Sponsors (4)
The bill prioritizes continuity and targeted capacity for aquatic conservation and invasive-species work by stabilizing fiscal-agent funding and oversight, at the cost of some competitive transparency, potential transition interruptions, and modest administrative expenses.
State and local water programs, nonprofits, and universities will have more uninterrupted funding and reduced service disruption for ongoing conservation, research, and aquatic-resource projects because an appointed fiscal agent retains award funding until replaced and continuity of staff/programming is encouraged.
State governments, nonprofits, and academic partners working on Lake Champlain will gain a direct funding and coordination channel for fisheries and invasive-species control because the Great Lakes Fishery Commission U.S. Section can fund and lead work there.
Taxpayers and state governments will get more regular oversight and transparency of fiscal agent selection and performance through required reports to Congress and assessments at least every five years.
Nonprofit organizations and interstate commissions may face reduced competitive opportunities and less transparency because the Administrator can award fiscal-agent responsibilities without competition for multi-year terms.
Nonprofits, universities, and local conservation projects risk interruptions if prior awards are de‑obligated and re‑obligated between fiscal agents during transitions despite continuity preferences.
Taxpayers could incur higher administrative and transition costs from more frequent competitive selection processes and potential fiscal-agent changes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a defined, jointly selected fiscal-agent process with periodic assessments and reporting, and authorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Commission U.S. Section to work on Lake Champlain invasive-species and fishery work.
Replaces a specific named organization in the Lake Champlain Basin Program statute with a new, defined "fiscal agent" role and creates a joint selection, assessment, and reporting process for that fiscal agent. It authorizes the U.S. Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to perform and fund work in the Lake Champlain basin (including sea lamprey and aquatic invasive species work) and requires periodic assessments (at least every 5 years) and committee reports within 90 days after each assessment.
Introduced February 11, 2026 by Peter Welch · Last progress February 11, 2026