On Friday, December 26, 2025, the President officially put pen to paper on several significant legislative measures:
S. 216, known as the “Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act,” paves the way for funding the Marine Debris Program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2029, along with the Marine Debris Foundation for FY 2025. This act also streamlines the administrative processes governing both entities, ensuring they can operate more efficiently in their mission to tackle marine pollution—a problem that, much like a stubborn stain, refuses to wash away.
S. 284, the “Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act,” breathes new life into the Congressional Award Board, retroactively extending its authority to recognize the accomplishments of young individuals. This reauthorization takes effect as if it had been enacted on October 1, 2023, and will continue until October 1, 2028. It’s a nod to our youth, a reminder that they, too, can shine in the oft-dim corridors of power.
S. 2878, the “Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act,” secures funding aimed at understanding the delicate ecosystems within the Great Lakes Basin. This measure will keep the financial faucet running through Fiscal Year 2030, allowing for ongoing research and monitoring of fisheries—because if we’re not careful, our lakes might just turn into giant fishless ponds.
H.R. 187, dubbed the “Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025” or the “MAPWaters Act of 2025,” mandates that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior come together to harmonize and publish data regarding recreational access to federal waterways and fishing restrictions. One can only hope this leads to an easier navigation of the often murky waters of public access rights—both literally and figuratively.
H.R. 410, the “Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025,” extends the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program until December 29, 2030. This extension acknowledges the sacrifices made by veterans and ensures that they can continue to benefit from land allotments—a small but meaningful token of gratitude for their service.
Lastly, H.R. 1491, the “Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act,” compels the Department of the Treasury to view the postponement of tax return deadlines, due to federally-declared disasters or other specific events, as legitimate extensions for calculating tax refund limits. This law attempts to alleviate some of the stress that accompanies disaster recovery, because let’s face it—dealing with natural calamities is hard enough without the added pressure of looming tax deadlines.
