S 216 · 119th Congress · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

Introduced January 23, 2025 Latest action December 26, 2025 1 cosponsor

Sponsor

Latest action

Became Public Law No: 119-65.

Action timeline

Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.

Dec 26, 2025

signed Signed by President.

Dec 26, 2025

signed Became Public Law No: 119-65.

Dec 18, 2025

sent Presented to President.

Dec 15, 2025

floor Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Dec 15, 2025

floor Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5867-5869)

Text versions

Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.

Dec 27, 2025 Public Law

May 20, 2025 Engrossed in Senate

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Apr 08, 2025 Reported to Senate

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Jan 23, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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— Enrolled Bill

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CRS summaries

Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.

55 Passed Senate May 20, 2025

Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act 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.

via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov

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`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.

+135 −166 103 unchanged

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--- Engrossed (Senate)

+++ Enrolled

@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@

[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

-[S. 216 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

-<DOC>

-119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

-S. 216

-_______________________________________________________________________

-AN ACT

+[S. 216 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

+S.216

+One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

+of the

+United States of America

+AT THE FIRST SESSION

+Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,

+the third day of January, two thousand and twenty five

+An Act

To amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the

Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the

@@ -18,14 +23,10 @@

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO THE MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL

OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

(a) In General.--The Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449) is

amended--

(1) by inserting before section 3 the following:

@@ -37,32 +38,29 @@

(b) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Contracts, and Other

Agreements.--Section 101(d) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C.

1952(d)), as redesignated by this Act, is amended--

-(1) in the subsection heading by striking ``AND CONTRACTS''

-and inserting ``CONTRACTS, AND OTHER AGREEMENTS'';

+(1) in the subsection heading by striking ``AND CONTRACTS'' and

+inserting ``CONTRACTS, AND OTHER AGREEMENTS'';

(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and contracts'' and

inserting ``, contracts, and other agreements'';

(3) in paragraph (2)--

(A) in subparagraph (B)--

-(i) by striking ``part of the'' and

-inserting ``part of a''; and

-(ii) by inserting ``or (C)'' after

-``subparagraph (A)''; and

-(B) in subparagraph (C) in the matter preceding

-clause (i) by inserting ``and except as provided in

-subparagraph (B)'' after ``subparagraph (A)''; and

+(i) by striking ``part of the'' and inserting ``part of

+a''; and

+(ii) by inserting ``or (C)'' after ``subparagraph

+(A)''; and

+(B) in subparagraph (C) in the matter preceding clause (i)

+by inserting ``and except as provided in subparagraph (B)''

+after ``subparagraph (A)''; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

``(7) In-kind contributions.--With respect to any project

-carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered

-into under paragraph (1) that is not a cooperative agreement or

-an agreement to provide financial assistance in the form of a

-grant, the Under Secretary may contribute on an in-kind basis

-the portion of the costs of the project that the Under

-Secretary determines represents the amount of benefit the

-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration derives from

-the project.''.

+carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered into

+under paragraph (1) that is not a cooperative agreement or an

+agreement to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant,

+the Under Secretary may contribute on an in-kind basis the portion

+of the costs of the project that the Under Secretary determines

+represents the amount of benefit the National Oceanic and

+Atmospheric Administration derives from the project.''.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATIONS TO THE MARINE DEBRIS FOUNDATION.

(a) In General.--Subtitle B of title I of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

(Public Law 116-224) is transferred to appear after section 104 of the

Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), as redesignated by this Act.

@@ -77,57 +75,54 @@

(2) in paragraph (4) by striking ``title II'' and inserting

``subtitle C''.

(d) Board of Directors.--

-(1) Appointment, vacancies, and removal.--Section 112(b) of

-the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by

-this Act, is amended--

+(1) Appointment, vacancies, and removal.--Section 112(b) of the

+Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act,

+is amended--

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as

paragraphs (2) through (6) respectively;

-(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as

-redesignated, the following:

+(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the

+following:

``(1) Recommendations of board regarding appointments.--For

-appointments made under paragraph (2), the Board shall submit

-to the Under Secretary recommendations on candidates for

+appointments made under paragraph (2), the Board shall submit to

+the Under Secretary recommendations on candidates for

appointment.'';

-(C) in paragraph (2), as redesignated, in the

-matter preceding subparagraph (A)--

-(i) by striking ``and considering'' and

-inserting ``considering''; and

-(ii) by inserting ``and with the approval

-of the Secretary of Commerce,'' after ``by the

-Board,'';

-(D) by amending paragraph (3), as redesignated, to

-read as follows:

-``(3) Terms.--Any Director appointed under paragraph (2)

-shall be appointed for a term of 6 years.'';

-(E) in paragraph (4)(A), as redesignated, by

-inserting ``with the approval of the Secretary of

-Commerce'' after ``the Board''; and

+(C) in paragraph (2), as redesignated, in the matter

+preceding subparagraph (A)--

+(i) by striking ``and considering'' and inserting

+``considering''; and

+(ii) by inserting ``and with the approval of the

+Secretary of Commerce,'' after ``by the Board,'';

+(D) by amending paragraph (3), as redesignated, to read as

+follows:

+``(3) Terms.--Any Director appointed under paragraph (2) shall

+be appointed for a term of 6 years.'';

+(E) in paragraph (4)(A), as redesignated, by inserting

+``with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce'' after ``the

+Board''; and

(F) in paragraph (6), as redesignated--

-(i) by inserting ``the Administrator of the

-United States Agency for International

-Development,'' after ``Service,''; and

-(ii) by inserting ``and with the approval

-of the Secretary of Commerce'' after ``EPA

-Administrator''.

-(2) General powers.--Section 112(g) of the Marine Debris

-Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is

-amended--

+(i) by inserting ``the Administrator of the United

+States Agency for International Development,'' after

+``Service,''; and

+(ii) by inserting ``and with the approval of the

+Secretary of Commerce'' after ``EPA Administrator''.

+(2) General powers.--Section 112(g) of the Marine Debris Act

+(Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is amended--

(A) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ``officers and

employees'' and inserting ``the initial officers and

employees''; and

(B) in paragraph (2)(B)(i) by striking ``its chief

-operating officer'' and inserting ``the chief executive

-officer of the Foundation''.

-(3) Chief executive officer.--Section 112 of the Marine

-Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is

-amended by adding at the end the following:

+operating officer'' and inserting ``the chief executive officer

+of the Foundation''.

+(3) Chief executive officer.--Section 112 of the Marine Debris

+Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is amended by

+adding at the end the following:

``(h) Chief Executive Officer.--

-``(1) Appointment; removal; review.--The Board shall

-appoint and review the performance of, and may remove, the

-chief executive officer of the Foundation.

-``(2) Powers.--The chief executive officer of the

-Foundation may appoint, remove, and review the performance of

-any officer or employee of the Foundation.''.

+``(1) Appointment; removal; review.--The Board shall appoint

+and review the performance of, and may remove, the chief executive

+officer of the Foundation.

+``(2) Powers.--The chief executive officer of the Foundation

+may appoint, remove, and review the performance of any officer or

+employee of the Foundation.''.

(e) Powers of Foundation.--Section 113(c)(1) of the Marine Debris

Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is amended in the

matter preceding subparagraph (A)--

@@ -146,112 +141,103 @@

amended by subsection (e), is further amended by adding at the end the

following:

``(h) Best Practices.--

-``(1) In general.--The Foundation shall develop and

-implement best practices for conducting outreach to Indian

-Tribes and Tribal Governments.

+``(1) In general.--The Foundation shall develop and implement

+best practices for conducting outreach to Indian Tribes and Tribal

+Governments.

``(2) Requirements.--The best practices developed under

paragraph (1) shall--

-``(A) include a process to support technical

-assistance and capacity building to improve outcomes;

-and

-``(B) promote an awareness of programs and grants

-available under this Act.

+``(A) include a process to support technical assistance and

+capacity building to improve outcomes; and

+``(B) promote an awareness of programs and grants available

+under this Act.

``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed--

-``(1) to satisfy any requirement for government-to-

-government consultation with Tribal Governments; or

+``(1) to satisfy any requirement for government-to-government

+consultation with Tribal Governments; or

``(2) to affect or modify any treaty or other right of any

Tribal Government.''.

(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 118(a) of the Marine

Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), as transferred by this Act, is

amended--

-(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and $2,000,000 for

-fiscal year 2025'' after ``through 2024''; and

+(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and $2,000,000 for fiscal

+year 2025'' after ``through 2024''; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and State and local

-government agencies'' and inserting ``, State and local

-government agencies, regional organizations, Indian Tribes,

-Tribal organizations, and foreign governments''.

+government agencies'' and inserting ``, State and local government

+agencies, regional organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal

+organizations, and foreign governments''.

(i) Reauthorization.--Section 9(a) of the Marine Debris Act (Public

Law 109-449) is amended by striking ``for'' the first place it appears

and all that follows through ``carrying out'' and inserting ``for each

of fiscal years 2018 through 2029 for carrying out''.

SEC. 4. TRANSFERS.

(a) Save Our Seas 2.0 Act.--Subtitle C of title I of the Save Our

Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224) is transferred to appear after

section 119 of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449) as

transferred and redesignated by this Act.

(b) Marine Debris Act.--The Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449)

is amended--

-(1) by transferring sections 7, 8, 9 (as amended), and 10

-to appear after section 127, as transferred by this Act, and

-redesignated as sections 131, 132, 133, and 134, respectively;

-and

+(1) by transferring sections 7, 8, 9 (as amended), and 10 to

+appear after section 127, as transferred by this Act, and

+redesignated as sections 131, 132, 133, and 134, respectively; and

(2) by inserting before section 131, as so transferred and

redesignated, the following:

``Subtitle D--Administration''.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 131 of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law

109-449), as transferred and redesignated by this Act, is amended--

(1) by striking paragraph (1);

-(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),

-and (7) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (11), (12), and (13),

+(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and

+(7) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (11), (12), and (13),

respectively;

-(3) by inserting before paragraph (5), as so redesignated,

-the following:

-``(1) Circular economy.--The term `circular economy' has

-the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas

-2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224).

-``(2) Coastal shoreline community.--The term `coastal

-shoreline community' means a city or county directly adjacent

-to the open ocean, major estuaries, or the Great Lakes.

-``(3) EPA administrator.--The term `EPA Administrator' has

-the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas

-2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224).

-``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the

-meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-

-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).'';

-(4) by inserting before paragraph (11), as so redesignated,

-the following:

+(3) by inserting before paragraph (5), as so redesignated, the

+following:

+``(1) Circular economy.--The term `circular economy' has the

+meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

+(Public Law 116-224).

+``(2) Coastal shoreline community.--The term `coastal shoreline

+community' means a city or county directly adjacent to the open

+ocean, major estuaries, or the Great Lakes.

+``(3) EPA administrator.--The term `EPA Administrator' has the

+meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

+(Public Law 116-224).

+``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the meaning

+given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and

+Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).'';

+(4) by inserting before paragraph (11), as so redesignated, the

+following:

``(9) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit

-organization' has the meaning given such term in section 2 of

-the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224).

+organization' has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the

+Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224).

``(10) Post consumer materials management.--The term `post-

-consumer materials management' has the meaning given such term

-in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-

-224).'';

-(5) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated,

-the following:

-``(14) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal Government'

-means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska

-Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community,

-component band, or component reservation, individually

-identified (including parenthetically) in the list published

-most recently as of the date of the enactment of the Save Our

-Seas 2.0 Amendments Act pursuant to section 104 of the

-Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C.

-5131).

-``(15) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'

-has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-

+consumer materials management' has the meaning given such term in

+section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224).'';

+(5) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated, the

+following:

+``(14) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal Government' means

+the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe,

+band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or

+component reservation, individually identified (including

+parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the date

+of the enactment of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act pursuant

+to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of

+1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

+``(15) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' has

+the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

``(16) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' has the

-meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0

-Act (Public Law 116-224).''; and

+meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

+(Public Law 116-224).''; and

(6) in paragraph (13), as so redesignated--

-(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and

-(D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E); and

-(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the

-following:

+(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as

+subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E); and

+(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

``(B) Indian Tribe;''.

(b) Transfer.--

(1) In general.--Section 2(7) of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

-(Public Law 116-224) is transferred to section 131 of the

-Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), inserted after

-paragraph (7) (as redesignated), and redesignated as paragraph

-(8).

+(Public Law 116-224) is transferred to section 131 of the Marine

+Debris Act (Public Law 109-449), inserted after paragraph (7) (as

+redesignated), and redesignated as paragraph (8).

(2) Redesignation.--Section 2 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

(Public Law 116-224) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (8)

through (11) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively.

@@ -260,9 +246,7 @@

by this Act, is amended by striking ``(as defined in section 4 of the

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.

5304))''.

SEC. 6. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) In General.--Sections 1 and 2 of the Marine Debris Act,

sections 101, 102, and 104 of the Marine Debris Act, as redesignated by

this Act, and section 133 of the Marine Debris Act, as transferred and

@@ -272,8 +256,8 @@

by--

(1) striking ``Administrator of the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Under Secretary'';

-(2) striking ``Administrator of the Environmental

-Protection Agency'' and inserting ``EPA Administrator''; and

+(2) striking ``Administrator of the Environmental Protection

+Agency'' and inserting ``EPA Administrator''; and

(3) in subsection (e)(3) by striking ``section 3'' and

inserting ``section 101''.

@@ -290,22 +274,7 @@

designated in this Act, is amended by striking ``tribal government''

and inserting ``Tribal Government''.

-Passed the Senate May 20, 2025.

-Attest:

-Secretary.

-119th CONGRESS

-1st Session

-S. 216

-_______________________________________________________________________

-AN ACT

-To amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the

-Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the

-administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and

-Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

+Speaker of the House of Representatives.

+Vice President of the United States and

+President of the Senate.

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Cosponsors (1)

Members who signed on to support this bill.

Whitehouse D