H.R. 3962 · Passed House · Environmental Protection

ESTUARIES Act

Sponsor: Shomari Figures (D-AL)

What it does

• Reauthorizes National Estuary Program grants through fiscal year 2031.
• Continues EPA grants for developing and carrying out comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance.
• Continues grants to address threats to the ecological and economic well-being of those estuaries.
• Keeps eligibility for states, water pollution control and coastal zone agencies, interstate agencies, public or nonprofit organizations, and individuals.

Official summary

Enhancing Science, Treatment, and Upkeep of America’s Resilient and Important Estuarine Systems Act or the ESTUARIES Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 grants provided under the National Estuary Program to protect and restore estuaries of national significance. Estuaries are coastal waterbodies where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with the ocean’s saltwater. Under the existing program, the Environmental Protection Agency provides grants for (1) developing and implementing comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance, and (2) addressing issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of such estuaries. The existing program provides grants to states, regional water pollution control agencies and entities, state coastal zone management agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals.

Latest action

Dec 16, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works