and environmental threats; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it promotes collaboration.
- Political: Represents bipartisan support from California representatives, highlighting regional concerns over invasive species in vital water systems. Authorizes targeted funding amid broader debates on environmental budgets, potentially setting a model for addressing emerging invasives without expansive new laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-04 — PDF (7 pages)