Bills would authorize $60 million in federal funds to fight golden mussels

California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla introduced the “Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2026” on Wednesday that would, if passed, create a task force to partner with state and other entities to develop best practices for dealing with the invasive species that has rapidly infested the state’s water ways.

This bill is a companion to one introduced in June 2025 by Rep. Josh Harder (D-Turlock), H.R. 3717, in the House of Representatives, which was referred to theCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources.

Both bills would authorize $15 million a year over the next four years to be given in grants by the task force to its various partners for research and development.

Partners would include local and state agencies, universities, port authorities, nonprofit groups and others who would help “develop a demonstration program of prevention, monitoring, control, eradication, education, and research with respect to the golden mussel,” according to the bill.

The demonstration program would be focused on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is considered “ground zero” for the mussel infestation from ballast water released by incoming cargo ships.

The bill requires the task force to develop guidelines on how best to deal with the mussels no later than a year after enactment of the legislation.