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US HB7129
Bill
Status
1/16/2026
Primary Sponsor
Suzanne Bonamici
Click for details
AI Summary
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Authorizes $300 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 for water power research, with $200 million designated for marine energy and $100 million for hydropower research, development, and demonstration activities
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Expands hydropower research priorities to include cybersecurity protections, improved licensing processes in coordination with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies, and methods for incorporating hydropower and pumped storage into grid modeling systems
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Adds marine energy applications for data centers, subsea power, microgrids, desalination, disaster recovery, aquaculture, marine carbon dioxide removal, and resilience demonstration sites integrating working waterfront economies
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Establishes workforce development programs through partnerships with regional universities, Tribal Colleges, maritime academies, and Sea Grant institutions, including collegiate competitions and graduate research fellowships
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Requires biennial briefings to Congress on research findings and strategic plan implementation, replacing the previous annual reporting requirement
Legislative Description
Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act
Last Action
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
1/16/2026