Senate Committee Advances $6M for Marine Debris Cleanup

A U.S. Senate committee has advanced a measure that would provide $6 million for marine debris clean-up, including debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

President Barack Obama had requested that amount as part of his budget proposal. It was included in a package advanced from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

Language also calls for the secretary of Commerce to submit a report detailing how federal agencies are preparing for and responding to the tsunami debris that is reaching U.S. shores, and how it is working with states, tribes and local governments.

Alaska Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski have pushed for better federal planning and a coordinated response in addressing the tsunami debris.