---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1984"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1984"
heading: "Prioritization of marine debris in existing innovation and entrepreneurship programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1984"
units:
  - "Chapter 33A — Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction"
  - "Subchapter IV — Administration"
---

# §1984. Prioritization of marine debris in existing innovation and entrepreneurship programs


In carrying out any relevant innovation and entrepreneurship [programs](/usc/33/1981.md?p=11) that improve the innovation, effectiveness, and efficiency of the [Marine Debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6) [Program](/usc/33/1981.md?p=11) established under [section 1952](/usc/33/1952.md)[^1] of this title without undermining the purpose for which such [program](/usc/33/1981.md?p=11) was established, the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Commerce, the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Energy, the [EPA Administrator](/usc/33/1981.md?p=3), and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall prioritize efforts to combat [marine debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6), including by—

- (1) increasing innovation in methods and the effectiveness of efforts to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove [marine debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6); and
- (2) addressing the impacts of [marine debris](/usc/33/1981.md?p=6) on—
  - (A) the economy of the United States;
  - (B) the marine environment; and
  - (C) navigation safety.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–449, § 134, formerly § 10, as added Pub. L. 116–224, title I, § 101(3), Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1075; renumbered § 134 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 4(b)(1), 6(e), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1989, 1990.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 1952 of this title, referred to in text, was in the original “section 3”, and was translated as reading “section 101” of Pub. L. 109–449 to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 3 as 101 by Pub. L. 119–65, § 2(a)(2).

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1959 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 119–65.

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–65, § 6(e), substituted “EPA Administrator” for “Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency” in introductory provisions.