Ocean Policy Roundup
January 21-27, 2025
Who’s in session this week? The House is out; the Senate is in.
Make sure you have the ESP Advisors printable 2025 Congressional Schedule and our public 2025 Congressional Google calendar at your fingertips.
News Highlights
Agencies are processing how to implement President Trump’s in-person work and anti-DEI orders from last week. Rumors continue to spread about potential upcoming executive orders—indicating the high level of anxiety about continued changes.
In accordance with Trump’s recent executive order, DOI announced the implementation of renaming the Gulf of Mexico (now the Gulf of America) and Denali (now Mount McKinley).
Top Republican appropriators are aiming to finalize an agreement on fiscal year 2025 “topline” spending figures by the end of this week. Remember, the federal government has been operating under a continuing resolution agreement since September 30, 2024, maintaining last year’s spending levels until Congress can make a deal. The continuing resolution deadline is March 14, 2025.
Written by Emily
The Senate worked through the weekend to confirm President Trump’s nominees for Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security.
House Republicans are holding their annual retreat this week at Trump's Doral resort in Miami. During the three-day strategy session, they will work to align their legislative agenda with the president’s policy goals. Trump is expected to address the attendees today.
Budget reconciliation
Also this week, House Republicans are diving into the details to determine the structure of their party-line reconciliation legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) plans to finalize a "blueprint" for the legislation during their retreat.
Key priorities for budget reconciliation:
Tax cuts
Raising or eliminating the debt ceiling
Rolling back energy regulations
Lots and lots of spending cuts
Last Friday, House Republican committee chairs proposed $2.5 to $3 trillion in spending cuts and savings to fund the reconciliation package, which needs to break even within 10 years of passage. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee suggested $26 billion in savings through changes to ship tonnage duties and EV fees, while the Natural Resources Committee proposed $5 billion in cuts focused on oil, gas, mining, and timber sales—likely to face strong opposition from environmental groups. Proposals also included rolling back parts of the Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which was also passed through reconciliation.
Achieving consensus within the House Republican Conference on a set of cuts and savings will be politically challenging given slim voting margins in the House.
For more on budget reconciliation, check out our recent blog post.
FY25 Appropriations
Last week, top Republican appropriators presented an initial offer to Democrats, aiming to finalize an agreement on “topline” spending figures by the end of this week. Remember, the federal government has been operating under a continuing resolution (CR) agreement since September 30, 2024, maintaining last year’s spending levels until Congress can make a deal. The CR deadline is March 14, 2025.
Trump Administration News
Agencies are still processing how to implement Trump’s in-person work and anti-DEI orders from last week. Rumors continue to spread about potential upcoming executive orders—indicating the high level of anxiety about continued changes.
New relevant policies for ocean and coastal communities:
Establishment of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, which is primarily made up of non-governmental representatives
Establishment of a new Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council to advise the president on the FEMA’s ability to capably and impartially address disasters and make recommended changes
Revocation of some existing AI regulations; Artificial Intelligence Action Plan required within 180 days
Important Dates and Deadlines
Friday, March 14: FY25 government funding deadline
Tuesday, September 30: FY26 government funding deadline
January 29, 2025
10:00 AM — Hearing to consider the nomination of Howard Lutnick, of New York, to be Secretary of Commerce; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Introductions
Reps. Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced the Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act (H.R.573), which would require the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to publish an annual study on lawsuits related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the impact of paperwork burden, and wait times for project review.
Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44) introduced the Commitment to Environmental Justice Act (H.R.576), which would codify President Biden’s “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All” Executive Order. The bill has 17 Democratic cosponsors.
Reps. David Joyce (R-OH-14), David Rouzer (R-NC-07), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13) introduced the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act (H.R.583), which would reauthorize the BEACH Act program within EPA. The program develops guidelines for testing, monitoring, and notifying users of coastal recreation water problems. This bill would also expand the eligible uses of grant funds to include contaminated water source identification.
Reps. Ed Case (D-HI-01), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large) introduced two bills related to deep seabed mining activities in the U.S. The American Seabed Protection Act (H.R.664) would prohibit deep seabed mining activities on the outer continental shelf. H.R.663 would oppose permitting for deep seabed mining and exploration activities.
Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02) introduced the Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025 (H.R.674), which would prohibit offshore wind development in Lobster Management Area 1, which includes 14,000 square miles of nearshore fishing waters in the Gulf of Maine.
Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced S.216, which would amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and the Marine Debris Act with aims to improve administration of the Marine Debris Foundation and NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, respectively.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced S.221, which would extend U.S. customs waters to 24 nautical miles offshore in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 7219 issued by former President Clinton in 1999.
Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (D-AK) introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the cultural practices and livelihoods of Alaska Natives related to handicrafts using marine mammal ivory products (S.254) and nonedible migratory bird parts (S.255).
Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and David Joyce (R-OH-14) introduced the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA | H.R.644). This bill, which would reauthorize the HABHRCA of 1998, aims to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia by requiring better coordination among task force agencies and state and local entities, including Tribes. Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Senate version of the bill last week (S.93).
Updates
The Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research, Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act (H.R.207) and the MapWATERS Act (H.R.187) both passed the full House. The bills will now head to the Senate.
People
House Committee on Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04) announced Republican committee and subcommittee rosters for the 119th Congress.
The House Committee on Agriculture released its subcommittee rosters for the 119th Congress.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure announced Vice Ranking Members for each of the six subcommittees. Full subcommittee rosters were also released.
Lee Zeldin’s nomination for EPA Administrator was advanced by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and now heads to the full chamber.
Sean Duffy’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Transportation was advanced by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and now heads to the full chamber.
Fisheries and Ecosystems
In accordance with Trump’s recent executive order, DOI announced the implementation of renaming the Gulf of Mexico (now the Gulf of America) and Denali (now Mount McKinley).
Under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Program, $36.9 million was approved for Louisiana's NOAA-sponsored North Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing Project.
NOAA withdrew a proposed rule to implement provisions of the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 and the Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act. The proposed rule would have also made modifications to regulations regarding the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act.
Image: Eduardo Labat/2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Contest
From “dancing” white tip reef sharks to Mexico’s crystal clear cenotes, explore the winning shots of the 2024 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Contest.