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S 1991 112th Congress Senate Public Lands and Natural Resources Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Government trust funds Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Research administration and funding Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

A bill to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 14, 2011 Introduced by: Whitehouse, Sheldon Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 14, 2011
Introduced in Senate
Dec 14, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Establishes in the Treasury a trust fund to be known as the National Endowment for the Oceans (NEO) to: (1) allocate funding to coastal states and affected Indian tribes, (2) make grants to regional ocean and coastal planning bodies, and (3) develop and implement a National Grant Program for Oceans and Coastal Waters.

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to serve as trustee.

Requires that funds be allocated by the Secretary only to fund grants for programs and activities to restore, protect, maintain, or understand living marine resources and their habitats and resources in ocean and coastal waters, including baseline scientific research, ocean observing, and other programs and activities carried out in coordination with federal and state agencies, that are consistent with federal environmental laws and that avoid environmental degradation.

Directs the Secretary to allocate from the amounts to be distributed among states each fiscal year: (1) 50% equally among coastal states, (2) 25% based on tidal shoreline miles, and (3) 25% based on the coastal population density of a coastal state. Limits the percentage of total funds that a state or territory may receive in any fiscal year.

Requires, upon the establishment of a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, that specified interest and investment proceeds from such Fund be transferred to the NEO.

What's happening now December 14, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1991: A bill to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans, and for other purposes.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1991/
MLA
"S. 1991: A bill to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans, and for other purposes.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1991/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1991, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1991/.
Markdown link
[S. 1991: A bill to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1991/)
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