[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 734 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 734

   To provide for agreements between Federal agencies to partner or 
transfer funds to accomplish erosion goals relating to the coastal area 
                 of Louisiana, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 6, 2005

  Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for agreements between Federal agencies to partner or 
transfer funds to accomplish erosion goals relating to the coastal area 
                 of Louisiana, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Together-Immediately Defeating 
Erosion Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, AND RESTORATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to encourage Federal 
agencies to carry out comprehensive, interagency projects relating to 
the conservation, protection, and restoration of the coastal area of 
the State of Louisiana.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Any funds authorized to be appropriated 
        under section 3 shall be used in a manner that is consistent 
        with a multi-agency, comprehensive conservation, protection, 
        and restoration program for the coastal area of Louisiana.
            (2) Secretary of commerce.--The Secretary of Commerce, 
        acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, shall use funds authorized to be appropriated 
        under section 3(a)--
                    (A) to collect data relating to the coastal area of 
                the State of Louisiana regarding--
                            (i) environmental restoration;
                            (ii) resource protection; and
                            (iii) protection and recovery of fisheries;
                    (B) to carry out a restoration project relating to 
                the coastal area of the State of Louisiana, as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate; or
                    (C) to enter into an agreement with another Federal 
                agency to partner or transfer funds to achieve the 
                purpose described in subsection (a).
            (3) Secretary of the interior.--The Secretary of the 
        Interior, acting through the Geological Survey, shall use funds 
        authorized to be appropriated under section 3(b)--
                    (A) to collect biological, ecological, 
                environmental, geological, and geographical data 
                relating to the coastal area of the State of Louisiana;
                    (B) to monitor and analyze the data collected under 
                subparagraph (A) or paragraph (2)(A);
                    (C) to carry out any other appropriate activity, as 
                determined by the Secretary, in accordance with 
                subsection (a); or
                    (D) to enter into an agreement with another Federal 
                agency to partner or transfer funds to achieve the 
                purpose described in subsection (a).

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Department of Commerce.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out section 2(b)(2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2016.
    (b) Department of the Interior.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out section 2(b)(3) $32,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2006 through 2016.
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