Bars the National Science Foundation from using federal funds to decommission or descope Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and North Carolina, and in the Irminger Sea, until a full review of the initiative is completed.

Official title: Saving the OOI Act of 2026

Next stop House: awaiting action

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Received 18-JUN-2026

Senate

Introduced 17-JUN-2026

Passed 18-JUN-2026

Key points

Prohibits the National Science Foundation from using federal funds to decommission or descope Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments anchored off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and North Carolina, and in the Irminger Sea
Requires the NSF director to keep the initiative fully operating, including monitoring in every state that had instruments decommissioned, until the review is completed
Requires the NSF review of the initiative and the national assets it provides to include stakeholder engagement from the scientific and coastal communities

AI-generated from the Engrossed in Senate text of 17-JUN-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Passed Senate, 17-JUN-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (0)

No committee referrals on file.

Policy area

Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Cosponsors · 11

■ 10 D■ 1 R

10 Democrats

1 Republican