H.R. 4044House116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:48 AM UTC

The Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act updates the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize and strengthen the National Estuary Program. It adds a larger list of estuaries to the program, requires management plans to address extreme‑weather impacts and public education, expands the types of organizations that can participate, and broadens grant eligibility to cover emerging issues, stormwater runoff, accelerated land loss, and extreme weather. The bill also earmarks $50 million each year from 2022‑2026 for these activities.

Key Provisions

Adds several new estuaries—including Peconic Bay, NY; Casco Bay, ME; Tampa Bay, FL; and others—to the National Estuary Program list.
Requires estuary management plans to (A) recommend actions, (B) address vulnerabilities from recurring extreme weather and develop adaptation strategies, and (C) increase public education and awareness.
Allows nonprofit organizations to serve as members of the program’s conference alongside educational institutions.
Expands grant categories to include emerging issues, stormwater runoff, accelerated land loss, and extreme weather impacts on estuaries.
Provides an additional $50 million in annual funding for the program for fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Legislative Activity

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21 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-337.

January 13, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 25, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

July 25, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee

July 26, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 19, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 19, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

September 19, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-288.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

November 13, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 232.

November 13, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. Malinowski moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

February 5, 2020 • 12:53 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H780-785)

February 5, 2020 • 12:53 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4044.

February 5, 2020 • 12:54 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

February 5, 2020 • 1:08 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H833)

February 5, 2020 • 5:00 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 355 - 62 (Roll no. 35).

View vote Passed

February 5, 2020 • 5:32 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 355 - 62 (Roll no. 35). (text: CR H780)

View vote Passed

February 5, 2020 • 5:32 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

February 5, 2020 • 5:32 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate, read twice.

February 10, 2020

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7993)

December 31, 2020

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 31, 2020

President

Presented to President.

January 1, 2021

Became Law

Signed by President.

January 13, 2021

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-337.

January 13, 2021

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

February 5, 2020 at 5:30 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

355 - 62

Bill Text

6 versions available

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty

H. R. 4044

AN ACT

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act.

Management conference

Section 320(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking and Peconic Bay, New York and inserting Peconic Bay, New York; Casco Bay, Maine; Tampa Bay, Florida; Coastal Bend, Texas; San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico; Tillamook Bay, Oregon; Piscataqua Region, New Hampshire; Barnegat Bay, New Jersey; Maryland Coastal Bays, Maryland; Charlotte Harbor, Florida; Mobile Bay, Alabama; Morro Bay, California; and Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington.

Purposes of conference

Section 320(b)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(b)(4)) is amended—

(1)

by striking management plan that recommends and inserting “management plan that—

(A)

recommends

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

addresses the effects of recurring extreme weather events on the estuary, including the identification and assessment of vulnerabilities in the estuary and the development and implementation of adaptation strategies; and

(C)

increases public education and awareness of the ecological health and water quality conditions of the estuary;

Members of conference

Section 320(c)(5) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(c)(5)) is amended by inserting nonprofit organizations, after educational institutions,.

Grants

Section 320(g)(4)(C) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(g)(4)(C)) is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(A)

by inserting , emerging, after urgent; and

(B)

by striking coastal areas and inserting the estuaries selected by the Administrator under subsection (a)(2), or that relate to the coastal resiliency of such estuaries;

(2)

by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively, and inserting after clause (v) the following:

(vi)

stormwater runoff;

(vii)

accelerated land loss;

; and

(3)

in clause (viii), as so redesignated, by inserting , extreme weather, after sea level rise.

Authorization of appropriations

Section 320(i)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(i)(1)) is amended by inserting , and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, after 2021.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.