SOS Act of 2017

To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Save Our Seas Act of 2017 SOS Act of 2017 2. NOAA Marine Debris Program Subsection (b) of section 3 of the Marine Debris Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1952(b) (1) in paragraph (4), by striking and (2) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (6) work with other Federal agencies to develop outreach and education strategies to address both land- and sea-based sources of marine debris; and (7) work with the Department of State and other Federal agencies to promote international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris. . 3. Assistance for severe marine debris events Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1952 (d) Assistance for severe marine debris events (1) In general At the discretion of the Administrator or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, the Administrator shall determine whether there is a severe marine debris event. (2) Assistance (A) In general If the Administrator makes a determination under paragraph (1) that there is a severe marine debris event, the Administrator is authorized to make sums available to be used by the affected State or by the Administrator in cooperation with the affected State— (i) to assist in the cleanup and response required by the severe marine debris event; or (ii) such other activity as the Administrator determines is appropriate in response to the severe marine debris event. (B) Priority assistance In providing assistance under this paragraph, the Administrator shall prioritize assistance for activities to respond to a severe marine debris event— (i) in a rural or remote community; or (ii) in a habitat of national concern. (3) Funding (A) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under the authority of this subsection shall be— (i) if the activity is funded wholly by funds made available by an entity, including the government of a foreign country, to the Federal Government for the purpose of responding to a severe marine debris event, 100 percent of the cost of the activity; or (ii) for any activity other than an activity funded as described in clause (i), 75 percent of the cost of the activity. (B) Limitation on administrative expenses In the case of an activity funded as described in subparagraph (A)(i), not more than 5 percent of the funds made available for the activity may be used by the Administrator for administrative expenses. . 4. Sense of Congress on international engagement to respond to marine debris It is the sense of Congress that the President should— (1) support Federal funding for research and development of bio-based and other alternatives or environmentally feasible improvements to materials that reduce municipal solid waste and its consequences in the ocean; (2) work with representatives of foreign countries that contribute the most to the global marine debris problem to learn about, and find solutions to, the contributions of such countries to marine debris in the world's oceans; (3) carry out studies to determine— (A) the primary means by which solid waste enters the oceans; (B) the manner in which waste management infrastructure can be most effective in preventing debris from reaching the oceans; (C) the long-term economic impacts of marine debris on the national economies of each country set out in paragraph (1) and on the global economy; and (D) the economic benefits of decreasing the amount of marine debris in the oceans; (4) work with representatives of foreign countries that contribute the most to the global marine debris problem, including land-based sources, to conclude one or more new international agreements that include provisions— (A) to mitigate the risk of land-based marine debris contributed by such countries reaching an ocean; and (B) to increase technical assistance and investment in waste management infrastructure, if the President determines appropriate; and (5) encourage the United States Trade Representative to consider the impact of marine debris in relevant future trade agreements. 5. Membership of the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee Section 5(b) of the Marine Debris Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1954(b) (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ; and (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) the Department of State; (6) the Department of the Interior; and . 6. Authorization of appropriations Section 9 of the Marine Debris Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1958 9. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year 2018 through 2022— (1) to the Administrator for carrying out sections 3, 5, and 6, $10,000,000, of which no more than 10 percent may be for administrative costs; and (2) to the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, for the use of the Commandant of the Coast Guard in carrying out section 4, $2,000,000, of which no more than 10 percent may be used for administrative costs. .

Summary: Save Our Seas Act of 2017 or the SOS Act of 2017 This bill amends the Marine Debris Act to revise the Marine Debris Program to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work with: (1) other agencies to address both land- and sea-based sources of marine debris, and (2) the Department of State and other agencies to promote international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris. The bill also revises the program by allowing NOAA to make sums available for assisting in the cleanup and response required by severe marine debris events. NOAA must prioritize assistance for activities that respond to a severe marine debris event in: (1) a rural or remote community, or (2) a habitat of national concern. The bill urges the President to: (1) work with foreign countries that contribute the most to the global marine debris problem in order to find a solution to the problem; (2) study issues related to marine debris, including the economic impacts of marine debris; and (3) encourage the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to consider the impact of marine debris in relevant future trade agreements. The Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee must expand to include a senior official from the State Department or from the Department of the Interior. This bill reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022: (1) the Marine Debris Program, (2) an information clearinghouse on marine debris, and (3) enforcement of laws about discarded marine debris from ships.