ReSCUE Oceans Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3910
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-17T18:46:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ReSCUE Oceans Act aims to advance marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR)—intentional methods to capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere using ocean processes—as a tool for climate change mitigation. It focuses on safe, responsible research while protecting marine ecosystems, coordinating federal efforts, and involving affected communities, including Indigenous groups.
Key Provisions
The bill establishes programs across federal agencies to support mCDR research, monitoring, and standards. Key elements include:
- Definitions and General Rules:
- Defines mCDR as interventions in the ocean that net-remove CO2 on a life-cycle basis (accounting for all related greenhouse gases).
- Introduces terms like "carbon removal credit" (a tradable unit of 1 metric ton of verified, stored CO2) and "voluntary carbon market" (a system for buying/selling such credits).
- Requires activities to comply with existing environmental laws and research security protocols; does not override regulations on U.S. coastal or ocean zones.
- Title I: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
- Program Establishment (Sec. 101): NOAA must create a program within 90 days to fund research, development, and field trials on mCDR methods (e.g., ocean alkalinity enhancement, seaweed farming, nutrient addition). Objectives include evaluating effectiveness, ecosystem impacts, and community effects; integrates traditional ecological knowledge where possible.
- Grants and Partnerships: Competitive grants for research (minimum $10,000 per grant for community/Tribal engagement); allows contracts and public-private deals.
- Data Management: Ensures public access to non-proprietary data while protecting Tribal data sovereignty (Tribes control sharing; exempt from Freedom of Information Act without consent).
- Monitoring (Sec. 102): Develops tools to track mCDR impacts, minimize harms, and measure CO2 removal; provides technical assistance for carbon markets; promotes data sharing.
- Research Areas (Sec. 103): Designates or funds ocean/coastal sites for experiments (with Tribal consent for Tribal lands); requires suitability assessments, community benefits (e.g., jobs, education), advisory boards, and 5-year terms with reassessments.
- Interagency Working Group (Sec. 104): Coordinates 20+ agencies (e.g., NOAA, DOE, EPA); develops a federal research plan, code of conduct (e.g., open data, risk mitigation, public input), and public data portal.
- Reporting (Sec. 105): Biennial public reports on progress, findings, and barriers.
- Funding (Sec. 106): Authorizes necessary sums for FY 2027–2031.
- Title II: National Science Foundation (NSF) (Sec. 201):
- Awards grants for mCDR research on efficacy, ecosystem/social impacts, and measurement tools; coordinates with other agencies; builds workforce expertise.
- Title III: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Sec. 301):
- Uses satellites and models to monitor mCDR from space; aligns with federal research plan; authorizes funding for FY 2027–2031.
- Title IV: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Sec. 401):
- Develops standards, benchmarks, and models to validate mCDR technologies; engages internationally; authorizes funding for FY 2027–2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces new federal programs and coordination mechanisms without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing frameworks like the Coastal Zone Management Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act by adding mCDR-specific requirements, such as:
- Mandatory interagency coordination via a working group under the National Science and Technology Council.
- A code of conduct for mCDR research, emphasizing transparency, community engagement, and risk plans—applicable to grantees and research sites.
- Protections for Tribal and Native Hawaiian data sovereignty, exempting it from standard disclosure rules unless consented.
- No explicit overrides of current ocean use regulations, but it streamlines federal research permitting and data sharing for mCDR.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among NOAA, NSF, NASA, NIST, and others, potentially reducing duplicated efforts and funding overlaps. Authorizes new budgets, increasing federal investment in ocean-based climate tech; requires agencies to integrate mCDR into ongoing programs (e.g., NASA's monitoring).
- Citizens and Communities: Boosts research on safe mCDR to aid climate mitigation, with safeguards for ecosystem health and community benefits (e.g., jobs, education). Coastal residents, especially in affected areas, gain engagement opportunities; potential economic gains from carbon markets but risks of environmental/social harms if not monitored.
- International Relations: Promotes global standards through NIST and NOAA's coordination with the State Department; could position the U.S. as a leader in mCDR, influencing voluntary carbon markets and international climate talks, while respecting ocean treaties.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal Agencies: NOAA (lead), NSF, NASA, NIST, DOE, EPA, and others in the interagency group—responsible for implementation, funding, and reporting.
- Indigenous Groups: Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations—afforded consultation rights, data control, and veto power over Tribal land use.
- Coastal Communities: Local governments, fishers, residents, and recreational users near research sites—impacted by experiments; benefit from engagement, advisory boards, and mitigation.
- Researchers and Academia: Universities, Sea Grant programs, and scientists—eligible for grants and research areas; must follow codes of conduct.
- Private Sector: Businesses in mCDR tech, carbon markets, and monitoring—gain from partnerships, standards, and commercialization pathways.
- Environmental and Public Interest Groups: Involved in public comments, advisory roles, and oversight to ensure ecosystem protection.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces compliance with environmental laws (e.g., no derogation of ocean protections) and introduces accountability via codes of conduct, thresholds for halting harmful activities, and remediation requirements. Strengthens Tribal sovereignty through data exemptions and consent rules, aligning with federal Indian law.
- Constitutional: Supports free speech and public access by mandating open data portals and unrestricted use of non-proprietary information; balances this with privacy for proprietary/Tribal data.
- Political: Bipartisan (introduced by Sens. Schatz and Murkowski); advances U.S. climate goals without mandating mCDR deployment, focusing on voluntary, science-driven approaches. Could spark debates on geoengineering risks versus climate urgency, emphasizing equity for marginalized communities like Tribes. Biennial reports to Congress enable ongoing oversight and adjustments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Removing and Sequestering Carbon Unleashed in the Environment and Oceans Act — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (51 pages)