Bill Summary
The "Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025" (SGLF Act of 2025) aims to amend the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 by enhancing measures to combat invasive species of mussels in the Great Lakes. This legislation authorizes the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to develop coordinated efforts with federal agencies, states, tribes, and local governments to address the threat posed by these invasive species.
Key components of the act include:
1. **Coordination and Development**: The act empowers the United States Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to create strategies and initiatives to combat invasive mussels, ensuring collaboration among various stakeholders.
2. **Federal Support**: The act mandates assistance from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce, particularly through agencies like the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA, to support the commission's efforts.
3. **Funding Authorization**: It authorizes $500 million in appropriations from fiscal years 2026 to 2035 specifically for these initiatives, which would be allocated to the commission and is in addition to existing funding.
Overall, the SGLF Act of 2025 seeks to strengthen the management of the Great Lakes ecosystem by addressing the significant challenges posed by invasive mussels, which can disrupt local fisheries and aquatic habitats.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Fisheries and Local Economies**: The Act aims to combat invasive mussels, which have been known to disrupt local ecosystems and negatively impact the fishing industry in the Great Lakes. By effectively managing invasive species, the Act could help preserve and restore fish populations, benefiting commercial and recreational fishermen. This, in turn, can bolster local economies that rely on fishing as a source of income.
2. **Recreational Activities**: Invasive mussels can also affect recreational activities such as boating, swimming, and water sports by degrading water quality and harming native species. The Act’s focus on controlling these invasive species could enhance the overall health of the Great Lakes, making them more enjoyable and safer for residents and tourists, thereby promoting increased tourism and recreational spending in the region.
3. **Environmental Health and Biodiversity**: The provisions of the Act promote collaboration among various levels of government and stakeholders to address the invasive species problem. This holistic approach not only aims to protect fish populations but also helps maintain biodiversity in the Great Lakes ecosystem. For local communities and environmental advocates, this means better preservation of natural habitats, which contributes to overall environmental health and resilience against climate change.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6053 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6053
To amend the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 to provide for the
development by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission of efforts to combat
invasive species of mussels.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 17, 2025
Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Mr. Walberg) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 to provide for the
development by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission of efforts to combat
invasive species of mussels.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025''
or the ``SGLF Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENT BY GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION OF EFFORTS TO
COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES OF MUSSELS.
The Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 931 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 6 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 935) the
following:
``SEC. 6A. INVASIVE SPECIES OF MUSSELS.
``(a) In General.--In carrying out the obligations of the United
States under the Convention, the United States Section is authorized to
develop, in coordination with Federal agencies, interstate compacts,
and Tribal, State, and local governments, efforts to combat invasive
species of mussels.
``(b) Assistance by Certain Federal Agencies.--The Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service and Director of the United States Geological Survey,
and the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall assist the
United States Section with the development of efforts to combat
invasive species of mussels under subsection (a).
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$500,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2035
to carry out this section.
``(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to
paragraph (1)--
``(A) are authorized to be made available to the
Commission; and
``(B) shall be in addition to amounts otherwise
appropriated pursuant to section 13.''.
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