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Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include harmful algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster. With this change, communities affected by harmful algal blooms would become eligible for federal disaster relief and emergency assistance programs. Previously, such assistance was available for disasters such as drought and other natural disasters, but not algal blooms.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Vern Buchanan’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SELECT MEDICAL CORPORATION $43,200
- FLORIDA CRYSTALS $16,100
- DERICK DERMATOLOGY $13,200
- BLACKSTONE $8,100
- CASL $7,609
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Vern Buchanan → · Outside spending →
Actions (3)
- Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. · house
- Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Mar 27, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Buchanan (for himself and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act”.
SEC. 2. ALGAL BLOOMS.
Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended by striking “or drought” and inserting “drought, or algal blooms”. <all>
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