Sponsors (16)
Introduced June 17, 2025 by Chellie Pingree · Last progress June 17, 2025
The bill increases inclusion, coordination, and equity focus in federal ocean acidification research and planning—giving tribes, coastal communities, and underserved populations more voice—while relying on unfunded mandates and broader consultation requirements that could slow implementation and create additional administrative costs.
Indigenous peoples (Tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other Indigenous groups) gain formal recognition and a stronger, institutionalized voice in NOAA advisory processes and ocean acidification programs, increasing their ability to influence research, management, and consultations.
Coastal communities and fisheries stakeholders receive sustained input channels (liaison roles, meetings, online platforms) to shape research and monitoring priorities that affect local economies and livelihoods.
NOAA and federal research efforts gain clearer interagency coordination by naming the NSTC Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology and clarifying program scope among States, which can streamline federal research and reduce ambiguity about roles.
Many of the clarified roles, expanded consultations, and new advisory membership rules come with no specified new funding or effective date, so affected communities and agencies may not receive the resources needed to implement these changes.
Expanded consultation and engagement requirements (tribal consultation, broader advisory membership, prioritization of underserved groups) will increase administrative workload and may slow program actions and decisionmaking across NOAA and partner agencies.
Meeting the new engagement and advisory mandates could require additional NOAA funding or staff time, potentially diverting resources from other operations or creating taxpayer costs if budgets must increase.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Amends existing federal ocean acidification research and monitoring law to expand who is defined and who is consulted, require NOAA to maintain ongoing liaison mechanisms with coastal and Tribal stakeholders, change Advisory Board membership to add Tribal/Native Hawaiian representation, and require an Advisory Board policy for Tribal engagement within one year. The bill also broadens strategic planning, vulnerability assessments, and program collaboration duties to include community acidification networks, Indigenous groups, non‑Federal scientific experts, and state/local governments while making non‑substantive technical corrections; it does not authorize new funding or set a general effective date.