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HR 2860
Recent Bills/HR 2860

Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

IntroducedApril 10, 2025
Passed House5 months ago
Intro
House
Senate
Pres
Waiting for a Senate floor vote.
It has cleared committee and can be brought up at any time, though no date is set.
Environmental ProtectionAdvisory bodiesAquatic ecologyEcologyEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchIntergovernmental relationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesPacific OceanSeashores and lakeshoresState and local government operationsWashington StateWater qualityWetlandsWildlife conservation and habitat protection
More:Bills That Passed the HouseHouse Bills
Why This Matters

This bill directs federal agencies to speed up permitting, mapping, and planning for exploring and producing critical minerals from the seabed of the outer Continental Shelf. It also calls for coordination with allies and reports on industry interest and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Who this affects
Federal agencies · U.S. mineral companies · Allied governments
What changes is this bill making?
  1. 1Requires NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) to expedite licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act within 60 days of enactment
  2. 2Directs the Department of the Interior to establish a fast-track process for prospecting permits and leases on the outer Continental Shelf within 60 days
  3. 3Mandates a plan to map priority seabed areas and accelerate data collection and resource characterization
  4. 4Tasks the Interior Department to identify critical minerals from seabed resources and, with the Departments of Defense and Energy, determine which are essential for defense, manufacturing, and energy
  5. 5Charges the Department of Commerce, in coordination with State, Interior, and Energy, to engage key allies on seabed mineral exploration, extraction, processing, and environmental monitoring
  6. 6Requires two reports within 60 days: one on private sector interest in seabed mining in U.S. and foreign jurisdictions and another on the feasibility of an international benefit-sharing mechanism for minerals beyond national jurisdiction
  7. 7Clarifies that the Act does not affect existing agency authorities or create new legal rights
Read the detailed summary

Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill revises and reauthorizes for seven years the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative and its Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. The initiative and the commission work to protect and restore marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region (i. e., the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County in Washington state). Among other duties, the commission must provide resources and technical support for marine resources committees, develop scientifically sound restoration and protection recommendations, and serve as a public forum for informal policy discussions about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region.

Read full document

Last changed 3 months ago · checked hourly

Bill Progress3 of 4
Bills must pass the House, Senate, and be signed by the President to become law.
Intro
House
Senate
Pres
IntroducedApr 10, 2025
Sponsors
See all 7 sponsors
HouseJun 3
House Vote
Yes 374No 49Not Voting 7
See How Everyone Voted
SenateCurrent

Waiting for a Senate floor vote.

It has cleared committee and can be brought up at any time, though no date is set.

President

The President

Donald Trump
President
Awaiting Vote
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