Bills · HR 644
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 644Environmental Protection
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 23· LAST ACTION JAN 23
READING
19MIN
COSPONSORS
5
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenHarmful algal blooms and hypoxia are growing environmental and public health threats that can contaminate drinking water, close beaches, harm marine life, and make seafood unsafe. This bill matters because it updates an outdated law to address these problems more comprehensively and across all types of water bodies, including freshwater lakes and rivers which are increasingly impacted. Currently, efforts might be fragmented or lack a unified national strategy for these widespread issues.
If this bill becomes law, it would lead to a more coordinated and proactive federal approach, resulting in better forecasting of blooms, faster responses to outbreaks, and improved public safety through expanded toxin testing for seafood. Without it, the nation's ability to effectively monitor, prevent, and respond to these pervasive water quality challenges might remain limited, potentially causing more severe impacts on public health, local economies, and aquatic ecosystems.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Expands the scope of federal efforts on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia to explicitly include freshwater lakes and rivers, alongside coastal waters and the Great Lakes.
This ensures a comprehensive national approach, addressing water quality issues in all types of environments where these problems occur.
PROVISION 02
Requires a federal task force to develop and submit a comprehensive "Action Strategy" to Congress at least every five years, detailing the causes, impacts, and solutions for harmful algal blooms.
This establishes a regular, structured process for reviewing and planning federal responses to these critical water quality challenges.
PROVISION 03
Directs the national program to improve monitoring and forecasting, and to enhance support for the seafood industry's resilience and expand access to harmful algal bloom toxin testing for all harvesters.
This directly addresses public health and food safety concerns, particularly for those who rely on local waters for food.
PROVISION 04
Adds the Department of Energy to the task force and mandates broad consultation with states, tribes, local governments, various industries, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
This integrates more diverse expertise and stakeholder perspectives into the planning and response efforts.
PROVISION 05
Explicitly requires examinations of the economic and cultural costs of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, as well as the effects of other environmental stressors on these phenomena.
This provides a more complete understanding of the problem's full impact and its interconnected environmental factors.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 5
D· Oregon
YRS IN OFFICE
14
BILLS LED
67
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 40%
DEM 4 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 23
Introduced in House
JAN 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.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 644
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 23, 2025
Last actionJan 23, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 23, 2025
House BillHR 644Environmental Protection
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 23, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 23, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
19 min
COSPONSORS
5
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
