[Report No. 119–120]
June 18, 2025
Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
May 11, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Purposes
Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
(A)
by striking Council
and inserting Committee
;
(B)
by striking and ocean observation
and inserting , ocean, and meteorological observations
; and
(C)
by striking and coastal information
and inserting , coastal, and meteorological information
; and
(2)
in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting data management systems and cyber infrastructure,
after data gaps,
.
Sec. 3. Definitions
Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2)—
(A)
in the paragraph heading, by striking Council
and inserting Committee
; and
(B)
by striking term
and all that follows through established
and inserting term Committee means the Ocean Policy Committee established
;
(2)
in paragraph (3), by striking Council
and inserting Committee
;
(3)
in paragraph (6), by inserting conduct operational oceanography measurements and
after systems in order to
;
(4)
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively;
(5)
by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
(8) State
The term State has the meaning given that term in section 3501 of title 40, United States Code.; and
(6)
in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (4), by striking Council
and inserting Committee
.
Sec. 4. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System
Section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking national
and inserting regional, national,
;
(B)
in subparagraph (C), by inserting and ocean
after weather
; and
(C)
in subparagraph (E)—
(i)
in clause (iv), by inserting and ocean
after weather
each place it appears; and
(ii)
in clause (v), by inserting and ocean
after weather
;
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in the paragraph heading, by striking Council
and inserting Committee
; and
(ii)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Council
each place it appears and inserting Committee
;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking The Council
and inserting The Committee
; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)—
(I)
by redesignating clauses (vi) through (x) as clauses (vii) through (xi), respectively; and
(II)
by inserting after clause (v) the following:
(vi)
develop requirements and processes for regional associations and federally funded projects of the agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to collaborate with the regional coastal observing systems for data sharing at regional levels;; and
(C)
in paragraph (3)(C)—
(i)
in clause (iii)(I), by inserting as operational entities
after associations
;
(ii)
in clause (x), by inserting , cyber infrastructure,
after data management
; and
(iii)
in clause (xiii)—
(I)
by inserting and ocean
after weather
; and
(II)
by striking and harmful algal bloom forecasting
and inserting harmful algal bloom forecasting, and resource and coastal management
;
(3)
in subsection (d)(1), by adding a period at the end; and
(4)
by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Committee
.
Sec. 5. Report to Congress
Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
(8)
a post-storm evaluation for all major storms in the United States that occurred during the year preceding submission of the report, to assess the impact of observations of the System and other products of the System with respect to storm forecast accuracy;; and
(2)
by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Committee
.
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations
Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended—
(1)
by striking There are
and inserting the following:
(a) In general
There are;
(2)
by striking this subtitle
and all that follows and inserting $56,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(b) Allocation of funds
(1) In general
Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate not less than 7.5 percent of amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) to each regional coastal observing system that was in existence on January 1, 2025.
(2) Exclusion of disaster relief appropriations
Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any amounts appropriated by an Act making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief.
Sec. 7. Conforming amendments
(a) Interagency financing and agreements
Section 12305(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(b)) is amended by striking the Council
and inserting the Committee
.
(b) Public-Private use policy
Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Committee
.
(c) Intent of Congress
Section 12310 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3609) is amended by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Committee
.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Purposes
Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
(A)
by striking Council
and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
;
(B)
by striking and ocean observation
and inserting , ocean, and meteorological observations
; and
(C)
by striking and coastal information
and inserting , coastal, and meteorological information
; and
(2)
in paragraph (4)(A)—
(A)
by inserting data management systems and cyber infrastructure,
after data gaps,
; and
(B)
by striking global climate change,
.
Sec. 3. Definitions
Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (2);
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively;
(3)
in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking Council
and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
;
(4)
by inserting after paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following:
(5) Ocean Policy Committee
The term Ocean Policy Committee means the Ocean Policy Committee established by section 8932 of title 10, United States Code.;
(5)
in paragraph (6), by inserting conduct operational oceanography measurements and
after systems in order to
;
(6)
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively;
(7)
by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
(8) State
The term State has the meaning given that term in section 3501 of title 40, United States Code.; and
(8)
in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (6), by striking Council
and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
.
Sec. 4. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System
Section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking national
and inserting regional, national,
;
(B)
in subparagraph (C), by inserting and ocean
after weather
; and
(C)
in subparagraph (E)—
(i)
in clause (iv), by inserting and ocean
after weather
each place it appears; and
(ii)
in clause (v), by inserting and ocean
after weather
;
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in the paragraph heading, by striking Council
and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
; and
(ii)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Council
each place it appears and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking The Council
and inserting The Ocean Policy Committee
; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)—
(I)
by redesignating clauses (vi) through (x) as clauses (vii) through (xi), respectively; and
(II)
by inserting after clause (v) the following:
(vi)
develop requirements and processes for regional associations and federally funded projects of the agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to collaborate with the regional coastal observing systems for data sharing at regional levels;; and
(C)
in paragraph (3)(C)—
(i)
in clause (iii)(I), by inserting as operational entities
after associations
;
(ii)
in clause (x), by inserting , cyber infrastructure,
after data management
; and
(iii)
in clause (xiii)—
(I)
by inserting and ocean
after weather
; and
(II)
by striking and harmful algal bloom forecasting
and inserting harmful algal bloom forecasting, and resource and coastal management
;
(3)
in subsection (d)(1), by adding a period at the end; and
(4)
by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Ocean Policy Committee
.
Sec. 5. Report to Congress
Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
(8)
a post-storm evaluation for all major storms in the United States that occurred during the year preceding the submission of the report, to assess the impact of observations of the System and other products of the System with respect to storm forecast accuracy;; and
(2)
by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Ocean Policy Committee
.
Sec. 6. Authorization of appropriations
Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended—
(1)
by striking There are
and inserting the following:
(a) In general
There are;
(2)
by striking —
and all that follows through (5)
;
(3)
by striking fiscal year 2025
and inserting each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030
; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(b) Allocation of funds
(1) In general
Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate not less than 7.5 percent of amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) to each regional coastal observing system that was in existence on January 1, 2025.
(2) Exclusion of disaster relief appropriations
Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any amounts appropriated by an Act making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief.
Sec. 7. Conforming amendments
(a) Interagency financing and agreements
Section 12305(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(b)) is amended by striking the Council
and inserting the Ocean Policy Committee
.
(b) Public-Private use policy
Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended by striking Council
each place it appears and inserting Ocean Policy Committee
.
(c) Intent of Congress
Section 12310 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3609) is amended by striking the Council
each place it appears and inserting the Ocean Policy Committee
.