The ReSCUE Oceans Act is a federal program designed to research and develop ways to remove carbon dioxide from the ocean and atmosphere to help fight climate change. The bill establishes a coordinated effort across multiple federal agencies—primarily the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but also the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology—to study different marine carbon removal techniques and understand their real-world impacts.

The core of the program focuses on seven main approaches: ocean alkalinity enhancement, electrochemical engineering, macroalgae cultivation, nutrient fertilization, artificial upwelling and downwelling, coastal ecosystem carbon storage, and other emerging methods. The government will fund research, field trials, and demonstrations through grants to universities, state and local governments, tribal nations, and private companies. A key requirement is that all research must include robust monitoring to protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities, and must meaningfully engage with Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations whose lands and waters may be affected.

The bill also establishes standards and protocols for measuring how much carbon is actually removed and stored, which is essential for creating a reliable carbon credit market where companies can buy and sell verified carbon removal credits. All non-proprietary data collected must be made publicly available at no cost, though tribal nations retain control over their own data and can decide whether to share it. The program emphasizes coordination with international partners and requires that all activities follow strict research security standards.