Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025
March 6, 2025
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Where This Stands
Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
The bill authorizes $5 million in annual federal spending from 2026 through 2030 to track fish populations, which directly impacts the management of a regional fishery economy valued at over $7 billion.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Great Lakes States (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, PA, NY, WI)
State management agencies are required to collaborate with the federal program and will receive data to inform fishery management decisions.
Indian Tribes
Tribal fish management agencies are required to collaborate with the program and will receive data to support tribal fisheries.
Commercial and Recreational Fishery Industries
These industries are the intended beneficiaries of improved fishery management and restoration efforts supported by the program's data.
Current stage: in_committee.
Floor Vote.
Summary
Key Facts
- Authorizes $5 million in federal funding annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Establishes the 'Great Lakes Mass Marking Program' within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Authorizes the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase equipment, fish tags, and hire additional personnel.
- Requires the program to collaborate with Federal, State, and Tribal fish management agencies.
- Mandates that data collected be shared with management agencies to assist in restoration and fishery objectives.
- Notes that approximately 21 million hatchery-produced fish are stocked in the Great Lakes annually.
- Notes that current marking efforts (as of 2010) tag 9 to 11 million fish annually.
- Identifies the Great Lakes regional economy as being valued at over $7 billion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'mass marking'?
Why is this program being established?
Who will manage this program?
Why It Matters
The bill authorizes $5 million in annual federal spending from 2026 through 2030 to track fish populations, which directly impacts the management of a regional fishery economy valued at over $7 billion.
News Coverage
Voting Record
Total
417
Yes
360
No
57
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (417)
Christopher Smith
R · yes
Nicholas Begich
R · no
Juan Vargas
D · yes
W. Steube
R · no
Nanette Barragán
D · yes
Gregory Meeks
D · yes
Steny Hoyer
D · yes
Bill Huizenga
R · yes
Michael Baumgartner
R · yes
Robin Kelly
D · yes
Gilbert Cisneros
D · yes
Seth Moulton
D · yes
Stephanie Bice
R · yes
Dina Titus
D · yes
Eric Sorensen
D · yes
John Carter
R · yes
Kristen McDonald Rivet
D · yes
Linda Sánchez
D · yes
Kathy Castor
D · yes
Tom Emmer
R · yes
Andrew Ogles
R · no
Mike Flood
R · yes
Craig Goldman
R · no
Nancy Mace
R · yes
+ 393 more
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formalization of Existing Effort
The bill formalizes and provides dedicated funding for a program that has been operating on a limited, cooperative scale since 2010.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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