Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Roger Wicker
In Committee
Summary
Modernizes and expands the U.S. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System to broaden what is measured, tighten data and cyberinfrastructure, and lock in regional funding floors. The bill would shift governance from a Council to a Committee and add new rules for data sharing and performance evaluation.
Show full summary
- Would reorganize governance and scope. It would rename the governing body from a Council to a Committee, redefine key terms, and explicitly add ocean and meteorological observations plus operational oceanography to the system's authorized activities.
- Would require stronger data sharing and accountability. The bill would mandate interagency collaboration, force regional data sharing through regional associations and federally funded projects, and require a post-storm evaluation in the annual congressional report on how observations affected storm forecast accuracy.
- Would set and target funding. It would authorize $56.0 million per year for 2026–2030 and require that at least 7.5% of annual appropriations go to each regional coastal observing system that existed on January 1, 2025, while excluding disaster-relief supplemental funds from that carve-out.
*Would authorize $56.0 million annually from 2026 through 2030 in appropriations.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual $56 million and regional shares
This bill would authorize $56 million each year for the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System for FY2026 through FY2030. It would require at least 7.5% of amounts appropriated each year go to each regional coastal observing system that existed on January 1, 2025. The regional allocation rule would not apply to supplemental disaster relief appropriations. Actual spending would depend on later appropriations acts.
Expanded ocean data and regional sharing
This bill would let the System include ocean and meteorological observations, operational oceanography, and data management and cyber infrastructure. It would require the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to set rules so regional associations and federally funded projects share data with regional coastal observing systems. It would also require the System's annual report to Congress to include a post-storm evaluation for every major U.S. storm from the prior year.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Cosponsors
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Lisa Murkowski
AK • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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