Congress·Passed House·H.R. 1917

Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

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

Jul 23, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

This bill is one vehicle in a longer effort. See the full story across every version.View effort →

StalledNext up: The SenateNo action in 11 months

The House passed this bill in July 2025, and it is now waiting for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to take action. The bill is stalled because no progress has been made since July 2025. It is unlikely to move forward because the Senate often does not schedule votes for bills passed by the House.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

Senate

No action since July 2025

President

Law

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 7166 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 7166 (118th) →

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

6 milestones18 actions

Jul 23, 2025Senate

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

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

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)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

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)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

Jul 22, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3545)

Vote Results

1 vote

HousePassedProceduralJul 22, 2025

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

360

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.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(6)

D: 2R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.

Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

How we got here

Key Points