STATEMENT: US Can Lead on Ocean Climate Innovation with Bipartisan ReSCUE Oceans Act

STATEMENT: US Can Lead on Ocean Climate Innovation with Bipartisan ReSCUE Oceans Act

Washington, DC (February 25, 2026) - Today in the U.S. Congress, Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) as well as Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Removing and Sequestering Carbon Unleashed in the Environment and Oceans (ReSCUE Oceans) Act.

The ReSCUE Oceans Act would provide additional federal funding and support to advance research, development, and field trials of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches - as the ocean presents significant carbon sequestration potential. These efforts are important because research shows limiting the worst impacts of climate change requires both greenhouse gas reductions and large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Below is a statement from Katie Lebling, Senior Associate in the World Resources Institute's U.S. Climate Program:

"The U.S. has the opportunity to lead the nascent, innovative industry of marine carbon dioxide removal by investing in necessary foundational research today. The potential is significant: the ocean could remove billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually, but more research is needed to better understand how effective various approaches are and their potential impacts on the environment and communities.

"The ReSCUE Oceans Act demonstrates there is bipartisan support for addressing this challenge and bolstering innovation across this field. We encourage other members of Congress to support the bipartisan ReSCUE Oceans Act and advance this bill in this Congress."