H.R. 886 would authorize appropriations for the Marine Debris Foundation that would match the contributions it receives from foreign governments and from tribal, regional, and nongovernmental organizations. (That nonprofit charitable foundation supports efforts to remove plastics, discarded fishing gear, rubber, and other harmful materials from the marine environment.) Under current law, the foundation receives federal matching funds only for contributions from private individuals and state or local governments. The bill also would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the Marine Debris Program, to receive funds from other federal agencies and nonfederal entities. The spending of those funds would be subject to appropriations.
The foundation is permitted to fund operations using donations from nonfederal sources until its authority terminates in 2030. It also is authorized to invest appropriated funds in Treasury securities and to spend any credited interest without further appropriation.
CBO estimates that the foundation will receive contributions of $12 million from nonfederal entities over the 2024-2028 period, with about half of that amount coming from entities not eligible for matching under current law. The extent to which those entities would contribute to the foundation under H.R. 886 is uncertain. Collections could be higher or lower than CBO estimates.
