# What This Bill Does: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025

Harmful algal blooms are sudden, massive growths of algae in water that can poison fish, contaminate seafood, and make water unsafe for swimming or drinking. Hypoxia is when water loses oxygen, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life can't survive. This bill updates federal law to better tackle these growing problems across America's waterways.

The bill requires the federal government to create a comprehensive action plan for harmful algal blooms every five years, examining what causes them, how they damage ecosystems and economies, and what solutions might work. This plan will cover freshwater lakes and rivers, the Great Lakes, coastal areas, and even blooms that start inland and drift to the ocean. The government will also need to look at how other environmental stressors—like pollution and climate change—make these problems worse. Importantly, the bill expands the focus beyond just coastal waters to include inland freshwater systems that many Americans depend on for drinking water and recreation.

The bill gives NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) specific responsibilities to improve monitoring and forecasting of these blooms, develop better prediction models, and make real-time data available to states, tribes, and local communities so they can make quick decisions to protect public health. It also requires the government to expand access to testing for algal toxins in seafood, especially for people in rural and remote areas who fish for subsistence or recreation. The bill emphasizes coordination among federal agencies and consultation with states, tribes, fishing communities, and other groups most affected by these blooms, ensuring that local knowledge and concerns shape the government's response.

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025

Bonamici, Suzanne

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025This bill extends through FY2030 and modifies the Harmful Algal Bloom and&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;(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.