Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4047
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T09:08:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal efforts against ocean acidification—a process where oceans become more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide absorption—by requiring the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to collaborate more closely with state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. This focuses on vulnerability assessments (evaluations of risks to communities and ecosystems), research planning, and related activities to support coastal management and adaptation.
Key Provisions
- Updated Definitions: Adds or revises terms in the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009, including "Indian Tribe" (referring to federally recognized tribes under U.S. law), "Native Hawaiian organization" (groups supporting Native Hawaiian self-determination), "Subcommittee" (a National Science and Technology Council body on ocean science), and clarifies "United States" as collective states. It also refines the definition of ocean acidification to emphasize carbon dioxide increases.
- Enhanced Collaboration Mechanisms:
- Establishes ongoing input channels (e.g., liaisons, meetings, or online platforms) for stakeholders like industry members, coastal communities, fishery councils, Indigenous groups, and non-federal experts to inform research, data, and monitoring for ocean acidification management.
- Expands the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board to include two representatives from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia; reduces non-Indigenous state/local slots from six to four.
- Requires the Advisory Board to develop a policy within one year for engaging and consulting with affected Indian Tribes.
- Mandates NOAA to collaborate with state/local governments and Indian Tribes on vulnerability assessments, research planning, climate action plans, and similar efforts to share information, improve programs, and identify scalable models.
- Extends similar collaboration options to Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and consortia, with priority for underserved populations.
- Strategic Research Plan Updates: Revises the plan to incorporate collaboration efforts and broaden stakeholder input to include community acidification networks and Indigenous groups.
- NOAA Program Improvements: Updates NOAA's ocean acidification program to prioritize input from diverse stakeholders, replace "maximize" with "take into consideration" for certain coordinations, and emphasize interagency and community relationships.
- Technical Corrections: Fixes minor errors in the 2009 Act, such as punctuation, cross-references, and wording for clarity (e.g., correcting "development coordination" to "development, coordination," and timeline phrasing).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broader Inclusion of Indigenous Groups: The 2009 Act is amended to explicitly require engagement with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, including dedicated advisory roles and consultation policies, which were previously limited or implied under "Tribal governments."
- Mandatory Collaboration: Introduces specific requirements for NOAA to partner on vulnerability assessments and research, building on existing activities rather than creating new ones from scratch; shifts some language from optional ("maximize") to advisory ("take into consideration").
- Stakeholder Input Expansion: Adds mechanisms for ongoing, structured input from non-federal experts and communities, and updates the strategic plan to reflect these broader consultations.
- Technical Fixes: Resolves inconsistencies in the original law without altering substantive policy.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: NOAA and the Department of Commerce will face increased coordination duties, potentially requiring more resources for consultations and data sharing, but this could improve efficiency in federal-state-tribal partnerships.
- On Citizens: Coastal communities, especially in vulnerable areas like fisheries-dependent regions, may benefit from better-tailored research and adaptation strategies, enhancing resilience to acidification's effects on marine life, economies, and food security.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. waters and stakeholders; however, improved U.S. research could indirectly support global ocean health efforts through shared scientific data.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: NOAA (primary implementer), National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee, and interagency partners.
- State and Local Governments: Coastal states and localities conducting vulnerability assessments or climate plans, gaining federal support for local adaptation.
- Indigenous Groups: Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and consortia, with new consultation rights and representation to address disproportionate impacts on traditional fishing and resource use.
- Coastal Communities and Industries: Fishery management councils, community networks, affected industries (e.g., shellfish farming), and non-federal resource managers, who can provide and receive input for on-the-ground decision-making.
- Scientific and Non-Profit Experts: Researchers and networks focused on ocean acidification, benefiting from expanded advisory roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with existing federal laws on tribal consultation (e.g., under the Indian Self-Determination Act), potentially strengthening compliance with trust responsibilities to tribes; no new enforcement mechanisms, but emphasizes voluntary collaboration over mandates.
- Constitutional: Supports federalism by enhancing state-tribal-federal partnerships without infringing on state sovereignty; promotes equity for Indigenous groups, consistent with treaty obligations and equal protection principles.
- Political: Advances environmental justice by prioritizing underserved coastal populations, which could foster bipartisan support in regions affected by climate change; may influence future funding for NOAA programs, highlighting ocean acidification as a growing policy priority amid climate debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Cosponsors (15)
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-17: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-17 — PDF (12 pages)