# 119-s-513: Help Our Kelp Act of 2025

119-s-513, Help Our Kelp Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-513
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-513
- Congress: 119
- Title: Help Our Kelp Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-11
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Creates a NOAA grant program to conserve and restore kelp forest ecosystems.** This bill would fund restoration, monitoring, and management projects focused on ecological and socioeconomic resilience and authorize funding for FY2026–2030. - Fishing communities: Grants can support actions like targeted urchin removal and sunflower sea star recovery, plus monitoring and seeding to help kelp-dependent fisheries recover. - Indian Tribes: At least $750,000 per year is reserved for Tribal awards and Tribal projects on trust lands can get matching waivers to reduce local costs. - Researchers, nonprofits, and state or local agencies: Eligible to apply for projects that use best available science and community engagement. Federal funding may cover up to 85 percent of project costs with noncash matches allowed. *Would authorize $5.0 million per year for FY2026–2030, totaling $25.0 million, increasing federal spending over that period.*

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-03-25T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New grants to restore kelp forests: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would require NOAA to create a grant program for kelp forest conservation and restoration. NOAA would must start the program within 180 days. The bill would authorize $5,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. At least $750,000 each year would be available for In…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-sres-854: A resolution designating September 2026 as "National Voting Rights Month".

## Sources
- [119-s-513 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/513)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-sres-854: A resolution designating September 2026 as "National Voting Rights Month".](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-854)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-513 (as of 2026-09-10).