Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Pingree
Introduced
Summary
Protect working waterfronts and fund their preservation and resilience. This bill would create a Working Waterfronts Task Force, a competitive grant program, and a revolving loan fund to help coastal communities plan for, buy, adapt, and maintain waterfront lands for industry, fishing, and public access.
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- Coastal communities and waterfront businesses would be eligible for competitive grants to implement approved plans, including property acquisition, facility upgrades, and climate resilience activities. Federal support could cover up to 75 percent of project costs and technical assistance is capped at 5 percent of grant program funding.
- State and local governments could enter capitalization agreements to set up a revolving Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund. Eligible coastal states must deposit at least 20 percent of the capitalization grant into the Fund and annual administrative costs for the Fund are limited.
- Disadvantaged communities and Tribal or Native Hawaiian organizations get built‑in priority and protections. Subsidies for disadvantaged communities are capped at 35 percent of a capitalization grant with a minimum 12 percent target when demand exists, and 0.2 percent of the Fund is reserved annually for Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.
*Would authorize $50 million per year for 2025–2029 for the Working Waterfronts Grant Program and $50 million per year for 2025–2029 for the Preservation Loan Fund, which would increase federal outlays if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to protect working waterfronts
This bill would set up a competitive grant program to keep working docks and boat yards in use. States, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and fishing co-ops could apply to buy or fix waterfront sites, add ramps or wharfs, or plan climate work. The program would be authorized at $50 million a year for fiscal years 2025–2029. The federal share would usually be up to 75%, but the Secretary could waive that for some disadvantaged or small, low-income communities. The Secretary would have 60 days to approve or deny applications. Projects would generally need to allow reasonable public access unless it would be unsafe at commercial or industrial sites. Grants could only buy from willing sellers at fair market value and would carry long-term working-waterfront covenants. Up to 5% of funds could cover admin costs and up to 5% could provide technical help. Grants would need to follow an approved five-year working waterfront plan.
State loan funds for waterfront projects
This bill would let coastal states set up loan funds to preserve and improve working waterfronts. The federal government would provide $50 million a year for fiscal years 2025–2029 to capitalize these funds. To get a grant, a state would need to put in at least 20% of the amount. Loans could charge up to market rates, with payments starting no later than 18 months after a project is done. Standard terms would run up to 30 years, or up to 40 years for disadvantaged communities if within the project’s design life. States would reserve 0.2% each year for Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. States could offer extra subsidies, but no more than 35% of a grant in a year, and at least 12% if enough disadvantaged-community requests exist. Construction backed by these funds would have to pay Davis-Bacon prevailing wages. Grant funds would be available for two years, and repayments would keep the fund going over time.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pingree
ME • D
Cosponsors
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
GU • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/3/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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