Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act of 2025 · Introduced in House (2025-03-03)

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a working waterfronts Task Force and working waterfronts grant and loan programs, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 3, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Pingree · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

SEC. 2. Working waterfronts

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 () is amended by inserting after section 306A () the following: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1455a

(a) Task Force
- (1) In general
  - The Secretary shall establish a task force to work directly with covered entities, users of working waterfronts, and coastal stakeholders to identify and address critical needs with respect to working waterfronts.
- (2) Membership
  - The Secretary shall appoint members of the Task Force, and shall include—
    - experts in the unique economic, social, cultural, ecological, geographic, and resource concerns of working waterfronts; and
    - representatives from—
      - (i) the Office of Coastal Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
      - (ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
      - (iii) the Department of Agriculture;
      - (iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
      - (v) the United States Geological Survey;
      - (vi) the Department of the Navy;
      - (vii) the National Marine Fisheries Service;
      - (viii) the Economic Development Administration;
      - (ix) such other Federal agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate;
      - (x) Indian Tribes; and
      - (xi) Native Hawaiian organizations.
- (3) Functions
  - The Task Force shall—
    - identify and prioritize critical needs with respect to working waterfronts in coastal states that have a management program approved under section 306, in the areas of—
      - (i) economic and cultural importance of such working waterfronts to communities;
      - (ii) changing circumstances and threats such working waterfronts face from trade barriers and environmental changes, including sea level rise, extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and harmful algal blooms; and
      - (iii) identifying such working waterfronts and highlighting them within communities;
    - outline options, in consultation with coastal states and coastal stakeholders, to address each critical need identified under subparagraph (A), including adaptation and mitigation options where applicable;
    - identify which Federal agency is responsible for addressing each critical need identified under subparagraph (A); and
    - recommend which Federal agency is best suited to address each critical need identified under subparagraph (A) for which no responsible Federal agency is identified under subparagraph (C).
- (4) Report
  - Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report regarding the findings of the Task Force under this subsection.
- (5) Implementation
  - Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the head of each Federal agency identified under paragraph (3)(C) shall, to the extent practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations, implement the options outlined under paragraph (3)(B).
(b) Working waterfronts plan
- (1) In general
  - A covered entity may submit to the Secretary a working waterfronts plan for approval under this subsection, which, as applicable and with respect to the covered entity—
    - shall—
      - (i) provide for the preservation and expansion of access to coastal waters by coastal users;
      - (ii) be complementary to and incorporate the policies, objectives, and regulations of regional and local working waterfronts plans or strategies in effect before the date of the enactment of this section;
      - (iii) be developed through a process that—
      - ensures the involvement of coastal stakeholders; and
      - is consistent with other coastal management programs, regulations, and activities of the covered entity;
      - (iv) designate each qualified holder of the covered entity, if any;
      - (v) if the covered entity designates a qualified holder under clause (iv)—
      - ensure that such qualified holder complies with the duty of a qualified holder to enforce each working waterfront covenant to which the qualified holder is a party; and
      - certify that the covered entity retains the responsibility to ensure that each affected working waterfront is managed in a manner that is consistent with the working waterfronts plan of the covered entity; and
      - (vi) include—
      - an assessment of the economic, social, cultural, and historical value of working waterfronts;
      - a description of any relevant non-Federal laws and regulations that affect working waterfronts in the geographic areas identified under subclauses (III) and (IV);
      - an identification of geographic areas where working waterfronts are, as of the date of the enactment of this subsection, under threat of conversion to uses incompatible with commercial and recreational fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, coastal-related business, and the level of that threat;
      - an identification of geographic areas with a historical connection to working waterfronts where working waterfronts are not, as of the date of the enactment of this section, available, and, where appropriate, an assessment of the environmental impacts of any expansion or new development of working waterfronts on the coastal ecosystems of such geographic areas;
      - an identification of additional working waterfronts needs, including improvements to existing working waterfronts;
      - a strategic and prioritized plan for the preservation, expansion, and improvement of each relevant working waterfront;
      - for geographic areas identified under subclauses (III) and (IV), an identification of the current availability and potential for expansion of public access to coastal waters in such geographic areas;
      - a description of the degree of community support for the plan included under subclause (VI); and
(c) Working Waterfronts Grant Program
- (1) In general
  - The Secretary shall, in consultation with covered entities, Federal agencies the Secretary determines appropriate, and interested coastal stakeholders with expertise in working waterfronts planning, establish a regionally equitable and competitive grant program, to be known as the . Working Waterfronts Grant Program
- (2) Uses
  - The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to eligible covered entities—
    - to implement or revise an approved working waterfronts plan of such eligible covered entity, including—
      - (i) acquiring a working waterfront or an interest in a working waterfront;
      - (ii) making improvements to a working waterfront, including constructing or repairing wharfs, boat ramps, or related facilities; or
      - (iii) carrying out necessary climate adaptation mitigation activities for a working waterfront; or
    - to develop a working waterfronts plan of such eligible covered entity under subsection (b).
- (3) Application
  - (A) In general
    - To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an eligible covered entity shall submit an application to the Secretary—
      - (i) that, if applicable, is consistent with the management program of the eligible covered entity approved under section 306; and
      - (ii) in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
  - (B) Deadline
    - Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application for a grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall approve or reject such application.
- (4) Guidelines
  - The Secretary shall, in consultation with the entities described in paragraph (1), issue guidelines regarding the implementation of the grant program.
- (5) Criteria
  - In awarding a grant to an eligible covered entity, the Secretary shall take into account the following criteria:
    - The economic, cultural, and historical significance of working waterfronts to the eligible covered entity.
    - The demonstrated working waterfronts needs of the eligible covered entity, as described in the approved working waterfronts plan of the eligible covered entity, if any.
    - The ability of the eligible covered entity to meet the matching requirement under paragraph (10).
    - The potential for rapid turnover in the ownership of relevant working waterfronts, and, if applicable, the need for the eligible covered entity to respond quickly when property in an existing or potential working waterfront area or public access area, as identified in the approved working waterfronts plan of the eligible covered entity, if any, comes under threat of conversion to incompatible uses or becomes available for purchase.
(d) Definitions
- In this section:
  - The term approved working waterfronts plan means a working waterfronts plan that is approved by the Secretary under subsection (b).
  - The term coastal Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe with respect to which land owned by the Indian Tribe, held in trust by the United States for the Indian Tribe, or held by the Indian Tribe and subject to restrictions on alienation imposed by the United States or the reservation of the Indian Tribe is located within a coastal state.
  - The term coastal users means—
  - The term covered entity means—
  - The term eligible covered entity means a covered entity that—
  - The term grant program means the grant program established under subsection (c).
  - The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (). 25 U.S.C. 5304
  - The term Native Hawaiian organization means a nonprofit organization—
  - The term qualified holder means—
  - The term Task Force means the task force established under subsection (a)(1).
  - The term disadvantaged community means a community the Secretary determines, based on appropriate data, indices, and screening tools, is economically, socially, or environmentally disadvantaged.
  - The term working waterfront means real property (including support structures over water and other facilities) that—
  - The term working waterfront covenant means an agreement in recordable form entered into between a person that holds title to or an interest in a working waterfront and a covered entity that is awarded a grant under the grant program or a qualified holder of such covered entity that provides such assurances as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure the following:
(a) General authority
- (1) Grants to eligible coastal states to establish working waterfronts preservation loan funds
  - (A) In general
    - The Secretary may enter into an agreement with an eligible coastal state to issue a capitalization grant, including a letter of credit, to such eligible coastal state to implement the approved working waterfronts plan of such eligible coastal state.
  - (B) Establishment of working waterfronts preservation loan funds
    - (i) To be eligible to receive a capitalization grant under this subsection, an eligible coastal state shall establish a working waterfronts preservation loan fund.
    - (ii) Each capitalization grant made to an eligible coastal state under this paragraph shall be deposited in the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of such eligible coastal state.
  - (C) Extended period
    - A capitalization grant made to an eligible coastal state under this section shall be available to the eligible coastal state for obligation for a period of 2 fiscal years.
- (2) Use of funds
  - (A) In general
    - An eligible coastal state shall use amounts deposited in the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of such eligible coastal state, including loan repayments and interest earned on such amounts, to provide financial assistance described in subsection (f) to a covered entity to implement the approved working waterfronts plan of such eligible coastal state through preservation, improvement, restoration, rehabilitation, and acquisition of working waterfronts pursuant to criteria established by the Secretary.
  - (B) Sale of bonds
    - A covered entity may use amounts received under this section as a source of revenue (restricted solely to interest earnings of the applicable working waterfronts preservation loan fund) or security for payment of the principal and interest on a revenue or general obligation bond issued by the eligible coastal state to provide matching funds under subsection (e) if the proceeds of the sale of the bond will be deposited in the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of such eligible coastal state.
  - (C) No increased bonding authority
    - Amounts deposited in the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of an eligible coastal state may not be used as a source of payment of, or security for (directly or indirectly), in whole or in part, any obligation the interest on which is exempt from the tax imposed under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. chapter 1
- (3) Limitation
  - An eligible coastal state may not provide financial assistance described in subsection (f) to a covered entity that does not have the technical, managerial, and financial capability to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section.
- (4) Prevailing wages
(b) Intended use plans
- (1) In general
  - Each eligible coastal state that enters into a capitalization agreement under subsection (a)(1) shall annually prepare an intended use plan, subject to notice and an opportunity for public comment, that identifies the intended uses of the amounts available to the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state.
- (2) Contents
  - Each intended use plan prepared by an eligible coastal state under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the eligible coastal state—
    - a list of each project to be assisted with amounts from the working waterfronts preservation loan fund in the first fiscal year that begins after the date such intended use plan is finalized, including, with respect to each such project—
      - (i) a description of the project;
      - (ii) the expected terms of financial assistance; and
      - (iii) the size of the community served;
    - the criteria and methods established to distribute amounts from the working waterfronts preservation loan fund; and
    - a description of the financial status of the working waterfronts preservation loan fund and the short- and long-term goals of such working waterfronts preservation loan fund.
(c) Working waterfronts preservation loan fund management
- (1) In general
  - Each working waterfronts preservation loan fund under this section shall be established, maintained, and credited with repayments and interest and the fund corpus shall be available in perpetuity to provide financial assistance described in subsection (f) to covered entities under this section.
- (2) Extra amounts
  - To the extent amounts in a working waterfronts preservation loan fund are not required for obligation or expenditure, such amounts shall be invested in interest-bearing obligations.
(d) Assistance for disadvantaged communities
- (1) Loan subsidy
  - (A) In general
    - Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if an eligible coastal state makes a loan to a disadvantaged community pursuant to subsection (a)(2), the eligible coastal state may provide additional subsidization to such disadvantaged community, including—
      - (i) forgiveness of principal;
      - (ii) grants;
      - (iii) negative interest loans;
      - (iv) other loan forgiveness; and
      - (v) through buying, refinancing, or restructuring debt.
  - (B) Exclusion
    - A loan from a working waterfronts preservation loan fund with an interest rate equal to or greater than 0 percent shall not be considered additional subsidization for the purposes of this subsection.
- (2) Total amount of subsidies
  - Of the amount of a capitalization grant received by an eligible coastal state for any fiscal year, the total amount of loan subsidies made by such eligible coastal state pursuant to paragraph (1)—
    - may not exceed 35 percent; and
    - to the extent that there are, as determined by the Secretary, sufficient applications from disadvantaged communities for loans, may not be less than 12 percent.
(e) Eligible coastal state contribution
- Each capitalization agreement entered into under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the eligible coastal state subject to such agreement deposit in the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state an amount equal to not less than 20 percent of the total amount of the capitalization grant to be made to the eligible coastal state on or before the date on which the capitalization grant payment is made to the eligible coastal state.
(f) Types of assistance
- The amounts deposited into a working waterfronts preservation loan fund of an eligible coastal state under this section may be used by the eligible coastal state—
  - to make a loan to a covered entity, on the condition that—
    - the interest rate for the loan does not exceed the market rate;
    - principal and interest payments on the loan will commence not later than 18 months after completion of the project for which the loan was made;
    - the loan will be fully amortized not later than 30 years after the completion of the project, except that in the case of a disadvantaged community an eligible coastal state may provide an extended term for the loan, if the extended term—
      - (i) terminates not later than the date that is 40 years after the completion of the project; and
      - (ii) does not exceed the expected design life of the project;
    - the recipient of the loan will establish a dedicated source of revenue (or, in the case of a privately owned working waterfront property, demonstrate that there is adequate security) for the repayment of the loan; and
    - the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state will be credited with all payments of principal and interest on the loan;
  - to buy or refinance the debt obligation of a municipality or an intermunicipal or interstate agency within the eligible coastal state at an interest rate that is less than or equal to the market interest rate;
  - to guarantee, or purchase insurance for, a local obligation (all of the proceeds of which finance a project eligible for financial assistance under this section) if the guarantee or purchase would improve credit market access or reduce the interest rate applicable to the obligation;
  - as a source of revenue or security for the payment of principal and interest on a revenue or general obligation bond issued by the eligible coastal state if the proceeds of the sale of the bond will be deposited into the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state; or
  - to earn interest on the amounts deposited into the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state.
(g) Administration of working waterfronts preservation loan funds
- (1) Combined financial administration
  - Notwithstanding subsection (c), an eligible coastal state may combine the financial administration of a working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state with the financial administration of any other revolving fund established by the eligible coastal state if the Secretary determines that the capitalization grants made under this section, together with loan repayments and interest, will be separately accounted for and used solely for the purposes specified in subsection (a).
- (2) Cost of administering working waterfronts preservation loan fund
  - (A) In general
    - For each fiscal year, an eligible coastal state may use the amount described in subparagraph (B)—
      - (i) to cover the reasonable costs of administration of the programs under this section, including the recovery of reasonable costs expended to establish a working waterfronts preservation loan fund that are incurred after the date of the enactment of this section; and
      - (ii) to provide technical assistance to working waterfronts projects carried out within the eligible coastal state.
  - (B) Description of amount
    - The amount referred to in subparagraph (A) is an amount equal to the sum of—
      - (i) the amount of any fees collected by the eligible coastal state for use in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i), regardless of the source; and
      - (ii) the greater of—
      - $400,000;
      - 0.2 percent of the current valuation of the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state; or
      - an amount equal to 4 percent of all grant awards made to the working waterfronts preservation loan fund of the eligible coastal state under this section for the fiscal year.
(h) Authorization of appropriations
- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(i) Definitions
- In this section:
  - The term approved working waterfronts plan has the meaning given the term in section 306B.
  - The term covered entity means—
  - The term disadvantaged community has the meaning given the term in section 306B.
  - The term eligible coastal state means a coastal state that has an approved working waterfronts plan.
  - The term working waterfront has the meaning given the term in section 306B.
  - The term working waterfronts preservation loan fund means a revolving loan fund established under this section for the preservation of working waterfronts.

H.R. 1808

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Working waterfronts