The House will vote on a series of natural resource and conservation measures this week, including legislation on marine debris and Great Lakes fisheries research.
On the agenda is S. 216, the “Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendment Act,” from Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), which would authorize $15 million annually through fiscal 2029 for NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. The bill already passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
The program researches ways to prevent marine debris from entering the environment. NOAA allocated $36 million to the program in 2024, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
The measure would require the Marine Debris Foundation to appoint a CEO, allow the foundation to accept additional funding from both governmental and nongovernmental sources, and permit NOAA to make in-kind contributions.
