U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, who represents all of Trumbull County, reintroduced a bipartisan bill to provide $30 million annually to help state and local governments test, monitor and identify contamination in recreational waters.

Joyce, R-Bainbridge, reintroduced the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act with U.S. Reps. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron; David Rouzer, a North Carolina Republican; and Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat.

Joyce introduced the same bill Feb. 1, 2024. That bill was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and wasn’t given a hearing.

With the new legislative session started, Joyce and the three other main co-sponsors reintroduced the bill. It has until the end of 2026 to pass.

“Each year, millions of Americans make use of our country’s extensive and rich coastal environments for recreation, especially along Lake Erie,” Joyce said. “Unfortunately, water pollution can make these beaches unsafe, resulting in increased health problems. The BEACH Act ensures that beaches and the surrounding waters remain clean and safe for generations to come.”

The BEACH Act was established in 2000 to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop guidelines for testing, monitoring and notifying public users of possible recreational water problems, such as contamination, and provide grant funding to protect people from contaminated water at beaches.

The Joyce proposal authorizes the funding at $30 million annually for 2025-2029 and expands eligible users to include identifying sources of contamination. The funds are currently eligible to be used for the monitoring and notification of contamination, but not the identification of sources.

The legislation also adds to the eligible testing locations shallow recreational waters adjacent to beaches.