Sponsor
Hillary Scholten
Representative · D-MI
Representative · D-MI
A modest, multi-year federal investment would expand eDNA-based fish monitoring and aid conservation and early detection, but it imposes a small taxpayer cost and may favor larger, collaborative applicants while creating administrative burdens for smaller local programs.
State, Tribal, and local agencies and colleges can get grants to add environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to fish surveys, improving detection and management of species — including ESA-listed and invasive species — which strengthens conservation and early‑warning capabilities.
The bill authorizes $4 million per year (FY2027–FY2033) to fund applied monitoring, expanding the scope and frequency of surveys and providing a predictable funding stream for participating agencies and institutions.
Colleges and universities receiving grants can expand applied research and training in modern monitoring techniques (eDNA), creating educational and capacity-building opportunities.
Smaller organizations and standalone programs may face significant administrative and data‑reporting burdens to meet grant application and metric requirements, and a preference for collaborative applications could disadvantage locally valuable single‑entity programs.
The authorized $4 million per year is funded by taxpayers and, while modest, represents federal spending that could otherwise be allocated to other priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USGS/NOAA-coordinated grant program to fund eDNA monitoring in sport fish surveys, authorizing $4M/year for FY2027–FY2033.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to award amounts to eligible entities to develop and carry out programs to incorporate eDNA monitoring techniques into and use eDNA monitoring techniques in carrying out sport fish surveys, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 11, 2026 by Hillary Scholten · Last progress June 11, 2026
Creates a federal grant program to help states, Tribes, colleges, and nonprofits use environmental DNA (eDNA) methods in sport fish surveys. The Interior Department (through USGS), working with NOAA and the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, will award competitive grants and collect outcome data, with $4 million authorized per year for FY2027–FY2033.