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119-s-2126119th CongressWALLET
Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
In Committee
Summary
Modernize and expand the nation's integrated coastal and ocean observation system. This bill would rename the governing Council to an Ocean Policy Committee, widen the system to cover ocean and meteorological observations as well as weather, and upgrade data management and cyber infrastructure to support regional sharing and operational use.
Show full summary
- Regional systems and coastal communities: Requires stronger regional data sharing led by the Ocean Policy Committee and adds post-storm evaluations for major U.S. storms to assess how observations affected forecasts and responses.
- Federal agencies and governance: Converts the Council into an Ocean Policy Committee and expands interagency financing and agreements to guide regional associations and federally funded projects.
- Data operators, researchers, and emergency managers: Requires certain observing components to operate as formal operational entities with enhanced data management and cyber infrastructure and explicitly includes operational oceanography measurements.
*This bill would authorize about $56.0 million per year for FY2026–2030, roughly $280.0 million total, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Improved ocean data and storm reviews
If enacted, the bill would broaden the System to include ocean and meteorological observations and require operational oceanography measurements. It would add data management systems and cyber infrastructure and describe regional associations as operational entities. The Ocean Policy Committee would have to set rules so regional associations and federally funded projects share data at the regional level. The Committee's report to Congress would also have to include a post-storm evaluation for every major U.S. storm in the prior year assessing how System observations and products affected forecast accuracy.
Steady funding and regional shares
If enacted, the bill would change the System's authorized years from fiscal year 2025 to each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This change would take effect upon enactment and would not itself provide money. Agencies could use the new authorization years when seeking funding. The bill would also require the Secretary to allocate at least 7.5% of amounts appropriated under that authorization to each regional coastal observing system that existed on January 1, 2025. That 7.5% rule would not apply to amounts provided by Acts making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
MS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/18/2025
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov