S 2063119th CongressIntroduced

ESTUARIES Act of 2025

Introduced: Jun 12, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The ESTUARIES Act of 2025 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program (NEP) and extend the period during which federal authorization for the program remains in effect. Specifically, it moves the NEP authorization year from 2026 to 2031, ensuring continued federal support for estuary identification, planning, and restoration efforts through 2031. The act is titled the Enhancing Science, Treatment, and Upkeep of America's Resilient and Important Estuarine Systems Act of 2025 (ESTUARIES Act of 2025). The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Key Points

1Short title: The bill is named the Enhancing Science, Treatment, and Upkeep of America's Resilient and Important Estuarine Systems Act of 2025, or the ESTUARIES Act of 2025.
2Reauthorization of NEP: Alters the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program.
3Extended authorization period: The authorization year for the NEP is moved from 2026 to 2031, effectively extending federal support/authorization by five years.
4Scope implied by the text: The change is focused on reauthorization and funding authorization for the NEP, which coordinates estuary protection, planning, and restoration efforts.
5Legislative status: Introduced in the Senate on June 12, 2025 by Senator Whitehouse (with Senator Cassidy listed as a co-sponsor for the introduction); referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Sponsor in the House is not specified in the provided text.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: States, local governments, and organizations participating in the National Estuary Program, including estuary management programs and agencies coordinating estuary protection and restoration.Secondary group/area affected: Coastal communities and economies that rely on estuarine health (fisheries, tourism, recreation), environmental and scientific communities involved in estuary research and monitoring.Additional impacts: Provides continuity for planning, implementation, and public participation related to estuary management; potential influence on federal funding cycles and long-term planning for estuary resilience in light of climate-related stressors.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 3, 2025