HR 2860
· 119th Congress
· Environmental Protection
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 376.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Jan 12, 2026
committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-437.
Natural Resources Committee
Jan 12, 2026
other
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 376.
Jul 15, 2025
committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Natural Resources Committee
Jul 15, 2025
committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Natural Resources Committee
Jul 15, 2025
committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Natural Resources Committee
May 20, 2025
committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
May 13, 2025
committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
Apr 10, 2025
introduced
Introduced in House
Apr 10, 2025
introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Natural Resources Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+57
−71
57 unchanged
--- Introduced (House)
+++ Reported (House)
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[H.R. 2860 Introduced in House (IH)]
+[H.R. 2860 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
+Union Calendar No. 376
119th CONGRESS
-1st Session
+2d Session
H. R. 2860
+
+[Report No. 119-437]
To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
@@ -20,6 +23,20 @@
Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself and Ms. Randall) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
+
+January 12, 2026
+
+Additional sponsors: Ms. Strickland, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Smith of
+Washington, Ms. Jayapal, and Ms. Schrier
+
+January 12, 2026
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
+[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
+in italic]
+[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April
+10, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
@@ -48,45 +65,7 @@
(2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and inserting
the following:
-``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.
-
-``Congress makes the following findings:
-``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest
-Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a
-unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to
-the people of the United States.
-``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of
-the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by
-impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse
-of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine
-habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
-``(3) Increasingly, the Northwest Straits have been
-threatened by sea level rise, ocean acidification, and other
-effects of climate change.
-``(4) This title was enacted to tap the unprecedented level
-of citizen stewardship demonstrated in the Northwest Straits
-and create a mechanism to mobilize public support and raise
-capacity for local efforts to protect and restore the ecosystem
-of the Northwest Straits.
-``(5) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
-helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
-other Federal agencies with their marine missions by fostering
-local interest in marine issues and involving diverse
-communities.
-``(6) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
-shares many of the same goals with the National Oceanic and
-Atmospheric Administration, including fostering citizen
-stewardship of marine resources, general ecosystem management,
-and protecting federally managed marine species.
-``(7) Ocean literacy, kelp habitat conservation and
-monitoring, Veterans Conservation Corps internships, and
-removal of marine debris projects are examples of previous and
-ongoing partnerships between the Northwest Straits Marine
-Conservation Initiative and the National Oceanic and
-Atmospheric Administration. Areas of partnership may evolve
-with emerging opportunities.
-
-``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.
+``SEC. 403. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the
@@ -111,7 +90,7 @@
``(5) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
-``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
+``SEC. 404. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
``(a) Composition.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 14
@@ -155,7 +134,7 @@
institution of higher education.
``(2) Additional members.--The Commission may, as
determined necessary to improve the ability of the Commission
-to perform the duties of the Commission under section 406(b),
+to perform the duties of the Commission under section 405(b),
appoint members in addition to those appointed under paragraph
(1). Any such additional member shall be appointed by a
consensus of the members of a marine resources committee that
@@ -175,7 +154,7 @@
``(B) to coordinate programs of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with activities
related to the goal of the Commission described in
-section 406(a); and
+section 405(a); and
``(C) to perform additional liaison functions
benefitting the Commission and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, which may include, as
@@ -188,13 +167,13 @@
``(A) is limited to the employee's service as a
liaison; and
``(B) does not obligate the employee to perform any
-duty of the Commission under section 406(b).
+duty of the Commission under section 405(b).
``(f) Administration.--The Commission may enter into cooperative
agreements with the State of Washington for staffing and administrative
services for the purposes of supporting the duties of the Commission
-under section 406(b).
-
-``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
+under section 405(b).
+
+``SEC. 405. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits
@@ -250,7 +229,7 @@
any Tribal government seeking representation and
participation on the Commission; and
``(B) supporting the work and duties of the liaison
-to the Commission under section 405(e); and
+to the Commission under section 404(e); and
``(2) may enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit
entities, such as the Northwest Straits Foundation, to provide
assistance, including financial assistance, in carrying out the
@@ -291,25 +270,32 @@
through education and outreach, including by targeted
outreach to underresourced communities.
-``SEC. 407. FUNDING.
-
-``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
-appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this title--
-``(1) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031,
-$10,000,000; and
-``(2) for fiscal year 2032 and each fiscal year thereafter,
-such sums as may be necessary.
-``(b) Assistance.--
-``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary may, from amounts
-made available to the Under Secretary to carry out this title,
-provide assistance to the Commission in carrying out the duties
-of the Commission under this title.
-``(2) Provision.--The Under Secretary may provide the
-assistance described in paragraph (1), and make available
-amounts to the Commission to carry out the duties of the
-Commission, through a contract with the Director of the Padilla
-Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, unless the Governor of
-the State of Washington objects. If such Governor so objects,
-the Under Secretary may not provide such assistance and make
-available such amounts to the Commission.''.
-<all>
+``SEC. 406. SUNSET.
+
+``The authority to carry out this title shall terminate on the date
+that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of the Northwest
+Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025.''.
+Union Calendar No. 376
+
+119th CONGRESS
+
+2d Session
+
+H. R. 2860
+
+[Report No. 119-437]
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+A BILL
+
+To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
+to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
+and for other purposes.
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+January 12, 2026
+
+Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
+House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Cosponsors (6)
Members who signed on to support this bill.