Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act
Sponsored By: Senator Roger Wicker
Introduced
Summary
Creates a Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission to coordinate interstate management of shared fisheries and lead basinwide invasive species control, research, and funding across six sub-basins.
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- States, Tribes, and Federal agencies gain a formal forum to set and evaluate basinwide fishery plans. Membership is open to 29 named Mississippi River Basin States, tribes, and eligible Federal entities, with each State’s fisheries director or an appointed representative serving as the voting delegate.
- Local fishery managers, NGOs, universities, and agencies can tap new grant money through competitive and formula programs. Competitive grants require at least a 10% non‑Federal match and administrative costs are capped at 5%.
- The Commission adopts the MICRA Joint Strategic Plan as its framework and must develop interagency strategies to prevent and control invasive carps and other prioritized aquatic invasive species across the Arkansas-Red-White, Lower Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee-Cumberland, and Upper Mississippi sub-basins. It must reexamine the plan within 30 years and report to Congress on progress.
*Authorizes federal funding including $1 million for FY2026, $30 million annually FY2027-2031, $50 million annually FY2032-2036, and $500,000 annually FY2025-2035, increasing federal spending over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Mississippi River Fish Commission
If enacted, the bill would create a Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission inside the Department of the Interior. Eligible States, Indian Tribes, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, US Army Corps of Engineers, the Corps research center, and the Tennessee Valley Authority could join. The Commission could hire a nonvoting executive director and staff, meet at least once a year, and make recommendations by majority vote while seeking consensus. The Commission’s recommendations would be nonbinding and the bill would not limit States’ power to make or enforce their own fisheries laws.
Mississippi River fishery plan and reports
If enacted, the Commission would use the MICRA Joint Strategic Plan as its management framework and oversee plans for six sub-basins of the Mississippi River. The Commission would use the best available science and develop strategies to prevent and control invasive carp and other priority aquatic invasive species. The Commission would reexamine the Joint Strategic Plan not later than 30 years after enactment and report to Congress on fish populations and invasive species work. The Commission would also send an annual report to Congress each year by September 1 describing its activities.
New grants and funding for fisheries
If enacted, the bill would require the Commission to set up two grant programs within two years: a competitive grant program open to private entities, Federal agencies, NGOs, colleges, and partnerships, and a formula grant program for State member entities. Competitive applicants that provide at least 10% non‑Federal matching funds would get priority. Grant admin costs would be capped at 5% of each award. The Chair must report to Congress within one year after grants are paid naming recipients and amounts. The bill authorizes $1 million for FY2026; $30 million each year FY2027–2031; $50 million each year FY2032–2036; and $500,000 each year FY2025–2035 for housing the Commission.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov