Legislative Activity

The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within NOAA to support the conservation, restoration, and management of kelp forest ecosystems, prioritizing native wild kelp. Grants will be awarded to various entities, including the fishing industry, educational institutions, and tribal organizations, for projects that enhance ecosystem resilience, restore natural food chains, and integrate Indigenous knowledge. The federal share of funding for a project cannot exceed 85% of the total project cost, and a minimum of $750,000 per year is reserved for grants to Indian Tribes. The act authorizes $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2030 for these initiatives.

The Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation Federal Recognition Act extends federal recognition to the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, making the Tribe and its members eligible for all federal services and benefits provided to federally recognized Indian Tribes. The Tribe must submit a membership roll to the Secretary of the Interior within 18 months of the Act's enactment. This act does not change any existing treaty rights or reserved rights of the Tribe.

The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act establishes a grant program to fund community-developed plans for wildfire resilience, prioritizing high-risk areas and incorporating strategies for early detection, vulnerable population support, infrastructure strengthening, and defensible space projects. It authorizes \$1 billion annually from 2025-2029 for these grants, and requires reports and studies on federal programs, community certifications for wildfire survivability, and radio communication interoperability during wildfires. The Act also updates the definition of at-risk communities and allows for structure hardening projects under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.