Overview

Title

To amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The bill S. 5649 wants to make sure that programs to clean up ocean trash run better by letting people give services instead of money as help, making some changes to the group in charge, and explaining more about how they work with Native American Tribes.

Summary AI

The bill S. 5649 aims to amend the Marine Debris Act to enhance the management of marine debris programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Marine Debris Foundation. It introduces changes such as recognizing in-kind contributions to projects, clarifying the composition and powers of the board of the Marine Debris Foundation, and relocating the foundation’s office. It also emphasizes outreach to Indian Tribes and defines key terms related to environmental management and tribal representation. Additionally, it reorganizes sections of the Marine Debris Act to improve its structure and clarity.

Published

2024-12-21
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Considered and Passed Senate
Date: 2024-12-21
Package ID: BILLS-118s5649cps

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
6
Words:
2,787
Pages:
13
Sentences:
33

Language

Nouns: 713
Verbs: 184
Adjectives: 80
Adverbs: 20
Numbers: 218
Entities: 193

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.70
Average Sentence Length:
84.45
Token Entropy:
4.83
Readability (ARI):
41.12

AnalysisAI

The proposed bill, introduced in the 118th Congress, aims to amend the Marine Debris Act with the objective of improving the administration of the Marine Debris Program and the Marine Debris Foundation. Sponsored by Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Whitehouse, this legislative proposal seeks to refine various aspects of the program's operations, organization, and funding mechanisms tied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill also brings modifications to the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, providing updates and reorganizing existing sections to align better with current marine debris challenges.

General Summary of the Bill

The bill, titled the "Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act," amends the Marine Debris Act primarily by including new language to facilitate more comprehensive agreements for NOAA's Marine Debris Program. It allows NOAA to make in-kind contributions for projects, reflecting the agency’s benefits from those projects. Furthermore, it modifies the Marine Debris Foundation to better incorporate Indian Tribes into its efforts and outlines new operational procedures for its board of directors and chief executive officer. The proposal also reorganizes various sections related to the administration and implementation of marine debris programs and updates definitions to clarify terms related to the act.

Summary of Significant Issues

One major issue identified in the proposed amendments is the lack of specific guidelines for determining in-kind contributions' value, which could lead to varied interpretations and potential misuse. The suggested changes require several board decisions to be approved by the Secretary of Commerce, which might complicate and slow decision-making processes. Moreover, there is concern over the reorganization of the Marine Debris Act; the bill does not clearly outline the benefits or expected impacts of the restructuring, potentially leading to stakeholder confusion. Additionally, several terms and definitions in the bill refer to external documents, which could cause misunderstandings if those external references are revised without notice.

Impact on the Public

Broadly speaking, the bill attempts to enhance marine debris management, which is likely to contribute to healthier oceans and coastal environments. This improvement could have positive ripple effects on public health, tourism, and fishing industries by preserving marine life and habitats. However, if the lack of specific guidelines for contributions and decision-making bottlenecks are not addressed, there could be inefficiencies in program execution, resulting in slower progress toward achieving cleaner oceans.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For NOAA and the Marine Debris Foundation, the changes might lead to increased responsibilities and complexities in administration due to new approval layers and definitions adjustments. On the positive side, the inclusion of Indian Tribes in foundation activities could promote broader collaboration and greater inclusiveness. On the other hand, the proposed capabilities for the Foundation to relocate its principal office might introduce operational challenges, impacting its efficiency if not executed thoughtfully. Stakeholders such as coastal communities and environmental groups may benefit from the heightened focus on marine debris management but could face uncertainties due to the bill’s ambiguities and organizational changes proposed.

The bill is well-intentioned in aiming to strengthen the infrastructure supporting marine debris efforts, yet several issues must be addressed to ensure effective implementation. Thoughtful consideration of the potential ambiguities and procedural changes could enhance the bill's capability to serve both the overarching environmental goals and the specific needs of involved stakeholders.

Issues

  • The allowance for 'in-kind contributions' from the Under Secretary in Section 2 lacks specific guidelines, potentially leading to varied interpretations and misuse. This could have significant legal and administrative implications by leading to inconsistent application.

  • Section 3 requires several board decisions to be approved by the Secretary of Commerce, which may result in increased bureaucracy and slow the decision-making process, affecting the efficiency of the Marine Debris Foundation.

  • "Modifications to the Marine Debris Foundation" in Section 3 include allowing the Board to appoint, remove, and review the CEO. If interpreted improperly, this could result in power imbalances and affect organizational accountability.

  • Section 4 on the reorganization of the Marine Debris Act provides no clear explanation of the rationale or expected outcomes, creating potential confusion among stakeholders and possibly affecting the administration of marine debris programs.

  • The definitions in Section 5 refer to external documents and definitions, leading to potential confusion if the external documents change or are misinterpreted. This could affect the understanding and application of the terms used in the Act.

  • The 'Principal office' clause in Section 3 opens the possibility of inefficiencies by allowing the office to be located in a broad range of areas, without criteria for 'coastal shoreline community', potentially impacting administrative efficiency.

  • The bill overall, including Sections 1, 4, and 6, does not specify or clarify oversight and accountability mechanisms, which raises concerns about transparency and efficient use of resources in reorganization and amendments.

  • Section 6 uses highly technical language and provides numerous amendments and redesignations that require cross-referencing, posing a challenge for public understanding and creating potential for confusion around current legal provisions.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section states that this legislation can be referred to as the "Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act."

2. Modifications to the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section modifies the Marine Debris Act by updating language to include "other agreements" besides just contracts and by clarifying how in-kind contributions can cover project costs. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is allowed to contribute non-monetary resources for projects, reflecting the benefit it receives from such projects.

3. Modifications to the Marine Debris Foundation Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The modifications to the Marine Debris Foundation outlined in the bill include changing its status to a corporation, adding Indian Tribes to its purposes, restructuring its board of directors' appointment and terms, empowering the chief executive officer, and using funds for broader collaboration with various entities. Additionally, the Foundation will develop best practices for outreach to Indian Tribes and may relocate its principal office to a specific region or community.

4. Organization of Marine Debris Act Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Marine Debris Act by reorganizing some sections and adding new subtitles related to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coast Guard programs, and administration. It also incorporates parts of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, moving sections about the Marine Debris Foundation and the Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations into the Marine Debris Act.

5. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Marine Debris Act to update and define several terms related to marine policy and governance. It specifies new definitions for terms like "circular economy," "coastal shoreline community," "non-Federal funds," "nonprofit," "Tribal government," and others, aligning them with relevant laws and acts.

6. Conforming amendments Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text outlines changes to the Marine Debris Act and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. It updates terminology regarding leadership titles in sections of these acts and removes a paragraph in the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act while renumbering the remaining paragraphs.