[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5471 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5471
To amend the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend aquaculture
programs under such Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 18, 2025
Mr. LaLota introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently 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 National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend aquaculture
programs under such Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture
Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980.
The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 2803)--
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking
``acquaculture'' and inserting ``aquaculture'';
(B) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by inserting ``, not less than once
every 3 years,'' after ``periodic reviews''; and
(C) in subsection (e)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by inserting ``, not less than once every 3
years,'' after ``undertake a continuing
assessment of aquaculture in the United
States'';
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(iii) in paragraph (6), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) a catalog of new and existing capital constraints, as
described in the capital requirements plan formulated under
section 8(b), that affect the development of the aquaculture
industry in the United States; and
``(8) a catalog of new and existing Federal or State
regulatory barriers, as described in the regulatory constraints
plan formulated under section 9(b), to the initiation and
operation of commercial aquaculture ventures.'';
(2) in section 5 (16 U.S.C. 2804), by striking subsection
(d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Aquaculture Advisory Committee.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish
an advisory committee, to be known as the Aquaculture Advisory
Committee (referred to in this subsection as the `Committee'),
to advise the Secretary on--
``(A) oversight of programs of the Department and
other members of the coordinating group to support
development of, and to advance, aquaculture best
practices using the best available science, in
consultation with farmers and industry partners;
``(B) providing technical assistance to aquaculture
farmers and businesses, including technical assistance
that pertains to shellfish, algae, and land-based
aquaculture systems, using the best available science;
and
``(C) any other aspects of the implementation of
this Act.
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed
of 14 members, who are not officers or employees of the
Federal Government.
``(B) Initial appointments.--The Secretary shall
appoint the members of the Committee not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this section.
``(C) Period of initial appointment; vacancies.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), a member of the Committee shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years.
``(ii) Initial appointments.--Of the
members first appointed to the Committee--
``(I) 5 of the members, as
determined by the Secretary, shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years;
``(II) 5 of the members, as
determined by the Secretary, shall be
appointed for a term of 2 years; and
``(III) 4 of the members, as
determined by the Secretary, shall be
appointed for a term of 1 year.
``(iii) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the
Committee--
``(I) shall not affect the powers
of the Committee; and
``(II) shall be filled as soon as
practicable in the same manner as the
original appointment.
``(D) Consecutive terms.--An initial appointee of
the Committee may serve an additional consecutive term
if the member is reappointed by the Secretary.
``(3) Meetings.--
``(A) Frequency.--The Committee shall meet not
fewer than 3 times per year.
``(B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 180 days
after the date on which the members are appointed under
paragraph (2)(B), the Committee shall hold the first
meeting of the Committee.
``(4) Duties.--The Committee shall--
``(A) develop recommendations and advise the
Secretary on aquaculture policies, initiatives, and
outreach administered by the Department;
``(B) evaluate and review ongoing research and
extension activities relating to aquaculture practices;
``(C) identify new and existing barriers to
successful aquaculture practices; and
``(D) provide additional assistance and advice to
the Secretary as appropriate.
``(5) Personnel matters.--
``(A) Compensation.--A member of the Committee
shall serve without compensation.
``(B) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
``(6) Termination.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Committee shall terminate on the date that is 5 years
after the date on which the members are appointed under
paragraph (2)(B).
``(B) Extensions.--Before the date on which the
Committee terminates, the Secretary may renew the
Committee for 1 or more 2-year periods.
``(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this subsection, and each year thereafter, the Secretary,
acting through the coordinating group and in consultation with the
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior, shall prepare
on an annual basis, and submit to Congress, a report on the status of
aquaculture in the United States. Such report shall contain--
``(1) a description and evaluation of the actions
undertaken with respect to the Plan during the reporting
period;
``(2) an explanation of any revisions made to the Plan
during the reporting period;
``(3) the results of the continuing assessment established
under section 4(e);
``(4) an evaluation of the role each Federal department or
agency has in supporting the aquaculture industry;
``(5) the total amount and value of expenditures of Federal
departments or agencies on--
``(A) aquaculture purchases;
``(B) aquaculture promotion and outreach supporting
the aquaculture industry;
``(C) grants made to the aquaculture industry; and
``(D) grants to facilitate aquaculture research and
the subject matter of such research;
``(6) a summary of the activities and recommendations of
the Aquaculture Advisory Committee established under subsection
(d);
``(7) a summary of the activities and recommendations of
the coordinating group; and
``(8) such other comments and recommendations as the
Secretary determines appropriate.''; and
(3) in section 10 (16 U.S.C. 2809), by striking ``2023''
each place it appears in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) and
inserting ``2029''.
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