H.R.583 - Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2025; BEACH Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.583, the BEACH Act of 2025, amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to enhance beach monitoring and public notification programs. The bill reauthorizes grants for coastal recreation water quality monitoring from 2025 through 2029. It also expands the scope of monitoring to include nearby shallow upstream waters and specific sources of contamination.
The Act directs the EPA Administrator to provide guidance reflecting innovations in water contamination testing technologies. This aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring efforts.
Overall, the bill seeks to protect public health by ensuring cleaner and safer coastal recreation waters.
Expected Effects
The BEACH Act of 2025 will likely lead to improved monitoring of coastal waters and more effective public notification systems regarding water quality. States and local governments will receive continued funding to support these efforts. This could result in fewer instances of waterborne illnesses and greater public awareness of potential health risks at beaches.
The inclusion of upstream waters in monitoring efforts could identify and address sources of contamination before they impact coastal areas. The emphasis on innovative testing technologies may also lead to more rapid and accurate detection of pollutants.
Ultimately, the Act aims to enhance the safety and enjoyment of coastal recreation for the American public.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced monitoring of coastal recreation waters, including upstream areas.
- Improved public notification systems to alert citizens of potential water quality issues.
- Continued funding for state and local governments to support beach monitoring programs.
- Encouragement of innovative testing technologies for more accurate and efficient pollution detection.
- Reduced risk of waterborne illnesses for beachgoers.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs to state and local governments for implementing expanded monitoring programs.
- Possible delays in implementation due to the need for updated testing technologies and protocols.
- Limited impact if funding levels are insufficient to address all sources of contamination.
- The Act focuses primarily on recreational waters and may not address other sources of water pollution.
- The effectiveness of the Act depends on the willingness of states and local governments to fully implement the monitoring and notification programs.
Constitutional Alignment
The BEACH Act of 2025 aligns with the US Constitution through the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8), which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Water pollution and its impact on coastal recreation can affect tourism and commerce, thus falling under federal regulatory authority.
Furthermore, the Act promotes the general welfare (Preamble) by protecting public health and ensuring safe recreational environments. It does not infringe upon any specific individual liberties or rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
However, some may argue that the Act could potentially infringe upon state sovereignty (Tenth Amendment) if the federal government exerts too much control over state implementation of the monitoring programs.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).