Baldwin’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Wisconsin’s Lakes, Improve Response to Harmful Algae Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that her and Senator Dan Sullivan's (R-AK) bipartisan bill to better protect Wisconsin's lakes, the communities around them, and people who use them passed unanimously in the Senate. The bill, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA), improves our response to harmful algal blooms that have the potential to threaten aquatic ecosystems, hurt local economies, and endanger public health.

The legislation would reauthorize the HABHRCA of 1998 and improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia by requiring better coordination among task force agencies, state and local entities, and Indian tribes.

"Lakes are essential to our Wisconsin way of life - supporting local businesses, providing fresh drinking water, and attracting millions of visitors to our state every year. But, we are seeing more and more dangerous algae on our lakes, and if we want to protect them for the next generation, we're going to have to act," said Senator Baldwin. "That's why I fought hard to pass this bill with the support of Democrats and Republicans to help local communities monitor and combat harmful algal blooms and ensure our waters remain safe and clean for years to come."

Harmful algal blooms have long been an issue across the Badger State, often caused by an overabundance of nutrients from fertilizer and stormwater runoff, but climate change is contributing to the acceleration of algae growth in Wisconsin and across the country. Warming waters and strong storms have created ideal conditions for toxic algal blooms as far north as Lake Superior, threatening outdoor recreation and hurting local economies. Additionally, these algal blooms can reduce oxygen levels in the water in events called hypoxia, harming coastal ecosystems and posing health risks for coastal communities.

The original HABHRCA was passed in 1998 and established an interagency task force to assess the distribution of harmful algal blooms and their impacts on coastal waters and human health. HABHRCA has since been reauthorized three times and is currently due for reauthorization. This bill reauthorizes the original 1998 HABHRCA and improves coordination among state and local entities, as well as Indian tribes, to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of algal blooms and hypoxia.

As a Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, Senator Baldwin has been a fierce advocate for the protection and preservation of Wisconsin's waters. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025, legislation to extend federal funding and protections for the Great Lakes. She also introduced the bipartisan Digital Coast Act, legislation to help coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and plan for future development.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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