Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act
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The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act reauthorizes NOAA's Marine Debris Program through FY2029 and overhauled governance of the Marine Debris Foundation, including establishing a formal CEO position, requiring tribal-outreach best practices, and expanding the pool of partners whose contributions the foundation may match.
What this law does
What it does
The law extends NOAA's Marine Debris Program authorization through fiscal year 2029 and broadens the types of agreements NOAA may use for marine debris projects — adding "other agreements" alongside existing grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. It also authorizes NOAA to make in-kind contributions to project costs equal to the value NOAA derives from the project. On the foundation side, the law formally establishes a chief executive officer role, with the board empowered to appoint, evaluate, and remove the CEO, while the CEO gains authority to hire and manage foundation staff. The foundation must develop best practices for outreach to Indian Tribes and Tribal Governments, including technical assistance and capacity-building processes.
The law expands the foundation's matching-contribution authority to cover regional organizations, Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and foreign governments — beyond the prior list. It requires the foundation to locate its principal office in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community, adds a rule of construction preserving tribal treaty rights, and reorganizes the Marine Debris Act's structure through several transfers and conforming amendments.
Key provisions
- 1Expands Marine Debris Program agreement authority to include 'other agreements' beyond grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, and authorizes NOAA to make in-kind contributions to project costs.
- 2Reauthorizes NOAA's Marine Debris Program for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2029.
- 3Formally establishes a chief executive officer position for the Marine Debris Foundation, with the board empowered to appoint, review, and remove the CEO; the CEO may appoint and manage foundation staff.
- 4Directs the Marine Debris Foundation to develop and implement best practices for conducting outreach to Indian Tribes and Tribal Governments, including technical assistance and capacity-building processes.
- 5Requires the foundation's principal office to be located in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community.
- 6Expands foundation matching-contribution authority to include regional organizations, Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and foreign governments.
- 7Adds statutory definitions for 'Indian Tribe,' 'Tribal Government,' 'Tribal organization,' and 'coastal shoreline community' into the Marine Debris Act.
Who is affected
NOAA and the Marine Debris Foundation, including the foundation's newly designated CEO and board of directors. Indian Tribes, tribal governments, and tribal organizations gain explicit recognition as outreach targets and eligible matching-contribution partners. Regional organizations, state and local governments, and foreign governments are also newly recognized as eligible contributors. Communities along the coast, the Great Lakes, and major estuaries benefit from continued Marine Debris Program funding through FY2029.
Why it matters
The reauthorization ensures the Marine Debris Program continues operating through FY2029 without a funding gap. Strengthening the CEO structure gives the foundation clearer management accountability. Broadening matching-contribution eligibility to Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and foreign governments expands the foundation's fundraising reach. The new tribal-outreach requirement aims to ensure historically underserved coastal tribal communities have access to marine debris programs and grants.
What changed
Changes to existing law
Amends Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449)
Extends program authorization through FY2029; broadens agreement types; adds in-kind contribution authority; restructures foundation governance; adds tribal-outreach and principal-office requirements; expands matching-contribution eligibility.
Amends Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224) (Sec. 3, Sec. 4)
Transfers Marine Debris Foundation subtitle into the Marine Debris Act and makes conforming redesignations; redesignates definition paragraphs.
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
- $2,000,000
Marine Debris Foundation authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2025
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates S. 216 would cost $77 million over the 2025–2030 period in discretionary spending subject to appropriation, with no significant effect on direct spending or revenues.
CBO estimates that implementing the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act (S. 216) would require $77 million in discretionary appropriations (congressionally approved annual funding) over the 2025–2030 period: $75 million to reauthorize NOAA's Marine Debris Program at $15 million per year through 2029, and $2 million for a one-year appropriation to the Marine Debris Foundation. The effect on direct spending (mandatory spending) would be insignificant over the 2025–2035 period, as any contributions collected and interest credited to the Foundation would be spent quickly. The bill would have no effect on revenues and contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How it works
NOAA may now enter into a broader set of project agreements and calculate in-kind contributions based on the agency's own determination of program benefit. The Marine Debris Foundation's board must appoint a CEO, who in turn manages foundation staff. The foundation must develop and implement tribal-outreach best practices — including a technical-assistance process — and promote awareness of available grants. The foundation must site its principal office in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community. Matching contributions from newly eligible partners (regional organizations, tribes, tribal organizations, foreign governments) flow through the foundation's existing contribution framework.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-65.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
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.
Legislative subjects
Aquatic ecology; Charitable contributions; Department of Commerce; Indian social and development programs; International organizations and cooperation; Marine pollution; Public Lands and Natural Resources; Public contracts and procurement; Public-private cooperation; Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations; Water quality
Committee report
S. Rept. 119-12