‘‘(C) examine the effect of other environ-
mental stressors on harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(D) examine potential methods to pre-
vent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms 
and the potential ecological, subsistence use, 
and economic costs and benefits of such meth-
ods; 
‘‘(E) identify priorities for research needed 
to advance techniques and technologies to de-
tect, predict, monitor, respond to, and minimize 
the occurrence, duration, and severity of harm-
ful algal blooms, including recommendations to 
eliminate significant gaps in harmful algal 
bloom forecasting, monitoring, and observation 
data; 
‘‘(F) evaluate progress made by, and the 
needs of, activities and actions of the Task 
Force to prevent, control, and mitigate harmful 
algal blooms; 
‘‘(G) identify ways to improve coordination 
and prevent unnecessary duplication of effort 
among Federal agencies with respect to re-
search on harmful algal blooms; and 
‘‘(H) include regional chapters relating to 
the requirements described in this paragraph in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
order to highlight geographically and eco-
logically diverse locations with significant eco-
logical, subsistence use, cultural, and economic 
impacts from harmful algal blooms. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out subsections 
(b) and (c), the Task Force shall consult with— 
‘‘(1) States, Indian tribes, and local govern-
ments; and 
‘‘(2) appropriate industries (including fisheries, 
agriculture, and fertilizer), academic institutions, 
and nongovernmental organizations with relevant ex-
pertise.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 112 Stat. 3412; 
136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item re-
lating to section 603 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 603. Task Force, assessments, and Action Strategy.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 102 
of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amend-
ments Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 4001a) is amended 
by striking ‘‘In developing’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘management.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HY-
POXIA PROGRAM.—Section 603A of the Harmful Algal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 4002) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘predicting,’’ and in-
serting 
‘‘monitoring, 
observing, 
fore-
casting,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) the scientific assessment submitted under 
section 603(b); and 
‘‘(3) the Action Strategy.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘ocean 
and Great Lakes science and management pro-
grams and centers’’ and inserting ‘‘programs 
and centers relating to the science and manage-
ment of marine, estuarine, and freshwater sys-
tems’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘while 
recognizing each agency is acting under its own 
independent mission and authority’’ before the 
semicolon; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Except as 
provided in subsection (h), the’’ and inserting 
‘‘The’’; 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) examine the causes, ecological con-
sequences, and costs of harmful algal blooms and 
hypoxia;’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘, including the annual Gulf of Mexico hy-
poxia zone mapping cruise’’ after ‘‘Pro-
gram’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(E) to identify opportunities to improve 
monitoring of harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia, with a particular focus on waters that 
may affect fisheries, public health, or subsist-
ence harvest; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(F) to evaluate adaptation and mitigation 
strategies to address the impacts of harmful 
algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(G) to support the resilience of the sea-
food industry to harmful algal blooms and to 
expand access to testing for harmful algal 
bloom toxins, including for subsistence and rec-
reational harvesters, through innovative meth-
ods that increase the efficiency and effective-
ness of such testing in rural and remote areas; 
‘‘(H) to support sustained observations to 
provide State and local entities, Indian tribes, 
and other entities access to real-time or near 
real-time observations data for decision-making 
to protect human and ecological health and 
local economies; and 
‘‘(I) to assess the combined effects of 
harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and stressors 
such as runoff and infrastructure changes on 
marine, freshwater, or estuarine ecosystems and 
living resources;’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘agen-
cies’’ and inserting ‘‘entities, regional coastal 
observing systems (as defined in section 12303 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observa-
tion System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602)),’’; 
(D) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘and 
communities’’ after ‘‘ecosystems’’; 
(E) in paragraph (8), by inserting ‘‘and 
Indian tribes’’ after ‘‘managers’’; 
(F) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ‘‘, 
tribal, and local stakeholders’’ and inserting 
‘‘and local stakeholders and Indian tribes, Trib-
al organizations, and Native Hawaiian organi-
zations’’; 
(G) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), 
(5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) as para-
graphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), 
and (13), respectively; 
(H) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) consult with entities that are most depend-
ent on coastal and water resources that may be im-
pacted by marine and freshwater harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia, including— 
‘‘(A) State and local entities; 
‘‘(B) Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, 
and Native Hawaiians organizations; 
‘‘(C) island communities; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(D) low-population rural communities; 
‘‘(E) subsistence communities; and 
‘‘(F) fisheries and recreation industries;’’; 
and 
(I) by inserting after paragraph (10), as 
redesignated by subparagraph (G), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(11) expand access to testing for harmful algal 
bloom toxins, including for subsistence and rec-
reational harvesters, through innovative methods 
that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of such 
testing in rural and remote areas;’’; 
(5) by amending subsection (f) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(f) COOPERATION; DUPLICATION OF EFFORT.—The 
Under Secretary shall work cooperatively with and avoid 
duplication of effort of other agencies on the Task Force 
and States, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and nongovernmental organiza-
tions concerned with marine and freshwater issues.’’; and 
(6) by striking subsections (g), (h), and (i). 
(c) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 603B of the Harm-
ful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4003) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 603B. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) carry out response activities for marine, 
coastal, and Great Lakes harmful algal bloom and 
hypoxia events; 
‘‘(2) develop and enhance operational harmful 
algal bloom observing and forecasting programs, in-
cluding operational observations and forecasting, 
monitoring, modeling, data management, and infor-
mation dissemination; 
‘‘(3) develop forecast modeling that includes the 
effect of hurricanes and other weather events on the 
resuspension of bioavailable nutrients in sediments 
and related interactions with harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(4) enhance communication and coordination 
among Federal agencies carrying out activities and 
research relating to marine and freshwater harmful 
algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(5) leverage existing resources and expertise 
available from local research universities and institu-
tions; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(6) use cost effective methods in carrying out 
this section. 
‘‘(b) INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVA-
TION SYSTEM.—The collection of monitoring and observ-
ing data under this section shall comply with all data 
standards and protocols developed pursuant to the Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.). Such data shall be made 
available through the National Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System established under section 
12304 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 3603).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 112 Stat. 3412; 
136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item re-
lating to section 603B and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.’’. 
(d) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 is 
amended by inserting after section 603B (33 U.S.C. 
4003) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 603C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AC-
TIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(1) carry out research on the ecology and 
human health impacts of freshwater harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia events; 
‘‘(2) develop and enhance operational fresh-
water harmful algal bloom monitoring, observing, 
and forecasting programs in lakes, rivers, and res-
ervoirs, and coordinate with the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration on such programs 
in the Great Lakes and estuaries (including tribu-
taries thereof), including operational observations 
and forecasting, monitoring, modeling, data manage-
ment, and information dissemination, to support 
event response, prioritization, prevention, adapta-
tion, and mitigation activities; 
‘‘(3) enhance communication and coordination 
among Federal agencies carrying out freshwater 
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and re-
search; 
‘‘(4) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
existing resources and expertise available from Fed-
eral and State partners and local research univer-
sities and institutions; and 
‘‘(5) use cost-effective methods in carrying out 
this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(b) NONDUPLICATION.—The Administrator shall 
ensure that activities carried out under subsection (a) 
focus on new approaches to addressing freshwater harmful 
algal blooms and are not duplicative of existing research 
and development programs authorized by this title or any 
other law.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 112 Stat. 3412; 
136 Stat. 1268) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 603B the following: 
‘‘Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.’’. 
(e) NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OBSERVING 
NETWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 606 of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act 
of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4005) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 606. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OBSERVING 
NETWORK. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, acting 
through the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science 
and the Integrated Ocean Observing System of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall in-
tegrate Federal, State, regional, and local observing capa-
bilities to establish a national network of observing sys-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
tems for the monitoring, detection, and forecasting of 
harmful algal blooms by leveraging the capacity of re-
gional associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing Sys-
tem, including through the incorporation of emerging tech-
nologies and new data integration methods. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION AND DATA ASSEMBLY.—In car-
rying out subsection (a), the Program Office of the Inte-
grated Ocean Observing System shall— 
‘‘(1) coordinate with the National Centers for 
Coastal Ocean Science regarding observations, data 
integration, and information dissemination; 
‘‘(2) organize, integrate, disseminate, and pro-
vide a central architecture to support ecological fore-
casting of harmful algal blooms; and 
‘‘(3) coordinate with the Water Quality Portal 
to store and serve discrete data related to the moni-
toring of freshwater, estuarine, and coastal harmful 
algal blooms.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 112 Stat. 3412; 
136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item re-
lating to section 606 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.’’. 
(f) NATIONAL-LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 is 
amended by inserting after section 606 (33 U.S.C. 
4005) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 606A. NATIONAL-LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the Administrator and research universities 
and institutions, shall establish a national-level incubator 
program (in this section referred to as the ‘program’) to 
increase the number of strategies, technologies, and meas-
ures available to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful 
algal blooms. 
‘‘(b) FRAMEWORK.—The program shall establish a 
framework for preliminary assessments of novel strategies, 
technologies, and measures to prevent, mitigate, and con-
trol harmful algal blooms in order to determine the poten-
tial effectiveness and scalability of such technologies. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.—The program shall provide merit- 
based funding, using amounts otherwise available to the 
Under Secretary for the award of grants, for strategies, 
technologies, and measures that eliminate or reduce, 
through biological, chemical, or physical means, the levels 
of harmful algae and associated toxins resulting from 
harmful algal blooms. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(d) DATABASE.—The program shall include a data-
base for cataloging the licensing and permitting require-
ments, economic costs, feasibility, effectiveness, and 
scalability of novel and established strategies, tech-
nologies, and measures to prevent, mitigate, and control 
harmful algal blooms. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out the program, 
the Under Secretary shall prioritize proposed strategies, 
technologies, and measures that would, to the maximum 
extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) protect key habitats for fish and wildlife; 
‘‘(2) maintain biodiversity; 
‘‘(3) protect public health; 
‘‘(4) protect coastal resources of national, his-
torical, and cultural significance; or 
‘‘(5) benefit low-income communities, Indian 
tribes, and rural communities.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 112 Stat. 3412; 
136 Stat. 1268) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 606 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 606A. National-level incubator program.’’. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—Section 609 of the Harmful Algal 
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 4008) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘means the 
comprehensive research plan and action strategy es-
tablished under section 603B’’ and inserting ‘‘means 
the action strategy for harmful algal blooms in the 
United States most recently submitted under section 
603(c)’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM.—The term 
‘harmful algal bloom’ means a high concentration of 
marine or freshwater algae (including diatoms), 
macroalgae (including Sargassum), or cyanobacteria 
resulting in nuisance conditions or harmful impacts 
on marine and freshwater ecosystems, subsistence 
resources, communities, or human health through 
the production of toxic compounds or other biologi-
cal, chemical, or physical impacts of the bloom.’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (9); 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), 
(7), and (8) as paragraphs (5), (8), (9), (11), and 
(13), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM
AND
HYPOXIA 
EVENT.—The term ‘harmful algal bloom and hy-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
poxia event’ means the occurrence of a harmful algal 
bloom or hypoxia as a result of a natural, anthropo-
genic, or undetermined cause.’’; 
(6) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by para-
graph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘aquatic’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine or freshwater’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘resident’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine or freshwater’’; 
(7) by inserting after paragraph (5), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (4), the following: 
‘‘(6) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(7) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘Native Hawaiian organization’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 6207 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7517) and includes the Department of Ha-
waiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Af-
fairs.’’; 
(8) by inserting after paragraph (9), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (4), the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:07 Feb 19, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H644.IH
H644
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB