H.R. 5471

[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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