Each of the offices are leading efforts on the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act but have new staff working on NOAA issues, so these briefings were an opportunity to provide an overview of the MDP. Nancy gave an overview of the Marine Debris Program’s five pillars (prevention, removal, research, emergency response, and outreach), shared examples of projects of interest to each Member of Congress, and discussed the MDP’s role in facilitating interagency collaboration through the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee and in implementing the Marine Debris Act.

On January 9, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act passed the Senate unanimously. It is still being considered in the House (H.R. 3969).

For further information, contact Yael.Seid.Green@noaa.gov.

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