ReSCUE Oceans Act

Key Points

• The bill creates a new NOAA program to research marine carbon dioxide removal, covering methods like ocean alkalinity enhancement, macroalgae cultivation, nutrient fertilization, and electrochemical engineering. The program must be established within 90 days of enactment.
• Tribal nations and Native Hawaiian organizations receive strong protections, including consent requirements before research on Tribal lands, data sovereignty guarantees, and exemption from Freedom of Information Act disclosures without their permission.
• An interagency working group of 20 federal agencies — from the Army Corps of Engineers to NASA — must coordinate research, create a code of conduct for ocean experiments, and publish biennial progress reports to Congress.
• The bill sets up designated research areas in ocean, coastal, and estuarine zones, with advisory boards that include community members, Tribal representatives, and federal officials to oversee each site. Research areas undergo reassessment every 5 years.
• Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2027-2031 across NOAA, NASA, and NIST, though the bill uses 'such sums as may be necessary' rather than specifying dollar amounts, meaning actual funding levels will depend on future appropriations.
• To support transparent carbon markets, NOAA may provide technical assistance on measurement, monitoring, and verification of carbon removal credits, helping ensure companies cannot exaggerate their climate impact claims.