Save Our Seas Act of 2018
Public Law 115-265 · S. 3508 · 115th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Donald Trump (R) on Oct 11, 2018 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Cosponsors (3): Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Jim Inhofe,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Save Our Seas Act of 2018
This bill addresses marine debris and maritime safety issues.
Specifically, the bill amends the Marine Debris Act to reauthorize through FY2022 and revise the Marine Debris Program, including to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to severe marine debris events.
In addition, the bill expresses support for the Great Lakes Land-Based Marine Debris Action Plan.
Hamm Alert Maritime Safety Act of 2018
The bill establishes marine safety requirements, such as requirements concerning vessel inspections, safety management plans, safety equipment, voyage data recorders, technology used in rescue operations, oversight of recognized organizations that act on behalf of the Coast Guard, and timely weather forecasts and hazard advisories.
Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act
The U.S. Coast Guard may establish a Blue Technology Center of Expertise to promote awareness about blue technologies and their potential to enhance the Coast Guard's mission readiness and operational performance. Blue technology includes technology that supports maritime domain awareness (e.g., surveillance), search and rescue, emergency response, maritime law enforcement, or protection of the marine environment.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
3 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 6175Related bill
Maritime Safety Act of 2018
H.R. 6206Related bill
Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act
S. 756 · became Public Law 115-391Related bill
First Step Act of 2018
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Oct 11, 2018Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 115-265.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 2, 2018FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Sep 27, 2018FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Denham asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- Sep 26, 2018FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.