Bill > S93

This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to comprehensively address the growing challenges of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia in marine, freshwater, and estuarine ecosystems. The legislation expands the existing research and response framework by establishing a more robust national approach to understanding, monitoring, and mitigating these environmental events. Key provisions include creating a new Task Force mandate to complete an action strategy every five years that examines the causes, ecological consequences, and economic impacts of HABs in diverse geographic regions, and developing a national observing network to improve monitoring and forecasting capabilities. The bill also establishes a national-level incubator program to support innovative strategies for preventing and controlling HABs, and authorizes funding of approximately $19.5 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and $8 million for the Environmental Protection Agency annually from 2026 to 2030. Additionally, the legislation broadens the scope of research to include impacts on public health, subsistence communities, and various ecosystems, and enhances coordination among federal agencies, states, tribal organizations, and local governments to address these complex environmental challenges.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/93/all-info