Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1968 Authorization of appropriations

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 33A— - MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - MARINE DEBRIS FOUNDATION › § 1968

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Provides money to the Commerce Department: $10,000,000 for each fiscal year 2021 through 2024 and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. Those funds must be given to the Foundation to match contributions from private people, state and local government agencies, regional groups, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and foreign governments. Federal money from these amounts generally cannot pay the Foundation’s administrative costs like salaries, travel, or overhead, except the Secretary may allow use for salaries during the 18‑month period beginning December 18, 2020. The Foundation may also take other federal funds under other laws to help with marine debris, but those funds may only be used to match contributions from private people and state or local agencies. Grants from the Foundation may not pay for lawsuits or for trying to influence bills in Congress, following federal cost rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1968

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce to carry out this title 11 See References in Text note below. $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024 and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(2)Subject to paragraph (3), amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be provided to the Foundation to match contributions (whether in currency, services, or property) made to the Foundation, or to a recipient of a grant provided by the Foundation, by private persons, State and local government agencies, regional organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and foreign governments.
(3)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no Federal funds made available under paragraph (1) may be used by the Foundation for administrative expenses of the Foundation, including for salaries, travel and transportation expenses, and other overhead expenses.
(B)The Secretary may allow the use of Federal funds made available under paragraph (1) to pay for salaries during the 18-month period beginning on December 18, 2020.
(b)(1)In addition to the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept Federal funds from a Federal agency under any other Federal law for use by the Foundation to further the assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris in accordance with the requirements of this title.1
(2)Federal funds provided to the Foundation under paragraph (1) shall be used by the Foundation for matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in currency, services, or property) made to the Foundation by private persons and State and local government agencies.
(c)Amounts provided as a grant by the Foundation shall not be used for—
(1)any expense related to litigation consistent with Federal-wide cost principles; or
(2)any activity the purpose of which is to influence legislation pending before Congress consistent with Federal-wide cost principles.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This title, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b)(1), means title I of Pub. L. 116–224, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1074, which was classified principally to subchapter I (§ 4211 et seq.) of chapter 55 of this title. Subtitles B and C of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 were transferred to subtitles B and C of Pub. L. 109–449 by Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 3(a), 4(a), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1987, 1989, and are classified to this subchapter and subchapter III of this chapter, respectively. Subtitle A of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 amended section 1951, 1958, and 1959 of this title, and subtitle D of title I of Pub. L. 116–224 is classified to part C (§ 4251) of subchapter I of chapter 55 of this title. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 4218 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 119–65.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–65, § 3(h)(1), inserted “and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025” after “through 2024”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–65, § 3(h)(2), substituted “, State and local government agencies, regional organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and foreign governments” for “and State and local government agencies”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1968

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73