Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act

This law reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program through fiscal year 2029. The program works to assess, prevent, and address marine debris—trash and pollution in the ocean—that harms the marine environment, the U.S. economy, and navigation safety. The law gives NOAA more flexibility in how it funds and manages projects by allowing it to provide contributions on an in-kind basis and to enter into different types of agreements beyond traditional contracts and grants.

The law also updates how the Marine Debris Foundation operates. It changes the foundation's leadership structure by designating the Chief Operating Officer as the Chief Executive Officer and clarifying that the board can appoint, evaluate, and remove this leader. The CEO gains authority to hire, supervise, and remove foundation staff and officers, streamlining the organization's management.

The law requires the Marine Debris Foundation to develop and implement best practices for outreach to Indian tribes and tribal governments, ensuring these communities are engaged in marine debris prevention efforts. The foundation must also locate its main office either in the National Capital Region or in a coastal shoreline community, keeping it connected to areas affected by marine pollution.

Finally, the law authorizes the foundation to accept and match contributions from regional organizations, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and foreign governments. This expands the foundation's ability to partner with diverse stakeholders and leverage additional funding to support marine debris cleanup and prevention initiatives across the country.