Help Our Kelp Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
- Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 11, 2025
Bottom line
The Help Our Kelp Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to support diverse local and tribal efforts in conserving, restoring, and managing vital kelp forest ecosystems.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to establish a grant program within 180 days of enactment. This program will award grants to eligible entities, including the fishing industry, academic institutions, nonprofits, Indian Tribes, and state/local governments, for projects focused on conserving, restoring, and managing kelp forest ecosystems. It specifies project priorities, includes a matching requirement with a waiver for Indian Tribes, and authorizes $5 million annually for five fiscal years, with a set-aside for Indian Tribes.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that kelp forests are critical marine habitats facing severe declines due to environmental stressors, and this bill provides essential federal funding and coordination to address these urgent issues. They contend that empowering a wide range of stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, ensures that conservation efforts are locally informed, scientifically sound, and culturally sensitive, promoting long-term ecological and socioeconomic resilience.
Opponents contend
Potential opponents might raise concerns about new federal spending, arguing that the authorized $5 million annually for this specific program could contribute to budget deficits or that kelp conservation might be more efficiently handled at state or local levels, or through private sector initiatives. They might also question the overall impact of the allocated funds given the scale of environmental challenges facing marine ecosystems.
The bill is short and clearly written, making its provisions accessible for a reader to understand within a short timeframe.
Section 2(a)
Establishment of Kelp Forest Grant Program
This section mandates the Administrator of NOAA to create a grant program within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The program will award grants to eligible entities for projects focused on conserving, restoring, or managing kelp forest ecosystems.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is essential as it creates the foundational mechanism for federal support, ensuring a dedicated and coordinated effort to address kelp forest decline.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the establishment of a grant program itself, though general opposition to new federal programs or spending might apply.
Tradeoffs
Balances the need for federal intervention with potential administrative overhead.
Section 2(b)
Defining Eligible Grant Recipients and Collaboration
This section specifies who can apply for grants, including members of the fishing industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, Indian Tribes, State agencies, and local governments. It also requires applicants to consult or collaborate with other eligible entities during project development or implementation.
Section 2(c)
Prioritized Project Types for Kelp Conservation
This section outlines the types of projects that qualify for grants. It prioritizes projects addressing significant regional kelp declines and those focusing on long-term resilience, seeding, reestablishing trophic relationships (like urchin removal or sea star recovery), monitoring, and integrating Indigenous knowledge and co-management.
Section 2(d)
Federal Funding Match and Waiver Conditions
This provision states that federal grants cannot exceed 85% of a project's total cost, requiring a non-federal match which can include in-kind contributions. However, the Administrator can waive this requirement if no reasonable means are available for the entity to meet it, the project's benefit outweighs the public interest in the match, and the project is on lands owned by or held in trust for an Indian Tribe.
Section 2(f)
Funding Authorization and Tribal Set-Aside
This section authorizes $5,000,000 to be appropriated annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the grant program. Crucially, it sets aside not less than $750,000 of this annual amount specifically for grants awarded to eligible entities that are Indian Tribes. If no Indian Tribe receives a grant in a given year, this set-aside becomes available to other eligible entities, and NOAA must conduct outreach to Indian Tribes.