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119-hr-360119th Congress

Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

Introduced

Summary

NOAA-run Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program would fund restoration, monitoring, and training to rebuild oyster reefs and boost coastal resilience. It would give technical and financial assistance and run competitive grants for restoration, research, planning, monitoring, and workforce development, with special emphasis on helping underserved communities.

Show full summary
  • Coastal communities and fishers would get mapping, water-quality monitoring, and restoration support aimed at protecting reefs while avoiding harm to commercial and recreational fishing.
  • States, Tribes, universities, nonprofits, and the shellfish industry would be eligible for competitive grants for planning, construction, assessment, adaptive management, and sharing best practices.
  • Coastal workers and underserved communities would see targeted workforce training in restoration and resilience techniques to build local capacity.

*Would authorize $15.0 million per year for FY2026–2030, $75.0 million total, increasing federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Grants and training for oyster restoration

If enacted, the Department of Commerce, through NOAA, would run a competitive grant program for oyster reefs. It would provide technical help and money for planning, building, restoring, and monitoring oyster reefs. Eligible applicants would include governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, colleges, the shellfish industry, and private groups or individuals. Projects would need to show they would not reasonably interfere with fishing or other water uses. The bill would authorize $15 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The program would also fund workforce training in coastal restoration, with a focus on underserved communities.

States and Tribes keep oyster authority

The bill would make clear it does not override State or Tribal rules for oysters. States and Tribes would keep authority to manage oyster reefs and oyster species.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

NY • D

Cosponsors

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

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/13/2025

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/18/2025

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

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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