119-hr5471

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5471 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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