Legis Daily

Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

USA119th CongressS-759| Senate 
| Updated: 9/11/2025
Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Angus S. King (Independent)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, aims to enhance public access to information regarding recreational use of Federal waterways. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and adopt standards for the coordination and dissemination of geospatial data related to fishing restrictions , recreational vessel activities within the exclusive economic zone, and general access to Federal waters. This standardization process must involve consultation with various stakeholders, including State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and is to be completed within 31 months of enactment. Within four years, the Secretary must establish a publicly accessible website to provide comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) data. This data will detail conditions for fishing restrictions, areas open or closed to recreational boating and diving, and limitations on vessel use within the exclusive economic zone , including information on Federal marine protected areas and authorized activities. The website will also include navigation, bathymetric, and depth chart data, ensuring it is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable, with a mechanism for user updates. To ensure data quality and responsiveness, the Secretary is required to implement a public comment process for the data and its accessibility, and to update certain data elements at least twice annually, with some real-time updates. The Act also mandates cooperation with non-Federal entities and interagency coordination with various Federal departments to ensure data compatibility and interoperability. Importantly, the bill explicitly states it does not apply to Tribal waters or usual fishing areas and protects sensitive information like cultural resources or proprietary commercial fishing data.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3889
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3786
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 26, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 16, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-40.
Jul 16, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556-6557: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556-6557: 1)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 11, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Received in the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Held at the desk.
Feb 23, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3340
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3889
    Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3786
    Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act


  • February 26, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 26, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 16, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-40.


  • July 16, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556-6557: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556-6557: 1)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • September 11, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Held at the desk.


  • February 23, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3340
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3340: Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
Geography and mappingGovernment information and archivesHunting and fishingInternet, web applications, social mediaNavigation, waterways, harborsOutdoor recreation

Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

USA119th CongressS-759| Senate 
| Updated: 9/11/2025
This bill, known as the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, aims to enhance public access to information regarding recreational use of Federal waterways. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and adopt standards for the coordination and dissemination of geospatial data related to fishing restrictions , recreational vessel activities within the exclusive economic zone, and general access to Federal waters. This standardization process must involve consultation with various stakeholders, including State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and is to be completed within 31 months of enactment. Within four years, the Secretary must establish a publicly accessible website to provide comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) data. This data will detail conditions for fishing restrictions, areas open or closed to recreational boating and diving, and limitations on vessel use within the exclusive economic zone , including information on Federal marine protected areas and authorized activities. The website will also include navigation, bathymetric, and depth chart data, ensuring it is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable, with a mechanism for user updates. To ensure data quality and responsiveness, the Secretary is required to implement a public comment process for the data and its accessibility, and to update certain data elements at least twice annually, with some real-time updates. The Act also mandates cooperation with non-Federal entities and interagency coordination with various Federal departments to ensure data compatibility and interoperability. Importantly, the bill explicitly states it does not apply to Tribal waters or usual fishing areas and protects sensitive information like cultural resources or proprietary commercial fishing data.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3889
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3786
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 26, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 12, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 16, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-40.
Jul 16, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556-6557: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556-6557: 1)
Sep 10, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 11, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Received in the House.
Sep 11, 2025
Held at the desk.
Feb 23, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3340
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3889
    Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3786
    Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act


  • February 26, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 26, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • March 12, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 16, 2025
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-40.


  • July 16, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 117.


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6556-6557: 1; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6556-6557: 1)


  • September 10, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • September 11, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • September 11, 2025
    Held at the desk.


  • February 23, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3340
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 438.
Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Angus S. King (Independent)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3340: Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Geography and mappingGovernment information and archivesHunting and fishingInternet, web applications, social mediaNavigation, waterways, harborsOutdoor recreation