US HB1514

Establishes the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission within the Department of the Interior to coordinate management of interjurisdictional fisheries across 31 states, multiple federal agencies, and 2 Canadian provinces sharing the basin's watershed of approximately 1.2 million square miles

Creates a governance structure with voting delegates from state fisheries directors, federal agencies (USGS, Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority), and Indian Tribes, led by an elected Chair and Vice Chair with a full-time executive director

Directs the Commission to oversee fishery management across 6 sub-basins (Arkansas-Red-White, Lower Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee-Cumberland, Upper Mississippi) and develop strategies to control invasive carp species (bighead, black, grass, and silver carp)

Establishes both competitive and formula grant programs for states, federal agencies, tribes, universities, and private entities to fund fisheries projects, with priority given to applicants providing at least 10% matching funds from non-Federal sources

Authorizes $1 million for FY2026 startup costs, $30 million annually for FY2027-2029, $50 million annually for FY2030-2032, plus $500,000 annually through 2032 for Department of Interior housing costs