I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5471 
To amend the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend aquaculture 
programs under such Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 
Mr. LALOTA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend 
aquaculture programs under such Act, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advancing Quality 
U.S. Aquaculture Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980. 
The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 
2801 et seq.) is amended— 
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(1) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 2803)— 
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 
‘‘acquaculture’’ and inserting ‘‘aquaculture’’; 
(B) in subsection (d), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, not less 
than once every 3 years,’’ after ‘‘periodic re-
views’’; and 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by inserting ‘‘, not less than once 
every 3 years,’’ after ‘‘undertake a con-
tinuing assessment of aquaculture in the 
United States’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(iii) in paragraph (6), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) a catalog of new and existing capital con-
straints, as described in the capital requirements 
plan formulated under section 8(b), that affect the 
development of the aquaculture industry in the 
United States; and 
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‘‘(8) a catalog of new and existing Federal or 
State regulatory barriers, as described in the regu-
latory constraints plan formulated under section 
9(b), to the initiation and operation of commercial 
aquaculture ventures.’’; 
(2) in section 5 (16 U.S.C. 2804), by striking 
subsection (d) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) AQUACULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to 
be known as the Aquaculture Advisory Committee 
(referred to in this subsection as the ‘Committee’), 
to advise the Secretary on— 
‘‘(A) oversight of programs of the Depart-
ment and other members of the coordinating 
group to support development of, and to ad-
vance, aquaculture best practices using the best 
available science, in consultation with farmers 
and industry partners; 
‘‘(B) providing technical assistance to 
aquaculture farmers and businesses, including 
technical assistance that pertains to shellfish, 
algae, and land-based aquaculture systems, 
using the best available science; and 
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‘‘(C) any other aspects of the implementa-
tion of this Act. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall 
be composed of 14 members, who are not offi-
cers or employees of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(B) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall appoint the members of the Com-
mittee not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section. 
‘‘(C) PERIOD
OF
INITIAL
APPOINTMENT; 
VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), a member of the Com-
mittee shall be appointed for a term of 3 
years. 
‘‘(ii) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Of the 
members first appointed to the Com-
mittee— 
‘‘(I) 5 of the members, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 3 years; 
‘‘(II) 5 of the members, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 2 years; and 
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‘‘(III) 4 of the members, as de-
termined by the Secretary, shall be 
appointed for a term of 1 year. 
‘‘(iii) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in 
the Committee— 
‘‘(I) shall not affect the powers of 
the Committee; and 
‘‘(II) shall be filled as soon as 
practicable in the same manner as the 
original appointment. 
‘‘(D) CONSECUTIVE
TERMS.—An initial 
appointee of the Committee may serve an addi-
tional consecutive term if the member is re-
appointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(A) FREQUENCY.—The Committee shall 
meet not fewer than 3 times per year. 
‘‘(B) INITIAL
MEETING.—Not later than 
180 days after the date on which the members 
are appointed under paragraph (2)(B), the 
Committee shall hold the first meeting of the 
Committee. 
‘‘(4) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
‘‘(A) develop recommendations and advise 
the Secretary on aquaculture policies, initia-
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‘‘(C) grants made to the aquaculture in-
dustry; and 
‘‘(D) grants to facilitate aquaculture re-
search and the subject matter of such research; 
‘‘(6) a summary of the activities and rec-
ommendations of the Aquaculture Advisory Com-
mittee established under subsection (d); 
‘‘(7) a summary of the activities and rec-
ommendations of the coordinating group; and 
‘‘(8) such other comments and recommenda-
tions as the Secretary determines appropriate.’’; and 
(3) in section 10 (16 U.S.C. 2809), by striking 
‘‘2023’’ each place it appears in paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3) and inserting ‘‘2029’’. 
Æ 
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