Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act to create a federal Working Waterfronts Task Force, authorize working waterfronts planning, a competitive grant program, and a capitalization program for state revolving loan funds. It authorizes $50 million per year (2025–2029) for both the grant program and the loan fund, sets program rules including matching requirements, covenants to protect waterfront uses, public-access conditions, tribal and disadvantaged-community provisions, and reporting and oversight requirements.
Amount and sufficiency of federal funding versus program needs.
Relatively narrow, locality-focused funding with bipartisan appeal; modest fiscal cost may still attract some opposition.
The bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act to create a federal Working Waterfronts Task Force, authorize working waterfronts planning, a competitive grant program, and a capitalization program for state revolving loan funds.
It authorizes $50 million per year (2025–2029) for both the grant program and the loan fund, sets program rules including matching requirements, covenants to protect waterfront uses, public-access conditions, tribal and disadvantaged-community provisions, and reporting and oversight requirements.
Modest, place-based program with tangible local benefits increases chances, but requires appropriations and possible compromise over cost and conditions.
How solid the drafting looks.
Amount and sufficiency of federal funding versus program needs.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Amount and sufficiency of federal funding versus program needs.
Likely broadly supportive because the bill protects coastal working waterfronts, advances climate resilience, and includes equity provisions for tribes and disadvantaged communities.
Concerns would focus on whether authorized funding is sufficient and on enforcement strength of protections and public access requirements.
Generally favorable but pragmatic; appreciates targeted federal support, loan revolving structure, and Davis-Bacon application.
Wants clear performance metrics, efficient administration, and assurance the program won’t create unfunded mandates for states.
Skeptical overall: supports protecting working businesses, but wary of new federal spending, perpetual covenants, and federal oversight of property.
Concerned about regulatory overreach and constraints on private landowners.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Modest, place-based program with tangible local benefits increases chances, but requires appropriations and possible compromise over cost and conditions.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Amount and sufficiency of federal funding versus program needs.
Modest, place-based program with tangible local benefits increases chances, but requires appropriations and possible compromise over cost a…
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