House advances BEACH Act reauthorization to strengthen water quality monitoring

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 6422 with strong bipartisan support, reauthorizing several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency programs through fiscal year 2031, including the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act. The legislation now moves to the Senate and would continue federal support for water quality monitoring at coastal and Great Lakes beaches.

The BEACH Act funds routine testing and public notification programs that inform recreational users about water safety conditions. Data collected through the program has also highlighted ongoing stormwater challenges. A 2025 report from Environment America Research & Policy Center found that 61% of U.S. coastal and Great Lakes beaches experienced at least one day of potentially unsafe contamination levels, often linked to stormwater runoff and sewer overflows.

“Americans deserve to know when their beach is – or isn’t – safe for swimming, and this overwhelming, bipartisan vote shows that Congress agrees,” said Abby Longo, Clean Water Advocate for Environment America, in a press release. “With information provided under the BEACH Act, we can better protect our bodies of water and our bodies against nasty bacteria.”