I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1332 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and carry out a program 
to sequence the genomes of aquatic species. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2025 
Mr. MIN (for himself, Ms. BROWNLEY, and Ms. ELFRETH) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and carry 
out a program to sequence the genomes of aquatic species. 
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 ‘‘Aquatic Biodiversity 
Preservation Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. AQUATIC SPECIES GENOME SEQUENCING PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and 
carry out a program to sequence the genomes of aquatic 
species, in coordination with covered entities, to enhance 
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scientific understanding and conservation, management, 
and enforcement efforts with respect to such species. 
(b) PROGRAM DUTIES.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall carry out activities that include 
the following: 
(1) Identify and catalogue vouchered specimens, 
verifiably identified by a taxonomist, of aquatic spe-
cies held by covered entities for the purpose of in-
cluding such aquatic species in the Program. 
(2) Obtain genetic samples, including through 
purchase or field collection, of priority species. 
(3) Extract and process DNA from samples of 
aquatic species or the environment through labora-
tory analysis, including carrying out any labor and 
acquiring any supplies required for such analysis. 
(4) Sequence the genomes of aquatic species to 
accepted completeness and quality standards for ref-
erence genomes, including, as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate, nuclear, mitochondrial, and 
chloroplast DNA. 
(5) Collect, catalogue, and store the metadata 
created by sequencing the genomes of aquatic spe-
cies under paragraph (4). 
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(6) Make publicly available the genomes and as-
sociated metadata of aquatic species that have been 
sequenced but are not publicly available. 
(7) Provide funding and technical assistance to 
covered entities that the Secretary determines appro-
priate to carry out the activities described in para-
graphs (1) through (6). 
(8) Establish principles for the management 
and sharing of data collected and produced through 
the Program in accordance with the document titled 
‘‘The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data 
management and stewardship’’ (published March 15, 
2016). 
(c) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BY COVERED ENTI-
TIES.—A covered entity may carry out the activities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b) 
pursuant to the Program. 
(d) DATA SHARING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), if the Secretary or a covered entity se-
quences the genome of an aquatic species pursuant 
to the Program, not later than 360 days after the 
date on which the sequencing of such genome is 
completed, the Secretary or the covered entity that 
sequenced such genome, as applicable, shall submit 
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to the National Center for Biotechnology Informa-
tion to make publicly available such sequenced ge-
nome and any associated raw sequence data and 
metadata, including— 
(A) the species of such genome; 
(B) the location of where the sample that 
was used to sequence such genome was col-
lected; 
(C) the time and date of when such sample 
was collected; 
(D) the process by which such genome was 
sequenced; and 
(E) any information required pursuant to 
the principles for the management and sharing 
of data collected and produced through the Pro-
gram established under subsection (b)(8). 
(2) EXCEPTION FOR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.— 
If, pursuant to the Program, a Tribal Government 
sequences the genome of an aquatic species or pro-
vides a sample of an aquatic species to the Secretary 
that the Secretary uses to sequence the genome of 
such species, the Tribal Government shall be the 
only entity with the authority to determine whether 
and when to submit to the National Center for Bio-
technology Information to make publicly available 
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the data collected and produced through such se-
quencing. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out the Program $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2031. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AQUATIC SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVA-
TION NEED.—The term ‘‘aquatic species of greatest 
conservation need’’ means an aquatic species that, 
unless otherwise specified, the Secretary determines 
requires conservation attention because such spe-
cies— 
(A) has a low or declining population; 
(B) is facing threats; or 
(C) is considered by a Tribal Government 
or Native Hawaiian organization to be bio-
logically or culturally significant for indigenous 
purposes. 
(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means— 
(A) a Federal agency; 
(B) a State Government; 
(C) a Tribal Government; 
(D) a Native Hawaiian organization; 
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(E) a nonprofit organization; and 
(F) an institution of higher education. 
(3) 
HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM.—The 
term 
‘‘harmful algal bloom’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 609 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 
U.S.C. 4008). 
(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(6) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’— 
(A) means an organization that— 
(i) serves and represents the interests 
of Native Hawaiians; 
(ii) has as a primary and stated pur-
pose the provision of services to Native 
Hawaiians; and 
(iii) has expertise in Native Hawaiian 
affairs; and 
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(B) includes Native Hawaiian organiza-
tions registered with the Office of Native Ha-
waiian Relations of the Department of the Inte-
rior. 
(7) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization— 
(A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and 
(B) that is exempt from taxation under 
section 501(a) of that Code. 
(8) PRIORITY
SPECIES.—The term ‘‘priority 
species’’ means an aquatic species— 
(A) the genome of which has not been fully 
sequenced or is not publicly available; and 
(B) that is— 
(i) listed as a threatened species or as 
an endangered species pursuant to section 
4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1533); 
(ii) included in the Non-indigenous 
Aquatic Species database of the United 
States Geological Survey; 
(iii) listed in 1 of the Appendices of 
the Convention on International Trade in 
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Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
Flora; 
(iv) a macroinvertebrate that acts as a 
biological indicator of aquatic ecosystem 
health; 
(v) a species that contributes to harm-
ful algal blooms or a foodborne illness de-
rived from eating seafood; 
(vi) a species of fish that is managed 
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801); 
(vii) an aquatic species of greatest 
conservation need; 
(viii) a species protected under the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); 
(ix) a species monitored under the 
Seafood Import Monitoring Program of the 
National Marine Fisheries Service; or 
(x) a look-alike species or a species 
that is morphologically or genetically close-
ly related to a species described in clauses 
(i) through (x). 
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(9) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (a). 
(10) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Commerce. 
(11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, 
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and 
any other territory or possession of the United 
States. 
(12) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
Government’’ means the recognized governing body 
of an Indian Tribe. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this section. 
Æ 
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