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S 216 119th Congress Senate Public Lands and Natural Resources Aquatic ecology Charitable contributions Department of Commerce Indian social and development programs International organizations and cooperation Marine pollution Public contracts and procurement Public-private cooperation Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations Water quality

Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Introduced by: Sullivan, Dan Republican · Alaska See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 19 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 26, 2025
Signed by President.
Dec 26, 2025
Became Public Law No: 119-65.
Dec 18, 2025
Presented to President.
Dec 15, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Dec 15, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 15, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Dec 15, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 216.
Dec 15, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5867-5869)
Dec 15, 2025
Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 26, 2025
Held at the desk.
May 26, 2025
Received in the House.
May 23, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 20, 2025
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3001-3002; text: CR S3001-3002)
May 20, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Apr 8, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 40.
Apr 8, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-12.
Feb 5, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jan 23, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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. 

What's happening now December 26, 2025

Became Public Law No: 119-65.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2620 Identical bill Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 11

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 11 filings →
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Jan 23, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 216: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-216/
MLA
"S. 216: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-216/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 216, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-216/.
Markdown link
[S. 216: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-216/)
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