Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2126
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 405.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-02T17:06:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 through fiscal year 2030. Its main goal is to enhance a nationwide network for collecting and sharing data on coastal, ocean, and meteorological (weather-related) conditions to improve forecasting, resource management, and responses to storms and hazards.
Key Provisions
- Governance Update: Replaces references to the "Council" with the existing "Ocean Policy Committee" (established under U.S. Code for interagency ocean policy coordination).
- Expanded Scope: Includes meteorological observations and information alongside coastal and ocean data; emphasizes data management systems, cyber infrastructure (digital networks for data handling), and operational oceanography measurements.
- System Requirements:
- Supports regional, national, and global observing efforts.
- Promotes collaboration between federal projects, regional associations, and coastal systems for data sharing.
- Covers weather and ocean forecasting, harmful algal blooms, resource management, and coastal planning.
- Reporting: Requires an annual report to Congress, including a new "post-storm evaluation" assessing how system data improves storm forecast accuracy for major U.S. storms.
- Funding:
- Authorizes $56 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030.
- Mandates at least 7.5% of funds allocated to each regional coastal observing system existing as of January 1, 2025 (excluding disaster relief funds).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Terminology and Structure: Strikes the definition of "Council" and aligns all references with the Ocean Policy Committee; adds definitions for "State" (standard federal meaning for U.S. states and territories) and refines others.
- Scope Broadening: Adds "meteorological observations" and "cyber infrastructure"; expands priorities to include regional data sharing and coastal/resource management (removes prior mention of "global climate change").
- Funding Specifics: Replaces prior authorizations with fixed annual amounts and introduces minimum allocations to regional systems.
- New Mandates: Adds post-storm evaluations in reports and collaboration requirements for data sharing.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination among agencies (e.g., NOAA, DoD via Ocean Policy Committee) and ensures steady funding for observation networks, potentially improving storm warnings and coastal resilience.
- Citizens and Communities: Enhances forecast accuracy for storms, algal blooms, and coastal hazards, benefiting coastal residents, fishers, and emergency responders.
- No Direct International Effects: Focuses on U.S. systems but could indirectly support global data sharing through national/global components.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal Agencies: Ocean Policy Committee members, NOAA (as system lead), and participating interagency groups.
- Regional Entities: 11+ regional coastal observing systems (guaranteed funding share).
- States and Local Groups: Coastal states/territories, resource managers, weather services, and private partners.
- Public Users: Forecasters, emergency managers, industries (e.g., shipping, fishing), and researchers relying on real-time data.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Routine reauthorization with conforming amendments; no new powers or mandates that challenge existing authority—funds appropriations are advisory (actual spending requires annual budgets).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending and commerce powers; promotes interagency efficiency without overriding executive functions.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Senate Republicans and Democrats); emphasizes practical improvements like storm forecasting amid rising coastal risks, with fund protections for established regional programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-11: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 405.
- 2026-05-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-120.
- 2026-05-11: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-120.
- 2025-10-21: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-06-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-06-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-18 — PDF (8 pages)
- Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (16 pages)