Washington (February 10, 2026) – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and ten bipartisan colleagues in introducing the Regional Ocean Partnerships Reauthorization Act, which would renew key partnerships between the federal government, states, nonprofits, universities, and the private sector that help communities better coordinate coastal resources.
“Louisiana is the Sportsman’s Paradise, and we owe so much of that to the Gulf of America and the incredible natural bounty our state is blessed with. That’s why I’m proud to help renew our partnerships with the federal government, other states, and businesses and nonprofits to keep our Gulf communities strong and clean,” said Kennedy.
“Mississippi and other coastal states share similar concerns regarding American waters, including the impact of harmful algal blooms and lack of data for oyster farmers. It is important for states to work together to provide solutions for the issues our coasts face today. This bill promotes regional collaboration, builds stronger data-base portals, and leverages funding to strengthen our Blue Economy and protect natural resources,” said Wicker.
The bill would reauthorize the public-private Regional Ocean Partnerships program for fiscal years (FY) 2028 through 2031. The program supports four regional alliances that coordinate voluntary conservation, resilience, and restoration efforts among states, federal agencies, universities, nonprofits, and private partners.
In the Gulf region, the Gulf of America Alliance (GOAA) includes Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas and focuses on improving the long-term health and resilience of the Gulf.
GOAA-supported projects benefiting Louisiana include:
- Monitoring and protecting habitat health for Gulf species.
- Tracking coastal water quality.
- Helping northeast Louisiana farmers reduce erosion and water pollution
- Removing lost and abandoned crab traps.
- Evaluating toxins in waterfowl.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation.
“I’m proud to be introducing the bipartisan Regional Ocean Partnerships Act with Senator Wicker. Together, we will further empower states to work collaboratively to address coastal issues,” said Blunt Rochester.
“My dedication to supporting Alabama’s coastal communities is unwavering. The most significant priorities in the Gulf of America may differ from those in the Pacific or the Atlantic – The Regional Ocean Partnerships Act engages local and state governments, including stakeholders, to safeguard our oceans and coasts by curating regional plans to ensure federal and state resources are used efficiently from coast to coast. As coastal communities, including in our Southern states, continue to grow and thrive, I’m proud to champion legislation that prioritizes their needs,” said Britt.
“Delaware’s beaches are treasures of our state. We must protect them for the families that come to our shores to make lifelong memories, for the communities they protect from storms and flooding, and for the coastal economies they sustain and grow. I’m proud to support this bill to help preserve these natural resources, because healthy oceans make for a stronger Delaware,” said Coons.
“Massachusetts’ coastal communities depend on a healthy ocean—but we can’t navigate stormy waters alone. This bipartisan bill will support the ongoing work done across the Northeast region to address key ocean and coastal issues,” said Markey.
“The Regional Ocean Partnership program is one of our best tools when it comes to planning for the future of Connecticut’s economy and protecting the health of the Long Island Sound. By bringing together ocean scientists and lawmakers from across New England, we can collaborate on research and be better prepared to respond to climate change and worsening natural disasters. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to make sure this collaboration remains strong and can expand across the country,” said Murphy.
The Regional Ocean Partnerships program was originally authorized for FY 2023 through 2027 as part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Previously, Kennedy cosponsored the original 2019 authorization bill during the 116th Congress.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
