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H.R. 936: Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

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H.R. 936: Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-12 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-12 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

Plain summary

Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to declare and respond to a marine disease emergency that: (1) is caused by a marine disease or environmental stressor, (2) is likely to threaten the sustainability of a marine species or the health of a marine ecosystem, and (3) is likely to expand in geographic scope. "Marine species" does not include aquacultured animals, marine mammals, or birds. NOAA may take appropriate actions to respond to the emergency, including making grants, entering into contracts, and investigating the cause, treatment, or prevention of the emergency. Upon declaring an emergency, NOAA must: (1) designate an individual to coordinate the response to the emergency, (2) develop a response plan within 28 days of the declaration, and (3) publish a summary of the plan within 21 days of the declaration. The emergency terminates when NOAA declares that the emergency no longer exists or 120 days after the declaration was made, whichever occurs first. NOAA may renew a declaration. The Marine Disease Emergency Working Group is established in NOAA to provide advice on assessing, declaring, and responding to emergencies. The Marine Disease Emergency Fund is established to respond to emergencies. NOAA must establish a National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services to collect, store, and disseminate information on marine diseases and facilitate the development and rapid dissemination of research. Sea star wasting syndrome is deemed to be a marine disease emergency.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jared Huffman (D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr936 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114