Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2860 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2860

To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
 to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2025

 Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself and Ms. Randall) introduced the
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
 to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northwest Straits Marine
Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION
              INITIATIVE ACT.

    The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act (title IV
of Public Law 105-384; 112 Stat. 3458) is amended--
            (1) in section 402, by striking ``Commission (in this title
        referred to as the `Commission').'' and inserting
        ``Commission.''; and
            (2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and inserting
        the following:

``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest
        Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a
        unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to
        the people of the United States.
            ``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of
        the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by
        impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse
        of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine
        habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
            ``(3) Increasingly, the Northwest Straits have been
        threatened by sea level rise, ocean acidification, and other
        effects of climate change.
            ``(4) This title was enacted to tap the unprecedented level
        of citizen stewardship demonstrated in the Northwest Straits
        and create a mechanism to mobilize public support and raise
        capacity for local efforts to protect and restore the ecosystem
        of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(5) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
        helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
        other Federal agencies with their marine missions by fostering
        local interest in marine issues and involving diverse
        communities.
            ``(6) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
        shares many of the same goals with the National Oceanic and
        Atmospheric Administration, including fostering citizen
        stewardship of marine resources, general ecosystem management,
        and protecting federally managed marine species.
            ``(7) Ocean literacy, kelp habitat conservation and
        monitoring, Veterans Conservation Corps internships, and
        removal of marine debris projects are examples of previous and
        ongoing partnerships between the Northwest Straits Marine
        Conservation Initiative and the National Oceanic and
        Atmospheric Administration. Areas of partnership may evolve
        with emerging opportunities.

``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the
        Northwest Straits Advisory Commission established by section
        402.
            ``(2) Marine resources committee.--The term `marine
        resources committee' means a county government committee that
        assists in assessing marine resource and conservation needs.
            ``(3) Northwest straits region.--The term `Northwest
        Straits region' means the marine waters of the Strait of Juan
        de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the
        south end of Snohomish County.
            ``(4) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government'
        means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska
        Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community,
        component band, or component reservation individually
        identified (including parenthetically) in the list published
        most recently as of the date of enactment of the Northwest
        Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of
        2025 pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian
        Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
            ``(5) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means
        the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Composition.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 14
        members, except as provided in paragraph (2), who shall be
        appointed as follows:
                    ``(A) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for San Juan
                County, Washington.
                    ``(B) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Island
                County, Washington.
                    ``(C) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Skagit
                County, Washington.
                    ``(D) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Whatcom
                County, Washington.
                    ``(E) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Snohomish
                County, Washington.
                    ``(F) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Clallam
                County, Washington.
                    ``(G) One member appointed by a consensus of the
                members of a marine resources committee for Jefferson
                County, Washington.
                    ``(H) Two members appointed by the Secretary of the
                Interior, in coordination with the Northwest Indian
                Fisheries Commission and in consultation with the
                Tribal governments affected by this title, to represent
                the interests of such Tribal governments.
                    ``(I) One member appointed by the Governor of the
                State of Washington to represent the interests of the
                Puget Sound Partnership.
                    ``(J) Four members appointed by the Governor of the
                State of Washington who--
                            ``(i) are residents of the State of
                        Washington; and
                            ``(ii) are not employed by a Federal,
                        State, or local government, excluding an
                        institution of higher education.
            ``(2) Additional members.--The Commission may, as
        determined necessary to improve the ability of the Commission
        to perform the duties of the Commission under section 406(b),
        appoint members in addition to those appointed under paragraph
        (1). Any such additional member shall be appointed by a
        consensus of the members of a marine resources committee that
        is not described in such paragraph.
    ``(b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    ``(c) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson from
among its members.
    ``(d) Meeting.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson, but not less frequently than quarterly.
    ``(e) Liaison.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation
        with the Commission, shall appoint an employee of the National
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--
                    ``(A) to serve as a liaison between the Commission
                and the Department of Commerce;
                    ``(B) to coordinate programs of the National
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with activities
                related to the goal of the Commission described in
                section 406(a); and
                    ``(C) to perform additional liaison functions
                benefitting the Commission and the National Oceanic and
                Atmospheric Administration, which may include, as
                agreed to by the Commission and the National Oceanic
                and Atmospheric Administration, attending meetings and
                other events of the Commission as a nonvoting
                participant.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Service as a member of the Commission by
        the employee appointed under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) is limited to the employee's service as a
                liaison; and
                    ``(B) does not obligate the employee to perform any
                duty of the Commission under section 406(b).
    ``(f) Administration.--The Commission may enter into cooperative
agreements with the State of Washington for staffing and administrative
services for the purposes of supporting the duties of the Commission
under section 406(b).

``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits
region to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use by--
            ``(1) designing and recommending projects that are driven
        by the best available science, local priorities, community-
        based decisions, and the ability to measure results;
            ``(2) building awareness and stewardship and making
        recommendations to improve the health of the marine resources
        of the Northwest Straits region;
            ``(3) maintaining and expanding diverse membership and
        collaboration with partner organizations, such as the Puget
        Sound Partnership;
            ``(4) expanding partnerships with Tribal governments and
        continuing to support Tribal treaties, cultures, and
        subsistence and Tribal treaty rights; and
            ``(5) recognizing the importance of economic and social
        benefits that are dependent on marine environments and
        sustainable marine resources.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are the following:
            ``(1) To provide resources and technical support for marine
        resources committees.
            ``(2) To work with such marine resources committees and
        appropriate entities of Federal, State, and local governments
        and Tribal governments to provide advice in developing regional
        programs to monitor the overall health of the marine ecosystem
        of the Northwest Straits region.
            ``(3) To collect marine resources data and identify factors
        adversely affecting or preventing the restoration of the health
        of the marine ecosystem and coastal economies of the Northwest
        Straits region to inform decisionmakers.
            ``(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration and
        protection recommendations, informed by local priorities, that
        address such factors.
            ``(5) To serve as a public forum for the informal
        discussion of policies and actions, with respect to the marine
        ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region, of Federal, State,
        or local governments, Tribal governments, or the Government of
        Canada.
            ``(6) To inform appropriate authorities and local
        communities about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits
        region and about issues relating to the marine ecosystem of the
        Northwest Straits region.
            ``(7) To consult with all affected Tribal governments in
        the Northwest Straits region to ensure that the work of the
        Commission does not violate Tribal treaty rights.
    ``(c) Coordination and Collaboration.--The Commission--
            ``(1) shall carry out the duties described in subsection
        (b) in coordination and collaboration, as appropriate, with
        Federal, State, and local governments and Tribal governments,
        including by--
                    ``(A) providing technical support and assistance to
                any Tribal government seeking representation and
                participation on the Commission; and
                    ``(B) supporting the work and duties of the liaison
                to the Commission under section 405(e); and
            ``(2) may enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit
        entities, such as the Northwest Straits Foundation, to provide
        assistance, including financial assistance, in carrying out the
        duties described in subsection (b).
    ``(d) Limitations.--Nothing in this title provides the Commission
with authority to issue regulations or implement any Federal law or
regulation.
    ``(e) Acceptance of Donations.--For purposes of carrying out this
section, the Commission may solicit, accept, receive, hold, administer,
and use gifts, devises, and bequests without any further approval or
administrative action.
    ``(f) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission shall prepare,
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
        Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the
        Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Under
        Secretary, and make available to the public a report
        describing--
                    ``(A) the activities carried out by the Commission
                during the preceding year; and
                    ``(B) the progress in achieving the benchmarks
                described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Benchmarks.--The benchmarks described in this
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) Protection and restoration of marine,
                coastal, and nearshore habitats within the Northwest
                Straits region.
                    ``(B) Protection and restoration of marine
                resources populations to healthy, sustainable levels.
                    ``(C) Improvement of the water quality of the
                Northwest Straits region.
                    ``(D) Collection of high-quality data and promotion
                of the use and dissemination of such data for the
                purposes of ecosystem monitoring.
                    ``(E) Promotion of stewardship and understanding of
                marine resources of the Northwest Straits region
                through education and outreach, including by targeted
                outreach to underresourced communities.

``SEC. 407. FUNDING.

    ``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this title--
            ``(1) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031,
        $10,000,000; and
            ``(2) for fiscal year 2032 and each fiscal year thereafter,
        such sums as may be necessary.
    ``(b) Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary may, from amounts
        made available to the Under Secretary to carry out this title,
        provide assistance to the Commission in carrying out the duties
        of the Commission under this title.
            ``(2) Provision.--The Under Secretary may provide the
        assistance described in paragraph (1), and make available
        amounts to the Commission to carry out the duties of the
        Commission, through a contract with the Director of the Padilla
        Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, unless the Governor of
        the State of Washington objects. If such Governor so objects,
        the Under Secretary may not provide such assistance and make
        available such amounts to the Commission.''.
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