Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a new grant program to find better ways to stop invasive species like zebra mussels and Asian carp. It provides $10 million a year to help researchers and local groups develop new tools and methods to protect our water.
• The plan sets up a national system for inspecting and cleaning boats at launches and along highways. This will help make sure that people moving their boats from one lake to another do not accidentally carry harmful pests with them.
• To make things easier for boaters, the bill creates a shared certification system. This means if your boat is inspected and cleared by one agency, other agencies will recognize that permit so you do not have to stop for multiple inspections on the same trip.
• The bill also sets up a rapid response team to jump into action as soon as a new invasive species is found. It provides $5 million a year in grants to help states and tribes quickly kill or contain these pests before they can spread and cause permanent damage.
• It requires a study to see if current laws are slowing down the fight against these species. The goal is to find ways to cut through red tape so officials can act faster when a new threat is detected in a local waterway.

Impact Analysis

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