Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens and clarifies the federal framework and eligibility for marine debris programs—likely enabling more cleanups and better Tribal outreach—while increasing contracting flexibility that could shift costs to partners, concentrate authority, and require administrative updates that reduce transparency or create short‑term burdens.
Coastal and local partners will have access to a clearer, better‑organized Foundation and expanded eligibility rules (including regional organizations and foreign partners), improving program reach, accountability, and the ability to fund and coordinate more marine debris prevention and removal activities.
NOAA can use contracts, other agreements, and in‑kind contributions to support projects, increasing administrative flexibility and enabling more marine debris cleanup projects to proceed with federal support.
Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and Indian Tribes are explicitly recognized and get stronger outreach and technical assistance, making it more likely Tribes will learn about and participate in marine debris programs and grants.
Allowing in‑kind contributions and broader use of contracts may shift costs and obligations onto non‑federal partners, create accounting/reimbursement disputes or delays, and reduce transparency compared with competitive grants.
Recasting the Foundation as a corporation and centralizing CEO authority could concentrate decision‑making, reduce stakeholder influence over staffing and governance, and—combined with clarifications that outreach does not replace formal consultations—may leave unresolved questions about Tribal consultation and influence.
Expanding authorized recipients to include foreign governments creates a risk that some appropriated funds could be used abroad, potentially reducing the pool of domestic grants available to U.S. state and local partners.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Consolidates Save Our Seas 2.0 into the Marine Debris Act, restructures the Marine Debris Foundation, adds definitions, and allows NOAA to make in‑kind contributions to certain projects.
Official title: To amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Suzanne Bonamici · Last progress April 3, 2025
Reorganizes and updates the Marine Debris Act to consolidate provisions from the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, revise the Marine Debris Foundation's governance, expand defined terms, and allow NOAA to provide in‑kind contributions for certain projects. The bill makes numerous conforming and terminology changes, adds definitions (including Tribal and circular economy terms), requires Tribal outreach best practices, and relocates and renumbers statutory text without creating new direct funding authorizations or emergency spending.