I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3969 
To improve efforts to combat marine debris, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2019 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. BEYER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. ROONEY of 
Florida, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. KILMER, Mr. CASE, Mr. 
YOUNG, Mr. PAPPAS, Ms. PINGREE, and Mr. CASTEN of Illinois) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Nat-
ural Resources, Ways and Means, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Com-
merce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Agriculture, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To improve efforts to combat marine debris, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Save Our Seas 2.0 Act’’ or the ‘‘SOS 2.0 Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. 
TITLE I—ENHANCING THE DOMESTIC MARINE DEBRIS 
RESPONSE 
Subtitle A—Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 
Sec. 101. Marine Debris Response Trust Fund. 
Subtitle B—Marine Debris Foundation 
Sec. 111. Establishment and purposes of Foundation. 
Sec. 112. Board of Directors of the Foundation. 
Sec. 113. Rights and obligations of the Foundation. 
Sec. 114. Administrative services and support. 
Sec. 115. Volunteer status. 
Sec. 116. Report requirements; petition of attorney general for equitable relief. 
Sec. 117. United States release from liability. 
Sec. 118. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle C—Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations 
Sec. 121. Definitions. 
Sec. 122. Genius prize for Save Our Seas Innovations. 
Sec. 123. Save Our Seas Innovation Steering Committee. 
Sec. 124. Agreement with the marine debris foundation. 
Sec. 125. Judges. 
Sec. 126. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 127. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 128. Termination of authority. 
Subtitle D—Other Measures Relating to Combating Marine Debris 
Sec. 131. Prioritization of marine debris in existing innovation and entrepre-
neurship programs. 
Sec. 132. Expansion of derelict vessel recycling. 
Sec. 133. Incentive for fishermen to collect and dispose of plastic found at sea. 
Sec. 134. Amendments to Marine Debris Program. 
Sec. 135. Marine debris on National Forest System land. 
Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 
Sec. 141. Report on opportunities for innovative uses of plastic waste. 
Sec. 142. Report on microfiber pollution. 
Sec. 143. Study on United States plastic pollution data. 
Sec. 144. Report on minimizing the creation of new plastic waste. 
Sec. 145. Study on mass balance methodologies to certify circular polymers. 
TITLE II—ENHANCED GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT TO COMBAT 
MARINE DEBRIS 
Sec. 201. Statement of policy on international cooperation to combat marine 
debris. 
Sec. 202. Prioritization of efforts and assistance to combat marine debris and 
improve plastic waste management. 
Sec. 203. United States leadership in international fora. 
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Sec. 204. Enhancing international outreach and partnership of United States 
agencies involved in marine debris activities. 
Sec. 205. Negotiation of new international agreements. 
Sec. 206. Consideration of marine debris in negotiating international agree-
ments. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO 
PREVENT MARINE DEBRIS 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. Strategy for improving waste management, recycling, and water man-
agement. 
Sec. 303. Waste management State revolving funds. 
Sec. 304. Grant programs. 
Sec. 305. Study on repurposing plastic waste in infrastructure. 
Sec. 306. Study on options to advance technologies for converting plastic waste 
to chemicals, feedstocks, and other products. 
Sec. 307. Study on effects of microplastics in food supplies and sources of 
drinking water. 
Sec. 308. Report on eliminating barriers to increase the collection of recyclable 
materials. 
Sec. 309. Report on economic incentives to spur development of new end-use 
markets for recycled plastics. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CIRCULAR ECONOMY.—The term ‘‘circular 
economy’’ means an economy that uses a systems-fo-
cused approach and involves industrial processes and 
economic activities that— 
(A) are restorative or regenerative by de-
sign; 
(B) enable resources used in such proc-
esses and activities to maintain their highest 
values for as long as possible; and 
(C) aim for the elimination of waste 
through the superior design of materials, prod-
ucts, and systems (including business models). 
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(2) EPA ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘EPA 
Administrator’’ means the Administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency. 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) MARINE DEBRIS.—The term ‘‘marine de-
bris’’ has the meaning given that term in section 7 
of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1956). 
(5) MARINE DEBRIS EVENT.—The term ‘‘ma-
rine debris event’’ means an event or related events 
that affects or may imminently affect the United 
States involving— 
(A) marine debris caused by a natural 
event, including a tsunami, flood, landslide, 
hurricane, or other natural source; 
(B) distinct, nonrecurring marine debris, 
including derelict vessel groundings and con-
tainer spills, that have immediate or long-term 
impacts on habitats with high ecological, eco-
nomic, or human-use values; or 
(C) marine debris caused by an intentional 
or grossly negligent act or acts that causes sub-
stantial economic or environmental harm. 
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