Working Waterfronts Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Lisa Murkowski
Introduced
Summary
Boost clean energy upgrades at dams and shift commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuels. This bill would create a 30 percent tax credit for qualifying hydropower improvement property and establish a NOAA pilot program to help U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels switch to alternative fuels and build needed shoreside infrastructure.
Show full summary
- Hydropower operators and remote-dam owners: A 30 percent credit would apply to improvements that add or upgrade fish passage, improve water quality, support sediment transport, back marine energy projects, or place approved remote dams into service. Approved remote dams serve non‑interconnected communities and have a maximum net output of 40 MW.
- Commercial fishermen and coastal communities: A NOAA pilot would fund new builds and retrofits to transition U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels to alternative fuels, plus R&D and shoreside charging or refueling stations. The bill authorizes $20 million per year for 2026–2030 with at least $10 million per year directed to loans for vessel transitions and at least $10 million per year for loans for research and shoreside infrastructure, and it requires regulations within 180 days and a two-year post-enactment study.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New hydropower investment tax credit
If enacted, businesses that place qualifying hydropower improvement property in service after December 31, 2022, would be able to claim a new tax credit equal to 30% of the property's basis. Qualifying work includes fish passage, water quality and sediment measures, marine energy projects, and approved remote dams that meet specified rules. The bill would also add elective payment and transfer rules for the credit.
Fishing workforce training, safety, prizes
If enacted, the government would fund national maritime and fisheries workforce, safety, and technology programs. The Maritime Administrator would get $25 million a year for 2026–2030 for grants to train and recruit workers. Fishing safety grants would add behavioral and physical health training and raise authorized funding to $6 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. NOAA would run an electronic monitoring innovation prize within two years. The bill also changes how certain fishery grant funds are allocated to support competitive grants and youth development.
Grants for coastal businesses and ports
If enacted, federal agencies would award grants to support waterfront access, regional ocean innovation, and cold-climate coastal pilots. The EDA program would fund projects that support fishing and boatbuilding and may cover up to 50% of project costs. Commerce would designate at least seven Ocean Innovation Clusters and offer competitive grants up to $10 million. Sea Grant would fund cold-climate pilot projects with $3 million in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill authorizes $20 million a year for the EDA grants for 2026–2030 and $10 million a year for clusters for 2026–2030.
Loans for alternative-fuel fishing vessels
If enacted, NOAA would set up a pilot loan program to help U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels switch to alternative or hybrid fuels. Rules must be issued within 180 days. The bill authorizes $20 million a year for fiscal years 2026–2030. At least $10 million per year must go to loans for building or retrofitting vessels, and at least $10 million per year must go to R&D and shoreside infrastructure loans.
More farm loans for fishers
If enacted, Farm Credit lenders and USDA farm loan programs would include commercial fishers and related service providers as eligible borrowers. Fishers could use loans to buy permits, vessels, or fish processing facilities. The change would expand who can get Farm Credit lending upon enactment, though it does not add new direct program funding.
More USDA help for seafood processors
If enacted, USDA would run a pilot grant program for rural seafood processing and cold storage. The bill would authorize $20 million a year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for those grants. Half of each year's funds must go to facilities with fewer than 50 employees. The bill would also authorize $10 million a year for 2026–2030 to carry out the Agriculture subtitle. USDA must make an action plan within 180 days naming communities that need new or repaired processing infrastructure.
Stronger protections for coastal aquaculture
If enacted, the bill would expand programs to protect shellfish mariculture and aquaculture from harm. NOAA would increase harmful algal bloom toxin testing access for subsistence and recreational harvesters. The bill would add Tribal and Native Hawaiian representation and engagement rules for ocean acidification programs. It would also reauthorize $5 million a year for aquatic invasive species grants for 2026–2030.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lisa Murkowski
AK • R
Cosponsors
Susan Collins
ME • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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