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119-hr-2786119th Congress

Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthen coastal resilience and expand estuarine protections. This bill would create a Coastal and Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program in the Department of Commerce and broaden the National Estuarine Research Reserve System to fund, monitor, and restore coastal and estuarine lands while allowing qualified non‑governmental organizations to be grant recipients and long‑term landholders.

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  • Families and coastal communities: Would prioritize protecting and restoring lands that buffer storms, allow shoreline migration, and serve recreation and community needs, with special weight for communities with limited resources to prepare for coastal hazards.
  • Non‑governmental organizations and land managers: Qualified NGOs could receive grants to acquire and hold land in perpetuity if they show state support, ensure public or restricted access to protect ecology, and include deeded transfer plans if the NGO becomes nonviable.
  • Researchers, educators, and reserves: Would add coordinated climate and sea‑level monitoring, create a graduate fellowship program, expand reserve duties as living laboratories, and authorize $47.0 million per year for section 315 grants for fiscal years 2025–2029 while initiating at least 5 new reserve designations.

*Would increase federal spending by at least $235.0 million over 2025–2029 for National Estuarine Research Reserve grants.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Easier coastal land buys by nonprofits

If enacted, this would loosen rules for buying and holding coastal lands. It would raise an acquisition threshold from 15 to 20. Money that cannot buy land for a Reserve could be used for other eligible buys. Acquisition choices would need to weigh storm buffering, fish habitat, and carbon storage. Approved nonprofits could hold land forever if they meet set standards. Nonprofits would need state support letters, show public access or explain limits, and include a deed transfer if the group shuts down.

More funding and new estuary reserves

If enacted, this would authorize $47 million each year for FY2025–FY2029 for estuarine reserve grants. Grants could fund research, monitoring, training, education, and building or maintaining facilities. The Secretary would run a coastal resilience program with states, local governments, Reserves, and nonprofits to protect and restore key areas. Reserves would keep research, education, restoration, and community work as funding allows. The bill would start the process for at least five new Reserves within 5 years and require at least five designations within 8 years. A report to Congress would be due within 1 year and then each year. U.S. territories that cannot provide a match could get a match exception.

Reviews move to every five years

If enacted, required reviews or reports would shift from every 3 years to every 5 years. The law’s date range would also be updated to fiscal years 2025 through 2029 instead of 2009 through 2013. These are timing and text updates only; they would not change who can get funds or how much they get.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 5/9/2025

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 5/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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