[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3919 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3919
To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure
that the Federal Government continues to implement and advance coastal
resiliency efforts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 23, 2019
Mr. Moulton (for himself and Mr. Graves of Louisiana) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure
that the Federal Government continues to implement and advance coastal
resiliency efforts, 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 ``Creating Opportunity And
Sustainability Through Science Act'' or the ``COASTS Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) coastal cities and communities are particularly
vulnerable to hazards and extreme weather events, accelerating
the degradation of natural and built infrastructure that
coastal economies and populations depend upon; and
(2) such degradation harms community resiliency and exposes
coastal cities and their inhabitants to more frequent and more
severe hazards, impacting the ecosystems that provide
livelihoods, food, and energy, and other essential benefits.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH
PROGRAMS.
(a) Coastal Science and Assessment: Competitive External
Research.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through
applicable National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
programs within the National Ocean Service, the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the National Marine
Fisheries Service, shall carry out an extramural competitively
awarded grants program focused on interdisciplinary coastal
resilience and sustainability.
(2) Objective.--The objective of the program shall be to
develop scalable, best practices--
(A) to prepare more resilient, sustainable cities
and resilient communities; and
(B) to reduce disaster recovery costs.
(3) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall conduct the program
in collaboration with business and industry, government
agencies, academic institutions, and coastal community
stakeholders.
(4) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this
subsection, an applicant must be an institution of higher
education, nonprofit organization, State, local, or Tribal
Government, for-profit organization, United States Territory,
or Federal agency that has statutory authority to receive
transfers of funds.
(b) Coastal Resilience Research Competitive Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall
annually award competitive grants for--
(A) activities that strengthen coastal communities;
and
(B) restoration of coastal habitats to provide
vital habitat for fish and strengthen the resilience of
coastal ecosystems.
(2) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to funding projects for--
(A) protecting life and critical infrastructure
that, if destroyed or damaged, would have a
debilitating impact on economic security, undermine
community resiliency and adaptation, and threaten
public health or safety;
(B) assessing the effects of local land-use
considerations on coastal and marine resources;
(C) developing decision-support tools useful to
coastal communities;
(D) determining societal, ecological, and
resiliency benefits of coastal restoration and natural,
nature-based, and man-made infrastructure, and how
these benefits affect the sustainability of coastal
ecosystems;
(E) citizen-science monitoring of coastal and
marine resources as part of efforts to protect coastal
communities;
(F) evaluating potential outcomes associated with
developing new commercial and recreational fishery
resources, including aquaculture and targeting invasive
and range-expanding species;
(G) monitoring and developing ecosystem-based
approaches to managing coastal ecosystems to promote
sustainability;
(H) assessing the capacity of human communities to
adapt to coastal hazards;
(I) assessing coastal vulnerability and risk;
(J) evaluating adaptation and restoration
approaches to reduce risk, including through the use of
natural, nature-based, and man-made features; and
(K) minimizing costs associated with damages
incurred from natural disasters, flooding, and sea
level rise.
SEC. 4. DONATIONS.
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, may accept and use donations of funds to
implement this Act.
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