I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4417 
To amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 16, 2017 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, and Ms. EDDIE 
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal 
blooms, 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 ‘‘Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 
2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM 
AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT 
OF 1998. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 
4001 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE. 
Section 603(a) (33 U.S.C. 4001(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as para-
graph (14); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and’’. 
SEC. 4. SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS OF FRESHWATER HARM-
FUL ALGAL BLOOMS. 
Section 603 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (f); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), 
and (j) as subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respec-
tively; and 
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(3) by amending subsection (g) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(g) SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS
OF MARINE
AND 
FRESHWATER HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.—Not less than 
once every 5 years the Task Force shall complete and sub-
mit to Congress a scientific assessment of harmful algal 
blooms in United States coastal waters and freshwater 
systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine and 
freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the 
Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in 
freshwater lakes and rivers, and those that originate in 
freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters.’’. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA 
PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM DUTIES.—Section 603A(e) (33 U.S.C. 
4002(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including 
to local and regional stakeholders through the estab-
lishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible 
Internet website that provides information as to Pro-
gram activities completed under this section’’ after 
‘‘Program’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
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(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) to accelerate the utilization of effec-
tive methods of intervention and mitigation to 
reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of 
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and work co-
operatively with’’ and inserting ‘‘, and work coopera-
tively to provide technical assistance to,’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (7)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and extension’’ after ‘‘ex-
isting education’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘intervention,’’ after 
‘‘awareness of the causes, impacts,’’. 
(b) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION
ACTIVITIES.—Section 603A(f) (33 U.S.C. 
4002(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, which shall 
include unmanned systems,’’ after ‘‘infrastructure’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(3) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
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