# 119-s-1968: Working Waterfronts Act of 2025 119-s-1968, Working Waterfronts Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1968 - As of: 2025-12-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-1968 - Congress: 119 - Title: Working Waterfronts Act of 2025 - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-06-05 - Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK) - Cosponsors: 2 - Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2025-12-21 ## 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. - 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. ## Cosponsors (2) - Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2025-06-05T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-06-05T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - New hydropower investment tax credit: benefit, high. 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 appr… - Fishing workforce training, safety, prizes: benefit, high. 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 an… - Grants for coastal businesses and ports: benefit, medium. 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… - Loans for alternative-fuel fishing vessels: benefit, medium. 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 build… - More farm loans for fishers: benefit, medium. 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, t… - More USDA help for seafood processors: benefit, medium. 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 mi… - Stronger protections for coastal aquaculture: benefit, low. 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 ocea… ## Related bills - 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 - 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act - 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-s-93: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 - 119-s-2431: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 - 119-s-1392: Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-s-1968 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1968) ## Related - [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120) - [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748) - [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541) - [119-s-93: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-93) - [119-s-2431: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Ac…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2431) - [119-s-1392: Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1392) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1968 (as of 2025-12-21).