Sponsors (2)
The bill funds federal research, monitoring, and control efforts to protect water infrastructure, ecosystems, and public health from the golden mussel, at the cost of modest federal spending and potential new burdens or technology costs for state, local, and small water-system operators.
Utilities and local governments will get federal support to develop and deploy control, monitoring, and eradication tools for the golden mussel, reducing the risk of clogged intakes and infrastructure damage.
States, universities, nonprofits, and industry can receive federal research grants to study golden mussel biology and containment, accelerating effective solutions and technology transfer.
Rural communities, fisheries, recreation users, and drinking-water systems benefit from early-warning tracking and inspection guidance that can slow spread to uninfested waters and protect public and environmental health.
Taxpayers will fund an estimated $75 million over five years to implement the program, increasing federal spending and potentially crowding out other budget priorities.
State and local governments and water managers may face new inspection, enforcement, or operational burdens and costs as implementation is carried out or delegated.
Small water-system operators and small businesses could face higher costs if commercialized technologies from federal research are proprietary and require purchase or licensing.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds a golden mussel demonstration program, guidance, competitive research grants, and authorizes $15M/year for FY2026–FY2030.
Official title: Amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish a demonstration program with respect to the golden mussel.
Introduced May 20, 2026 by Adam Schiff · Last progress May 20, 2026
Creates a Golden Mussel Demonstration Program within the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species framework to prevent, monitor, control, and eradicate the invasive golden mussel in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and other at-risk U.S. waters. It directs the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to develop control and eradication guidelines, run a competitive research grant program, allow technology-transfer agreements, permit delegation to qualified entities, and funds the program at $15 million per year for FY2026–FY2030.