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Protecting the Underwater Forest off Alabama's Coast

A new law establishes a special protected area in the Gulf of Mexico to safeguard a unique, ancient underwater cypress forest. Citizens will still be able to use the area for recreational activities like fishing and diving, but certain activities that would harm the forest will be prohibited.
Key points
Designation of an area in the Gulf of Mexico as the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary.
Prohibition of destroying the ancient cypress trees and using certain extraction or dredging equipment within the sanctuary.
Recreational and commercial activities like fishing, diving, and mooring remain permitted.
Requires the development of a management plan for the sanctuary with public participation.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
Print number: HR 6148
Sponsor: Rep. Carl, Jerry L. [R-AL-1]
Process start date: 2021-12-07
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17
Source data: api.congress.gov
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Summary & Status

Key Questions about Protecting the Underwater Forest off Alabama's Coast

A structured overview of the legislative process, official sources, status and civic context.

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is HR 6148.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-12-07.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Designation of an area in the Gulf of Mexico as the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary.
  • Prohibition of destroying the ancient cypress trees and using certain extraction or dredging equipment within the sanctuary.
  • Recreational and commercial activities like fishing, diving, and mooring remain permitted.
  • Requires the development of a management plan for the sanctuary with public participation.

What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Carl, Jerry L. [R-AL-1].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

Analysis and Potential Impact of HR 6148

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge. Review our public AI processing logs for full transparency, and use Lustra to track active legislation for instant status push notifications.

CATEGORIES

Environment