[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2883 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2883
To establish an East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force.
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 ``Quantifying Uncertainty and Action
to Help Optimize Growth of Shellfish Act of 2025'' or the ``QUAHOGS Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that bivalve trends in East Coast States
regarding productivity and abundance are characterized and that
research needs are identified;
(2) to prioritize scientific research needs for
commercially harvested and aquacultured East Coast bivalves;
(3) to address the increased variability or decline in
harvests of key bivalve species in East Coast States, including
quahogs (hard clams), by creating a coordinated bivalve
research strategy; and
(4) to support collaboration and coordination for bivalve
conservation efforts in East Coast States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Bivalve.--The term ``bivalve'' means aquatic mollusks
that have an external 2-part hinged shell containing a soft-
bodied invertebrate, including clams, oysters, mussels, and
scallops.
(2) 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).
(3) Quahog (hard clam).--The term ``quahog (hard clam)''
means the Northern quahog or hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria,
as well as the Southern quahog or Southern hard clam,
Mercenaria campechiensis.
SEC. 4. EAST COAST BIVALVE RESEARCH TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Chairs
of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Fishery Management
Councils and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall
convene an East Coast Bivalve Research Task Force (referred to in this
section as the ``Research Task Force'') to--
(1) review existing bivalve research in East Coast States;
(2) identify applied research needed to better understand
the increased variability and declining harvests of quahogs
(hard clams) and other bivalves in some parts of the East
Coast;
(3) support sustainable bivalve fisheries in East Coast
States;
(4) support sustainable bivalve aquaculture operations; and
(5) evaluate economic impacts of bivalve wild populations,
fisheries, and aquaculture.
(b) Composition and Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The Research Task Force shall be composed
of not fewer than 16 and not more than 21 members, who shall be
appointed under paragraph (2).
(2) Appointment by secretary.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall appoint members to the Research Task Force as follows:
(A) One representative from each of the following:
(i) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration who is knowledgeable about
bivalve research efforts in East Coast States.
(ii) The Environmental Protection Agency
who is knowledgeable about United States water
quality assessments and standards for bivalve
and human health.
(iii) The United States Department of
Agriculture who is experienced in aquaculture
research or management.
(iv) The New England Fishery Management
Council.
(v) The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council.
(vi) The South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council.
(vii) The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission.
(B) One representative from a State fish and
wildlife management agency from each of--
(i) the region defined by the New England
Fishery Management Council;
(ii) the region defined by the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council; and
(iii) the region defined by the South
Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
(C) Not less than 1 and not more than 3
representatives of Indian Tribes with current or
historic, or both, knowledge of and reliance on East
Coast bivalves to be appointed with due regard to
differences in regional perspectives and experience.
(D) Not less than 3 and not more than 6
representatives from the bivalve fishing industry
throughout the supply chain to be appointed with due
regard to differences in regional perspectives and
experience, including from--
(i) directed commercial harvesting;
(ii) recreational harvesting;
(iii) fisheries of an Indian Tribe;
(iv) bivalve processors or distributors; or
(v) bivalve aquaculture, including
hatcheries.
(E) 5 representatives who are academic experts in
bivalve biology and ecology, bivalve habitat
restoration and conservation, bivalve aquaculture,
comprehensive marine research planning in East Coast
States, or the economics or social dynamics of bivalve
fisheries and aquaculture, including at least 1
representative with expertise in quahogs (hard clams).
(3) Chair.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration representative described in paragraph (2)(A)(i)
shall be the Chair of the Research Task Force.
(c) Duties.--
(1) Review.--The Research Task Force shall--
(A) conduct a review of bivalve science relevant to
understanding current and potential future harvests of
quahogs (hard clams) and other culturally or
economically important bivalve species in East Coast
States, as well as solutions to identified problems,
including an examination of--
(i) traditional ecological knowledge of
bivalve populations and their ecosystems,
including potential for incorporation into
management plans;
(ii) habitat requirements for bivalve
populations, including water quality and
potential for water quality improvement or
alteration through habitat restoration or other
means, as well as potential future habitat
change;
(iii) impacts of erosion and sedimentation
on bivalve populations and farms, including
potential mitigation techniques;
(iv) current and future impacts of climate
change on bivalves, including ocean warming,
ocean acidification, and sea level rise;
(v) conditions and techniques for
successful restoration, including feasibility
of multitrophic restoration, such as bivalves
and seagrass meadows;
(vi) mitigation strategies for climate
change impacts, including assisted migration;
(vii) culture and breeding techniques,
including genomic modifications to meet
different commercial, recreational, and
restoration needs;
(viii) life cycle, including larval
dispersal, recruitment dynamics, life-stage
specific mortality, and growth rate;
(ix) current and historic ranges, as well
as potential future range shifts due to climate
change;
(x) prevalence of diseases and disease
mitigating strategies;
(xi) management strategies for sustainable
bivalve aquaculture and potential impacts; and
(xii) economic value and potential of
bivalve aquaculture, including financial and
regulatory barriers to entry for small-scale
operations;
(B) identify--
(i) scientific research gaps in
understanding the ecology of culturally and
economically important bivalve species in East
Coast States; and
(ii) the needs for developing solutions to
declining harvests and other identified
problems, including with respect to quahogs
(hard clams);
(C) consider both current and future impacts on the
health and populations of bivalves in East Coast
States; and
(D) identify solutions to current and predicted
impacts on the health and populations of bivalves in
East Coast States.
(2) Reports.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date the Research Task Force is established, the Chair
of the Research Task Force shall submit to the
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Subcommittee
on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and
make publicly available, a report--
(i) describing the review conducted under
paragraph (1); and
(ii) that includes--
(I) recommendations on filling
knowledge gaps that warrant further
scientific inquiry; and
(II) findings from the reports of
work groups submitted under subsection
(d)(2)(C).
(B) Interim progress report.--Not later than 1 year
after the date the Research Task Force is established,
the Chair of the Research Task Force shall submit to
the individuals and entities described in subparagraph
(A) and make publicly available an interim progress
report describing the review conducted under paragraph
(1).
(d) Administrative Matters.--
(1) Vice chairperson.--The Research Task Force shall select
a Vice Chair by vote from among the members of the Research
Task Force.
(2) Work groups.--
(A) In general.--The Research Task Force--
(i) not later than 30 days after the date
of the establishment of the Research Task
Force, shall establish a work group focused
specifically on the research needs associated
with quahog (hard clams) populations in Rhode
Island and across the East Coast;
(ii) not later than 30 days after the date
of the establishment of the Research Task
Force, shall establish a work group focused on
the current and potential future impacts of
climate change on bivalve populations in East
Coast States; and
(iii) may establish additional regionally
or stock focused work groups within the
Research Task Force, as members determine
appropriate.
(B) Composition.--Each work group established under
this subsection shall--
(i) consist of not less than 5 individuals
who--
(I) are knowledgeable about the
species, issue, or region under
consideration; and
(II) shall include at least 1
member of the Research Task Force,
though the others need not be; and
(ii) be balanced in terms of stakeholder
representation, including commercial and
aquaculture fisheries, as well as experts in
statistical, biological, economic, social, or
other scientific information as relevant to the
work group's focus.
(C) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date
the Research Task Force is established, each work group
established under this subsection shall submit a report
with the work group's findings to the Research Task
Force.
(3) Compensation.--Each member of the Research Task Force
and each member of a work group shall serve without
compensation.
(4) Expenses.--A member of the Research Task Force and a
member of a work group shall be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or
regular place of business of the member in the performance of
the duties of the Research Task Force.
(5) Administrative support.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for
the Research Task Force and its work groups to carry out their
duties, which may include support for virtual or in-person
participation.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.
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