Congress·In Committee·S. 513

Help Our Kelp Act of 2025

Kelp Forest Conservation: New Grant Program

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

The Help Our Kelp Act of 2025 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill is actively moving, but no further committee hearings or votes have been scheduled yet.

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

This bill would create a new federal grant program to protect and regrow kelp forests along America's coasts. The program would be run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and would focus on areas where these underwater forests are disappearing the fastest.
The government would provide $5 million every year from 2026 through 2030 to fund restoration projects. These projects could include planting new kelp, monitoring ocean health, and controlling pests like sea urchins that eat through kelp forests and destroy the ecosystem.
A wide range of groups can apply for the money, including commercial and recreational fishermen, colleges, nonprofit groups, and local governments. At least $750,000 of the annual funding is specifically set aside for projects led by Indian Tribes to ensure their expertise is included.
To get a grant, most groups must cover at least 15% of the project's cost themselves, though this requirement can be waived for Tribal projects. Applicants are encouraged to work together, such as a university partnering with local fishermen to restore a specific reef.