Congress is sending President Donald Trump bills to address marine debris and Great Lakes research after House passage on Monday, along with other natural resource measures.
The House approved S. 216, the “Save Our Seas Amendments Act 2.0,” from Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), to reauthorize NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and allow $15 million in annual funding through fiscal 2029.
The bill already cleared the Senate by unanimous consent in May. It passed the House by voice vote. It builds on the landmark Save Our Seas and Save Our Seas 2.0 laws.
“We often think of plastic pollution as an overwhelming problem, and we haven’t made the strides necessary to solve it,” said House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) during floor debate. “But the Marine Debris Program and Foundation are proven tools that make a difference.”
