Contact Congress about H.R. 3340: Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
People could use one public website to check federal ocean rules for fishing, boating, and diving. The site would show restrictions, safety closures, marine protected areas, and updates to the map data.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act is a House bill waiting for floor action. The latest recorded action: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.
Latest action on H.R. 3340: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people who use federal ocean waters and need clear rules before they go out. That includes anglers, boaters, divers, navigation app makers, researchers, coastal planners, and agencies that manage ocean data. Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations could also be involved in data standards and coordination, but the bill says it does not replace formal consultation or change tribal rights.
Why this matters: Ocean users can break rules by mistake when rules are hard to find or spread across many systems. This bill would try to put key federal ocean rules and safety information in one public map system. It could make trips safer and make rules easier to follow. Its impact would depend on how good the data is, how often agencies update it, and whether the website is easy for regular users.
Key provisions in H.R. 3340
- The Commerce Secretary must set standards for recreation map data in federal ocean waters. The deadline is 31 months after the bill becomes law.
- A public website must show map data on fishing limits, boating and diving access, and ocean conditions. It must be online within 4 years and include safety closures, such as harmful algal blooms.
- The website must show the exact map lines for fishing restriction areas. It must also list all federal marine protected areas and show what recreation and fishing activities are allowed in each one.
- The Commerce Secretary must keep offering digital navigation map data. This includes navigation information, seafloor depth data, depth charts, and similar data, and it should be on the same site when practical.
- The online data must be easy to find, access, combine with other systems, and reuse. Users must also be able to sign up easily for notices when the data changes.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 3340
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 3340
- What is H.R. 3340?
- People could use one public website to check federal ocean rules for fishing, boating, and diving. The site would show restrictions, safety closures, marine protected areas, and updates to the map data.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 3340?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 3340?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 3340 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
