To amend the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
Reauthorizes the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, expanding the interagency task force to include the Department of Energy, broadening research scope from coastal to all marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. Establishes new NOAA and EPA programs for HAB monitoring, forecasting, and response, creates a national HAB observing network, and launches an incubator program for new prevention and mitigation technologies.
Who Benefits and How
Coastal and freshwater communities benefit from improved monitoring and early warning of harmful algal blooms that threaten drinking water, fisheries, and recreation. Research universities and institutions gain from expanded grant funding and partnerships. NOAA and EPA receive expanded mandates and funding. Tribal nations, low-income communities, and rural communities are prioritized for incubator program benefits. Commercial fisheries and aquaculture benefit from better HAB forecasting.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers fund the expanded research programs and M per year for HAB events of national significance. NOAA and EPA bear increased operational responsibilities. Agricultural operations contributing nutrient runoff may face indirect pressure as research identifies hypoxia causes.
Key Provisions
- Adds Department of Energy to the interagency HAB task force
- Expands research scope to all marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems
- Creates NOAA operational HAB observing and forecasting programs with competitive grants
- Establishes EPA freshwater HAB research and monitoring program
- Creates national HAB observing network leveraging regional associations
- Launches national incubator program for HAB prevention/mitigation technologies
- Authorizes grants to states, tribes, and local governments for HAB events of national significance
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Reauthorizes and expands the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act to strengthen NOAA and EPA research, monitoring, and response capabilities for harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia events in marine and freshwater systems.
Key Policy Areas
Environmental Protection, Marine Science, Public Health
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes and expands the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act to strengthen NOAA and EPA research, monitoring, and response capabilities for harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia events in marine and freshwater systems.
Policy Domains
National-Level Incubator Program
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Environmental technology companies
- Research universities
- Low-income and tribal communities
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Federal taxpayers
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
EPA Freshwater HAB Activities
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Communities dependent on freshwater sources
- EPA research programs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Federal taxpayers
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
NOAA HAB Activities
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Research universities and institutions
- Commercial fisheries and aquaculture
- NOAA
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Federal taxpayers
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
National HAB Observing Network
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Regional ocean observing associations
- Coastal communities
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- NOAA (integration costs)
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Interagency Task Force and Research Programs
Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- NOAA and EPA research programs
- Coastal and freshwater communities affected by HABs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation- Federal taxpayers
- Federal agencies participating in task force
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following …
Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. King, …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Department of Energy, EPA, Indian Tribes
Positive-direction: Indian Tribes, NOAA
Negative-direction: Department of Energy, EPA, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA and interagency task force
Coastal communities, Communities dependent on freshwater sources, Freshwater communities affected by HABs
Positive-direction: Coastal communities, Communities dependent on freshwater sources, Freshwater communities affected by HABs, Low-income, tribal, and rural communities
Negative-direction: Taxpayers
Marine and environmental researchers, Regional ocean observing associations, Research universities
AI and environmental technology companies, Environmental technology startups and researchers
Local governments in HAB-affected areas, State governments
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "Department of Energy"
- → new member
- "Interagency Task Force"
- → coordination body
- "NOAA Under Secretary"
- → lead authority
- "EPA Administrator"
- → lead authority
- "NOAA"
- → network coordinator
- "EPA Administrator"
- → collaborator
- "NOAA Under Secretary"
- → program lead
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology