In an attempt to curtail marine debris, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously approved the “Save Our Seas Act” on Wednesday.
Senator Dan Sullivan describes the piece of legislation as having two different facets. It first enacts reauthorization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) marine debris program.
It also allows the secretary of commerce to take requests from state governors to issue disaster declarations and get additional funding for states facing marine debris difficulties during those hard times. In a video he released explaining the bill, Senator Sullivan mentions Fukushima as a good example.
The video also proposed the idea of a possible treaty between heavy marine polluting entities, which Sullivan suggested could be Asian nations and the United States.
Sullivan says the need for the bill comes from concern surrounding the health of Alaska’s ocean and fish stock.
The “Save Our Seas Act” now advances to the Senate floor.
