# 119-s-4822: Saving the OOI Act of 2026

119-s-4822, Saving the OOI Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK); status passed_senate (as of 2026-08-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4822
- As of: 2026-08-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4822
- Congress: 119
- Title: Saving the OOI Act of 2026
- Status: passed_senate
- Introduced: 2026-06-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-01

## Summary

**Blocks NSF from decommissioning key Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments** and would require a thorough review that includes robust stakeholder engagement. It would keep OOI operations and monitoring active in affected areas until that review is finished. - Researchers and coastal communities: Keeps long-term ocean monitoring and data streams intact in four U.S. states (Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina) and the Irminger Sea. - NSF operations: Requires the NSF director to maintain full, consistent OOI operations, including monitoring in areas that had instruments removed, until the review is complete. - Stakeholders: Requires a thorough review of the OOI with robust engagement from scientific and coastal communities, giving those groups a formal role in evaluating the program's future.

## Cosponsors (11)

- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Keep coastal ocean monitors running: benefit, low. The bill would bar the National Science Foundation from using federal money to decommission or scale back Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments anchored off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and North Carolina, and in the Irminger Sea. The NSF Director would need to keep full, steady operations for…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1677: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-4822 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4822)

## Related
- [119-s-1677: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1677)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4822 (as of 2026-08-01).