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119-s-1433119th Congress

Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Murray, Patty [D-WA]

In Committee

Summary

Protects and restores the Northwest Straits marine ecosystem by reauthorizing and restructuring the Northwest Straits Commission, codifying who sits on it, what it must do, and how it is funded. The bill clarifies roles for Tribal partners, NOAA, Washington state, and local counties and sets measurable benchmarks for habitat, species, water quality, data, and outreach.

Show full summary
  • Tribal governments: Guarantees Tribal representation through two Secretary-appointed seats and requires consultation to protect Tribal treaties, cultures, subsistence, and treaty rights.
  • Local counties and coastal communities: Creates a 14-member Commission drawn from seven Washington counties to recommend science-driven restoration projects, collect data, and promote stewardship.
  • State, nonprofits, and local partners: Allows cooperative agreements with the State of Washington and nonprofits for staffing, administration, and financial support, and authorizes the Commission to accept donations.
  • Federal agencies and funding: Requires a NOAA liaison to coordinate programs as a nonvoting participant and authorizes dedicated funding streams to support Commission activities.

*Authorizes $3.0 million and $10.0 million per year for FY2026–2031 to support the title and allows additional sums for FY2032 and later.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Federal funding for regional work

If enacted, the bill would authorize federal funding to support the Northwest Straits program. It would authorize $10 million per year for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, and for FY2032 and later "such sums as may be necessary." The text also contains an alternate authorization of $3 million per year for FY2026 through FY2031. Actual spending would depend on future appropriations.

Who sits on the Commission

If enacted, the bill would create the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission and define who is on it. The Commission would have 14 primary members: seven chosen by county marine resources committees, two Tribal-government appointees made by the Secretary of the Interior in coordination with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, one Puget Sound Partnership appointee by the Governor, and four Governor-appointed Washington residents not employed by government. The Commission may add members by consensus, must fill vacancies the same way, pick a chair, and meet at least quarterly. The bill also defines the Commission, the marine resources committees, the Northwest Straits region, Tribal government reference, and the Under Secretary.

Commission duties, limits, and reports

If enacted, the Commission would be tasked with protecting and restoring Northwest Straits marine waters and habitats. The Commission would recommend science-based local projects, provide technical help to marine resources committees, advise on regional monitoring, collect and share marine data, and consult Tribal governments to avoid violating treaty rights. The Commission could accept gifts and enter cooperative agreements and must publish an annual report to Congress and the Under Secretary with benchmarks on habitat, species recovery, water quality, data, and outreach to underresourced communities. The bill would also say the Commission could not issue regulations or implement Federal law.

Federal coordination and contracts

If enacted, the Under Secretary would be able to provide assistance and funds to the Commission and could do so by contracting with the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. If the Governor of Washington objects to that contract, the Under Secretary could not use that Padilla Bay contract route. The bill would also require the Under Secretary to appoint a NOAA employee as a liaison to coordinate NOAA programs with the Commission; the liaison could attend meetings as a nonvoting participant and would be limited to liaison functions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murray, Patty [D-WA]

WA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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