Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1392
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-10T12:03:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 aims to create Ocean Innovation Clusters across the United States to boost coastal communities and the "Blue Economy." The Blue Economy refers to sustainable industries tied to oceans, Great Lakes, coasts, and related areas, such as fishing, renewable energy, aquaculture, tourism, and marine transportation. The legislation focuses on fostering technological research and development (R&D), job training, and partnerships between sectors to promote equitable economic growth and resilience.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes terms like "Blue Economy" (encompassing sustainable ocean-related industries), "Ocean Innovation Cluster" (a designated group of collaborating entities), and "Ocean Innovation Center for Cross-Sector Collaboration" (a physical hub for partnerships).
- Designation of Clusters: The Secretary of Commerce must designate at least seven eligible entities as Ocean Innovation Clusters within one year of enactment, in consultation with leaders from the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Economic Development Administration (EDA).
- Eligible entities must be regionally concentrated groups including businesses, academic institutions (especially those serving minorities and Tribes), non-profits, governments, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations; they must be led by a non-profit and focus on Blue Economy innovation and growth.
- Priority goes to entities with a track record in cross-sector Blue Economy development.
- Requires geographic diversity: at least one cluster in each of the five NOAA regional offices, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico.
- Considerations include economic potential, inclusivity for diverse and underserved areas (urban, rural, Tribal), partnership capabilities, job growth, resilience to disasters, and underutilized coastal resources.
- Partnership and Coordination:
- Designates agency liaisons (from Sea Grant, NOAA, and EDA) to facilitate communication and alignment with federal Blue Economy goals.
- Mandates interagency coordination led by the Secretary of Commerce, involving agencies like the Department of Energy, Maritime Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and others to share technical knowledge and support collaborations.
- The Secretary of Energy provides advice on energy-related Blue Economy issues.
- Economic Measurement: Uses and improves the Marine Economy Satellite Account (a tool to track ocean economic contributions) to assess clusters' impacts, involving NOAA, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other agencies.
- Areas of Focus: Clusters must address priorities like creating entry paths for new workers and businesses, managing intellectual property (legal rights to inventions), sustainable seafood supply chains, R&D for economic opportunities, regulatory guidance, scaling small businesses, workforce training, and innovative ocean resource development (e.g., ocean energy and bioprospecting, or exploring biological resources for products).
- Innovation Centers: Requires developing or designating at least one physical collaboration space per cluster region, managed by clusters. These centers provide shared workspaces, labs, networking, and training (including internships and apprenticeships) to support entrepreneurs, strengthen communities, and develop Blue Economy workers, with emphasis on underrepresented and Tribal groups.
Grants for Ocean Innovation Clusters
- Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (a law promoting federal technology transfer to support innovation) by adding a new section.
- Authorizes competitive grants from the Secretary of Commerce to clusters for operations, aiming for self-sustaining, membership-based models.
- Grants seek input from Sea Grant, NOAA, and EDA; last two years initially, with renewals as needed; capped at $10 million each.
- Authorizes $10 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a dedicated grant program to the Stevenson-Wydler Act, specifically tailored to ocean-focused innovation clusters, which did not previously exist.
- Enhances coordination requirements across federal agencies for Blue Economy activities, building on but expanding existing NOAA and Sea Grant programs.
- Introduces new metrics and physical infrastructure (innovation centers) to support regional ocean economies, which were not formalized in prior laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases interagency collaboration and resource sharing (e.g., NOAA, EDA, Department of Energy), potentially streamlining federal support for coastal initiatives but adding administrative duties like designations and grant oversight.
- Citizens and Communities: Creates job training, apprenticeships, and economic opportunities in coastal, rural, and underserved areas, including for Tribes and minorities; promotes resilience to climate and disasters through diversification, potentially reducing economic vulnerabilities in ocean-dependent regions.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S. competitiveness in global ocean industries (e.g., renewable energy, aquaculture), which could enhance trade and sustainability partnerships abroad, though the focus is domestic.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Coastal Communities and Workers: Residents in ocean-dependent areas, including fishers, small business owners, and job seekers benefiting from training and growth opportunities.
- Businesses and Industries: Blue Economy sectors like fishing, offshore energy, tourism, and aquaculture, especially small businesses gaining from partnerships and scaling support.
- Academic and Non-Profit Organizations: Universities (particularly minority- and Tribal-serving), research institutions, and non-profits leading clusters and providing R&D.
- Tribal and Native Hawaiian Groups: Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, explicitly included in eligibility and focus areas for equitable participation.
- Government Entities: Federal agencies (e.g., Commerce Department, NOAA), state/local governments, and regional offices involved in designations, grants, and coordination.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a framework for federal funding and partnerships that must comply with existing environmental and Tribal consultation laws (e.g., referencing Indian Self-Determination Act), potentially reducing regulatory barriers through clearer agency communication.
- Constitutional: Supports federal promotion of commerce (under Commerce Clause) and Tribal sovereignty by including Tribes in decision-making; grant limits and competitive processes ensure accountability in public spending.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan regional development (sponsored by senators from diverse coastal states), emphasizing equity and sustainability, which could influence future ocean policy debates on climate resilience and economic recovery without mandating controversial changes like new taxes or regulations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (14 pages)