[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1392 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1392
To establish Ocean Innovation Clusters to strengthen the coastal
communities and ocean economy of the United States through
technological research and development, job training, and cross-sector
partnerships, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 9, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Whitehouse,
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla, Mr. King, and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish Ocean Innovation Clusters to strengthen the coastal
communities and ocean economy of the United States through
technological research and development, job training, and cross-sector
partnerships, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ocean Regional Opportunity and
Innovation Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Blue economy.--The term ``Blue Economy'' means the
value and impact of sustainable industries related to the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts on the economy of
the United States, including living resources, marine
construction, marine transportation, offshore energy
development and siting including for renewable energy, offshore
mineral production, ship and boat building, tourism,
recreation, subsistence, commercial, recreational, and charter
fishing, seafood processing, and other fishery-related
businesses, kelp and shellfish aquaculture, coastal resilience,
and other industries the Secretary of Commerce considers
appropriate.
(2) Director of sea grant.--The term ``Director of Sea
Grant'' means the Director of the National Sea Grant College
Program appointed under section 204(d)(1) of the National Sea
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(1)).
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act (20 U.S.C.
7517).
(5) Ocean innovation center for cross-sector
collaboration.--The term ``Ocean Innovation Center for Cross-
Sector Collaboration'' means a physical space for collaboration
developed and managed in accordance with section 3(i).
(6) Ocean innovation cluster.--The term ``Ocean Innovation
Cluster'' means an eligible entity designated by the Secretary
of Commerce under section 3.
SEC. 3. OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTERS.
(a) Designation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with
the Director of Sea Grant, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere, and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development, shall designate not fewer than 7 eligible
entities as Ocean Innovation Clusters.
(b) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this section, an eligible
entity is an entity--
(1) that is composed, in a concentrated geographic region,
of 1 or more--
(A) business organizations;
(B) academic institutions, including minority- and
Tribal-serving institutions;
(C) not-for-profit organizations;
(D) Federal, State, or local governmental entities,
agencies, or instrumentalities;
(E) Indian Tribes; or
(F) Native Hawaiian organizations;
(2) that is led by a not-for-profit organization; and
(3) that works to deliver services in the concentrated
geographic region where the entity is located, enhance
collaboration, promote innovation, and contribute to the
equitable and sustainable growth of the Blue Economy across all
sectors.
(c) Priority.--In designating entities as Ocean Innovation Clusters
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce shall prioritize
entities with a history of supporting cross-sector growth and
development of the Blue Economy.
(d) Geographic Diversity.--The Secretary of Commerce shall
designate not fewer than 1 Ocean Innovation Cluster under subsection
(a) in--
(1) each of the regions covered by the 5 regional offices
of the National Marine Fisheries Service;
(2) the Great Lakes region; and
(3) the Gulf of Mexico region.
(e) Considerations.--In designating an eligible entity as an Ocean
Innovation Cluster under subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce
shall consider the following:
(1) The economic development potential of the coastal
community or region in which the entity is located.
(2) The ability of the entity to incorporate and bring
growth and opportunity to broad geographic areas, including
urban, rural, and underserved areas.
(3) Whether the entity serves a diverse, multigenerational,
ocean-dependent population consisting of groups with different
socioeconomic and educational attainment levels, industries,
and Indian Tribes.
(4) The ability of the entity to cultivate and leverage
partnerships with private industry, academia, nongovernmental
organizations, Federal, State, and local governments, and
Indian Tribes to collaborate on shared outcomes.
(5) The relative potential for the designation of the
entity as an Ocean Innovation Cluster to reverse a decline, or
accelerate growth, in ocean sector jobs.
(6) The ability of the entity to carry out projects that
support economic and climate resilience through economic
diversification and long-term recovery from natural disasters.
(7) The extent, rural and underserved nature, and economic
underutilization of the coastline and ocean area that projects
carried out by the entity could affect.
(f) Partnership Management.--
(1) Partnership liaisons.--
(A) Designation.--The Director of Sea Grant, the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere, and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development shall each designate 1 partnership
manager from within their respective agencies to serve
as a partnership liaison between each Ocean Innovation
Cluster and Sea Grant, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and the Economic
Development Administration, respectively.
(B) Function.--Each partnership liaison designated
under subparagraph (A) shall ensure that Ocean
Innovation Clusters--
(i) have direct communication with the
agency of the liaison; and
(ii) allow for collaboration and alignment
with Federal objectives in each region
regarding the Blue Economy.
(2) Interagency coordination.--
(A) Secretary of commerce.--The Secretary of
Commerce shall coordinate with the Director of Sea
Grant, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans
and Atmosphere, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development, the Department of Energy, the
Maritime Administration of the Department of
Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency,
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the Department
of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the
Coast Guard, and such other Federal agencies, including
bureaus of the Department of Commerce, as the Secretary
of Commerce considers appropriate to increase technical
knowledge exchange and opportunities for cross-sector
collaboration with those agencies.
(B) Secretary of energy.--With respect to matters
relating to the nexus of the Blue Economy and the
responsibilities and expertise of the Department of
Energy, the Secretary of Energy--
(i) shall provide advice and
recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce in
order to increase technical knowledge exchange
and opportunities for cross-sector
collaboration; and
(ii) may provide such advice and
recommendations without any formal request from
the Department of Commerce.
(g) Development of Economic Impact Metrics of Ocean Innovation
Clusters.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the
Department of Commerce, and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies shall use and refine the Marine Economy Satellite Account to
measure the value to and impact of Ocean Innovation Clusters on the
Blue Economy.
(h) Areas of Focus.--The Director of Sea Grant, the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development shall coordinate with
each Ocean Innovation Cluster in the following areas of focus:
(1) Increasing pathways for new entrants into the Blue
Economy for individuals and entities.
(2) Intellectual property management.
(3) Enhancing the sustainability of seafood supply chains,
including with respect to food, transportation, processing,
health and beauty products, animal feed, medical biotechnology,
bioplastics, biofuels, and other value-added products, to
strive for full use of harvested natural resources.
(4) Providing significant and sustainable economic
opportunity through advanced research, cross-sector science,
and technology development.
(5) Contributing new knowledge, processes, technology, and
support for stakeholders in the Blue Economy, especially to
advance sustainability in specific sectors.
(6) Working with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies
to clearly communicate laws, regulations, and agency practices
affecting industry needs, planning, or growth opportunities.
(7) Creating investable opportunities through the
development of economies of scale to enhance growth
opportunities, job creation, sustainability, and expansion for
small businesses within the Blue Economy.
(8) Workforce development and training, business planning,
identifying existing and needed technology and economic
infrastructure, and coordinated research and development among
small businesses, government, and industry.
(9) Research, development, and implementation of ocean
energy, bioprospecting, and other innovative and sustainable
ocean resource development endeavors.
(i) Ocean Innovation Centers for Cross-Sector Collaboration.--
(1) In general.--In order to foster collaboration and
innovation and strengthen regional ocean sector economies while
creating employment opportunities, the Director of Sea Grant,
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic
Development shall collaborate with cross-sector partners to
jointly develop or designate at least 1 physical space for
collaboration as an Ocean Innovation Center for Cross-Sector
Collaboration within each of the 7 regions with an Ocean
Innovation Cluster.
(2) Management.--An Ocean Innovation Cluster or a group of
Ocean Innovation Clusters shall manage the Ocean Innovation
Center for Cross-Sector Collaboration of the region in which
the Cluster or Clusters is located.
(3) Functions.--Each Ocean Innovation Center for Cross-
Sector Collaboration shall--
(A) serve as a hub for partners within Ocean
Innovation Clusters to work toward the areas of focus
in described in subsection (h);
(B) support a community of entrepreneurs focused on
strengthening vibrant marine-dependent communities and
the Blue Economy;
(C) create workspaces and laboratories designed to
promote collaboration, including through shared meeting
rooms, access to technology, common spaces, and
offices;
(D) strengthen relationships among industry sectors
through shared scientific, staffing, and business
resources;
(E) develop the critical networks with cross-sector
partners that entrepreneurs need to grow effectively;
and
(F) develop the next generation of Blue Economy
workers by providing internships, apprenticeships, or
training, as appropriate, including for
underrepresented and Tribal communities and local trade
schools.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTERS.
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 31. GRANTS FOR OCEAN INNOVATION CLUSTERS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Director
of Sea Grant, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere, and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic
Development, may award grants, on a competitive basis, to Ocean
Innovation Clusters for the purposes described in subsection (b).
``(b) Purposes.--The Secretary may award grants under subsection
(a) for the operation and administration of one or more Ocean
Innovation Clusters under the Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation
Act of 2025, with the goal that Ocean Innovation Clusters will become
membership-based, self-sustaining entities.
``(c) Input.--In awarding a grant under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall provide an opportunity for input from the Director of
Sea Grant, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere, and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic
Development.
``(d) Term of Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The term of a grant awarded under
subsection (a) shall be 2 years.
``(2) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a grant awarded
under subsection (a) for additional periods of such duration as
the Secretary determines to be appropriate and necessary for
the Ocean Innovation Cluster that received the grant to provide
regional economic benefits.
``(e) Limitations on Grant Amounts.--A grant awarded under
subsection (a) may not exceed $10,000,000.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to award grants under subsection (a)
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Director of sea grant.--The term `Director of Sea
Grant' means the Director of the National Sea Grant College
Program appointed under section 204(d)(1) of the National Sea
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(1)).
``(2) Ocean innovation cluster.--The term `Ocean Innovation
Cluster' has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the
Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2025.''.
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