In its final weeks, the 119th Congress may both undo and advance major ocean protections.
Midterm elections may be behind us, but major policy decisions for our oceans could still be ahead.
Between now and the swearing-in of a new Congress in January, current lawmakers are in what’s known as the “lame-duck session,” a brief but important period when unfinished business can still move forward.
While headlines are often focused on election results, decisions made during the lame-duck session can have lasting implications for ocean conservation.
Here are some of the ocean-related issues on the agenda in these final weeks:
Permitting Bill Aims to Roll Back Environmental Safeguards
The Senate is poised to vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653) – a bill that would reform the permitting process for clean energy projects while unnecessarily weakening protections for wildlife, coasts, and marine sanctuaries, and limiting environmental review of projects.
This bill would lock in offshore oil and gas drilling projects and deep-sea mining permits once approved, making it nearly impossible to make any changes even if new information comes to light.
In recent days, a manager’s amendment was released that made some changes to the bill; however, these changes did not address Oceana’s concerns. Oceana is urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Government Funding, Right Whales, and Offshore Drilling
Among the biggest loose ends Congress must resolve is how the government is funded. Funding for agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is critical to protecting oceans, managing fisheries, and supporting coastal communities. Despite these benefits, the Trump administration has repeatedly called on Congress to cut funding for NOAA and other agencies.
Those funding decisions aren’t just about determining where federal dollars go; they can also become vehicles for broader policy changes.
Riders – policy changes tacked onto must-pass laws – can have big implications for how oceans and marine wildlife are protected. With a hefty defense spending bill and other year-end funding priorities all competing for attention, Oceana will be on the watch for riders that weaken environmental laws and put our oceans, wildlife, or communities at risk.
Among the biggest threats could be the attachment of a rider to further delay new protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales until 2035 as part of any must-pass spending bill. With only about 380 North Atlantic right whales remaining, preventing deadly entanglements in fishing gear could mean the difference between survival and extinction. Oceana is urging lawmakers to oppose this effort.
We’re also watching for efforts to attach riders to the defense bill that would permit the federal government to seize state lands to allow for more offshore drilling.
Defending the Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) has faced a slew of attacks by the Trump administration this year, including weakening habitat protections for threatened and endangered species.
Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is pushing a Congressional Review Act resolution – a move by which Congress can overturn an administration’s regulation – to overturn changes to the so-called “harm rule” that removed habitat destruction from a longstanding regulatory definition under the ESA.
Plastic Pollution
Plastic policy could also be on the agenda by year’s end. Plastic pollution remains one of the biggest threats facing marine ecosystems, with roughly 33 billion pounds entering the ocean each year.
Two problematic bills, the Recycling Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502, S. 5674) and Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act (H.R. 6832), mislead consumers, allowing companies to turn plastic into fuel and call it recycling. These bills also make it easier for companies to promote plastic products as recyclable even if they are not. Oceana is urging lawmakers to oppose both bills.
A Final Sprint for the 119th Congress
These are just some of the many issues Congress may tackle in its final weeks, but advancing policies that help protect the oceans that sustain us all will extend far beyond this Congress.
Whatever is in store for this lame-duck session, Oceana – with your support – will continue to be an advocate for our oceans and remain dedicated to fighting for their future in this Congress, the next, and years to come. Help us by becoming a powerful voice for our oceans today!
