Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act

The Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act aims to extend several Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiatives originally established to combat the global marine debris crisis. Specifically, the bill proposes to reauthorize grant programs through fiscal year 2030 that fund local improvements to recycling systems, waste management, and water infrastructure. These programs are designed to stop plastic and other trash from entering waterways at the source by modernizing how communities handle post-consumer materials.

If enacted, the legislation would allow the EPA to continue providing financial support to states, tribes, and local governments for projects like the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants. For everyday citizens, this could lead to more efficient local recycling services, cleaner coastal areas, and improved protections for drinking water from microplastics. The bill primarily serves as a technical extension of existing bipartisan environmental efforts, ensuring that federal funding remains available for infrastructure that prevents pollution from reaching the ocean.