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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 1917

Fish and Wildlife Service to expand Great Lakes hatchery fish tagging with $2.7M per year

Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • Creates a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program to tag large numbers of hatchery-raised fish stocked in the Great Lakes.
  • Lets the agency buy tagging equipment and tags, run tag-recovery work, and hire staff to handle the program and share results.
  • Requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to work with Great Lakes states and Tribal fish agencies so everyone uses the same science and data.
  • Requires the agency to share the tagging data so managers can adjust fish stocking, support habitat restoration, and balance predator and prey fish.
  • Authorizes $2.7 million each year from 2026 through 2030 to run the program.
EnvironmentAgriculture

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(4)
Farmer Rancher
Neutral
Small Business Owner
Neutral
Gig Worker
Neutral
Tribal Member
Neutral
Positive Impacts(1)
Federal Employee
Helps

State Impacts

IllinoisIL
Mixed

Illinois fish agencies (and Tribes in Illinois) are named in the findings as partners in identifying mass marking needs. They would gain access to tagging data to guide stocking and restoration decisions, but may also face added coordination and tag-reporting work with federal partners.

IndianaIN
Mixed

Indiana is listed among the Great Lakes states working through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission structure. Better hatchery fish marking data can improve stocking and management decisions for Lake Michigan fisheries, with possible future changes to stocking priorities based on results.

MichiganMI
Mixed

Michigan is explicitly named in the findings. The program supports tagging of hatchery fish stocked in the basin and sharing results, which can affect Michigan’s sport and commercial fisheries through better stocking and predator/prey management—plus possible changes in plans as data accumulates.

MinnesotaMN
Mixed

Minnesota is named in the findings as part of the multi-state and Tribal partnership. The program’s data can help Minnesota and Tribal co-managers judge how well hatchery operations are working and guide Great Lakes restoration and fish management decisions over time.

OhioOH
Mixed

Ohio is listed among the Great Lakes states involved. The program can improve information used for Lake Erie stocking and management decisions, which may help stabilize fishing opportunities while also potentially changing stocking strategies based on tag results.

PennsylvaniaPA
Mixed

Pennsylvania is named in the findings. Access to basin-wide tag data can help Pennsylvania manage Great Lakes fisheries (especially Lake Erie) and evaluate habitat restoration results, with possible future adjustments to stocking and management actions.

New YorkNY
Mixed

New York is explicitly included in the findings. The mass marking data can support management decisions for Lake Ontario and connected waters, including balancing stocked vs. wild fish and tracking how effective hatchery operations are over time.

WisconsinWI
Mixed

Wisconsin is named in the findings as part of the Great Lakes partnership. Better tagging data can improve long-run fishery outcomes and help evaluate restoration and stocking actions, but may also bring added coordination and data-collection workload for agencies and partners.

Milestones

5 milestones18 actions
Jul 23, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Jul 22, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jul 22, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 360 - 57 (Roll no. 216). (text: CR H3543)

Jul 22, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 360 - 57 (Roll no. 216). (text: CR H3543: 1)

Jul 22, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3545)

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

During fiscal year 2026 (Oct 2025–Sep 2026) if appropriated

Congress may fund the program for FY2026

If funded, the Fish and Wildlife Service can start buying tagging equipment/tags and staffing up, which supports more consistent marking of hatchery fish.

After FY2026 funding is received

Fish and Wildlife Service expands tagging and tag-recovery operations

Anglers and fishers may see more tagged fish and may be asked (by states/Tribes) to report tags, helping managers compare stocked fish to wild fish.

Ongoing once data collection is underway

Data from marked fish is shared with state and Tribal fish agencies

States and Tribes can use the data to adjust stocking plans, restoration work, and predator/prey balance decisions for Great Lakes fisheries.

End of fiscal year 2030 (around Sep 2030)

Authorized funding window ends after FY2030 unless renewed

Without new action by Congress, dedicated authorized funding could stop, which could slow tagging work and data collection.

Vote Results

1 vote
HousePassedProceduralJul 22, 2025

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

360
57
Democrat
207 – 0 · 5
Republican
153 – 57 · 8
View full roll call

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 1917
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(6)
D: 2R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.