Media Contact:
Mark Morgenstein, Senior Director of Media Relations, The Public Interest Network
[email protected]
WASHINGTON –– American beachgoers may soon be able to rely on new and somewhat better information about how clean and safe (or dirty and unsafe) the water is. The U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday night passed H.R. 6422, reauthorizing several Environmental Protection Agency programs – including the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act – aimed at improving U.S. water quality and restoring ecosystems through fiscal year 2031. The bill passed by a stark, bipartisan 378-32 margin and now heads to the Senate.
The BEACH Act is a vital tool for protecting public health as well as the environment. It funds water quality testing at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. The test results are made public to inform swimmers, boaters, fishers and families about when it’s safe to enjoy the water.
In 2025, Environment America Research & Policy Center used BEACH Act data to survey water quality at U.S. beaches. Our Safe for Swimming? report found that 61% of coastal and Great Lakes beaches had one or more days of potentially unsafe contamination levels due to fecal indicator bacteria. This contamination is often due to outdated infrastructure, which results in sewage overflows and stormwater runoff.
In February of 2025, the Student PIRGs lobbied in DC support the BEACH Act and brought the support of nearly 100 water athletes who signed onto our letter.
Here’s our statement on the BEACH Act:
“Americans deserve to know when their beach is – or isn’t – safe for swimming, and this overwhelming, bipartisan vote shows that Congress agrees. Many thanks to Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14) and Frank Pallone (NJ-6) for championing the BEACH Act.
“With information provided under the BEACH Act, we can better protect our bodies of water and our bodies against nasty bacteria. Exposure to these contaminants carries a real health risk, with illnesses ranging from gastrointestinal problems to respiratory disease and other infections.
“It’s important that Congress continues its commitment to clean water programs. Last year, our staff and our friends at Environment America got more than 200 elite water athletes – including U.S. Olympians – to sign a letter urging Congress to fund the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), which provides funding for stormwater and wastewater projects in all 50 states. We urge Congress to build on its clean water protection this appropriations cycle to ensure that every American has access to water that is safe for swimming and recreation.”
