BEACH Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 583
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-29T08:07:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 (BEACH Act of 2025) aims to update and extend federal grants for monitoring water quality at coastal beaches and similar public access points. It focuses on improving detection and notification of contamination in recreation waters to protect public health, while incorporating modern testing methods and expanding the scope to include upstream sources.
Key Provisions
- Grants for Monitoring and Notification: Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to states and local governments under Section 406 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) for developing and implementing programs to monitor coastal recreation waters.
- Expanded Monitoring Scope: Includes monitoring of "nearby shallow upstream waters" (shallow bodies of water inland that flow into coastal areas) for contamination adjacent to or present on beaches used by the public.
- Data Sharing and Source Identification: Requires grantees to share data on identified contamination sources. Grants can now be used specifically to pinpoint sources of pollution in coastal and upstream waters.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates $30 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for these grants, updating previous authorizations that expired in 2005.
- EPA Guidance Updates: Directs the EPA Administrator to update guidance for grant recipients to incorporate innovations in water contamination testing technologies, such as advanced sensors or rapid detection methods.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Scope Expansion: Broadens the original BEACH Act of 2000 by adding monitoring of shallow upstream waters and contamination present directly on beaches, which were not explicitly covered before.
- New Grant Uses: Introduces a dedicated provision (subsection (b)(5)) allowing funds to identify specific pollution sources, enhancing proactive pollution control.
- Funding Renewal: Reauthorizes and extends funding from fiscal years 2001–2005 to 2025–2029 without increasing the annual amount, effectively reviving a lapsed program.
- Guidance Modernization: Adds a requirement for EPA guidance to reflect technological advancements, ensuring the program adapts to new scientific developments.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EPA will need to administer updated grants and revise guidance, potentially increasing workload for oversight and technical support to states and localities.
- On Citizens: Improves public health by enabling faster detection and notification of unsafe water conditions at beaches, reducing risks of illness from swimming or recreation in contaminated areas. Enhanced source identification could lead to cleaner waters over time.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly support U.S. coastal environmental standards that align with international water quality agreements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Governments: Primary recipients of grants, responsible for implementing monitoring programs and sharing data.
- Public Beach Users and Communities: Benefit from safer recreation waters and better-informed advisories on contamination.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Oversees grant distribution, guidance, and program compliance.
- Coastal Businesses and Tourism Operators: Could see positive effects from healthier beaches attracting more visitors, but may face indirect costs if pollution sources (e.g., from nearby facilities) are identified and regulated.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement under the Clean Water Act by mandating data sharing on pollution sources, which could support future litigation or regulatory actions against polluters. No major challenges to existing legal frameworks.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over interstate waters and public health under the Commerce Clause; involves no significant expansions of federal power that might raise states' rights concerns.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by representatives from both parties) suggests broad support for environmental health initiatives. Reauthorization without increased funding may appeal to fiscal conservatives, while expansions address ongoing concerns about climate change and water pollution in coastal areas.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Cosponsors (37)
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-01-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-21 — PDF (4 pages)