Public Law 119-65 | Public Law 119–65: 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.

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PUBLIC LAW 119–65—DEC. 26, 2025

SAVE OUR SEAS 2.0 AMENDMENTS ACT

139 STAT. 1986

Public Law

119–65

119th Congress

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.

Dec. 26, 2025

[S. 216]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act.

SECTION 1.

33 USC 1951 note.

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)

inserting

before section 3 the following:

“Subtitle A—

NOAA And Coast Guard Programs”

; and

(2)

redesignating

sections 3 through 6

33 USC 1952–1955.

as sections 101 through 104, respectively.

(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”;

(2)

in paragraph (1) by

striking

“and contracts” and

inserting

“, contracts, and other agreements”;

(3)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

striking

“part of the” and

inserting

“part of a”; and

(ii)

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)

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 139 STAT. 1987 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),

33 USC 1961–1969.

as redesignated by this Act.

(b)

Status of Foundation.—

Section 111(a) of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred

33 USC 1961.

by this Act,

is amended

, in the second sentence, by

striking

“organization” and

inserting

“corporation”.

(c)

Purposes.—

Section 111(b) of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred and redesignated by this Act,

is amended

—

(1)

in paragraph (3) by

inserting

“Indian Tribes,” after “Tribal governments,”; and

(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

33 USC 1962.

Act,

is amended

—

(A)

redesignating

paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6) respectively;

(B)

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 appointment.”

;

(C)

in paragraph (2), as redesignated, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i)

striking

“and considering” and

inserting

“considering”; and

(ii)

inserting

“and with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce,” after “by the Board,”;

(D)

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)

inserting

“the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development,” after “Service,”; and

(ii)

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

—139 STAT. 1988

(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

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.”

(e)

Powers of Foundation.—

Section 113(c)(1) of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred by this

33 USC 1963.

Act,

is amended

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(1)

inserting

“nonprofit” before “corporation”; and

(2)

striking

“acting as a trustee” and

inserting

“formed”.

(f)

Principal Office.—

Section 113 of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred by this Act,

is amended

adding

at the end the following:

“(g)

Principal Office.—

The Board shall locate the principal office of the Foundation in the National Capital Region, as such term is defined in section 2674(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code, or a coastal shoreline community.”

(g)

Best Practices; Rule of Construction.—

Section 113 of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred by this Act and 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.

“(2)

Requirements.—

The best practices developed under paragraph (1) shall—

“(A)

Process.

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

“(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,

33 USC 1968.

is amended

—

(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”.139 STAT. 1989

(i)

Reauthorization.—

Section 9(a) of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449)

33 USC 1958.

is amended

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)

33 USC 1971–1977.

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),

33 USC 1981–1984.

and 10 to appear after section 127, as transferred by this Act, and redesignated as sections 131, 132, 133, and 134, respectively; and

(2)

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

33 USC 1981.

this Act,

is amended

—

(1)

striking

paragraph (1);

(2)

redesignating

paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (11), (12), and (13), respectively;

(3)

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)

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).

“(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)

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 139 STAT. 1990 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

(6)

in paragraph (13), as so redesignated—

(A)

redesignating

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

(B)

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)

33 USC 1981.

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)

33 USC 4201.

is amended

redesignating

paragraphs (8) through (11) as paragraphs (7) through (10), respectively.

(c)

Non-Federal Funds.—

Paragraph (8)(D) of section 131 of the Marine Debris Act (Public Law 109–449), as transferred and redesignated by this Act,

33 USC 1981.

is amended

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 so redesignated by this Act,

33 USC 1951 and note, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1983.

are amended by

striking

“Administrator” and

inserting

“Under Secretary”.

(b)

Section 103.—

Section 103 of the Marine

33 USC 1954.

Debris Act

is amended

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

(3)

in subsection (e)(3) by

striking

“section 3” and

inserting

“section 101”.

(c)

Section 123.—

Section 123 of the Marine Debris Act, as transferred and so redesignated by this Act,

33 USC 1973.

is amended

striking

“title I” and

inserting

“subtitle B”.

(d)

Section 133.—

Section 133 of the Marine Debris Act, as transferred and so redesignated by this Act,

33 USC 1983.

is amended

striking

“sections 3, 5, and 6” and

inserting

“sections 101, 103, and 104”.

(e)

Section 134.—

Section 134 of the Marine Debris Act, as transferred and so redesignated by this Act,

33 USC 1984.

is amended

striking

139 STAT. 1991 “Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency” and

inserting

“EPA Administrator”.

(f)

Tribal Government.—

Subtitle A of the Marine Debris Act, as designated in this Act,

33 USC 1952.

is amended

striking

“tribal government” and

inserting

“Tribal Government”.

Approved December 26, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 216:

SENATE REPORTS: ┐No. 119–12 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):

May 20, considered and passed Senate.

Dec. 15, considered and passed House.

○

Public Law 119–65: 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.

SHORT TITLE.

MODIFICATIONS TO THE MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

In General.—

NOAA And Coast Guard Programs”

Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Contracts, and Other Agreements.—

In-kind contributions.—

MODIFICATIONS TO THE MARINE DEBRIS FOUNDATION.

In General.—

Status of Foundation.—

Purposes.—

Board of Directors.—

Appointment, vacancies, and removal.—

Recommendations of board regarding appointments.—

Terms.—

General powers.—

Chief executive officer.—

Chief Executive Officer.—

Appointment; removal; review.—

Powers.—

Powers of Foundation.—

Principal Office.—

Principal Office.—

Best Practices; Rule of Construction.—

Best Practices.—

In general.—

Requirements.—

Rule of Construction.—

Authorization of Appropriations.—

Reauthorization.—

TRANSFERS.

Save Our Seas 2.0 Act.—

Marine Debris Act.—

Administration”

DEFINITIONS.

In General.—

Circular economy.—

Coastal shoreline community.—

EPA administrator.—

Indian tribe.—

Nonprofit organization.—

Post consumer materials management.—

Tribal government.—

Tribal organization.—

Under secretary.—

Transfer.—

In general.—

Redesignation.—

Non-Federal Funds.—

CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

In General.—

Section 103.—

Section 123.—

Section 133.—

Section 134.—

Tribal Government.—

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 216:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):

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