Ocean Policy Roundup
March 29 - April 12, 2024
Beyond the consistent hum of federal funding discussions, it was a big two weeks in DC for oceans and coasts! Many relevant bills were introduced, advanced, and passed. Head to the legislation section for a full breakdown.
The House is expected to be in session Monday-Thursday next week. The Senate is expected to be in session the whole week.
News highlights:
Reps. Troy Nehls (R-TX-22), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), and Barry Moore (R-AL-02) introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024. The bill would prohibit federal funds from being made available to International Financial Institutions to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in any foreign country to the United States.
The administration approved the New England Wind offshore wind project offshore Massachusetts.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and 35 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture advocating for seafood support in the next Farm Bill.
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Chad M. Cary has been nominated to serve as the next director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Check out our public Google calendar and printable PDF to keep track of the 2024 congressional schedule.
May 10, 2024: Deadlines for outside witness testimony for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Interior, Environment funding bills
Recap: House Members Discuss Marine Ecosystems and Great Lakes Data
On Thursday, March 21, the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on bills related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, including:
Republicans and Democrats aligned on the importance of research, data, and partnerships to support healthy marine ecosystems and the benefits they provide to communities and economies. Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) and NOAA Fisheries witness Clay Porch expressed concerns that language used in the Marine Fisheries Protection Act, which deals with the Rigs-to-Reefs program, was too broad. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-06) welcomed the constructive criticism and agreed to collaborate on the necessary changes to polish the bill’s language. Read our full summary here.
Upcoming Relevant Congressional Hearings
April 16, 2024
10:15 AM — House Natural Resources Committee Full Committee Markup, to include:
America’s Wildlife Conservation Act (H.R.7408)
Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2023 (H.R.5015)
April 18, 2024
9:00 AM — Assessing Solutions to Secure America’s Offshore Energy Future; House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Upcoming Relevant Congressional Budget Hearings
April 16, 2024
10:00 AM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for FEMA (livestream link not yet posted); House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security
10:00 AM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security; House Committee on Homeland Security
10:00 AM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for the Navy and Marine Corps; Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense
10:00 AM — Hearing to Examine the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of Energy; Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
3:00 PM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for Energy, Installations, and Environment Programs at the Department of Defense (livestream link not yet posted); House Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness
April 17, 2024
9:30 AM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior; House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
9:30 AM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for the Army Corps of Engineers (livestream link not yet posted); House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
3:00 PM — Hearing to Review the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of the Navy Seapower and Projection Forces (livestream link not yet posted); House Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
May 2, 2024
10:00 AM — Hearing to Examine the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior; Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Introductions
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AK-04), Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), and 18 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R.6492), a wide-reaching piece of legislation that aims to expand access to public lands and waters. The EXPLORE Act quickly passed the full House. There is currently no Senate companion bill.
Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA-09) introduced the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023 (H.R.2560). This bill would require NOAA to establish a Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Grant Program to encourage and facilitate coordinated rapid response and rescue of stranded marine turtles. It was introduced April 10 and passed the House the next day. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and five bipartisan cosponsors introduced a companion bill in the Senate last June (S.2086).
Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), and eight other Democrat cosponsors introduced the Climate Change Education Act (H.R.7946), which would require the NOAA Administrator to establish a climate change education program. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a companion bill in the Senate (no bill number yet).
Reps. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-04), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), and nine bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans (MAPOceans) Act (H.R.7925). The bill would create a publicly accessible platform for recreational boaters, anglers, and those who use coastal waterways, displaying information on Federal waterway regulations and fishing restrictions off the coast. Bipartisan companion legislation was introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Angus King (I-ME) in the Senate.
Reps. Troy Nehls (R-TX-22), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), and Barry Moore (R-AL-02) introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024 (H.R.7932). The bill would prohibit federal funds from being made available to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in any foreign country to the United States.
Updates
The South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023 (H.R.1792) passed the House. This bill, introduced by Del. Aumua Radewagen (R-American Samoa-At Large) and Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-01), would revise federal requirements for U.S. commercial fishing vessels operating in the South Pacific.
The House passed an unnamed bill introduced by Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-07) that would amend the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to create an exemption for certain beach nourishment projects (H.R.524).
Fisheries and Ecosystems
The UN Ocean Decade Conference wraps up today. You can watch many of the sessions, including a keynote address from NOAA Research Director Steven Thurr, here.
The administration announced the grant recipients of $20 billion in funding for community-focused climate solutions. The funding falls under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and 35 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture advocating for seafood support in the next Farm Bill.
DOI announced $1 million in funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations to encourage a tourism model that accurately showcases Native Hawaiian culture and traditions while providing protection and awareness for Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources.
DOI announced $25 million to protect wetlands in Arizona.
DOI announced the distribution of more than $353 million in fiscal year 2023 energy revenues to four Gulf states for coastal restoration, conservation, and hurricane protection initiatives.
NOAA announced over $750,000 in funding to support federally recognized Tribes’ participation with regional ocean partnerships.
NOAA Fisheries released the 2020 and 2021 Combined Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States.
A group of conservation-focused groups, including NOAA Fisheries, released new guidelines for monitoring fish and habitat in wetlands throughout the San Francisco Bay Estuary.
USFWS finalized Endangered Species Act revisions that aim to improve participation in its voluntary conservation programs. The revisions clarify and simplify permitting, which the agency hopes will encourage more resource managers and landowners to engage.
Ocean Data and Technology
The White House launched the beta version of a new website and mapping tool that aims to help users determine if a particular address is in a high flood risk area.
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Chad M. Cary has been nominated to serve as the next director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
NOAA announced that $2.7 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law/BIL) will be used to replenish and expand an array of robotic floats that measure ocean and climate data.
Offshore Wind and Energy
The administration approved the New England Wind offshore wind project offshore Massachusetts.
The U.S. Coast Guard signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BOEM and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement that aims to strengthen interagency cooperation in the advancement of safe and environmentally sustainable energy development on the outer continental shelf.
Image: National Park Service
Tuning in from Texas? It’s sea turtle nesting season! You can help wildlife officials track and protect nests by reporting your sightings to the turtle hotline.