Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act
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Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act - Specifies a national oceans policy. Establishes national standards to require any federal agency or federally funded activities that affect U.S. ocean waters or ocean resources to be conducted in a manner that protects and maintains healthy marine ecosystems and, where appropriate, restores degraded marine ecosystems.
Reestablishes in the Department of Commerce (what already exists under Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), administered by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (Administrator). Directs the President to submit to Congress recommendations on, and a plan and proposed schedule for, the transfer of oceanic or atmospheric programs, functions, services, and associated resources to NOAA from other federal agencies.
Establishes: (1) a National Oceans Advisor; (2) a Committee on Ocean Policy; and (3) the Council of Advisors on Oceans Policy.
Designates certain ocean regions for ecosystem-based management. Establishes a Regional Ocean Partnership for each designated ocean region. Requires each Partnership to prepare a Regional Ocean Strategic Plan for each ocean region.
Establishes a Committee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations (OSEO Committee). Directs the Chair of the Committee on Ocean Policy to develop a National Strategy for Ocean and Coastal Science.
Establishes: (1) a Subcommittee on Ocean Education within the OSEO Committee; (2) an interagency ocean and coastal education program; (3) a National Marine Scholarship Program; and (4) a NOAA Office of Education.
Establishes: (1) an Office of Ocean Exploration within the Ocean and Atmospheric Research and Data Services Office; and (2) a Subcommittee on Ocean Exploration within the OSEO Committee.
Establishes in the Treasury the Ocean and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund.
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2939: Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2939/
"H.R. 2939: Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2939/.
H.R. 2939, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2939/.
[H.R. 2939: Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2939/)