116 S2429 IS: Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-08-01
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)
This Act may be cited as the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. TITLE II—United States Coral Reef Task Force Sec. 201. Establishment. Sec. 202. Duties. Sec. 203. Membership. Sec. 204. Responsibilities of Federal agency members. Sec. 205. Working groups. Sec. 206. Definitions. TITLE III—Department of the Interior coral reef authorities Sec. 301. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance. <enum>I</enum><header>Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000</header> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4E64DFF36CED4F748286173033DFF932" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6401">16 U.S.C. 6401</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by striking sections 202 through 210 and inserting the following:</text>
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<section id="id9e596b9849ea4ba5b53599b28271821e"><enum>202.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text> <paragraph id="id8cfbc8bac24547a2b7a67339b83113ab"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to preserve, sustain, and restore the condition of United States coral reef ecosystems challenged by natural and human-accelerated changes, including increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and invasive species;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc999b1941cb34bfcad1cf54d4c163347"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote the science-based management and sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local communities and the Nation, including through improved integration and cooperation among Federal, State, and locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id86c92ae38f6c4007a85f971094fcc3de"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to develop sound scientific information on the condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and emerging threats to such ecosystems, and the efficacy of innovative tools, technologies, and strategies to restore such ecosystems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id98cf0d8ef92441c1b4112ae64a3a9b77"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to assist in the preservation of coral reefs by supporting consensus-driven State and community-based coral reef management, including conservation and restoration projects that empower local communities, small businesses, and nongovernmental organizations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idb03be03e3b9444808359b216c187843a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to provide financial resources, technical assistance, and scientific expertise to supplement and strengthen State and community-based management programs and conservation and restoration projects;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id30e4900ddb5c4b4fb337937b5158cc10"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to establish a formal mechanism for collecting and allocating monetary donations from the private sector to be used for coral reef conservation and restoration projects;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd24e8d2f61a0461eaf09dff10bcdf232"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to support the rapid and effective, science-based response to emergencies that imminently threaten coral reefs, such as coral disease outbreaks, invasive species, coral bleaching, natural disasters, vessel groundings or chemical spills, and other exigent circumstances; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id808973f46f284c88a1631e18dab5d16c"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to serve as a model for advancing similar international efforts to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems in the jurisdictions of United States allies and trading partners.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id92B04F1E65C04ED8B6D923C5A8D34B26"><enum>203.</enum><header>National coral reef resilience strategy</header>
<subsection id="idD59F44A782F641F3B299995E8C346DFF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019</short-title>, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in the Federal Register a national coral reef resilience strategy.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id39F1063275E6483E81FC34E1EB411496"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="id170FAC68012C4ACEB98C758183611F16"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of goals and objectives and an implementation plan for supporting—</text> <subparagraph id="idcf15c4b482a54c4d87f4f64665093b15"><enum>(A)</enum><text>future Federal coral reef management and restoration activities under section 205;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf172b5af64b649e89e793fec5e3447d9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the coral reef conservation program under section 221; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83699595465d4ab4b698f5e718844ccf"><enum>(C)</enum><text>research priorities for the coral reef cooperative institutes and coral reef research centers under section 223(c);</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD6EDB69191C34FEEAE497E5075E3C3E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>national maps of—</text> <subparagraph id="id5B1FAEEE0DE149BDAFD6E8E5325CC2F7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the current range and extent of coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99081CDF2DFF4A2F95CDD4FF47726545"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the historical range and extent of coral reef ecosystems; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf901fd96301a465f91d96da261e27b4d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prime habitat for restoring reef ecosystem structure and functions to benefit coastal communities and living marine resources; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB5ED15B7B2254794AF03C70604EB9306"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a discussion of—</text> <subparagraph id="id3B55C843A8D949D0B30C2FE5A1CF1CF2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>continuing and emerging threats to the resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF90BE4A07E5A4A8AA1F4302F9063408B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>national and regional gaps in coral reef ecosystem research, monitoring, and assessments;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDF610682B15946639A319D9521613CEF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the status of efforts to improve management, integration, and cooperation among Federal, State, Tribal, and locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2F339C27AB4A4355BCF08BD5BA3A2225"><enum>(D)</enum><text>efforts to manage and disseminate critical information, such as publicly accessible research, reports, datasets, and maps, including through interjurisdictional data sharing.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id14715ADFA7284EDF959F2586CE03DDEC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Revisions</header><text>The Administrator shall periodically, but not less frequently than every 20 years, review and revise the strategy required by subsection (a) as appropriate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idA09AEB24D772419A9FA8FD9C26673364"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text>In developing the strategy required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior and the Task Force.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id37d9b0eeeb264a9caaa14bf4194e17f9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of existing plan</header><text>At the discretion of the Administrator, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2018 Coral Reef Conservation Program Strategic Plan may be considered to fulfill the requirements of this section until January 1, 2040.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id8975c52d4cb841c5a601483ab00bfa9f"><enum>204.</enum><header>Federal coral reef action plans</header>
<subsection id="id7180d2e6bdba4670b152718ff75170a0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September 30, 2021, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of coral reef action plans for each individual management unit of a Federal agency specified in section 205(c) with jurisdiction over coral reef ecosystems and established for at least 5 years—</text>
<paragraph id="id8b414c56c39f4313a6a4d4e144c600e4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>developed and submitted to the Administrator by the Secretary of the Interior and the Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service, as applicable; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id799bad0b25234004ad5594ce6170ea2a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that meet the requirements of subsection (b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd231b0ad68444fb3acc422f0da5d48f5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for Federal coral reef action plans</header><text>A coral reef action plan of a management unit described in subsection (a) meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan includes—</text>
<paragraph id="id0d5f74ccdf5d4d6a837083bd3e512921"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of goals and objectives to be accomplished during the 5-year period following development of the plan and consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed in accordance with section 203; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id321c41b819ef40a18758601e0e2c4ebc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a discussion of—</text> <subparagraph id="iddfe107a53e0547cf9f6f19ddad9ddb87"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a review of such unit’s efforts and success in managing and restoring coral reef ecosystems under the previous coral reef action plan in effect as developed under this section, if applicable, and how such review informs the newly effective action plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide002b648b6324697a79b0b838602f202"><enum>(B)</enum><text>short- and mid-term coral reef conservation and restoration objectives for such unit’s coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a80c2eca8a84144beab1913452684a8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of whether such unit retains less than 50 percent of its historical living coral cover as of the date of the plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5cfbe7adc5b747be94e9d5260dce0836"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an updated adaptive management framework to inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcef04c1b8dfb4b64a185f8d3a2d1ec40"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216 for coral reef ecosystems within such unit, and a review of any circumstance that led to the activation of such plans within such unit, including an evaluation of the emergency responses;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6607e0eac9e44d4e8a19933c9ea41d48"><enum>(F)</enum><text>tools and strategies to address pollution and water quality impacts to coral reef ecosystems arising wholly from within the administrative boundaries of such unit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb9a1c9692af4d02bacf68e4cc6f3a5e"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the status of efforts to improve coral reef ecosystem management integration and cooperation among neighboring Federal, State, Tribal, or locally managed jurisdictions, including identification of existing research and monitoring activities that can be leveraged for coral reef status and trends assessments within such unit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5993a57076d243db94ef35a25c9b61dd"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a list of all coral reefs or ecologically significant units of coral reefs identified by coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) or subject to stewardship activities governed by coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212 during the preceding 5-year period within such unit;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4193c3ac9394c4e9bf14a93de396f31"><enum>(I)</enum><text>coral reef-related public outreach and education efforts;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id375ca7d9cb0d4d13a5096308d0d36d59"><enum>(J)</enum><text>an accounting of annual unit expenditures on coral reef management and restoration during the 5-year period preceding the date of the plan; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id957fb8cfd05544c9a4ad2d574742fa52"><enum>(K)</enum><text>estimated budgetary and other resource considerations necessary to carry out such plan.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb0bc01be5f6c4c65b6e110c828efd5bf"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Adoption of stewardship and emergency plans</header><text>In developing a coral reef action plan under this section, a management unit described in subsection (a) may adopt any coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212 and coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216 governing stewardship or emergency response activities within the administrative boundaries of such unit.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id50e2eb6ed88341159dfbbcd6137b0619"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text>In developing the action plans required by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior or the Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service may consult with the Administrator and the Task Force.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="iddc53ea61467e445fb2e81c53e824a18c"><enum>205.</enum><header>Federal coral reef management and restoration activities</header>
<subsection id="id07027267b0ab4c0b8571cf5f8b064f81"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may conduct activities described in subsection (b) to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems that are consistent with—</text>
<paragraph id="id115904B92C624C9A8EC07E7111F9E5AC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>all applicable laws governing resource management in Federal and State waters, including this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id28500d87ac88427f906c93cba76ec568"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed under section 203; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ida3131bee90344c01a8a41ecd1fea0f0d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Federal coral reef action plans in effect and developed under section 204.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc0f6ce539b06466a81ccb9c776af82ac"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities described</header><text>Activities described in this subsection are activities to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in subsection (c), including—</text>
<paragraph id="idfb3fc38c706742c7b604c7bebd935a1d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enhancing compliance with Federal laws that prohibit or regulate—</text> <subparagraph id="id251dd67760984da3bb26b9aa9474def9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the taking of coral products or species associated with coral reefs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf89a99f9efef43a2bdf63728f3bab976"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use and management of coral reef ecosystems;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id840bc4e761c1483cae1bd232583d49b1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>mapping of—</text>
<subparagraph id="iddc079a4cb4924aada4d0c6334ad849de"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the current range and extent of coral reef ecosystems;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5a8e205468e4878828f2554794da6e7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the historical range and extent of coral reef ecosystems; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id76a2d6e17e574bbc84139a901438cecd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prime habitat for restoring reef ecosystem structure and functions to benefit coastal communities and living marine resources;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0462390b3e884e0784f3544eca71a424"><enum>(3)</enum><text>long-term ecological monitoring of coral reef ecosystems;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id628aa24cab78480f9c2f62a79984fb22"><enum>(4)</enum><text>implementing species-specific recovery plans for listed coral species consistent with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> et seq.);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd457af8955f34bba890b2d566a509030"><enum>(5)</enum><text>restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id87fe5606e6b9484a951c13e5543552b5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>promoting ecologically sound navigation and anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to promote enhanced recreational access, near coral reefs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id451068cf01734b69809862d0a2cfbe41"><enum>(7)</enum><text>monitoring and responding to severe bleaching or mortality events, disease outbreaks, invasive species outbreaks, and significant maritime accidents, including chemical spill cleanup and the removal of grounded vessels.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida2dbda1e66e444fba3446f01512ba92a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Federal agencies specified</header><text>A Federal agency specified in this subsection is one of the following:</text> <paragraph id="id79bff5f9fdde4850911c8019867d0cd6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd2794131ff3b49a4a1f2448cc90afc9d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Park Service.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ida11b8fb42b4e47c9b06cacab8d24c58c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id60755d2c25524057895f8c1f4d062f31"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcd7d778de5f74500bd39d73925e2786f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Coordination with the Department of the Interior</header><text>The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of the Interior regarding the conduct of any activities to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idec4946b7e4634ecbac0472776d6d3f1f"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header>
<paragraph id="idFA8A03A2565B49ED8A3DE12AC2C51DAC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>At the discretion of the Secretary, the Administrator may enter into cooperative agreements with States to fund coral reef conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the jurisdiction of such States that are consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed under section 203.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2ade5e4713304e4a839b17e0f66af966"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The Administrator may not provide more than $500,000 in total funding under paragraph (1) to any one State in a fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id27058c7ac396420cbd627b9892d2fc07"><enum>206.</enum><header>State coral reef management and restoration strategies</header>
<subsection id="idD2EC36A3BB5942D187293876BCB04330"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September 30, 2022, and every 20 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of State coral reef management and restoration strategies—</text>
<paragraph id="id40C219D530C44370AE485721F07F5142"><enum>(1)</enum><text>developed and voluntarily submitted to the Administrator by covered States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id748541E7CD4F4A9D8E3457550E780D73"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that meet the requirements of subsection (b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6DF3E4591DD04803B55DD8A23AFCA213"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for State strategies</header><text>A coral reef management and restoration strategy of a covered State meets the requirements of this subsection if the strategy includes—</text>
<paragraph id="id720B219D57EB4C3DA8B6B8CD38AB06BA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of goals and objectives to be accomplished during the 20-year period following the development of the strategy; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id32AAEB5E979F4B0A98A46B913A65154E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a discussion of—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id3CB0CA22BD4C46F9893CB4D7D6988EE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>updated State mapping of—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="id704B2646CA854DF89633447CEB12714C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the current range and extent of coral reef ecosystems;</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="idE4FC494FDCF04B4592859F0A9357BB3F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the historical range and extent of coral reef ecosystems; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id8d7bfdd914d9458d8692c7d858116ebf"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>prime habitat for restoring reef ecosystem functions to benefit coastal communities and living marine resources;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09FF47700194478195649106C3EB76AF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>continuing and emerging threats to the resilience of coral reef ecosystems within such State;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3FC99B63A6744583BF1041D9E620D03D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>statewide gaps in research, monitoring, and assessment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE7B448FBF35940078733E4EBB7E745E3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>long-term State conservation and restoration goals, including the status of efforts to improve management integration and cooperation among Federal, State, Tribal, and locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01028963a0be44a79da855b91cc03a9c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the role of coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) within such State, and the role of such partnerships in the coral reef management and restoration strategy of such State; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id435dee9aaf2f406ca72701a1f8c6860c"><enum>(F)</enum><text>efforts to manage and disseminate critical information such as publicly accessible research, reports, datasets, and maps, including through interjurisdictional data sharing.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id04F391CC0EE24B05AD0D0B0AEC557DD3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>Upon request by a covered State, the Administrator shall make reasonable efforts to provide technical assistance, including through consultation with the Task Force, in the development of the coral reef management and restoration strategy of such State under this subsection.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idB110167B8D434519A4A172C89512D7A6"><enum>207.</enum><header>State coral reef action plans</header>
<subsection id="idDC6256CE1EBB4E05A352D48C1CE17874"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September 30, 2023, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of State coral reef action plans—</text>
<paragraph id="id38E5FD6DFB7B495D8ABEA0FEF487FD85"><enum>(1)</enum><text>developed and voluntarily submitted to the Administrator by covered States; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idCA5E2538E69941D89188CA18580BF456"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that meet the requirements of subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id25408D758E06479788FD613C69F7CFDF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for State plans</header><text>A State coral reef action plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan includes—</text> <paragraph id="ida47fb89aa52144f3ae82c534a8a4490a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of goals and objectives to be accomplished during the 5-year period following development of the plan and consistent with such covered State’s coral reef management and restoration strategy in effect as developed in accordance with section 206, if any; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id8590D1EC16904DD296ED359F584F4B0D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a discussion of—</text> <subparagraph id="id229cbd5c638349caa3ccf2869887edb7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a review of the most recent State coral reef action plan assessment developed under section 208, as applicable, and how such assessment informs the newly submitted action plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f7e671b8e724266bd4687887a7986c5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>short- and mid-term State coral reef conservation and restoration objectives;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72f49f51a74b40df88c0595805d870f6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of whether such State retains less than 50 percent of its historical living coral cover as of the date of the plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida8a929418596407c9ac96ad9696b18a7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an updated adaptive management framework to inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id05ce70ab364c46268a99b82c51ccdfbc"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216 in effect for coral reef ecosystems within such State, and a review of any circumstance that led to the activation of such plans within such State, including an evaluation of the emergency responses;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2695f28098374b18a547e1f793c33512"><enum>(F)</enum><text>tools and strategies to address pollution and water quality impacts to coral reef ecosystems within such State;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4377d2931e3046b6a34e01cda2af6082"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the status of efforts to improve coral reef ecosystem management integration and cooperation among Federal, State, Tribal, or locally managed jurisdictions, including identification of existing research and monitoring activities that can be leveraged for coral reef status and trends assessments within such State;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id08e1d55ba94c4d5d9eea4de72121d5be"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a list of all coral reefs or ecologically significant units of coral reefs identified by coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) or subject to stewardship activities governed by coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212 during the preceding 5-year period within such State;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id985b33882ac94b50aa63431229cbfeea"><enum>(I)</enum><text>coral reef-related public outreach and education efforts;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf6215796ffde4668b30224edfb9c8ba3"><enum>(J)</enum><text>an accounting of such State’s annual expenditures on coral reef management and restoration during the 5-year period preceding the date of the plan; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd7d2e789ebc74f33b0b448cc59132969"><enum>(K)</enum><text>estimated budgetary and other resource considerations necessary to carry out such plan.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="iddde97cbb163a40f782bf1596936f695d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Adoption of stewardship and emergency plans</header><text>In developing a coral reef action plan under this section, a covered State may adopt any coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212 and coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216 governing stewardship or emergency response activities within the administrative boundaries of the State.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="ida934ce389e2a444b8c1a5e0ac4c3c390"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>Upon request by a covered State, the Administrator shall make reasonable efforts to provide technical assistance, including through consultation with the Task Force, in the development of the State's coral reef action plan under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id8e4b82b41cb24433b3a167747673d772"><enum>208.</enum><header>State coral reef action plan assessments</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56B3FD99440C4C8DA3CA05613726016B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September 30, 2027, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and publish in the Federal Register an assessment, for each covered State with an action plan developed under section 207 and in effect, of—</text>
<paragraph id="idf44702d0c4a245d7bd755f253554bad1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the capacity of such covered State to manage coral reef ecosystems in the State;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idd8b552cdeb3e475e941f37fbbe166313"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a review of such covered State’s efforts and success in managing and restoring coral reef ecosystems under the previous coral reef action plan developed under section 207 and in effect, as applicable; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ideb863e6f02c04b459fb40049b82be47b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a review of any circumstance that led to the activation of a coral reef emergency plan certified under section 216 and in effect within such covered State, including an evaluation of the emergency responses.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99b1141f182c485981669171cef9f309"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text>In conducting an assessment under subsection (a) with respect to a covered State, the Administrator may consult with the covered State, the Task Force, coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) operating within the covered State, and impacted Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd2c8610ec97c4bc9aaf55e267022858a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use in development of State coral reef action plans</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should conduct assessments under subsection (a) with the goal of informing and supporting the development of subsequent State coral reef action plans developed under section 207.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id3fb71ba062c4409aa4b88d5109dc5a27"><enum>209.</enum><header>State block grants</header>
<subsection id="idc572c418ff3e440593e3db61c241bb92"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall provide block grants of financial assistance to covered States in response to annual proposals for funds to support State activities that would further the implementation of State coral reef management and restoration strategies developed under section 206, State coral reef action plans developed under section 207, and coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idd23333c96253465ca0463dd9a93c2366"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>A covered State is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the State has in effect—</text> <paragraph id="id411e5e14643040808dcdcc55d439c2d6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a State coral reef management and restoration strategy in effect published by the Administrator in the Federal Register under section 206 and a State coral reef action plan in effect published by the Administrator in the Federal Register under section 207; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id918f52de93424f978ddcfa44349310f0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at least one coral reef stewardship plan certified under section 212 in effect within its administrative boundaries.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id44cc0434ac2d4ff9a3a9cd1f1ab65554"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Funding requirements</header>
<paragraph id="id05805b44326e46cc95b7af9159aef26d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) or subsection (d), the amount of Federal funds provided to a covered State as a block grant under this section may not exceed the total amount of the annual expenditures of the State on the implementation of its State coral reef management and restoration strategy under section 206, its State coral reef action plan under section 207, and its responsibilities to coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id73e31fdeeb5342e4a63f585d2aa237e0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>Any Federal funds provided to a natural resource management authority of a State or other State government authority under this section or section 205, 213, 218, 219, or 221 shall not be considered State expenditures for the purposes of calculating the limitation under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd05a51a8f4dc4810810fb91aac0a985f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in determining the amount of Federal funds a covered State receives as a block grant under this section, the Administrator may consider the following factors:</text>
<subparagraph id="ideceffe5f0fd6406cb09252f9f6311076"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The quality of such State’s funding proposal under subsection (a).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e52cf544d8b43aa9302e7763540f87c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The findings from such State’s most recent action plan assessment under section 208, if applicable.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id125d88859cb744ac9f0ad823a0e1b20c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Estimates of direct and indirect economic activity supported by coral reef ecosystems within such State.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida1a3d31c0c3c4e7ea45ee320ce3798ee"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Waivers of certain requirements</header><text>The Administrator may waive the eligibility requirements under subsection (b), in full or in part, through fiscal year 2023.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idED569D5586A0464AB94CE4B8E39FC368"><enum>210.</enum><header>Coral reef stewardship partnerships</header>
<subsection id="id44bd88f5d84941ecbb1f9e4e7bc01a31"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coral reef stewardship partnerships</header><text>The Administrator shall establish standards for the formation of partnerships among government and community members for the stewardship of coral reefs (in this title referred to as <quote>coral reef stewardship partnerships</quote>) in accordance with this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id87c244d3f7fd4140a11d73d626b2578e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Identification of reefs</header><text>Each coral reef stewardship partnership shall identify with particularity the coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that will be the subject of its stewardship activities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id7847fc532cb64a9fba0d102cc6ad2b0f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Membership for Federal reefs</header><text>A coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is fully or partially under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 205(c), shall, at a minimum, include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id1a4f9cbf4e8f42f48495b172f6f0d5c7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>That Federal agency, a representative of which shall serve as chair of the coral reef stewardship partnership.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id55488a21fc96497485ef6221deeb86ea"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A State, county, or Tribal organization's resource management agency.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id96dbd7d22d644a9d8269c0429e35fcd1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A coral reef research center described in section 223(c)(2) or other institution of higher education.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide705653bf9364f0bb263940c9949d4bc"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A nongovernmental organization.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id1f97b15cba4c4b88aa45039057d66847"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Other members as appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id362737f0c8b3492986d5c5ae22d37d2b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Membership for non-Federal reefs</header>
<paragraph id="idAC24D8943F2F4C9EB6D7E75F213DB73A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is not under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 205(c) shall, at a minimum, include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id1465f9b1ed3a458ca07bec86e647ddcc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A State, county, or Tribal organization's resource management agency, a representative of which shall serve as the chair of the coral reef stewardship partnership.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf49ef48ca1fe487bb749470cd18bfd18"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A coral reef research center described in section 223(c)(2) or another institution of higher education.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide10f375bfb764d888f2212a4ab598e99"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A nongovernmental organization.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae3da72de82e48079b7ffa6121ec8e75"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Other members as appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id73c5441fbd35484dbde287037c547317"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional members</header><text>A coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) may also include one or more Federal agencies that have a management interest in the identified reef that is subject to the partnership’s stewardship activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3cef3588fad54f37a18a666b9828fcee"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Certification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A group seeking recognition as a coral reef stewardship partnership under this section may petition the Administrator for certification as a coral reef stewardship partnership, and the Administrator shall accept or reject the petition for certification not later than 30 days after receiving the petition.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0e67a7cb9bf8495c8be9bc4e6124e5c7"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Multiple groups</header>
<paragraph id="id8D7DEC2B0C834178A44ED903366A45B4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each coral reef, or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef, may be the subject of the stewardship activities of only one coral reef stewardship partnership.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9502154cf10945b4a1549266a9a18c5c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedures required</header><text>The Administrator shall develop procedures to govern the disposition of petitions from multiple groups seeking to identify the same coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef as the subject of the stewardship activities of a coral reef stewardship partnership.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91d3d02fb56d4d1f8f43c5665d83583e"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act</header><text>The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to coral reef stewardship partnerships.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id7B659CC8385547E09C036A33E506DCF8"><enum>211.</enum><header>Coral reef stewardship plans</header>
<subsection id="idea31bc270dcf4c5f99ebb08a08a01ca4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reef stewardship plans</header><text>A coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e) may develop plans for the stewardship of the coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is the subject of the stewardship activities of the partnership (in this title referred to as <quote>coral reef stewardship plans</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id806ffa8941af4de593cd0c523ed7838a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan requirements</header><text>A coral reef stewardship plan shall include the following elements:</text> <paragraph id="idb511324bb66a417da1e939f7759d3804"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Tools and strategies to address pollution and water quality impacts to the identified coral reef ecosystems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id64a6c5f249f444c0b8ffb8adc7c763e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An updated adaptive management framework to inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id835f0d32c5264113a83e5f1b43b911fb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Short- and mid-term coral reef stewardship objectives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idfc1f2d401d8d4c92af3a6b1d3931992d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Coral reef-related public outreach and education efforts.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id39640ed6075a447e84a628ece3542d1e"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Establishment of roles and responsibilities for implementing the plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4e3b04b325294e5bbfa6b4fb3fdb8aa1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Evidence of engagement with interested stakeholder groups in the development of the plan.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idb157129a631341af802756af808159e5"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Any other information the Administrator considers to be necessary for evaluating the plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4e3471a402a24f2a849eabdd13af379f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Best stewardship practices</header><text>The Administrator shall convene representatives of coral reef stewardship partnerships not less than once a year to share experiences and identify best practices for developing and implementing coral reef stewardship plans.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id95987454351C4A3DB77FD95AA8E243AA"><enum>212.</enum><header>Stewardship plan certifications</header>
<subsection id="id04dc082269ec497f80988d0fdb8952ec"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission to administrator for certification</header><text>A coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e) may submit a coral reef stewardship plan developed under section 211 to the Administrator for certification.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8ab74af4451c4138a8c4c8664f8aefb7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Evaluation</header>
<paragraph id="id9639545B19B3418A8BF454DD8E36E58E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text> <subparagraph id="id0e21f30f423a443e8c4331e7889a235d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>evaluate a plan submitted under subsection (a) to determine whether the plan complies with the requirements of section 211(b); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB952B00798F14DEC8790BD7B8419CC01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grant or deny the petition for certification not later than 120 days (except as provided by paragraph (2)) after receiving the petition.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idae84a65ea6cd4e3786fb7c29bb25b3ec"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Administrator may extend the date provided for under paragraph (1)(B) by not more than 60 days.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida369dccf7ef545b6a752c4cc3b70bbd5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text>If the Administrator denies a petition for certification submitted under subsection (a) by a coral reef stewardship partnership, the partnership may, not later than 30 days after receiving notice of the denial, appeal the denial to the Secretary. Not later than 60 days after receiving an appeal under this subsection, the Secretary shall grant or deny the appeal.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id15c387ea88bb488b873dfd48bacce2a9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recertification</header><text>The certification of a coral reef stewardship plan under this section shall expire on the date that is 5 years after the certification was granted. A coral reef stewardship partnership may submit an updated version of such a plan for recertification prior to the expiration of the certification of the plan under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idb833634371ff47be9153105e7ad52c68"><enum>213.</enum><header>Coral Reef Stewardship Fund</header>
<subsection id="id6972056113d04fd19481ab7581e9b304"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To enter into agreements</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this section referred to as the <quote>Foundation</quote>), authorizing the Foundation to receive, hold, and administer funds received pursuant to this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id872367CCE3DB4E898AC035E2F84790BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The Foundation shall invest, reinvest, and otherwise administer the funds received pursuant to this section and maintain such funds and any interest or revenues earned in a separate interest bearing account, to be known as the <quote>Coral Reef Stewardship Fund</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Fund</quote>), established by the Foundation solely to support coral reef stewardship partnership activities that—</text>
<paragraph id="id6f1e5c9b0e9a4ebc9a007668a5385d19"><enum>(1)</enum><text>further the purposes of this title; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idd7d2db0bfe394ddaad75927bd5dc71c9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are consistent with—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida61fe653f8714fc1bc9870805024faac"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed under section 203;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d9c46185e6b4b6e8dc17dee92d064da"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the State coral reef management and restoration strategy in effect, if any, as developed under section 206 by the covered State in which such activities will be carried out;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8161b9d4663548a6bc1c000a4476f758"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the State coral reef action plan in effect, if any, as developed under section 207 by the covered State in which such activities will be carried out;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9337e96177714b4aa9f898033a17cb68"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Federal coral reef action plans in effect, if any, as developed under section 204 by a Federal agency with management jurisdiction of a coral reef ecosystem to be impacted by such activities, if applicable; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb66730f9410d40f88d3674dd279faa90"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the coral reef stewardship plan in effect as certified under section 212 governing such stewardship activities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6c8a224a4f5e4598a28d1998e934b1fa"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization To solicit donations</header>
<paragraph id="idFD99E70763754EEE892BD94C112AE78A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, donations of services) to further the purposes of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDFAEBC06F31D4EFB9844C5FBFC4C0DA5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deposits in Fund</header><text>Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBFAFBF8EB0194DFA9281360515F9C5A2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notification required</header><text>Not later than 30 days after funds are deposited in the Fund under paragraph (2), the Foundation shall notify the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives of the source and amount of such funds.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5d4a2e40b8cd4198b8d309e0a5347abe"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review of performance</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct a continuing review of the grant program administered by the Foundation under this section. Each review shall include a written assessment concerning the extent to which the Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of—</text>
<paragraph id="id5bd7d792915842d5a13cb17a845f8b73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>this section; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idf7d55af109054eb2bdfc41ed275a5506"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed under section 203.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idda6cf38d5c7142f9b7e10578a3dea5e5"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>Under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator may transfer funds appropriated to carry out this title to the Foundation. Amounts received by the Foundation under this subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in money, services, or property) made to the Foundation by private persons, State or local government agencies, or Tribal organizations.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idfad6fffd9a6149e2b73eecc569adcd51"><enum>214.</enum><header>Coral reefs as maintained or engineered infrastructure</header>
<subsection id="id14c600e2c3ed46c886e28d5686662868"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coral reefs that are the subject of certified coral reef plans</header><text>Any coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is the subject of stewardship activities of a coral reef stewardship partnership plan in effect as certified under section 212 or a coral reef emergency plan in effect as certified under section 216 shall be eligible for public assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5121">42 U.S.C. 5121</external-xref> et seq.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0d51c87b5e57402ebe619e0dffef7a43"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Other coral reefs</header><text>Any coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef not described in subsection (a) may be considered eligible for public assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id7864f45fee28486ea7bc11991a0a0c1e"><enum>215.</enum><header>Coral reef emergency plans</header>
<subsection id="id14df6fbe49b641c7b00788901193552f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Individual management units of Federal agencies specified in section 205(c) with jurisdiction over coral reef ecosystems, covered States, and coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) may develop plans (in this title referred to as <quote>coral reef emergency plans</quote>) for the rapid and effective response to circumstances that pose an urgent and immediate threat to the coral reef ecosystems subject to the stewardship activities of such management unit, covered State, or coral reef stewardship partnership.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idf126285befac4cd596add7445245feb3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coral reef emergencies</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a list and criteria for circumstances that pose an urgent and immediate threat to coral reefs (in this title referred to as <quote>coral reef emergencies</quote>), including—</text>
<paragraph id="idbef9052b6e11434aba505a869f2a12c6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id4238944ceb004196ae1797103c27856a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive species;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0154f9f38caa494cb527ad4b7772daad"><enum>(3)</enum><text>new and ongoing coral bleaching events;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id58f9f8950eea49e48f619ea2a5c75153"><enum>(4)</enum><text>natural disasters;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id52c4ae549fff4e78800466395d3898de"><enum>(5)</enum><text>man-made disasters, including vessel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction accidents; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id833015240492448dafa92674bfda7a6f"><enum>(6)</enum><text>other exigent circumstances.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id515c64806c23426983defc46a7a7d647"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Best response practices</header><text>The Administrator shall develop guidance on best practices to respond to coral reef emergencies. Such best practices shall be—</text>
<paragraph id="idCF1F6AE972CD40188246F92FC41D243A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>based on the best available science and integrated with evolving innovative technologies; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1DA9A6A0B1E94574ABC5C270638E8C52"><enum>(2)</enum><text>updated not less frequently than once every 5 years.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id08932a7fdba84332b64cbd0b69eea9d4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Plan requirements</header><text>A coral reef emergency plan shall include the following elements:</text>
<paragraph id="id5a061d8e748c4b93a4317718526d7dcd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of particular threats, and the proposed responses, consistent with the best practices developed under subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc6580274ffde45139c25fce7069c58ad"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A delineation of roles and responsibilities for executing such plan.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide6140dd356f04b0db179de44407cb79c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Evidence of engagement with interested stakeholder groups, as applicable, in the development of such plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idda9db7aaa75b4321b3695aa30c52f192"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Any other information the Administrator considers to be necessary for evaluating such plan.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2283eb493a89479c8be20b4682c1503e"><enum>216.</enum><header>Emergency plan certifications</header> <subsection id="id01c6d511628f43fa8c6201c06040e032"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission to administrator for certification</header><text>Federal agencies specified in subsection 205(c), covered States, and coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e) may submit coral reef emergency plans developed under section 215 to the Administrator for certification.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idc4b325f149db4c6b8b932d910d80ba22"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Evaluation</header>
<paragraph id="id1eda1f39ed4e405d9c0c49ab3e9f4e55"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text> <subparagraph id="idebb2f8e434804dae85c37ba44737214d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>evaluate a plan submitted under subsection (a) to determine whether the plan complies with the requirements of section 215(d); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id71222b7df56e43c2b990f998794f5570"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grant or deny the petition for certification not later than 120 days (except as provided by paragraph (2)) after receiving the petition.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4303be7587dd4cd6afdf62aa24316c65"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Administrator may extend the date provided for under paragraph (1)(B) by not more than 60 days.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id510e1a76b80a4ac08e1c72d8b7db1ed3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text>If the Administrator denies a petition for certification submitted under subsection (a), the petitioning entity may, not later than 30 days after receiving notice of the denial, appeal the denial to the Secretary. Not later than 60 days after receiving an appeal under this subsection, the Secretary shall grant or deny the appeal.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id57692fa5cffe4c458e00c0ca5608a96b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recertification</header><text>The certification of a coral reef emergency plan under this section shall expire on the date that is 5 years after the certification was granted. The petitioning entity may submit an updated version of such a plan for recertification prior to the expiration of the certification of the plan under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ide3128d5f17ce42fc8fb2bf95c6679d8c"><enum>217.</enum><header>Environmental review</header>
<subsection id="id75dec099861a4d26ac68c265578871d4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this Act may be construed to supersede or modify the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6b558026ce724ee086848ec5b76e13b8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Environmental assessments</header><text>To the extent permissible under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Administrator may conduct an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under that Act with respect to coral reef emergency plans developed under section 215 or certified under section 216.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6064781cc42f4906bef48d516c40e686"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Guidance and outreach</header><text>The Administrator shall issue guidance and conduct outreach with respect to the implementation of this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idced6ffda680440dd9908e12b52f11a1c"><enum>218.</enum><header>Coral Reef Emergency Fund</header>
<subsection id="id632b5cdac04e43a4ba3b38c46c791907"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To enter into agreements</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this section referred to as the <quote>Foundation</quote>), authorizing the Foundation to receive, hold, and administer funds received pursuant to this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id8BAD2229C6ED4DDBAF80D42B4CC8DC6A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The Foundation shall invest, reinvest, and otherwise administer funds received pursuant to this section and maintain such funds and any interest or revenues earned in a separate interest-bearing account, to be known as the <quote>Coral Reef Emergency Fund</quote> (in this section referred as the <quote>Fund</quote>), established by the Foundation solely to support rapid and effective responses to coral reef emergencies by Federal agencies specified in subsection 205(c), covered States, and coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e), and as otherwise consistent with this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id518245B7CD204A90BBA70957D3FF3864"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization To solicit donations</header>
<paragraph id="id7E0414AF825A49B291D34B0AA964D82A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, donations of services) to further the purposes of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEB327E8C6D1046DE8CD00AA421433648"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deposits in Fund</header><text>Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE2B24663CE044DB4A773F2340490B0DA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notification required</header><text>Not later than 30 days after funds are deposited in the Fund under paragraph (2), the Foundation shall notify the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives of the source and amount of such funds.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id61db3c124acb4c9d8b6289450b52d1bf"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review of performance</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct a continuing review of the grant program administered by the Foundation under this section. Each review shall include a written assessment concerning the extent to which the Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id64772a5826f94847ae0f04fcecfa6b83"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>Under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator may transfer funds appropriated to carry out this title to the Foundation. Amounts received by an organization under this subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in money, services, or property) made to the organization by private persons, State or local government agencies, or Tribal organizations.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id004f4c41d59641e69deb23993985da04"><enum>219.</enum><header>Emergency assistance</header>
<subsection id="id5cc4a75ebd2645099682ca0b6f9b924f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coral reef emergency declarations</header>
<paragraph id="idfd7037f34176466997feacc3eadcf518"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sua sponte declaration</header><text>The Secretary may determine and declare a coral reef emergency.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id97dcad475fb2443a80bc865d5f00be7a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Petitions</header><text>If a State or a coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e) believes that a coral reef emergency has occurred, and is impacting coral reefs or ecologically significant units of coral reefs subject to the coral reef stewardship activities of the State or partnership, the State or partnership may petition the Secretary for a declaration of a coral reef emergency.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1c8242c6bbd8434095e8b23c5ab14d1a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Evaluation and action</header>
<subparagraph id="id72a2d7213aab46a9a123351945744f31"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after receiving a petition under paragraph (2) (except as provided in subparagraph (B)), the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="id296b3e02efea40909bcbb21913f89990"><enum>(i)</enum><text>evaluate the petition to determine whether a coral reef emergency has occurred; and</text> </clause><clause id="idd13faf12f26247ab99320406a6146b5d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>declare a coral reef emergency or deny the petition.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4b42bf43617d4797869bb93f2fe4d383"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Administrator may extend the deadline provided for under subparagraph (A) by not more than 15 days.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id65aa0616df054c198244cf74ca866eac"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text>If the Secretary denies a petition for an emergency declaration submitted under paragraph (2) by a State or coral reef stewardship partnership, the State or partnership may, not later than 15 days after receiving notice of the denial, appeal the denial to the Secretary. Not later than 15 days after receiving an appeal under this paragraph, the Secretary shall grant or deny the appeal.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2175550e5e2743478a8be80a9ea4494e"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Revocation</header><text>The Secretary may revoke any declaration of a coral reef emergency in whole or in part after determining that circumstances no longer require an emergency response.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9b29148c76bc4bab9dd9bc2ca3bf10fc"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Recovery of emergency funding</header><text>The Administrator may seek compensation from negligent parties to recover emergency funds expended in excess of $500,000 under this section as a result of an emergency declaration arising from direct impacts to coral reefs from man-made disasters or accidents.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida6a14e5ab37340729d5c97afe923eb45"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grant authority</header>
<paragraph id="idA2C4250B15D643BDABCDF861A6DCFE10"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Upon the declaration of a coral reef emergency under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide grants to carry out proposals that meet the requirements of paragraph (2) to implement coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id05b45a1b56254b8a8401740488b8c8fb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A proposal for a grant under this subsection to implement a coral reef emergency plan shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6199259d90c94bcf9edbe9a53c3b2d55"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the name of the individual or entity submitting the proposal;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id244448b3bbd4459a8f615efd54a27f51"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a copy of the coral reef emergency plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c39c0f6ea704b3eb9449555d6dfaf25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the qualifications of the individuals and entities who will implement the plan;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id453e247b27794822819df7221f99cb42"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an estimate of the funds and time required to complete the implementation of the plan; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a3e9e045ffc42fdbbd83cadf105a8a2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any other information the Secretary considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the proposal for a grant under this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf227f5027ae94213b2382651763aa77d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Review</header><text>Not later than 30 days after receiving a proposal for a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall review the proposal and determine if the proposal meets the criteria requirements of paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2713c9e73a8a426cb6ba3e66d84710d2"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Concurrent review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual or entity seeking a grant under this subsection may submit a project proposal under paragraph (2) to the Secretary at any time following the submission of a petition for an emergency declaration under subsection (a)(2) that is applicable to coral reefs or ecologically significant units of coral reefs subject to the coral reef stewardship activities of the individual or entity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida2e131f2088a4182a78923f8fa47ee59"><enum>220.</enum><header>Vessel grounding inventory</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other Federal agencies, may maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents involving United States coral reefs, including a description of—</text>
<paragraph id="id699401289d2140d199586411933ec529"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the impacts of each such incident;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide8b0220a331d48d789758557e5c89fb0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>vessel and ownership information relating to each such incident, if available;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id40596fd899ac465c89b36d863fd198df"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the estimated cost of removal, mitigation, or restoration relating to each such incident;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide54dfa25b9964beca5a72f72c1144d83"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the response actions taken by the owner of the vessel, the Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or other Federal or State agency representatives;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id035447fd345a4ca190a2aa6cf991a712"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the status of the response actions, including the dates of—</text> <subparagraph id="id83013f85969e47caa1865f3f4acc8776"><enum>(A)</enum><text>vessel removal;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideabdca4ebf6c4209b7c4e2be9aa1e261"><enum>(B)</enum><text>mitigation or restoration activities, including whether an applicable coral reef emergency plan as certified under section 216 was implemented; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idadbdcec8a1ae4fc8b3471d740990f27c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any actions taken to prevent future grounding incidents; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb2990231862348d9b1f4167e74138572"><enum>(6)</enum><text>recommendations for additional navigational aids or other mechanisms for preventing future grounding incidents.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID52CAEEA56918434E81AA44A544B430FB"><enum>221.</enum><header>Coral reef conservation program</header>
<subsection id="id7835463bd1e64221a60ecc9660cf1846"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants</header><text>The Administrator shall provide grants of financial assistance for projects for the conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems (in this section referred to as <quote>coral reef projects</quote>) for proposals approved by the Administrator in accordance with this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id09f93f1a94c34ec3b398b0b6cd16b27c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header>
<paragraph id="idF13A3819BB3642B4982B4D458F09249F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An entity described in paragraph (2) may submit to the Administrator a proposal for a coral reef project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE17564A12C634F16B258EF38BE41B765"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Entities described</header><text>An entity described in this paragraph is—</text> <subparagraph id="id70B461184A104DFAB45FBFA69DF7BC99"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a natural resource management authority of a State or local government or Tribal organization—</text>
<clause id="id367B4C5E61E14228A0AE342C496D4D80"><enum>(i)</enum><text>with responsibility for coral reef management; or</text>
</clause><clause id="id8C52F8B80BB5475C969790CEEF095B8A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the activities of which directly or indirectly affect coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id645ada79dc784695901b9e9c6fc2b7dd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e) seeking to implement a coral reef stewardship plan certified under section 212;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id494793ea32294a4eab0ad099c29cd0c8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a coral reef research center designated under section 223(c)(2); or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB73D0CD1D9B94337808C9148016EC6FA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>another educational or nongovernmental research institution with demonstrated expertise in the conservation or restoration of coral reefs in practice or through significant contributions to the body of existing scientific research on coral reefs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID88919B9E9EE14EC08FE3DC6A9E37F516"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Project proposals</header><text>Each proposal for a grant under this section for a coral reef project shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="IDD042D90E5B2A4CA89F91288116B2DED8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The name of the individual or entity responsible for conducting the project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0E7CE8BA9E3642E28085660F5845585D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A description of the qualifications of the individual or entity.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ID76A7DE44350548688383478F5A79B8EC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A succinct statement of the purposes of the project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID782C12D203B24CA1AF182FF05579475E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An estimate of the funds and time required to complete the project.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ID2E6464515B094A359DD1D643B1DF76EE"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Evidence of support for the project by appropriate representatives of States or other government jurisdictions in which the project will be conducted.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID822181153368426389F88682907A2279"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available to the applicant.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ID9A44139BD4E349CEB2702ACD301B2D4A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A description of how the project meets one or more of the criteria under subsection (e)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide9532dd8ba904f3ba490cc8753674a89"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In the case of a proposal submitted by a coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e), a description of how the project aligns with the coral reef stewardship plan in effect as certified under section 212.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id48AE0D8B9E2A41989A0E9F644A2A3345"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Any other information the Administrator considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for a grant under this subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDC068F9DD56144B14847D0C8B12793B49"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header>
<paragraph id="id2e39b176a14f4e5489bde1fe888770a7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall review each coral reef project proposal submitted under this section to determine if the project meets the criteria set forth in subsection (e).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide1b91697df65419e9b0794aed536c23d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prioritization of restoration projects</header><text>The Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of grants for applicable projects that meet the criteria for approval under subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) of subsection (e)(2) that are proposed to be conducted within the administrative boundaries of an individual management unit of a Federal agency specified in section 205(c) or a covered State, if that unit or covered State retains less than 50 percent of its historical living coral cover as of the date of the proposal, as determined by the Federal coral reef action plan or State coral reef action plan in effect as developed under section 204 or 208, respectively.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idade7d08a32d94121b4dc6b228f0227db"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Review; approval or disapproval</header><text>Not later than 180 days after receiving a proposal for a coral reef project under this section, the Administrator shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDADBF8AC729AE4F279DC91FFC62061E0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>request and consider written comments on the proposal from each Federal agency, State government, Tribal organization, or other government jurisdiction, including the relevant regional fishery management councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1801">16 U.S.C. 1801</external-xref> et seq.), or any National Marine Sanctuary, with jurisdiction or management authority over coral reef ecosystems in the area where the project is to be conducted, including the extent to which the project is consistent with locally established priorities, unless such entities were directly involved in the development of the project proposal;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4054897838F64AAE90D85CA245CEE213"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide for the merit-based peer review of the proposal and require standardized documentation of that peer review;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2DA377FB5FF149E69A613C12E17B99C6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>after considering any written comments and recommendations based on the reviews under subparagraphs (A) and (B), approve or disapprove the proposal; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9b68236b83624942bdf8ddd31b2036bf"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide written notification of that approval or disapproval, with summaries of all written comments, recommendations, and peer-reviews, to the entity that submitted the proposal, and each of those States, Tribal organizations, and other government jurisdictions that provided comments under subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id94010b438f2f41de8745ce36b74bcfdf"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Criteria for approval</header><text>The Administrator may not approve a proposal for a coral reef project under this section unless the project—</text>
<paragraph id="id9136D1054F6C4D96B7CC6F9419B9B380"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is consistent with—</text>
<subparagraph id="idae780e062dc94ff3ac692cd177c18dd3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect as developed under section 203;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide20dbe5dc4574029be129f927f284c43"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the State coral reef management and restoration strategy in effect, if any, as developed under section 206 by the covered State in which the project will be carried out;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id451114718338498e94313db5825479b5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the State coral reef action plan in effect, if any, as developed under section 207 by such State;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd02b6dce05ee47bda4bbf5e2f95cfbc0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Federal coral reef action plans in effect, if any, as developed under section 204 by a Federal agency with management jurisdiction of a coral reef ecosystem to be impacted by such project, if applicable; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idece6da3cbf1b4a469a05853758054685"><enum>(E)</enum><text>coral reef stewardship plans in effect, if any, as certified under section 212 governing the stewardship activities at a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef to be impacted by such project, if applicable; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3BFCF3BD7CF54C47A6637BCA58F00B77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>will enhance the conservation and restoration of coral reefs by—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida852e8bf36d04c4a878c5de4f5b83fe4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>addressing conflicts arising from the use of environments near coral reefs or from the use of corals, species associated with coral reefs, and coral products, including supporting consensus-driven, community-based planning and management initiatives for the protection of coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6deb05c703e740fb92bcb92fee4a5fc9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improving compliance with laws that prohibit or regulate the taking of coral products or species associated with coral reefs or regulate the use and management of coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2dc201e1a0c4448baf25ff0202a136d8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>designing and implementing networks of real-time water quality monitoring along coral reefs, including data collection related to turbidity, nutrient availability, harmful algal blooms, and plankton assemblages, with an emphasis on coral reefs impacted by agriculture and urban development;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id819e32c50194497d917ea4b1fb0c2971"><enum>(D)</enum><text>promoting ecologically sound navigation and anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to promote enhanced recreational access, near coral reefs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45acf64cc2d740f4ae6e7eb5e509f5ef"><enum>(E)</enum><text>furthering the goals and objectives of coral reef stewardship plans certified under section 212 and coral reef emergency plans certified under section 216;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46e4566dcbbf46a69432b329a2a2aecb"><enum>(F)</enum><text>mapping the location and distribution of coral reefs and potential coral reef habitat;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a13919a95ad440bb4d58be359054fc8"><enum>(G)</enum><text>implementing research to ensure the population viability of listed coral species in United States waters as detailed in the population-based recovery criteria included in species-specific recovery plans consistent with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> et seq.);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8fcad87e56804ac5b7742d6f031eb6d3"><enum>(H)</enum><text>developing and implementing cost-effective methods to restore degraded coral reef ecosystems or to create native coral reef ecosystems in suitable waters, including by improving habitat or promoting success of keystone species, with an emphasis on novel restoration strategies and techniques to advance coral reef recovery and growth near population centers threatened by rising sea levels and storm surge;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4381d90f312f477ab3e02c8adeaab51c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>translating and applying coral genetics research to coral reef ecosystem restoration, including research related to traits that promote resilience to increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and invasive species;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8c5b1e43f3c4a58823f1ca2c57e0f0d"><enum>(J)</enum><text>developing and maintaining in situ native coral propagation sites; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59cfa6e592ff4aa1800c36b3f828b323"><enum>(K)</enum><text>developing and maintaining ex situ coral propagation nurseries and land-based coral gene banks to—</text>
<clause id="idfa2bf0bcd2dc447c9d155379f0ff67ee"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conserve or augment genetic diversity of native coral populations;</text> </clause><clause id="id8595168290394989a342db443961a2d3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>support captive breeding of rare coral species; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idff681c598e05460f83213c9ffa023ce1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>enhance resilience of native coral populations to increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and coral diseases through selective breeding, conditioning, or other approaches that target genes, gene expression, phenotypic traits, or phenotypic plasticity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7C6E43D1D05549C482F25F8E531BE9CE"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding requirements</header>
<paragraph id="id4be82b258989487ab18c7b068b7bf784"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Fifty percent match</header>
<subparagraph id="id9B2FB7131CA344C1B5EDD965A43EBEC2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided by subparagraph (C), Federal funds for any coral reef project under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. For purposes of this paragraph, the non-Federal share of project costs may be provided by in-kind contributions and other noncash support.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89653fe38ec14572b55857f859d9dc7a"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Administrator may waive all or part of the matching requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a coral reef project if the Administrator determines that—</text>
<clause id="id3F9F09423C214FF18FD120BD1AD65258"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no reasonable means are available through which the entity that submitted the proposal for the project can meet the matching requirement; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id232E173A43A3449D99F4282D6A70899A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the probable benefit of the project outweighs the public interest in the matching requirement.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2342e5bb0b344e0fbf4929478a5ec749"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>Funds provided under section 209 may not be used to satisfy the matching requirement under subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4b514fef64a54320b8919b47bfface7b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Distribution of funds</header><text>To the extent practicable based upon proposals for coral reef projects submitted to the Administrator, the Administrator shall ensure that funding for grants awarded under this section during a fiscal year is distributed as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="id210afc816d5247b4a1aeec0d37a556dd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not less than 40 percent of funds available shall be awarded for projects in the Pacific Ocean within the maritime areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id126911a51c8247598b4d8118967488a1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Not less than 40 percent of the funds available shall be awarded for projects in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea within the maritime areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb5a64c9207fe452cb09dcff0f7aed00e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Not more than 67 percent of funds distributed in each region in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be made exclusively available to projects that are—</text>
<clause id="id78f7e9bdef764e658bc5942502f379d6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>submitted by a coral reef stewardship partnership certified under section 210(e); and</text> </clause><clause id="id434341520d4a4043aa83196183b790db"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>consistent with the coral reef stewardship plan developed by such partnership as certified under section 212.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9fc6c7032e194e04a7f9cdd7a90eeee9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Of the funds distributed to support projects in accordance with subparagraph (C), not less than 20 percent and not more than 33 percent shall be awarded for projects impacting coral reef ecosystems within the administrative boundaries of individual management units of the Federal agencies specified in section 205(c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc4f5650b149a46f79af479eb5c1ba8e0"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Project reporting</header><text>Each entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator such reports at such times and containing such information for evaluating project performance as the Administrator may require.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idf827245dae2e48ceb46d0863ec7e92a7"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Task force</header><text>The Administrator may consult with the Secretary of the Interior and the Task Force to obtain guidance in establishing priorities for coral reef projects under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc1c10ed00f464718b364b44432cd4f12" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>222.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual reports on administration</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB4E968DDDD1D404E9BB57059BB80BA26"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than annually, the Administrator shall submit to the committees specified in subsection (b) a report on the administration of this title, including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD0540F1D2989477CBAFE8EF9A2DA1C2F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of all activities undertaken in the previous fiscal year to implement the most recent national coral reef resilience strategy under section 203(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB13CFB542A9448A4A9919CA7C1C012AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a statement of all funds obligated under the authorities of this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3a8d3d9235574ae3a64286e8382099d4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary, disaggregated by State, of Federal and non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each project or activity funded under section 205, 209, 213, 218, 219, 221, or 223.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDBD56F45A74C40BCAC62C08DFF00957E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Committees specified</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The committees specified in this subsection are—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB128EFAB951142D7918A16DA2C89AC98"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE3AB2C803A694F9AB89A703E1C01DBAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id53d6aac08dd642409b754b9ce2de9a03"><enum>223.</enum><header>Authority to enter into agreements</header>
<subsection id="idec5cb6442541410687ef21f131d123b2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may enter into and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0071fc725cb34d74970d4d8c6c7acf5c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<paragraph id="id29917AAA569E43AA854D140193D6646B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Under an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary may reimburse or provide funds authorized to be appropriated by section 224 to, and may receive funds or reimbursements from, individuals and entities described in paragraph (2) to carry out activities authorized by this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id02C19C0D9AE9461780D11C5FEDED9856"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Individuals and entities described</header><text>Individuals and entities described in this paragraph are the following:</text> <subparagraph id="id99A387B6A17C45B9840DB798C8E5B2EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Federal agencies, instrumentalities, and laboratories.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id94F66ADFDF4040A7B0192BDB70334D42"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State and local governments.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC5AA1CB984E046FC8497D5C48E564C52"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBD9FFA75573248C29AA9D9B5ECD1E1ED"><enum>(D)</enum><text>International organizations.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3142D1B59A9141D7B52244834F812E44"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Foreign governments not subject to economic sanctions imposed by the United States.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id744669DAC97F49FDB18A14BF916D95EE"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Institutions of higher education, research centers, and other educational institutions.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1088B89A340443C09D0DA46650DA34ED"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Nonprofit organizations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id75BD28DAFD4F449DAC605F4E6EC48AEF"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Commercial organizations.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE15C89F0715043F999C8045A7B2B5036"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Other public or private individuals or entities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide78f8f9a08b44ae3b0a58adb25489281"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative institutes</header>
<paragraph id="ide44f418908c5407c9f2ee4e9ff46443f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary shall establish 2 cooperative institutes for the purpose of advancing and sustaining essential capabilities in coral reef research, to be known as the <quote>Atlantic Coral Reef Cooperative Institute</quote> and the <quote>Pacific Coral Reef Cooperative Institute</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6b27b1ea8b04424e82747b77011d6272"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The institutes established under paragraph (1) shall each include at least one coral reef research center designated by the Administrator that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida75ac162a24643e9b6c62788cce48d07"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is operated by an institution of higher education or nonprofit marine research organization;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id94596b5ca2774f64a5082642a3e2d9dd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has established management-driven national or regional coral reef research or restoration programs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45b6652d304d456195e3bfc5a7ca57b3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is located in a covered State that contains a coral reef ecosystem;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id41e7c780353b4b71b0fe7c167bedbdde"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has demonstrated abilities to coordinate closely with appropriate Federal and State agencies, as well as other academic and nonprofit organizations; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9fcef67d529643d7a510f06a8e4c7746"><enum>(E)</enum><text>maintains significant local community engagement and outreach programs related to coral reef ecosystems.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf0a35953885a4ef0a2716fc36911a612"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The institutes established under paragraph (1) shall—</text> <subparagraph id="id79a5c8e5523944ddb821d5dbe2bacb60"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conduct federally directed research to fill national and regional coral reef ecosystem research gaps and improve understanding of, and responses to, continuing and emerging threats to the resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09ceda74c81d4052a7cd2698f559a3d5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>support ecological research and monitoring to study the effects of conservation and restoration activities funded by this title on promoting more effective coral reef management and restoration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf44278b4796d44c092ef9102c6182602"><enum>(C)</enum><text>through agreements with coral reef research centers referred to in paragraph (2)—</text> <clause id="id27c1c5635eec4110a9ff7f4dcc0bf05d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>collaborate directly with governmental resource management agencies, coral reef stewardship partnerships certified under section 210(e), nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other research organizations;</text>
</clause><clause id="id901b861982fa487caa01d40412395fc9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assist in the development and implementation of State coral reef management and restoration strategies developed under section 206, State coral reef action plans developed under section 207, State coral reef action plan assessments developed under section 208, coral reef stewardship plans developed under section 211 or certified under section 212, and coral reef emergency plans developed under section 215 or certified under section 216;</text>
</clause><clause id="idc984febd45764d1f91667908b5ab3bf8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>build capacity within governmental resource management agencies to establish research priorities and translate and apply research findings to management and restoration practices; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id6e19f7653c904f0693657e4e7cd9be5a"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>conduct public education and awareness programs for policymakers, resource managers, and the general public on—</text>
<subclause id="id2BBEF936434B46908671457B888550E0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;</text> </subclause><subclause id="idBA7633050C134012B33BC8185C707D40"><enum>(II)</enum><text>best practices for coral reef ecosystem management and restoration;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idCEA2DCD77EF44D24AEA6B6305335017F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the value of coral reefs; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="id0D44A9B2DD274B3BBDB9EE777E1D7D59"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the threats to the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id78d878f35d2449fd87b8c1e979aa70be"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Multiyear cooperative agreements</header><text>The Administrator may enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with the heads of other Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, local governments, the coral reef cooperative institutes established under subsection (c), and other institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to carry out activities authorized under sections 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 213, 218, 219, 220, and 221.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idca1ac7fcba434bcab1d9c4c170247286"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of resources of other agencies</header><text>The Administrator may use, with consent and with or without reimbursement, the land, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of any agency or instrumentality of—</text>
<paragraph id="id12F5101636A8401395E75614C6C8F233"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idD60A7F7D35F049079B0C15DDB5871F3A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any State or local government;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idD7A5D6AD2F8E4C448DE992670D772E72"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any Indian Tribe; or</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id769A46B3950744DB90BDD51440898187"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any foreign government not subject to economic sanctions imposed by the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDDA8E6F68EEFA4A18927520477506964E"><enum>224.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<subsection id="id570aaa116b504352b9154dadef4f5712"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title the following amounts, which shall remain available until expended:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id1d96a417d9114b28ae1e87430ba3e62e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$29,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id05d48d8b130c4727a058058ffe53dd8c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$30,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idf477885cbc004763b0ae22ff1c8e98ba"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$32,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id350b1cb4bf524b71aae4f4a727a9a68e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$33,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ide50032555d684dfa9a3bf3a5e3798e30"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$35,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID97414084E2F540D48265C090665B28CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a), not more than the lesser of $1,500,000 or 10 percent may be used for program administration or for overhead costs incurred by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce and assessed as an administrative charge.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1f4d003853234d0395f9efed28027648"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coral reef management and restoration activities</header><text>From the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a), there shall be made available to the Secretary not less than the following amounts for authorized activities under sections 205 and 209:</text>
<paragraph id="idc37ebd79c2f9456b8a7329d9c0f11a98"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$21,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which not less than $6,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 209.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc286167a970a4879bbd5bd949839a707"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$22,500,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which not less than $6,750,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 209.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id44dcd12060804afe9515ce259fbdf369"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$24,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which not less than $7,500,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 209.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id922e54969a5f4f118d9fc556ed64f350"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$25,500,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which not less than $8,250,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 209.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ide50cffc7166b49f0ab04f14e776c9543"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$27,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less than $9,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 209.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida2dce912eaee41308f426b966c8015cf"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Federally directed research and coral reef conservation program grants</header><text>From the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a), there shall be made available to the Secretary not less than $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to support purposes consistent with this title, of which—</text>
<paragraph id="id0ea4f76425d14f51aee2f0db6f068809"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not less than $3,500,000 shall be made available for each such fiscal year for authorized activities under section 221; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7c0494a5c2a749d187b4506919750597"><enum>(2)</enum><text>not less than $4,500,000 shall be made available for each such fiscal year through cooperative agreements with the cooperative institutes established under section 223(c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID35F36EE513A442498915CCC60925BF1A"><enum>225.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="ID11017838F7BD484192D1074007061279"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id04f8fbe8ac954866bd492c20d1972da6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees</header><text>The term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2171939dbdcd4e3ca5936c9fff5475d5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conservation</header><text>The term <term>conservation</term> means the use of methods and procedures necessary to preserve or sustain native corals and associated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems with minimal impacts from invasive species, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idb1eeec3af9344e2baa3e60678a424307"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all activities associated with resource management, such as monitoring, assessment, protection, restoration, sustainable use, management of habitat, and maintenance or augmentation of genetic diversity;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0159bcf6700542a79bced1dd89e9e46f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>mapping;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f29d101c6f34f10a50750476842dda2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>scientific expertise and technical assistance in the development and implementation of management strategies for marine protected areas and marine resources consistent with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1431">16 U.S.C. 1431</external-xref> et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1801">16 U.S.C. 1801</external-xref> et seq.);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7fe42cbd2e4941258bd1834af5665f50"><enum>(D)</enum><text>law enforcement;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2ff60049adb345359db2f96f231dfaf8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>conflict resolution initiatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id82674ee7b8c24495a3f5f485b281a2ea"><enum>(F)</enum><text>community outreach and education; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf50d990acee2423fa1bea74dc762dbbb"><enum>(G)</enum><text>promotion of safe and ecologically sound navigation and anchoring.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDC14F6F33E65A455ABF4BBBF8E7ED58EA"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coral</header><text>The term <term>coral</term> means species of the phylum Cnidaria, including—</text> <subparagraph id="IDDF01E720B5304AD38A356DA7BA628B17"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all species of the orders Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Gorgonacea (horny corals), Stolonifera (organpipe corals and others), Alcyanacea (soft corals), and Coenothecalia (blue coral), of the class Anthozoa; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID22C0F3EA098D4CDAA9F56E387E95F232"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all species of the order Hydrocorallina (fire corals and hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8bcaaf48bda946c3943cf0f3e5ba6c75"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Coral reef</header><text>The term <term>coral reef</term> means a limestone relief feature, in the form of a reef or shoal, composed in whole or in part by living coral, skeletal remains of coral, crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine plants and animals.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47510c4485ae47aab09db8042d0ca060"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Coral reef ecosystem</header><text>The term <term>coral reef ecosystem</term> means—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0C3A2DFDCB8F4B2293565274D302A032"><enum>(A)</enum><text>corals and the associated community of other species of reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) associated with coral reef habitat; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6218296A14BA4FDAB76F4F4D6FB6FC30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the biotic and abiotic factors and processes that control coral growth, reproduction, and abundance and diversity in such habitat.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID514A570AD6064388B42DC3682A0B5173"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Coral products</header><text>The term <term>coral products</term> means any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives, of any species referred to in paragraph (4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id56a864f3c3924ac9bb0ddedf369f7b32"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Covered State</header><text>The term <term>covered State</term> means Florida, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, or the United States Virgin Islands.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idff0a4a306a234312960c28336f6eb283"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Indian tribe; tribal organization</header><text>The terms <term>Indian Tribe</term> and <term>Tribal organization</term> have the meanings given the terms <quote>Indian tribe</quote> and <quote>tribal organization</quote>, respectively, in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id40391db63ebe4b06becd8d6890fe7b22"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>institution of higher education</term> has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id75c483816502435db685f1fa360c3db1"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Interested stakeholder groups</header><text>The term <term>interested stakeholder groups</term> includes community members such as businesses, commercial and recreational fishermen, other recreationalists, Federal, State, Tribal, and local government units with related jurisdiction, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id140f1e4771a1474cb7079026977030a8"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Nonprofit organization</header><text>The term <term>nonprofit organization</term> means an organization that is described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6c4bcdb80bcb4454afaead11c191e6e5"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Restoration</header><text>The term <term>restoration</term> means the use of methods and procedures necessary to enhance, rehabilitate, recreate, or create a functioning coral reef or coral reef ecosystem, in whole or in part, within suitable waters of the historical geographic range of such ecosystems, to provide ecological, economic, cultural, or coastal resiliency services associated with healthy coral reefs and benefit native populations of coral reef organisms.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id540e509f2ec54e65979fe7a9dc9ee8fd"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Resilience</header><text>The term <term>resilience</term> means the capacity for native corals, coral reefs, or coral reef ecosystems to recover from natural and human disturbance as determined by clearly identifiable, measurable, and science-based standards.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID700432B567004118A782D5B384DB20A0"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Commerce.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ID5324B43CA0F444B68FDFE16773473BAA"><enum>(16)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="id884F7D29A56B4BEC8E461AD817EA2A08"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any State of the United States that contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1527B8C9F6414E20BB44E812BEEF3E7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAB73D1050D09434A9A3DA31F671192A7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other territory or possession of the United States or separate sovereign in free association with the United States that contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id08FE23FE323D4CA48C605E25F77DB455"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Stewardship</header><text>The term <term>stewardship</term>, with respect to a coral reef, includes conservation and restoration.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5303109a264548c5a7a27888188ea3f3"><enum>(18)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Task force</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Task Force</term> means the United States Coral Reef Task Force established under section 201 of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019</short-title>.</text>
</paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>United States Coral Reef Task Force</header>
<section id="idce4bebc986fd4d18869e981ccd1eee76"><enum>201.</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is established a task force to lead, coordinate, and strengthen Federal Government actions to better preserve, conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems, to be known as the <quote>United States Coral Reef Task Force</quote> (in this title referred to as the <quote>Task Force</quote>).</text>
</section><section id="id71F08D7C7D9B444989F6EF1024E7A18D"><enum>202.</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The duties of the Task Force shall be—</text> <paragraph id="idf79c304b5fca4ec983e7bb61eabba23a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to coordinate, in cooperation with State, Tribal, and local government partners, academic partners, and nongovernmental partners if appropriate, activities regarding the mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, mitigation, restoration of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id07ef09070fa54f33809a6d3d2dbe03ff"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to monitor and advise regarding implementation of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set forth in—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idBEEF2B86687B417AAB72C5EEF4ADFC2F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701; relating to coral reef protection); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id9B957599D7984732B14D126C1350AC88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy developed under section 203(a) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a07a015de6940ee8b2e7fcbdbc9e5d6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to work with the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and in coordination with the other members of the Task Force—</text>
<subparagraph id="id806d074609f14ee0824f4098ec74c767"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to assess the United States role in international trade and protection of coral species; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1592a4cb2889422fa3efe29c9fbc1700"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to encourage implementation of appropriate strategies and actions to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reef resources worldwide;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2afc5ea468ee46d9a7ff166cbff2fd97"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance for the development and implementation, as appropriate, of—</text> <subparagraph id="idAA26E53655F5425A978A66F94D85B360"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy under section 203 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBD9724495CF24EA1805D4E19E6E9DCDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State coral reef management and restoration strategies under section 206 of that Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE0ABEB0E69584B31B17E39FAE8EFF528"><enum>(C)</enum><text>State coral reef action plans under section 207 of that Act; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBF9BBA0102254DFEBDAF5CF0F984455C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>State coral reef action plan assessments under section 208 of that Act; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide2197501f1f242778e0f7e7df59377a7"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to produce a report each year, for submission to the appropriate congressional committees and publication in the Federal Register, highlighting the status of one State member’s coral reef equities on a rotating basis, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0CC0653644B8431181E91209447A96E7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a summary of recent coral reef management and restoration activities undertaken in the State; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBCF49F6C5922421F924DC441F495D340"><enum>(B)</enum><text>updated estimates of the direct and indirect economic activity supported by, and other benefits associated with, those coral reef equities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id9F92AC4B31CF498BB9AED352293CFABF"><enum>203.</enum><header>Membership</header>
<subsection id="id4e361728f84545e3a96632eb7958763c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Voting membership</header><text>The Task Force shall have the following voting members:</text> <paragraph id="id6a4d1b229d024dea82988d6c478a4c95"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of the Interior, who shall be co-chairs of the Task Force.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id20d02080d8ef4859bdb49fdff23a74c8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id3cd900ea486e44d490bad0679bdb64e7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1ecaa90e43be42509b46da929ef09b22"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Secretary of Defense.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idc49dc957f7d1486ebfdc379a7cb24d53"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idc5d238d7fdd046d68399e154a6053730"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id474554506d76497b999af2f5129fb9de"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Commandant of the Coast Guard.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id44a47bf24bf545eab50e14b5c25eb1b3"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The Attorney General.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idd8bbe37c71dd4741848153508d3544ce"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The Secretary of State.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id943cf961f12844f0ae0d77a5b7f04bb3"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The Secretary of Transportation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id214a31b84ed941f7a0b87d400178497d"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idd8ef1fbdbfc5491c9571dc82c3bd8305"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2af00be226604a8e836786b427090953"><enum>(13)</enum><text>The Director of the National Science Foundation.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id1b3ad7430b074146bd0039f6bd6f2b77"><enum>(14)</enum><text>The Governor, or a representative of the Governor, of each covered State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf9d3a070bba94dc9a78f800ee040b53d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Nonvoting members</header><text>The Task Force shall have the following nonvoting members:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id6b0e20d9bd3b401a8836d1118b1cb165"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under section 302(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1852">16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(1)</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id560d22ec5d8b49168497d5bf1461d780"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under such section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="iddd670b07c51f4205b9e0bd53af31cb4c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The members of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council who are designated by the Governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands under such section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id0f6da90153d14f619238de9334199740"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The members of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council who are designated by the Governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands under such section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idd57e29dcac6845c08f857deddf9d4524"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A member appointed by the President representing each of the following:</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id838741B2EC1E4B3D825FF3E71182DA92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB9210ABBAA8044A8B581FCD8FF08F5E7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Republic of the Marshall Islands.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idA75634D8949B4E8290BF500074C3C547"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The Republic of Palau.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6d657a5a798347dd9474b84affcbd0b6"><enum>204.</enum><header>Responsibilities of Federal agency members</header> <subsection id="id70e51a1f36ac4ea1953e7ec00e490dea"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A member of the Task Force specified in paragraphs (1) through (14) of section 203(a) shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id49018dc322894e8ea5d90707d900db7f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify the actions of the agency that member represents that may affect coral reef ecosystems;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idf63410b92dca430798ba9077066aac7d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>utilize the programs and authorities of that agency to protect and enhance the conditions of such ecosystems, including through the promotion of basic and applied scientific research;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1f9675df2fc94c47b4b60eaac2225295"><enum>(3)</enum><text>collaborate with the Task Force to appropriately reflect budgetary needs for coral reef conservation and restoration activities in all agency budget planning and justification documents and processes; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id08c402874aa6424ca004a4c4444f319b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>engage in any other coordinated efforts approved by the Task Force.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id45fe7eb89d354c7fa5082be6d8ff4f85"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Co-Chairs</header><text>In addition to their responsibilities under subsection (a), the co-chairs of the Task Force shall administer performance of the functions of the Task Force and facilitate the coordination of the members of the Task Force specified in paragraphs (1) through (13) of section 203(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id812164f5abcf4d86b36f3cfbcb373304"><enum>205.</enum><header>Working groups</header>
<subsection id="ide3f81baa78c244df8bc30b74ef6120c6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The co-chairs of the Task Force may establish working groups as necessary to meet the goals and carry out the duties of the Task Force.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC05FA02DB3F749A5A9FCDDD48465D1CD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requests from members</header><text>The members of the Task Force may request the co-chairs to establish a working group under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id1c0abce8274142ada19c2bcd33980ce7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Participation by nongovernmental organizations</header><text>The co-chairs may allow nongovernmental organizations, including academic institutions, conservation groups, and commercial and recreational fishing associations, to participate in a working group established under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id45D2FC0D31E2402E87F55E8E8CB82B04"><enum>206.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="idC7C672145A894B0C8978540EB087FBC2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees</header><text>The term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id511B9365130A4D0FBA1749202FD88402"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conservation, coral, coral reef, etc</header><text>The terms <term>conservation</term>, <term>coral</term>, <term>coral reef</term>, <term>coral reef ecosystem</term>, <term>covered State</term>, <term>restoration</term>, <term>resilience</term>, and <term>State</term> have the meaning given those terms in section 225 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Department of the Interior coral reef authorities</header>
<section id="id35db597e3e1e4eee82af4f817efe4890"><enum>301.</enum><header>Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance</header>
<subsection id="idb615d03798fc47aa99efc93d2333604c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may provide scientific expertise and technical assistance and, subject to the availability of appropriations, financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs consistent with all applicable laws governing resource management in Federal and State waters, including—</text>
<paragraph id="idc1be84af0c324f9fa8262749d494b04f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect and developed under section 203 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id848d5f774bf24723815aada6ca3dd91d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Federal coral reef action plans in effect and developed under section 204 of that Act.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4b259a9c06c14002868560f5dff0f328"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation with the Department of Commerce</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may consult with the Secretary of Commerce regarding the conduct of any activities to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the jurisdiction of the Federal agencies specified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 205(c) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id546a394c51b04a4f823aa845fa902925"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with States to fund coral reef conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the jurisdiction of such States that are consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect and developed under section 203 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101, and support and enhance the success of Federal coral reef action plans in effect and developed under section 204 of that Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id32670b7bf78140d99430f285e03e19a3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>conservation</term>, <term>coral reef</term>, <term>restoration</term>, and <term>State</term> have the meaning given those terms in section 225 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.</text>
</subsection></section>