Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act
What changed between versions
New Section 4 transfers Subtitle B of title I of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Marine Debris Foundation) and Subtitle C into the Marine Debris Act, consolidating all marine debris law into a single statute with new section numbering (131-133).
New Section 5 adds definitions to the Marine Debris Act for 'circular economy,' 'coastal shoreline community' (a city or county directly adjacent to the open ocean, major estuaries, or the Great Lakes), 'EPA Administrator,' 'Indian tribe,' 'nonprofit organization,' 'post-consumer materials management,' 'Tribal organization,' and 'Under Secretary.'
The Foundation's principal office requirement changed from 'may locate outside the District of Columbia and is encouraged to locate in a coastal State' to a mandatory 'shall locate in the National Capital Region or a coastal shoreline community.'
Board of directors now must submit recommendations to the Under Secretary for all appointments (not just initial ones), and Directors are now appointed for a fixed 6-year term. The Board's power over the CEO changed from 'shall appoint' to 'may appoint.'
Removed the 12 percent cap on federal funds used for administrative costs and the 24-month limit on using federal funds to pay Foundation salaries. The prohibition heading was changed to 'Limitation' but the specific caps were dropped.
Authorization of appropriations changed from 'fiscal year 2023' to 'each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025,' extending the funding window by two years.
New provisions allow the Under Secretary to receive funds from and use resources of federal agencies, state/local governments, Indian tribes, foreign governments, public/private organizations, and individuals for the marine debris program.
Expanded eligible recipients of Foundation funds to include 'United States and international nongovernmental organizations, regional organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and foreign government entities' in addition to State and local government agencies.
New in-kind contribution provision allows the Under Secretary to contribute a portion of project costs on an in-kind basis for projects under contracts or other agreements that are not cooperative agreements or grants.
Conforming amendments replace 'Administrator' with 'Under Secretary' and 'Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency' with 'EPA Administrator' throughout the Marine Debris Act to align with the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act's terminology.