Law expands money and tribes' role in ocean cleanup

What it does

This law combines two federal programs that clean up trash in the ocean. It adds $2 million for 2025. It extends the programs through 2029. The law requires the programs to work with Indian Tribes and Tribal groups. It lets them apply for grants and serve as advisors.

Who it affects

Indian Tribes and Tribal groups can now apply for grants. Coastal communities and regional groups can also apply. Groups that clean up ocean trash get more money.

One thing to notice

Indian Tribes and Tribal groups can apply for grants for the first time.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Jan 23, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Jan 23, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation”
• Feb 5, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably”
• May 20, 2025 — Passed the Senate · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3001-3002; text: CR S3001-3002)”
• Dec 15, 2025 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote”
• Dec 15, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Johnson (SD) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”
• Dec 18, 2025 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• Dec 26, 2025 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-65”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 groups reported lobbying about this bill. They filed 6 reports from Dec 2025 to Jun 2026.

Those reports show $843,000 in lobbying spending. Each report lists about 24 bills. So that money was not all for this bill.

More groups named this bill than 78% of bills with any report.

Dan Sullivan, who sponsored the bill, received $2,114,700 from PACs for the 2026 election.

• Ocean Conservancy — $403,000 in 2 reports
• World Wildlife Fund, Inc. — $220,000 in 1 report
• Plastics Industry Association, Inc. — $150,000 in 1 report
• Flexible Packaging Association — $50,000 in 1 report
• American Coatings Association — $20,000 in 1 report

Lobbying is legal. These reports show who lobbied about this bill, not what changed.

Words to know

• Indian Tribes and Tribal groups — Native American nations and their official groups.
• advisors — People who give advice to help make decisions.
• coastal communities — Towns and cities near the ocean.
• lobbying — Trying to influence lawmakers about a bill. Companies and groups pay people to do this.
• PACs — Groups that collect money and give it to candidates for office.
• sponsored — To sponsor a bill is to introduce it in Congress and put your name on it.