ESTUARIES Act
Key claim: The ESTUARIES Act reauthorizes through FY2031 EPA National Estuary Program grants to states and other entities for developing and implementing conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance.
Abstract
(HR3962 · 119th Congress) 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 (2025-12-16): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Why this matters
The National Estuary Program funds locally-driven conservation and management plans in 28 estuaries of national significance, so reauthorization through FY2031 preserves a predictable federal cost-share for water quality, habitat, and coastal resilience work. Without reauthorization, grant recipients face funding cliffs that can stall multi-year restoration commitments.