I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5692 
To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in western waters, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 22, 2021 
Mr. GARAMENDI (for himself and Mr. AMODEI) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in western 
waters, 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 ‘‘Stop the Spread of 
Invasive Mussels Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
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(1) the term ‘‘aquatic invasive species’’ has the 
meaning given that term ‘‘aquatic nuisance species’’ 
in section 1003 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nui-
sance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 
U.S.C. 4702); 
(2) the term ‘‘reclamation project’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 2803(3) of the 
Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment 
Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 460l-32(3)); 
(3) the term ‘‘reclamation State’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 4014 of the Water In-
frastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (43 
U.S.C. 390b note); 
(4) the term ‘‘recreational vessel’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 502(25) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1362(25)); and 
(5) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of 
Reclamation. 
(b) WATERCRAFT INSPECTION
IN RECLAMATION 
STATES.—The Secretary shall provide financial assistance 
to a reclamation State to prevent the spread of aquatic 
invasive species into, within, and out of reclamation 
projects, including financial assistance to purchase, estab-
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lish, operate, or maintain a watercraft inspection and de-
contamination station, if the Secretary determines that 
the financial assistance is— 
(1) necessary; and 
(2) in the interests of the United States. 
(c) COST SHARE.—The non-Federal share of the cost 
of purchasing, establishing, operating, and maintaining a 
watercraft inspection and decontamination station (includ-
ing a non-Federal watercraft inspection and decontamina-
tion station) under subsection (b), including personnel 
costs, shall be— 
(1) 25 percent; and 
(2) provided by the reclamation State, or a unit 
of local government in the reclamation State, in 
which the watercraft inspection and decontamination 
station or other project is located. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In providing financial assistance to 
a reclamation State under subsection (b), the Secretary 
shall give priority to— 
(1) a watercraft inspection and decontamination 
station that has the highest likelihood of preventing 
the spread of aquatic invasive species at reservoirs 
of reclamation projects; and 
(2) a project that— 
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(A) would prevent the spread of an aquatic 
invasive species to waters under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary, including an irrigation, rec-
lamation, or other water project; 
(B) aligns with— 
(i) priorities of the reclamation State; 
and 
(ii) the document submitted to the 
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force enti-
tled ‘‘Quagga-Zebra Mussel Action Plan 
for Western U.S. Waters’’ and dated Sep-
tember 29, 2020, and any subsequent up-
dates to such document submitted to the 
Task Force; and 
(C) includes a plan for minimizing disrup-
tions to boating access for non-contaminated 
recreational vessels to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, which may include recommendations 
provided by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task 
Force established under section 1201(b) of the 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 
and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4721(b)). 
(e) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall consult and coordinate with— 
(1) each of the reclamation States; 
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(2) affected federally recognized Indian Tribes; 
and 
(3) the heads of appropriate Federal agencies. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year 
thereafter. 
SEC. 3. RECREATIONAL VESSEL INSPECTION AND DECON-
TAMINATION AUTHORITY. 
(a) RECREATIONAL
VESSEL
DEFINED.—Section 
1003 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 
and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4702) is amended— 
(1) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(13) ‘State’ means each of the several States, 
the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, 
Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the 
Virgin Islands of the United States.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in paragraph (17), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through 
(17) as paragraphs (14) through (18), respectively; 
and 
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(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(19) ‘recreational vessel’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 502(25) of the Federal 
Water 
Pollution 
Control 
Act 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1362(25)).’’. 
(b) OBSERVERS.—Section 1201 of the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 
U.S.C. 4721) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) OBSERVERS.—The chairpersons designated 
under subsection (d) may invite representatives of non-
governmental entities to participate as observers of the 
Task Force.’’. 
(c) AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES TASK FORCE.— 
Section 1201(b) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4721(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (10); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(7) the Director of the National Park Service; 
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‘‘(8) the Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement; 
‘‘(9) the Commissioner of Reclamation; and’’. 
(d) AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 1202 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Preven-
tion and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4722) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mus-
sels Act of 2021, recommend legislative, pro-
grammatic, or regulatory changes to eliminate re-
maining gaps in authorities between members of the 
Task Force to effectively manage and control the 
movement of aquatic nuisance species into, within, 
or out of waters of the United States.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(3) MANDATORY
INSPECTION
AND
DECON-
TAMINATION.—To limit the movement of aquatic 
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nuisance species into, within, or out of waters of the 
United States, each member of the Task Force may, 
as appropriate and in coordination with States— 
‘‘(A) conduct mandatory inspections and 
decontamination of recreational vessels; 
‘‘(B) if necessary, impound, quarantine, or 
otherwise prevent entry of a recreational vessel; 
and 
‘‘(C) partner with State and local govern-
mental agencies to conduct inspections and de-
contaminations under this paragraph and ac-
cept any such inspections and decontamination 
by States and local government agencies for the 
purposes of allowing entry by recreational ves-
sels to water regulated by such member of the 
Task Force. 
‘‘(4) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) Nothing in paragraph (3) shall be 
construed to— 
‘‘(i) limit the authority of the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard to regulate 
vessels provided under any other provision 
of law; 
‘‘(ii) limit the authority, jurisdiction, 
or responsibilities of a State to manage, 
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‘‘(iv) the Coast Guard is exercising its 
authority to direct vessel traffic pursuant 
to section 70002 or section 70021 of title 
46, United States Code.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by inserting 
‘‘, economy, infrastructure,’’ after ‘‘envi-
ronment’’; and 
(ii) in the second sentence, by insert-
ing ‘‘(including through the use of rec-
reational vessel inspection and decon-
tamination stations)’’ after ‘‘aquatic nui-
sance species’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), in the second sen-
tence, by inserting ‘‘infrastructure, and the’’ 
after ‘‘ecosystems,’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—The Task Force may provide 
technical assistance and recommendations for best 
practices to an agency or entity engaged in inspec-
tions or decontaminations under subsection (c) or re-
ceiving funds under section 2 of the Stop the Spread 
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of Invasive Mussels Act of 2021 for the purpose 
of— 
‘‘(A) effectively managing and controlling 
the movement of aquatic nuisance species into, 
within, or out of waters of the United States; 
and 
‘‘(B) inspecting recreational vessels in a 
manner that minimizes disruptions to public ac-
cess for boating and recreation in non-contami-
nated vessels. 
‘‘(5) COORDINATION.—In carrying out para-
graph (4), including the development of rec-
ommendations, the Task Force may coordinate 
with— 
‘‘(A) State fish and wildlife management 
agencies; 
‘‘(B) other State agencies that manage 
fishery resources of the State, sustain fishery 
habitat, or manage and remove aquatic nui-
sance species; and 
‘‘(C) relevant nongovernmental entities.’’. 
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SEC. 4. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CONFORMING 
AMENDMENTS. 
The Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and 
Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) is further 
amended— 
(1) in section 1002(b)(2), by inserting a comma 
after ‘‘funded’’; 
(2) in section 1003, in paragraph (7), by strik-
ing ‘‘Canandian’’ and inserting ‘‘Canadian’’; 
(3) in section 1203(a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(F), by inserting 
‘‘and’’ after ‘‘research,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘encour-
age’’ and inserting ‘‘encouraged’’; 
(4) in section 1204(b)(4), in the paragraph 
heading, by striking ‘‘ADMINISRATIVE’’ and inserting 
‘‘ADMINISTRATIVE’’; 
(5) in section 1209, by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1202(a)’’; and 
(6) 
in 
section 
1301(a)(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘4712(a)(2’’ and inserting ‘‘4712(a)(2)’’. 
Æ 
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