Summary

Updates the Marine Debris Act and the statutory rules for the Marine Debris Foundation to modernize program authorities, reorganize and insert provisions from the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, refine definitions, and correct cross-references. The bill clarifies what kinds of agreements NOAA may use, allows the Under Secretary to provide certain in‑kind contributions, creates a CEO role and governance updates for the Foundation, strengthens tribal outreach requirements, and standardizes terminology and legal citations across the statute. These are largely technical, organizational, and definitional changes intended to consolidate related authorities into the Marine Debris Act, improve program administration and partnership tools (grants, contracts, in‑kind support), and align statutory terms (for example, adding circular‑economy and tribal/Tribal Government definitions) to support debris prevention and removal work along coasts and waterways.

• Consolidates provisions of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act into the Marine Debris Act and renumbers/reorganizes multiple sections.
• Clarifies and expands NOAA’s project implementation authorities and allows the Under Secretary to provide in‑kind contributions for eligible projects.
• Restructures the Marine Debris Foundation: updates legal status, adds a CEO position with hiring authority, revises board rules, and sets tribal outreach expectations.
• Updates and expands statutory definitions (e.g., circular economy, Tribal Government, post‑consumer materials management) to reflect modern debris prevention and materials management concepts.
• Fixes cross‑references, updates agency titles (e.g., 'Under Secretary' and EPA references), and standardizes capitalization and terminology across the statute.
• Adds requirements and best practices for Indigenous/Tribal outreach to improve engagement in debris prevention and removal activities.
• Mostly technical and administrative changes intended to improve program clarity and operational flexibility rather than create large new programs or spending streams.
• Changes affect how grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and foundation activities are organized and executed—altering administrative responsibilities for federal, Tribal, local, and nonprofit partners.