IB 
Union Calendar No. 376 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2860 
[Report No. 119–437] 
To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to 
promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 10, 2025 
Mr. LARSEN of Washington (for himself and Ms. RANDALL) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
JANUARY 12, 2026 
Additional sponsors: Ms. STRICKLAND, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. SMITH of 
Washington, Ms. JAYAPAL, and Ms. SCHRIER 
JANUARY 12, 2026 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 10, 2025] 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Northwest Straits Ma-
rine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MA-
RINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE ACT. 
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
Act (title IV of Public Law 105–384; 112 Stat. 3458) is 
amended— 
(1) in section 402, by striking ‘‘Commission (in 
this title referred to as the ‘Commission’).’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Commission.’’; and 
(2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 403. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘Commission’ 
means the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission es-
tablished by section 402. 
‘‘(2) MARINE
RESOURCES
COMMITTEE.—The 
term ‘marine resources committee’ means a county 
government committee that assists in assessing ma-
rine resource and conservation needs. 
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‘‘(3) NORTHWEST STRAITS REGION.—The term 
‘Northwest Straits region’ means the marine waters of 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from 
the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish 
County. 
‘‘(4) TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘Tribal 
government’ means the recognized governing body of 
any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, 
pueblo, village, community, component band, or com-
ponent reservation individually identified (including 
parenthetically) in the list published most recently as 
of the date of enactment of the Northwest Straits Ma-
rine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 
2025 pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recog-
nized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 
5131). 
‘‘(5) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘Under Sec-
retary’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere. 
‘‘SEC. 404. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION. 
‘‘(a) COMPOSITION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 14 members, except as provided in para-
graph (2), who shall be appointed as follows: 
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‘‘(A) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for San Juan County, Washington. 
‘‘(B) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Island County, Washington. 
‘‘(C) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Skagit County, Washington. 
‘‘(D) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Whatcom County, Washington. 
‘‘(E) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Snohomish County, Washington. 
‘‘(F) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Clallam County, Washington. 
‘‘(G) One member appointed by a consensus 
of the members of a marine resources committee 
for Jefferson County, Washington. 
‘‘(H) Two members appointed by the Sec-
retary of the Interior, in coordination with the 
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and in 
consultation with the Tribal governments affected 
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by this title, to represent the interests of such 
Tribal governments. 
‘‘(I) One member appointed by the Gov-
ernor of the State of Washington to represent the 
interests of the Puget Sound Partnership. 
‘‘(J) Four members appointed by the Gov-
ernor of the State of Washington who— 
‘‘(i) are residents of the State of Wash-
ington; and 
‘‘(ii) are not employed by a Federal, 
State, or local government, excluding an in-
stitution of higher education. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS.—The Commission 
may, as determined necessary to improve the ability 
of the Commission to perform the duties of the Com-
mission under section 405(b), appoint members in ad-
dition to those appointed under paragraph (1). Any 
such additional member shall be appointed by a con-
sensus of the members of a marine resources com-
mittee that is not described in such paragraph. 
‘‘(b) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
‘‘(c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall select a 
Chairperson from among its members. 
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‘‘(d) MEETING.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson, but not less frequently than quar-
terly. 
‘‘(e) LIAISON.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in 
consultation with the Commission, shall appoint an 
employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration— 
‘‘(A) to serve as a liaison between the Com-
mission and the Department of Commerce; 
‘‘(B) to coordinate programs of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with 
activities related to the goal of the Commission 
described in section 405(a); and 
‘‘(C) to perform additional liaison functions 
benefitting the Commission and the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which 
may include, as agreed to by the Commission 
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, attending meetings and other 
events of the Commission as a nonvoting partici-
pant. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Service as a member of the 
Commission by the employee appointed under para-
graph (1)— 
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‘‘(A) is limited to the employee’s service as 
a liaison; and 
‘‘(B) does not obligate the employee to per-
form any duty of the Commission under section 
405(b). 
‘‘(f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Commission may enter 
into cooperative agreements with the State of Washington 
for staffing and administrative services for the purposes of 
supporting the duties of the Commission under section 
405(b). 
‘‘SEC. 405. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
‘‘(a) GOAL.—The goal of the Commission is to protect 
and restore the marine waters, habitats, and species of the 
Northwest Straits region to achieve ecosystem health and 
sustainable resource use by— 
‘‘(1) designing and recommending projects that 
are driven by the best available science, local prior-
ities, community-based decisions, and the ability to 
measure results; 
‘‘(2) building awareness and stewardship and 
making recommendations to improve the health of the 
marine resources of the Northwest Straits region; 
‘‘(3) maintaining and expanding diverse mem-
bership and collaboration with partner organizations, 
such as the Puget Sound Partnership; 
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‘‘(4) expanding partnerships with Tribal govern-
ments and continuing to support Tribal treaties, cul-
tures, and subsistence and Tribal treaty rights; and 
‘‘(5) recognizing the importance of economic and 
social benefits that are dependent on marine environ-
ments and sustainable marine resources. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission are the 
following: 
‘‘(1) To provide resources and technical support 
for marine resources committees. 
‘‘(2) To work with such marine resources com-
mittees and appropriate entities of Federal, State, 
and local governments and Tribal governments to 
provide advice in developing regional programs to 
monitor the overall health of the marine ecosystem of 
the Northwest Straits region. 
‘‘(3) To collect marine resources data and iden-
tify factors adversely affecting or preventing the res-
toration of the health of the marine ecosystem and 
coastal economies of the Northwest Straits region to 
inform decisionmakers. 
‘‘(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration 
and protection recommendations, informed by local 
priorities, that address such factors. 
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‘‘(5) To serve as a public forum for the informal 
discussion of policies and actions, with respect to the 
marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region, of 
Federal, State, or local governments, Tribal govern-
ments, or the Government of Canada. 
‘‘(6) To inform appropriate authorities and local 
communities about the marine ecosystem of the North-
west Straits region and about issues relating to the 
marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region. 
‘‘(7) To consult with all affected Tribal govern-
ments in the Northwest Straits region to ensure that 
the work of the Commission does not violate Tribal 
treaty rights. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION.—The Com-
mission— 
‘‘(1) shall carry out the duties described in sub-
section (b) in coordination and collaboration, as ap-
propriate, with Federal, State, and local governments 
and Tribal governments, including by— 
‘‘(A) providing technical support and as-
sistance to any Tribal government seeking rep-
resentation and participation on the Commis-
sion; and 
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‘‘(B) supporting the work and duties of the 
liaison to the Commission under section 404(e); 
and 
‘‘(2) may enter into cooperative agreements with 
nonprofit entities, such as the Northwest Straits 
Foundation, to provide assistance, including financial 
assistance, in carrying out the duties described in 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS.—Nothing in this title provides the 
Commission with authority to issue regulations or imple-
ment any Federal law or regulation. 
‘‘(e) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—For purposes of 
carrying out this section, the Commission may solicit, ac-
cept, receive, hold, administer, and use gifts, devises, and 
bequests without any further approval or administrative ac-
tion. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each year, the Commission 
shall prepare, submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and the Under Sec-
retary, and make available to the public a report de-
scribing— 
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‘‘(A) the activities carried out by the Com-
mission during the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) the progress in achieving the bench-
marks described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) BENCHMARKS.—The benchmarks described 
in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) Protection and restoration of marine, 
coastal, and nearshore habitats within the North-
west Straits region. 
‘‘(B) Protection and restoration of marine 
resources populations to healthy, sustainable lev-
els. 
‘‘(C) Improvement of the water quality of 
the Northwest Straits region. 
‘‘(D) Collection of high-quality data and 
promotion of the use and dissemination of such 
data for the purposes of ecosystem monitoring. 
‘‘(E) Promotion of stewardship and under-
standing of marine resources of the Northwest 
Straits region through education and outreach, 
including by targeted outreach to underresourced 
communities. 
‘‘SEC. 406. SUNSET. 
‘‘The authority to carry out this title shall terminate 
on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment 
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of the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Re-
authorization Act of 2025.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 376 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2860 
[Report No. 119–437] 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Con-
servation Initiative Act to promote the protection 
of the resources of the Northwest Straits, and for 
other purposes. 
JANUARY 12, 2026 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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