Sponsors (14)
The bill secures multiyear authorization and clearer reporting to support regional ocean programs and planning, but creates potential future federal spending commitments and leaves actual funding and flexibility dependent on future congressional appropriations.
Regional Ocean Partnerships, NOAA, state and local governments, and nonprofit partners receive multiyear authorized funding (roughly $46.99M total for FY2028–FY2031) and an extended authorization window, enabling continued ocean programs and stable multi-year planning.
NOAA and Regional Ocean Partnerships have clearer reporting obligations because the bill changes 'The report' to 'Each report,' likely improving accountability and transparency of program outputs.
State and local governments and Regional Ocean Partnerships gain a preserved planning horizon from the extended authorization period (through 2026–2031), which helps continuity and coordination of regional ocean initiatives.
Taxpayers may face higher federal spending pressure because specifying new authorized funding creates potential future budgetary commitments that could require offsets in later appropriations cycles.
Regional Ocean Partnerships, nonprofits, and state/local governments remain exposed to funding uncertainty because authorization does not guarantee appropriation; if Congress does not appropriate the authorized amounts, planning and program delivery could be disrupted.
NOAA and Regional Ocean Partnerships could have reduced flexibility to address emergent ocean or coastal needs because directing funds into a specified multi-year authorization period may limit NOAA's ability to reallocate resources across years.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends authorization for Regional Ocean Partnerships through 2026–2031 and adds annual authorized funding amounts for FY2028–FY2031 while clarifying report language.
Official title: Reauthorize Regional Ocean Partnerships, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 5, 2026 by Roger F. Wicker · Last progress February 5, 2026
Amends the statute governing Regional Ocean Partnerships to adjust reporting wording, extend and reauthorize the program years through 2026–2031, and add specific authorized funding amounts for FY2028–FY2031. The changes alter how reports are referenced, renumber funding subparagraphs, remove prior subparagraphs, and specify annual dollar authorizations for NOAA to carry out the Partnerships through FY2031.