Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments

Full Title:
Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

Summary#

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act changes how the Marine Debris Act and the Marine Debris Foundation are organized and run. It moves parts of the earlier Save Our Seas 2.0 law into the Marine Debris Act, renames and renumbers many sections, and replaces references to the NOAA "Administrator" with the NOAA "Under Secretary." The Act updates grant, contract, and other agreement rules and allows NOAA to contribute to some projects on an in-kind basis. It changes the Marine Debris Foundation into a nonprofit corporation, adjusts how its Board of Directors is appointed (including Board recommendations and Secretary of Commerce approval), sets 6-year director terms, and gives the Board power to appoint and remove a chief executive officer who can hire and remove staff. The Foundation must locate its principal office in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community. The Act requires the Foundation to develop best practices for outreach to Indian Tribes and Tribal Governments and clarifies that those practices do not replace government-to-government consultation. It expands who can receive assistance to include regional organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and foreign governments. The Act also adds or revises several definitions (for example, circular economy and coastal shoreline community) and updates authorization language to cover fiscal years 2018 through 2029.

What it means for you#

  • If you work with marine debris programs: the NOAA marine debris program and the Marine Debris Foundation will operate under updated rules and administration terms.
  • If you are a Tribal government, Tribal organization, regional group, nonprofit, or coastal community: you are explicitly named as eligible for programs, grants, and outreach under the law.
  • If you interact with the Foundation: the Foundation will be a nonprofit corporation with a Board that recommends director candidates and a CEO who manages staff.
  • If you follow program governance: many section numbers and titles moved, and some agency responsibilities are carried out by the Under Secretary instead of the Administrator.

Expenses#

The text adds $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. No publicly available information on total costs, a full funding schedule, or estimated budget effects beyond that one amount.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.