Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act
Key claim: The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act reauthorizes NOAA’s Marine Debris Program through FY2029 and the Marine Debris Foundation for FY2025, while expanding agreement authorities, in-kind cost contributions, tribal outreach duties, and matching-contribution sources.
Abstract
(S216 · 119th Congress) Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act This bill reauthorizes and modifies administration of Marine Debris Program (MDP) activities and the Marine Debris Foundation. (The program and the foundation support efforts to assess, prevent, and otherwise address marine debris and its adverse impacts on the U.S. economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety.) First, the bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Marine Debris Program through FY2029. The bill authorizes NOAA to provide contributions for MDP project costs on an in-kind basis in an amount that NOAA determines represents the value it derives from the project. The bill also authorizes NOAA to enter into agreements other than cooperative agreements, contracts, and grant agreements for projects. Next, the bill modifies requirements for the Marine Debris Foundation and reauthorizes it for FY2025. Among other changes, the bill designates the current Chief Operating Officer (i.e., the first officer or employee appointed by the board) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and specifies that the board has the authority to appoint, review the performance of, and remove the CEO. The bill authorizes the CEO to appoint, supervise, and remove foundation employees and officers. Further, the bill directs the foundation to develop and implement best practices for conducting outreach to Indian tribes and tribal governments. The foundation must locate its principal office in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community. Finally, the bill authorizes the foundation to match contributions from regional organizations, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and foreign governments. Latest action (2025-12-26): Became Public Law No: 119-65.
Why this matters
Marine debris cleanup and prevention depend on stable multi-year authorization for NOAA’s program and its associated Foundation, which coordinate federal, state, tribal, and private response to plastics and derelict fishing gear. The reauthorization extends funding certainty through FY2029 and broadens the tools (in-kind contributions, wider matching sources, tribal engagement) that partners can use, affecting the pace and reach of shoreline and coastal restoration work.