This bill establishes the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission, a new federal agency within the Department of the Interior to coordinate fishery management across 31 states, 2 Canadian provinces, and multiple federal agencies that share the Mississippi River Basin. The Commission will oversee management of the basin's fisheries across six sub-regions, develop strategies to control invasive species (particularly invasive carps), and administer competitive and formula grant programs to support interjurisdictional fishery projects. The Commission's authority is nonbinding—it makes recommendations and advises participating agencies, but individual states retain full power to enact and enforce their own fishery laws. Funding includes $1 million for initial setup in fiscal year 2026, $30 million annually from 2027-2031 for operations and grants, increasing to $50 million annually from 2032-2036, plus $500,000 annually through 2035 for administrative housing. The Commission must submit annual reports to Congress beginning in 2027 and conduct a comprehensive review of its management plan 30 years after enactment.
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