Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 644
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-23: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-30T06:46:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 aims to update and strengthen the federal response to harmful algal blooms (HABs)—rapid growths of algae that can produce toxins harmful to people, animals, and ecosystems—and hypoxia (low oxygen levels in water that stress aquatic life). It expands efforts to include not just coastal and Great Lakes areas but also freshwater systems like rivers and lakes, focusing on research, monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation to protect public health, economies, and natural resources.
Key Provisions
- Task Force and Assessments (Amendments to Section 603): Establishes an interagency task force including the new addition of the Department of Energy. Requires biennial scientific assessments of hypoxia and, every five years, a comprehensive "Action Strategy" for HABs submitted to Congress. The strategy must cover causes, impacts (ecological, economic, cultural, and on food safety), prevention methods, research priorities, and regional variations, with input from states, tribes, local governments, industries, and experts.
- National HAB and Hypoxia Program (Amendments to Section 603A): Directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to lead a program for monitoring, observing, forecasting HABs and hypoxia. Emphasizes coordination among federal agencies, consultation with affected communities (including tribes, rural areas, and subsistence users), and support for seafood industry resilience, toxin testing access, and real-time data for decision-making.
- NOAA Activities (Amendments to Section 603B): NOAA must handle emergency responses to HAB and hypoxia events, develop forecasting models (including effects of storms), enhance federal coordination, and leverage local university expertise while using cost-effective methods. Data must integrate with national ocean observation systems for public access.
- EPA Activities (New Section 603C): The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focuses on freshwater HABs and hypoxia, conducting research on ecology and health impacts, developing monitoring/forecasting programs for lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, and coordinating with NOAA on shared areas like the Great Lakes. Activities must avoid duplicating existing programs and prioritize partnerships with states and universities.
- National HAB Observing Network (Amendments to Section 606): NOAA integrates federal, state, and local systems into a nationwide network for HAB detection, monitoring, and forecasting, using emerging technologies and data from sources like the Water Quality Portal (a shared database for water data).
- National-Level Incubator Program (New Section 606A): NOAA, with EPA and universities, creates a program to test and fund innovative technologies (biological, chemical, or physical) for preventing and controlling HABs. Includes a database on costs, feasibility, and regulations for these methods, prioritizing those that protect habitats, biodiversity, public health, cultural sites, and underserved communities like tribes and low-income areas.
- Definitions (Amendments to Section 609): Broadens terms to explicitly include freshwater HABs (e.g., cyanobacteria blooms), subsistence use (traditional harvesting for food and cultural needs), Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Defines HABs as high algae concentrations causing harm through toxins or other effects.
- Funding Authorizations (Amendments to Section 610): Authorizes $19.5 million annually for NOAA and $8 million for EPA from fiscal years 2026–2030. Allows fund transfers to other agencies for related work, including drought-related HAB responses.
- Other HAB and Hypoxia Matters (Amendments to the 2018 Drought Act): Expands federal aid for "events of national significance" (major HAB or hypoxia incidents), including waivers for non-federal cost-sharing, contracts/grants with tribes and local entities for assessments, and criteria for declaring significance (e.g., health risks, economic losses, subsistence impacts). Authorizes $2 million annually through 2030. Adds definitions for tribes, subsistence, and Native Hawaiian groups.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Scope Expansion: Shifts from focusing mainly on coastal and Great Lakes hypoxia/HABs to encompassing all marine, estuarine (where rivers meet sea), and freshwater systems, addressing inland rivers, lakes, and blooms that move from freshwater to coasts.
- New Requirements and Programs: Introduces mandatory five-year HAB Action Strategies, a dedicated EPA role in freshwater research, an incubator program for innovations, and enhanced toxin testing for remote/rural users—none of which existed before.
- Stakeholder Inclusion: Adds explicit consultation and support for Indian tribes, Tribal/Native Hawaiian organizations, subsistence communities, rural/low-income areas, and island communities; previously, focus was narrower on coastal stakeholders.
- Program Enhancements: Improves forecasting (e.g., weather event models), real-time data access, and coordination to reduce duplication. Removes outdated subsections and updates funding levels (previously lower and less specified for EPA).
- Event Response: Broadens criteria for federal aid in major events, including economic/subsistence impacts and cross-border effects, with new waivers and grant authorities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases coordination and responsibilities for NOAA (lead on marine/coastal), EPA (freshwater focus), and others like the Department of Energy; provides dedicated funding to boost monitoring tech and research, potentially reducing response times to HAB events but requiring new collaborations.
- On Citizens: Improves public health protection by expanding toxin monitoring, forecasting, and access to testing, especially for recreational/subsistence fishers in rural or tribal areas. Could reduce beach closures, fish kills, and water contamination risks, benefiting communities reliant on water for drinking, fishing, or tourism.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but enhanced monitoring in shared waters (e.g., Great Lakes with Canada) could improve cross-border cooperation on transboundary blooms; no new treaties or foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: NOAA, EPA, Department of Energy, and task force members (e.g., USDA, HHS) for research, funding, and coordination.
- State, Local, and Tribal Governments: States and localities gain better data/tools for management; Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian groups receive prioritized support for subsistence resources and remote monitoring.
- Industries and Communities: Fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture (e.g., fertilizer impacts), tourism, and recreation sectors benefit from mitigation strategies; rural, low-income, island, and subsistence communities (e.g., Alaska Natives) get expanded toxin testing and economic protections.
- Academic and Nongovernmental Entities: Universities and NGOs involved in research gain funding opportunities through grants and the incubator program.
- General Public: All water users, especially in HAB-prone areas like the Gulf of Mexico or Great Lakes, through safer water and food supplies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing environmental laws by mandating data integration with systems like the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System, ensuring compliance without creating new regulatory burdens. Authorizes merit-based grants and fund transfers, promoting efficient use of taxpayer money while avoiding duplication.
- Constitutional: No major issues; aligns with federal authority over interstate waters and commerce (e.g., protecting fisheries affecting trade). Enhances equity by addressing underserved groups like tribes, consistent with self-determination laws (e.g., Indian Self-Determination Act).
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Bonamici and Joyce) signals broad support for environmental science amid climate change concerns. Could influence future appropriations debates, emphasizing prevention over reaction, and highlights growing focus on freshwater crises and community resilience without partisan mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-23: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- 2025-01-23: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (27 pages)