S. 2126 — Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025

This section revises the purposes of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) by (1) replacing "Council" with "Committee" as the national-level coordinator of the observing system; (2) expanding the system's described scope to include "ocean, and meteorological observations" (from "ocean observation") and "coastal, and meteorological information" (from "coastal information"); and (3) authorizing research activities to address, after "data gaps,", "data management systems and cyber infrastructure".

This section revises definitions in the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (i.e., for the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System, which coordinates federal and nonfederal coastal and ocean observations, data, and related activities) as follows: (1) redesignates the "Council" as the "Committee" and defines it as the Ocean Policy Committee (previously, the National Ocean Research Leadership Council established by 10 U.S.C. 8932); (2) updates references from "Council" to "Committee" in the definitions of federal assets (i.e., non-classified civilian coastal and ocean observation programs managed by member agencies) and System Plan; (3) in the definition of regional coastal observing system, inserts "conduct operational oceanography measurements and" to specify a responsibility for such measurements; and (4) adds a definition of "State" with the meaning given in 40 U.S.C. 3501 (i.e., includes U.S. territories and possessions) and redesignates subsequent paragraphs accordingly. (Thus, System coordination shifts from the National Ocean Research Leadership Council to the Ocean Policy Committee.)

This section revises provisions governing the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System by replacing "Council" with "Committee" throughout (e.g., directing the President to establish the System through the Committee and placing the research and development program under Committee guidance). It further (1) expands Federal assets to fulfill regional as well as national and international observation missions and priorities (from national and international only); (2) inserts "and ocean" after "weather" in multiple references to forecasting needs, capabilities, and products; (3) directs the Committee to develop requirements and processes for regional associations and federally funded projects of participating agencies to collaborate with regional coastal observing systems on data sharing; and (4) clarifies that regional associations serve as operational entities, adds cyber infrastructure to data management responsibilities, and expands forecasting priorities to include harmful algal bloom forecasting, resource management, and coastal management (from weather and harmful algal bloom forecasting only). (As background, the System integrates Federal and non-Federal assets for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observation; data management; product development; and research to support forecasting, applied research, and human activity impacts.)

This section revises the contents of the quinquennial report to Congress on progress implementing the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System by (1) replacing references to "the Council" with "the Committee" in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b), and (2) adding a new paragraph (8) requiring a post-storm evaluation for all major storms in the United States that occurred during the year preceding submission of the report, to assess the impact of the System's observations and other products on storm forecast accuracy (redesignating former paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively). (The System coordinates federal and non-federal ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing assets to support research, forecasting, resource management, and emergency response.)

This section (1) authorizes appropriations of $56 million for each of FY2026 through 2030 (in addition to amounts previously authorized through FY2025) to the Secretary of Commerce for the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS), which supports regional observing systems providing data on ocean conditions, ecosystem health, and coastal hazards; and (2) requires the Secretary to allocate at least 7.5% of such appropriated amounts to each regional coastal observing system in existence on January 1, 2025 (except for disaster relief appropriations).

This section makes conforming amendments to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 by replacing references to "the Council" with "the Committee" in (1) section 12305(b) (33 U.S.C. 3604(b)), relating to interagency financing and agreements; (2) section 12308 (33 U.S.C. 3607), relating to public-private use policy; and (3) section 12310 (33 U.S.C. 3609), relating to the intent of Congress.