Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement Act of 2025
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Doubles federal grants for commercial fishing safety training and research. Expands focus to include substance use disorder and worker fatigue among fishing crews.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: commercial fishermen, coastal communities in Alaska and New England, maritime health researchers.
- Loses: no one materially; some Coast Guard oversight authority shifts to Health and Human Services (HHS).
What it does
- Raises grant funding from $3 million to $6 million yearly through fiscal year 2029.
- Adds substance use disorder and fatigue prevention to required safety training topics.
- Moves grant administration to the Secretary of HHS instead of Coast Guard.
- Keeps Coast Guard input on selection criteria but on a consulting basis only.
Why should I care?
Commercial fishing remains one of America's deadliest jobs, with high rates of injury, addiction, and exhaustion-related accidents. Supporters say doubling funds saves lives and tackles mental health gaps at sea. Critics argue moving oversight away from the Coast Guard, the maritime safety experts, weakens accountability. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.