Sponsors (21)
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Chellie Pingree · Last progress March 3, 2025
The bill directs federal grants and a permanent revolving loan fund to preserve and make working waterfronts more resilient and accessible—benefiting coastal economies and historically underrepresented groups—but relies on future appropriations and imposes matching, use, and compliance constraints that may limit participation, create burdens for low-income communities, and restrict property flexibility.
Small businesses, fisheries, boatbuilders, aquaculture operators, and coastal communities gain access to federal grants and loans to preserve and improve working waterfronts, supporting local jobs and economic activity.
Eligible states and local governments receive a permanent revolving loan fund to finance waterfront preservation projects, creating long-term local financing capacity.
Coastal users and waterfront businesses get support for resilience projects against sea-level rise and storms, helping reduce climate-related disruption and safety risks.
Promised grants and loans depend on future appropriations and agency implementation, so projects may be delayed or never funded despite program authorizations.
The federal 75% share cap plus matching and valuation rules can impose financial burdens and administrative complexity on disadvantaged communities and smaller local governments, potentially limiting their ability to participate.
Covenant and reversion requirements tied to funding could restrict property owners' rights and reduce the marketability or flexibility of waterfront properties.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Working Waterfronts Task Force to identify needs, recommend federal actions, report to Congress in 18 months, and ask agencies to implement options within 30 months subject to funding.
Creates a federal Working Waterfronts Task Force within the Coastal Zone Management Act to identify critical needs for commercial and community waterfronts, prioritize risks (storm damage, sea level rise, ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms), and recommend federal actions. The Task Force must report its findings to Congress within 18 months and identified federal agencies are asked to implement recommended options, insofar as practicable and subject to available funding, within 30 months of enactment.