Congressman Jared Huffman and Senator Jeff Merkley have reintroduced the “Help Our Kelp Act,” aiming to secure federal funding for struggling kelp forests.
These underwater forests are vital for marine life, but have drastically declined in recent years, particularly off the North Coast. The bill would authorize $5 million annually for kelp restoration and conservation projects. A similar bill stalled in the previous Congress, and with a Republican-controlled Congress focused on spending cuts, this new iteration faces similar challenges.
Despite the political hurdles, Huffman emphasized the urgency of protecting these crucial ecosystems, pointing out that even with some signs of recovery, they remain vulnerable.
The bill has garnered broad support from environmental and scientific organizations.
