I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1808 
To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a working 
waterfronts Task Force and working waterfronts grant and loan pro-
grams, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 3, 2025 
Ms. PINGREE (for herself, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. GOLDEN of Maine, Mr. 
PETERS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. MAGAZINER, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. 
BROWN, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, and Mr. AMO) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
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 pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Keep America’s Water-
fronts Working Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. WORKING WATERFRONTS. 
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
306A (16 U.S.C. 1455a) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 306B. WORKING WATERFRONTS. 
‘‘(a) TASK FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a task force to work directly with covered enti-
ties, users of working waterfronts, and coastal stake-
holders to identify and address critical needs with 
respect to working waterfronts. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall ap-
point members of the Task Force, and shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) experts in the unique economic, so-
cial, cultural, ecological, geographic, and re-
source concerns of working waterfronts; and 
‘‘(B) representatives from— 
‘‘(i) the Office of Coastal Management 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; 
‘‘(ii) the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service; 
‘‘(iii) the Department of Agriculture; 
‘‘(iv) the Environmental Protection 
Agency; 
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‘‘(v) the United States Geological Sur-
vey; 
‘‘(vi) the Department of the Navy; 
‘‘(vii) the National Marine Fisheries 
Service; 
‘‘(viii) the Economic Development Ad-
ministration; 
‘‘(ix) such other Federal agencies as 
the Secretary determines appropriate; 
‘‘(x) Indian Tribes; and 
‘‘(xi) Native Hawaiian organizations. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Task Force shall— 
‘‘(A) identify and prioritize critical needs 
with respect to working waterfronts in coastal 
states that have a management program ap-
proved under section 306, in the areas of— 
‘‘(i) economic and cultural importance 
of such working waterfronts to commu-
nities; 
‘‘(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 
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‘‘(iii) identifying such working water-
fronts and highlighting them within com-
munities; 
‘‘(B) outline options, in consultation with 
coastal states and coastal stakeholders, to ad-
dress each critical need identified under sub-
paragraph (A), including adaptation and miti-
gation options where applicable; 
‘‘(C) identify which Federal agency is re-
sponsible for addressing each critical need iden-
tified under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(D) recommend which Federal agency is 
best suited to address each critical need identi-
fied under subparagraph (A) for which no re-
sponsible 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 sub-
section. 
‘‘(5) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 30 
months after the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion, the head of each Federal agency identified 
under paragraph (3)(C) shall, to the extent prac-
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ticable and subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, implement the options outlined under para-
graph (3)(B). 
‘‘(b) WORKING WATERFRONTS PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered entity may sub-
mit to the Secretary a working waterfronts plan for 
approval under this subsection, which, as applicable 
and with respect to the covered entity— 
‘‘(A) shall— 
‘‘(i) provide for the preservation and 
expansion of access to coastal waters by 
coastal users; 
‘‘(ii) be complementary to and incor-
porate the policies, objectives, and regula-
tions of regional and local working water-
fronts plans or strategies in effect before 
the date of the enactment of this section; 
‘‘(iii) be developed through a process 
that— 
‘‘(I) ensures the involvement of 
coastal stakeholders; and 
‘‘(II) is consistent with other 
coastal management programs, regu-
lations, and activities of the covered 
entity; 
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formation requirements under this para-
graph; 
‘‘(ii) include a vulnerability assess-
ment, hazards resilience plan, or identifica-
tion of waterfront properties exposed to 
sea level rise or inundation; and 
‘‘(iii) be part of a management pro-
gram approved under section 306. 
‘‘(2) DURATION OF APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A working waterfronts 
plan approved by the Secretary under this sub-
section shall be effective during the 5-year pe-
riod beginning on the date of such approval. 
‘‘(B) MAINTENANCE
OF
APPROVAL.—An 
eligible covered entity that participates in the 
grant program on the basis of an approved 
working waterfronts plan of that eligible cov-
ered entity shall resubmit such working water-
fronts plan for approval by the Secretary before 
the end of each 5-year period described in sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(c) WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con-
sultation with covered entities, Federal agencies the 
Secretary determines appropriate, and interested 
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coastal stakeholders with expertise in working water-
fronts 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— 
‘‘(A) to implement or revise an approved 
working waterfronts plan of such eligible cov-
ered entity, including— 
‘‘(i) acquiring a working waterfront or 
an interest in a working waterfront; 
‘‘(ii) making improvements to a work-
ing waterfront, including constructing or 
repairing wharfs, boat ramps, or related 
facilities; or 
‘‘(iii) carrying out necessary climate 
adaptation mitigation activities for a work-
ing waterfront; or 
‘‘(B) 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 
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entity shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) that, if applicable, is consistent 
with the management program of the eligi-
ble covered entity approved under section 
306; and 
‘‘(ii) in such form, at such time, and 
containing such information as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary receives 
an application for a grant under this para-
graph, 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 eli-
gible covered entity, the Secretary shall take into ac-
count the following criteria: 
‘‘(A) The economic, cultural, and historical 
significance of working waterfronts to the eligi-
ble covered entity. 
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‘‘(B) The demonstrated working water-
fronts needs of the eligible covered entity, as 
described in the approved working waterfronts 
plan of the eligible covered entity, if any. 
‘‘(C) The ability of the eligible covered en-
tity to meet the matching requirement under 
paragraph (10). 
‘‘(D) The potential for rapid turnover in 
the ownership of relevant working waterfronts, 
and, if applicable, the need for the eligible cov-
ered entity to respond quickly when property in 
an existing or potential working waterfront area 
or public access area, as identified in the ap-
proved working waterfronts plan of the eligible 
covered entity, if any, comes under threat of 
conversion to incompatible uses or becomes 
available for purchase. 
‘‘(E) As applicable, the impact of the ap-
proved working waterfronts plan of the eligible 
covered entity, if any, on the coastal ecosystem 
and working waterfronts of the eligible covered 
entity and the users of the coastal ecosystem of 
the eligible covered entity. 
‘‘(6) OTHER TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL AS-
SISTANCE.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of 
an eligible covered entity that is awarded a 
grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
provide to such eligible covered entity technical 
assistance— 
‘‘(i) to identify and obtain sources of 
Federal technical or financial assistance 
other than that provided under this sub-
section to develop a working waterfronts 
plan for approval under subsection (b) or 
to implement or revise an approved work-
ing waterfronts plan; 
‘‘(ii) to develop a working waterfronts 
plan for approval under subsection (b); 
‘‘(iii) to implement or revise an ap-
proved working waterfronts plan; 
‘‘(iv) to integrate resilience planning 
into working waterfronts preservation ef-
forts of such eligible covered entity; 
‘‘(v) to develop additional tools to pro-
tect working waterfronts; 
‘‘(vi) regarding guidance for best 
storm water management practices with 
regard to working waterfronts; or 
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‘‘(vii) to collect and disseminate best 
practices regarding working waterfronts 
and resilience planning. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may 
use not more than 5 percent of the amounts 
made available under this subsection in each 
fiscal year to provide technical assistance under 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(7) 
PUBLIC
ACCESS
REQUIREMENT.—A 
project carried out with a grant awarded under this 
subsection, other than a project that involves com-
mercial fishing or other industrial access points to 
which the eligible covered entity determines public 
access would be unsafe, shall provide for the expan-
sion, improvement, or preservation of reasonable and 
appropriate public access to coastal waters at or in 
the vicinity of working waterfronts. 
‘‘(8) LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION.—An eligible 
covered entity that is awarded a grant under this 
subsection, or any entity to which such eligible cov-
ered entity allocates a portion of such grant under 
paragraph (9), may use such grant award to acquire 
title to or an interest in a working waterfront, in-
cluding an easement, only— 
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‘‘(A) for fair market value from a willing 
seller; or 
‘‘(B) for less than fair market value from 
a seller that certifies to the Secretary that the 
seller is willing and is not subject to coercion. 
‘‘(9) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered en-
tity that is awarded a grant under this sub-
section may allocate a portion of such grant 
award to a unit of State or local government, 
a nonprofit organization, a fishing cooperative, 
or any other appropriate entity for the purpose 
of carrying out this subsection if such eligible 
covered entity ensures that any such allocated 
grant award is used consistently with this sub-
section. 
‘‘(B) 
IDENTIFIED
WORKING
WATER-
FRONTS.—The Secretary shall encourage each 
eligible covered entity that is awarded a grant 
under this subsection to equitably allocate such 
grant award among working waterfronts identi-
fied in the approved working waterfronts plan 
of each such eligible covered entity, if any. 
‘‘(10) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Federal share of a 
project carried out with a grant awarded under 
this subsection may not exceed 75 percent. 
‘‘(B) WAIVER
OF
MATCHING
REQUIRE-
MENT.—The Secretary may waive the applica-
tion of subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) with respect to an eligible covered 
entity that is awarded a grant under this 
subsection that has designated a qualified 
holder that is located within— 
‘‘(I) a disadvantaged community; 
or 
‘‘(II) a community that has an 
inability to draw on other sources of 
funding because of the small popu-
lation or low income of the commu-
nity; or 
‘‘(ii) for any other reason the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—An eligible 
covered entity that is awarded a grant under 
this subsection may satisfy the non-Federal 
share of a project carried out with a grant 
awarded under this subsection through in-kind 
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contributions and other noncash support, in-
cluding the following: 
‘‘(i) The value, as determined by an 
appraisal performed at such time before 
the award of the grant as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate, of a working water-
front or an interest in a working water-
front, including conservation and other 
easements, that is held in perpetuity by a 
qualified holder, if the working waterfront 
or interest in a working waterfront— 
‘‘(I) is identified in the grant ap-
plication; and 
‘‘(II) is acquired by the qualified 
holder not later than 3 years after— 
‘‘(aa) the grant award date; 
or 
‘‘(bb) the date of the sub-
mission of such application and 
before the end of the initial 5- 
year period for which the ap-
proved working waterfronts plan 
associated with the grant applica-
tion, if any, is effective. 
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‘‘(ii) The costs, including cash or in- 
kind contributions, associated with the ac-
quisition, restoration, or enhancement of or 
making other improvements to a working 
waterfront or an interest in a working wa-
terfront, if— 
‘‘(I) such costs are identified in 
the grant application; and 
‘‘(II) the costs are incurred— 
‘‘(aa) before the end of the 
initial 5-year period for which the 
approved 
working 
waterfronts 
plan associated with the grant 
application, if any, is effective; or 
‘‘(bb) for working water-
fronts described in clause (i), 
within the time limits described 
in that clause. 
‘‘(11) WORKING WATERFRONT COVENANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered en-
tity that is awarded a grant under this sub-
section may use such grant award with respect 
to a working waterfront only for which each 
person other than the eligible covered entity 
that holds title to or an interest in such work-
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ing waterfront enters into a working waterfront 
covenant. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered 
entity may determine, on the record after 
an opportunity for a hearing, that a work-
ing waterfront covenant of the eligible cov-
ered entity has been violated. 
‘‘(ii) 
REVERSION; 
CONVEYANCE; 
RIGHT OF IMMEDIATE ENTRY.—If an eligi-
ble covered entity makes a determination 
under clause (i) that a violation described 
under that clause has occurred— 
‘‘(I) all right, title, and interest 
in and to the working waterfront cov-
ered by the violated working water-
front covenant shall revert to the eligi-
ble covered entity; 
‘‘(II) the eligible covered entity 
may convey the working waterfront or 
interest in the working waterfront to 
a qualified holder; and 
‘‘(III) the eligible covered entity 
shall have the right of immediate 
entry onto the working waterfront 
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covered by the violated working water-
front covenant. 
‘‘(12) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Secretary 
shall subject each grant awarded under this sub-
section to such terms and conditions as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate to ensure that each 
such grant is used for purposes consistent with this 
section. 
‘‘(13) REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
biennially submit to Congress a report regard-
ing the implementation of this subsection, 
which shall include— 
‘‘(i) an evaluation, based on perform-
ance measures developed by the Secretary, 
of the effectiveness of the grant program 
in accomplishing the purposes of this sub-
section; 
‘‘(ii) an account of all expenditures 
under this subsection; and 
‘‘(iii) descriptions of each project car-
ried out using a grant awarded under this 
section. 
‘‘(B) ALTERNATIVE MANNER OF SUBMIS-
SION.—The Secretary may submit each report 
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‘‘(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
WA-
TERFRONTS PRESERVATION LOAN FUNDS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to 
receive a capitalization grant under this 
subsection, an eligible coastal state shall 
establish a working waterfronts preserva-
tion loan fund. 
‘‘(ii) DEPOSIT.—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 capitaliza-
tion grant made to an eligible coastal state 
under this section shall be available to the eligi-
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