Last progress June 4, 2025 (6 months ago)
Introduced on June 4, 2025 by Josh Harder
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill creates a program to fight the invasive golden mussel. A federal task force, working with states, local governments, ports, colleges, industry, and nonprofits, would run projects to prevent, monitor, control, and remove these mussels, plus educate the public and do research. The work includes tracking how mussels spread, setting up early warnings, testing removal methods on boats and infrastructure, and sharing clear guidelines within one year, including the use of watercraft inspection stations . The program would start in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and expand to other U.S. waters that are infested or at risk.
The bill also creates competitive grants for states, local groups, colleges, nonprofits, and industry to develop and test tools that remove golden mussels from water intakes, canals and pipes, fish screens, derelict vessels, boat hulls, and waterways, and to better understand the mussel’s biology. New technologies could be shared or licensed to speed up real-world use. The task force can coordinate with and delegate work to agencies and ports. Funding is set at $15 million each year from 2026 through 2030.
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