Bill > HR1171

Introduced Session

Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2012 - Reauthorizes appropriations through FY2015 for, and revises provisions of, the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. (Sec. 3) Renames such Act as the Marine Debris Act. Replaces provisions establishing within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program with provisions establishing the Marine Debris Program to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the U.S. economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety. (Sec. 5) Revises Program components, including by requiring the Administrator of NOAA to provide national and regional coordination to assist states, Indian tribes, and regional organizations in identification, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris. Amends the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 to repeal the plastic pollution public education program. (Sec. 7) Replaces provisions of the Marine Debris Program concerning interagency coordination with provisions establishing the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee under the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987. Requires such Committee to submit biennial (currently annual) progress reports. (Sec. 8) Requires the Administrator to ensure the confidentiality of information submitted into the federal information clearinghouse on marine debris. (Currently, the Administrator is required to take steps to ensure the confidentiality of only such information that is submitted by the fishing industry.) (Sec. 9) Defines the term "marine debris" as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Xavier Becerra (D),  Howard Berman (D),  Brian Bilbray (R),  Suzanne Bonamici (D),  Madeleine Bordallo (D),  Lois Capps (D),  André Carson (D),  Donna Christensen (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  Theodore Deutch (D),  Anna Eshoo (D),  Eni Faleomavaega (D),  Sam Farr (D),  Colleen Hanabusa (D),  Maurice Hinchey (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  Rush Holt (D),  Michael Honda (D),  Jay Inslee (D),  Dennis Kucinich (D),  Barbara Lee (D),  Frank LoBiondo (R),  Zoe Lofgren (D),  Jerry McNerney (D),  Michael Michaud (D),  James Moran (D),  Grace Napolitano (D),  Pedro Pierluisi (I),  Chellie Pingree (D),  David Reichert (R),  Dana Rohrabacher (R),  Jon Runyan (R),  Kilili Sablan (D),  Jan Schakowsky (D),  Adam Schiff (D),  Fortney Stark (D),  Mike Thompson (D),  Henry Waxman (D),  Rob Wittman (R),  Lynn Woolsey (D),  Don Young (R), 

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (on 08/02/2012)

Official Document