Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
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Would reauthorize and expand the federal Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act through fiscal year 2030, adding the Department of Energy to the interagency task force and requiring a national action strategy on algal blooms every five years.
It would also direct NOAA to build a national observing network and incubator program for algal bloom technologies, and give the Environmental Protection Agency new authority to monitor and forecast freshwater algal blooms in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to broaden its scope from coastal and Great Lakes waters to marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems generally. It would add the Department of Energy to the Inter-Agency Task Force and require the Task Force to submit an "action strategy" on harmful algal blooms to Congress at least every five years, replacing the prior periodic assessment structure. It would expand NOAA's duties to include establishing a national network of observing systems for detecting and forecasting algal blooms and a national-level incubator program to fund new prevention and mitigation technologies. It would also create new EPA authority to develop freshwater algal bloom monitoring and forecasting programs. The bill would reauthorize appropriations of $19.5 million annually to NOAA's Under Secretary and $8 million annually to the EPA Administrator for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, plus $2 million annually for event-of-national-significance response. It would not create new regulatory mandates on private industry or alter water-quality permitting requirements; its changes are confined to federal research, monitoring, and coordination activities.
Key provisions
- 1Would expand the Inter-Agency Task Force to include the Department of Energy and require it to submit a national action strategy on harmful algal blooms to Congress at least once every five years.
- 2Would broaden NOAA's National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program duties to cover monitoring, observing, and forecasting across marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems, not just coastal waters.
- 3Would create new EPA authority to develop and enhance freshwater harmful algal bloom monitoring, observing, and forecasting programs in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
- 4Would direct NOAA to establish a national network of observing systems and a national-level incubator program funding new strategies and technologies to prevent, mitigate, and control algal blooms.
- 5Would reauthorize appropriations of $19.5 million to NOAA and $8 million to EPA annually for FY2026-FY2030, plus $2 million annually for responding to events of national significance.
- 6Would expand criteria and grant authority for responding to hypoxia or harmful algal bloom events of national significance, including waiving non-federal cost-share requirements.
Who would be affected
Federal agencies including NOAA, EPA, the Department of Energy, and other Task Force members; state, local, and tribal governments; academic and research institutions; and coastal, Great Lakes, and freshwater communities, fisheries, and subsistence harvesters affected by algal blooms and hypoxia events.
Why it matters
Communities and industries dealing with toxic algal blooms and low-oxygen "dead zones"—including fisheries, drinking water systems, and subsistence harvesters—would gain expanded federal monitoring, forecasting, and research support, plus new technology-incubation funding, potentially improving early warning and response to these increasingly frequent events.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001) (Sec. 2(a))
Adds Department of Energy to Task Force, replaces periodic assessment structure with a required five-year action strategy for algal blooms.
Amends 33 U.S.C. 4002 (National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program) (Sec. 2(b))
Expands agency duties, consultation requirements with tribes and communities, and access-to-testing provisions.
Amends 33 U.S.C. 4003 (NOAA activities) (Sec. 2(c))
Rewrites NOAA's response, observing, and forecasting duties for harmful algal blooms and hypoxia across marine and Great Lakes waters.
Creates Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (Sec. 2(d))
Adds new Section 603C establishing EPA freshwater harmful algal bloom research and monitoring activities.
Amends 33 U.S.C. 4005 (National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network) (Sec. 2(e))
Requires NOAA to integrate federal, state, regional, and local observing systems into a national forecasting network.
Creates Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (Sec. 2(f))
Adds new Section 606A establishing a national-level incubator program for algal bloom prevention technologies.
Reauthorizes 33 U.S.C. 4009 (Authorization of appropriations) (Sec. 2(h))
Reauthorizes $19.5 million to NOAA and $8 million to EPA annually for FY2026-2030 and adds fund-transfer authority.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Authorization of appropriations for NOAA and EPA harmful algal bloom activities
- Authorization of appropriations for events of national significance response
Funding and costs
- $19,500,000
Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities carried out by the NOAA Under Secretary
- $8,000,000
Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities carried out by the EPA Administrator
- $2,000,000
Response to hypoxia or harmful algal bloom events of national significance
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates S. 93 would cost $130 million over the 2025–2030 period and an additional $17 million after 2030, all in discretionary spending subject to future appropriations, with no effect on the deficit from direct spending or revenues.
CBO estimates that S. 93 would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, so it would not change the deficit. However, it would authorize discretionary appropriations — funding that Congress must separately approve each year — totaling $29.5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for NOAA and EPA programs to research and control harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. CBO estimates implementing those authorizations would cost $130 million over the 2025–2030 period and $17 million after 2030, for a total of $147 million over the 2025–2035 window. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
The Inter-Agency Task Force, now including the Department of Energy, would produce a five-year action strategy with regional chapters, consulting states, tribes, and industry. NOAA and EPA would each develop monitoring, observing, and forecasting programs, with NOAA also standing up a national observing network and a merit-based incubator program funding new bloom-control technologies through grants. Agencies would coordinate to avoid duplication, leverage university research, and report through the periodic action strategy. Federal officials could waive local cost-share requirements and enter contracts or grants with states, tribes, and local governments to assess and respond to significant bloom or hypoxia events, funded through annual appropriations through FY2030.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Held at the desk.
Official CRS summary
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This bill extends through FY2030 and modifies the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act to address algal blooms and hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen) in U.S. marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. Harmful algal blooms are high concentrations of algae that may create nuisance or toxic conditions that are harmful to humans, animals, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy.
The bill directs the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to submit to Congress an action strategy for harmful algal blooms at least once every five years. The bill also expands the task force's membership to include the Department of Energy.
The bill also expands the duties of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia program. NOAA must also carry out a variety of activities related to monitoring, predicting, preventing, mitigating, and responding to marine, coastal, and Great Lakes harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events. For example, NOAA must establish (1) a national network of observing systems for monitoring, detecting, and forecasting harmful algal blooms; and (2) a national-level incubator program to increase the number of strategies, technologies, and measures available to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful algal blooms.
Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency must develop and enhance operational freshwater harmful algal bloom monitoring, observing, and forecasting programs in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs and carry out other activities related to researching freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events.
Legislative subjects
Aquatic ecology; Environmental Protection; Environmental assessment, monitoring, research; Environmental health; Environmental technology; Food supply, safety, and labeling; Great Lakes; Hazardous wastes and toxic substances; Higher education; Lakes and rivers; Marine and coastal resources, fisheries; Marine pollution; Research administration and funding; State and local government operations; Water quality; Wetlands
Committee report
S. Rept. 119-34