117 S46 IS: Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-01-26
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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 2021
.(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 2000Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.Sec. 102. Modification to section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403).TITLE II—United States Coral Reef Task ForceSec. 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 authoritiesSec. 301. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance.TITLE IV—Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management FellowshipSec. 401. Short title.Sec. 402. Definitions.Sec. 403. Establishment of fellowship program.Sec. 404. Fellowship awards.Sec. 405. Matching requirement.<enum>I</enum><header>Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000</header><section id="id475b8f757e8c4a29979f1f3ce1a1bb90"><enum>101.</enum><header>Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000</header><subsection id="idf85b9bafbe894dab889b89249f493254"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purposes; Federal coral reef management and restoration activities</header><text>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 and 203 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0381C15593A54037B26F837186AE69AC"><section id="id83ee5cf1fa8e4e07b4ac20a691f0dc7a"><enum>202.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text><paragraph id="idd9ce51f7b41d41d8b3cb054c699cb1db"><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, water quality degradation, invasive species, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idada85ebca2694eb28efa356f1f8fbae4"><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="id43c55bc6535f443bbeee9ec1d0bc73ac"><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 mitigate stressors and restore such ecosystems, including evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness of management interventions, and accurate mapping for coral reef restoration;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc9e4bd3f056d4987874774aa0a89a68c"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to assist in the preservation of coral reefs by supporting science-based, consensus-driven State, Tribal, and community-based coral reef management, including conservation and restoration projects that empower local communities, small businesses, and nongovernmental organizations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1e6c7ff0f3f447cdab81b476f6577493"><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="idc30f5646b7724d7aa4d9950c43193e5b"><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="id7a30c9950fc94829a2261b65ccee39aa"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to support the rapid and effective, science-based assessment and response to emergencies that imminently threaten coral reefs, such as coral disease outbreaks, invasive species, hurricanes, marine heat waves, coral bleaching, and other natural disasters, vessel groundings or chemical spills, and other exigent circumstances; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9f3e28612b224fcd9d2ec2003ec5417c"><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="id96c9c6c120634102b67d6dd412cf6732"><enum>203.</enum><header>Federal coral reef management and restoration activities</header><subsection id="id9b15e64d6761420289a55329eec98e67"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator or the Secretary of the Interior may conduct activities described in subsection (b) to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems that are consistent with—</text><paragraph id="id9a6985f6be04424fa709f3fb632f08ab"><enum>(1)</enum><text>all applicable laws governing resource management in Federal and State waters, including this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfcc9045db8ac4a2ab2441e5bcfc4683d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf4e11f9892974e5284882064f3ec3421"><enum>(3)</enum><text>coral reef action plans in effect under section 205, as applicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf0d206d6c524db5a3a7a2861d78904f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 209, as applicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91cffd87882f47d8879fd6cb606450ff"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities described</header><text>Activities described in this subsection are activities to conserve, research, monitor, assess, and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in subsection (c) or in coordination with a State in waters managed under the jurisdiction of such State, including—</text><paragraph id="id7eed2e189bb241359fa89b809f697ba6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>developing, including through the collection of requisite data, high-quality and digitized maps reflecting—</text><subparagraph id="id7ace2842d45e451a9007bd22f4da8b46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>current and historical live coral cover data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id74312dae829842e380082e549eefd507"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coral reef habitat quality data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29bf10acc17a47d09c125101b595684b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>priority areas for coral reef conservation to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function that benefit coastal communities and living marine resources;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id035ff86fe171420b985416b3dcd1801a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>priority areas for coral reef restoration to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function to benefit coastal communities and living marine resources; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a06705cf581409fb0293ffb7dfe7ce1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>areas of concern that may require enhanced monitoring of coral health and cover;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6eff6c46f08d4217a596d3092d5461bc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>enhancing compliance with Federal laws that prohibit or regulate—</text><subparagraph id="id1668918f3e014d849d8f8e447a3d745c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the taking of coral products or species associated with coral reefs; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6bf6699c3b404a19ab79a3d59b150b25"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use and management of coral reef ecosystems;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id51de809600884f20b98bcda1b85f2089"><enum>(3)</enum><text>long-term ecological monitoring of coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd87ea1aa7e094527a1e6bff3a6860e35"><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="idc11de48735a54177a27db369c605e264"><enum>(5)</enum><text>restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf4693cb951ce4c22ad6b04a7872580e5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>promoting ecologically sound navigation and anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to promote enhanced recreational access, near coral reefs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1680dbd215494a3685a350003ed73cf2"><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><paragraph id="idbb6f9cb46ae24e178ee7d251f3b0ee46"><enum>(8)</enum><text>conducting scientific research that contributes to the understanding, sustainable use, and long-term conservation of coral reefs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4b7d5f38279e4193a77972edf9743479"><enum>(9)</enum><text>enhancing public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id158a7e3318214362b982a283ef32e39c"><enum>(10)</enum><text>preventing or minimizing the likelihood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to coral reefs through navigational aids and expansion of reef-safe anchorages; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida073f8601dc94441b7d6d77a38c93c68"><enum>(11)</enum><text>centrally archiving, managing, and distributing data sets and coral reef ecosystem assessments and publishing such information on publicly available internet websites of—</text><subparagraph id="id24dd91f7ad114312983077d07efd15c0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf7eea75b7ff741f1bda816b6023053cb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Task Force.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id885f9b277e2645f0bc33955a4c790b8f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Federal agencies specified</header><text>A Federal agency specified in this subsection is one of the following:</text><paragraph id="id734628370ac94459bafa4f6dbf4979ef"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd2ecb46ac1c402e8f81424d1ec91625"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Park Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7d52e55371f947c1b36f299199e06530"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id56372e199f4348178d1b2f9beee06865"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Office of Insular Affairs.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id74dff64d804645859ec676527fe4db4d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><paragraph id="ida275105ec8ad46469286dd3aed5edd06"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations and at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce, 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 under section 204A.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id896954dea4de44d5a75554ba91db271a"><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 any fiscal year.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id931BFA88421F4B41847860B349307195"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional provisions</header><text>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 205 through 210 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id649BE0C500AF467ABFE48CB04AD4D20B"><section id="id1e216ed1fbc4422da05363be4ea084c7"><enum>204A.</enum><header>National coral reef resilience strategy</header><subsection id="id929cb6926207475d863f6f8967a8f760"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text><paragraph id="id47d9b303b1b54eb18d93f21b67abd0fc"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop a national coral reef resilience strategy; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f003206849447d4b81b8c68eccea10a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>periodically, but not less frequently than every 15 years, review and revise the strategy.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idff6295fc12304a34ad0609185b6b434d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text><paragraph id="id4b9bcdf0a4cf4aaab9a50b32c7c642aa"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A discussion addressing—</text><subparagraph id="id4938e091f8e8416798e19585eba4d173"><enum>(A)</enum><text>continuing and emerging threats to the resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8db49fb28b9d44b59639d966a660934a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>remaining gaps in coral reef ecosystem research, monitoring, and assessment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0295360b3f6c4142a2084d617b0290cf"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the status of management cooperation and integration among Federal, State, Tribal, and locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3558006917be4e8db7cbc1b8cbc33bfe"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the status of efforts to manage and disseminate critical information, and enhance interjurisdictional data sharing, related to research, reports, datasets, and maps;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idab9fa2be14444b7290bef601a31b9040"><enum>(E)</enum><text>areas of special focus, which may include—</text><clause id="idde4efbbbd6b546ce8fde281fcd92e173"><enum>(i)</enum><text>improving natural coral recruitment;</text></clause><clause id="id617b8e8416d84111a5b172e05fa6f92f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>preventing avoidable losses of corals and their habitat;</text></clause><clause id="id4334c6a827ca4ec2867edeec158baaf7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>enhancing the resilience of coral populations;</text></clause><clause id="id48477a343d824d62b9eea21491f72dc9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>supporting a resilience-based management approach;</text></clause><clause id="idf1031b7c52564835b9a05a1786b1ccdd"><enum>(v)</enum><text>developing, coordinating, and implementing watershed management plans;</text></clause><clause id="id75745af4b5a44b29bd9071e104eb87b5"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>building and sustaining watershed management capacity at the local level;</text></clause><clause id="id26a3d9d7178442c2a63d94ab6af31f76"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>providing data essential for coral reef fisheries management;</text></clause><clause id="id15740a221d714673868c7586f742a80f"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>building capacity for coral reef fisheries management;</text></clause><clause id="id8cab7f5b4ea64cd9a89eb9a666583c94"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>increasing understanding of coral reef ecosystem services;</text></clause><clause id="id5e52cbc11dab494eb72b04d5b6d8f52c"><enum>(x)</enum><text>educating the public on the importance of coral reefs, threats and solutions; and</text></clause><clause id="id592ce409ab284b18b783f477c0f57bbb"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>evaluating intervention efficacy;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff5c85191a2d4af6b67254eca41fabc1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the status of conservation efforts, including the use of marine protected areas to serve as replenishment zones developed consistent with local practices and traditions and in cooperation with, and with respect for the scientific, technical, and management expertise and responsibilities of, State fish and wildlife management agencies; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide33d99bd39814cb2843b725c5b043756"><enum>(G)</enum><text>science-based adaptive management and restoration efforts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd9d3ece781ac4298a50d3a82314d829f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A statement of national goals and objectives designed to guide—</text><subparagraph id="idba196f9b3e8a4feda30e881d9a759eba"><enum>(A)</enum><text>future Federal coral reef management and restoration activities authorized under section 203;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4e1e94baf44d408bbf95e8297aa49adf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>conservation and restoration priorities for grants awarded under section 213; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id395e90a6f93248c89358f82f60caad46"><enum>(C)</enum><text>research priorities for the cooperative institutes established under section 215(c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9ca52d00964b462db09ef629f441795a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>General templates for use by covered reef managers to guide the development of—</text><subparagraph id="idbad4cd39737749acb2597daaebea9524"><enum>(A)</enum><text>coral reef action plans under section 205; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ccf02bc0ef34a0e87d6201c0e7c8d3a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans under section 209.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id415ccae8af874efb9796d3e41c519094"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text>In developing all elements of the strategy required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall—</text><paragraph id="idf0d1fdeefb4443dfb2bd6c9bec4ee2e9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult with the Secretary of the Interior, the Task Force, covered States, and Tribal organizations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e7b1eb18ba549739f37810c998c55e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>engage stakeholders, including coral reef stewardship partnerships, coral reef institutes and research centers described in section 215(c), and coral reef conservation grant awardees; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8ff7dac6725d4ee38c4cbe3b5e0745b3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>solicit public review and comment regarding scoping and the draft strategy.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcc963307517948f5bdb8216f57b1e03b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Submission to congress; publication</header><text>The Administrator shall—</text><paragraph id="ida639d126fb1d498bb0344214bb8a23f1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>submit the strategy required by subsection (a) and any revisions to the strategy to the appropriate congressional committees; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9bbd6be9c541487790f3d2f99431a567"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publish the strategy and any such revisions on publicly available internet websites of—</text><subparagraph id="idd2a0291ff3904f50a51a365da7941e0b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4e58a92a1d1f47c3bf167d78aaf27622"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Task Force.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8f26e5b35136490799438ce01c1eeff6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Transition rule</header><text>On and after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021</short-title>, the 2018 Coral Reef Conservation Program Strategic Plan of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be considered to be the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under this section until the earlier of—</text><paragraph id="id56d389eebe5a4e57a3567bfd05402e7c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>September 30, 2033; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0be43fca58b48d285b958484b8b80d8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the date on which the Administrator develops a national coral reef resilience strategy under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id7acb9f40fefb4283acfb6119e14803f4"><enum>205.</enum><header>Coral reef action plans</header><subsection id="id17726f29089348b1bedcd03e1aaeb2c2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coral reef action plans</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (h), not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021</short-title>, and not later than 2 years after the publication of a revised national coral reef resilience strategy under section 204A, each covered reef manager shall prepare and submit to the Task Force a coral reef action plan to guide management and restoration activities to be undertaken within the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the manager.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide61e4fcb94744b61a5c555792eccec6d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A covered reef manager preparing a coral reef action plan under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="idc9daef414d9b41789d186b2b3baea1fc"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure that the plan is consistent with all elements of the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id03d243e9637f4707aa3f25214fe61326"><enum>(2)</enum><text>revise the plan not less frequently than once every 5 years.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idefb9d73a9c8c4287a5679aadf1b85b3d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Plan elements</header><text>A coral reef action plan under subsection (a) shall include a discussion of the following elements:</text><paragraph id="idbda9c7a6ef9547bab8b94732ccf40237"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Short- and mid-term coral reef conservation and restoration objectives within the applicable jurisdiction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75c8025cf41645ca9131219222f9df47"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An updated adaptive management framework to inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf2a53d864341418d84461259cc2fa4fa"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The status of any coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 209 covering coral reef ecosystems within the applicable jurisdiction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb9ed523587e248dd80ca759b465f464a"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Tools, strategies, and partnerships necessary to identify, monitor, and redress pollution and water quality impacts to coral reef ecosystems within the applicable jurisdiction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbb7dd3a296a844a79b0fd874192b92ac"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The status of efforts to improve coral reef ecosystem management cooperation and integration among neighboring Federal, State, Tribal, or locally managed jurisdictions, including the identification of existing research and monitoring activities that can be leveraged for coral reef status and trends assessments within the applicable jurisdiction.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2525c05bc18f472b8bf3cbe77e124fd9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>An accounting of annual expenditures on coral reef management and restoration activities within the applicable jurisdiction while the preceding action plan, if any, was in effect.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb5853a5385aa4874925dc2d7884e9dc6"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Estimated budgetary and resource considerations necessary to carry out the proposed action plan.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd9def35609394b7f84dbe19d91f70bc3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Administrator and the Task Force shall make all reasonable efforts to provide technical assistance upon request by a covered reef manager developing a coral reef action plan under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="ideec2d9b0724a4440a87e3ffd5c11f9d6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Adoption of coral reef action plans</header><text>A covered reef manager may adopt a coral reef action plan developed by another covered reef manager, in full or in part, as relevant to the adopting manager’s applicable jurisdiction.</text></subsection><subsection id="idb2396db0335647ba8dc5f58fea6abecd"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Public review</header><text>The development of a coral reef action plan by a covered reef manager under subsection (a), and the adoption of a plan under subsection (e), shall be subject to public review and comment.</text></subsection><subsection id="iddad8e433200b4283b9284aa40ff520e0"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Administrator shall publish each coral reef action plan prepared and submitted to the Task Force under this section on publicly available internet websites of—</text><paragraph id="idf387c96239fa49e9b99f0c15f9cb59ba"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9f0e4e2e816e412083c53cea23207f29"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Task Force.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5851b23051f4418cbf80f7b717065d3a"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Applicability to covered States and coral reef stewardship partnerships</header><text>A covered State or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership is not required to develop a coral reef action plan under subsection (a), but may do so in its own discretion. In developing a coral reef action plan, a covered State or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership is encouraged, but not mandated, to comply with the requirements of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idbc3b9b3bc49e4266a252aefe87186758"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Plan in effect</header><text>A coral reef action plan shall be deemed to be in effect if the plan was submitted to the Task Force under this section during the preceding 6 years.</text></subsection></section><section id="id7234c3e480d54678b96f207fa13798ea"><enum>206.</enum><header>Coral reef stewardship partnerships</header><subsection id="id0f2f5b09d1af4baba3bf0ff4fb4301ec"><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, including guidance for preparation and submission of coral reef action plans under section 205.</text></subsection><subsection id="id9cd4b8a444ec484ba956b76aed5d4caa"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Identification of reefs</header><text>Each coral reef stewardship partnership shall identify with particularity the coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef that will be the subject of its stewardship activities.</text></subsection><subsection id="id65ec95f947dd4c29a5618712fd9dd21b"><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 component of a coral reef that is fully or partially under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 203(c) shall, at a minimum, include the following:</text><paragraph id="idcb3e0cae880445b4b697a0d6cabfecb9"><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="id694cbca4b62f48819ff3234ff69b00de"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A State, county, or Tribal organization’s resource management agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4ed6de032e2348509be2044687a4bd63"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A coral reef research center described in section 215(c)(4) or another institution of higher education.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7312777d7af44046b2a4585d0861227b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A nongovernmental organization.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6d51db12ee6e4f3b9fae1812db3beda2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide41e4c589ccb4d538e60b56b984e7a88"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Membership for non-Federal reefs</header><paragraph id="id4504843a077845879d5ae003433111c0"><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 component of a coral reef that is not under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 203(c) shall, at a minimum, include the following:</text><subparagraph id="id6034d95d0de8428ea878be82eefecd72"><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="idabfa5065a7094e379d4f690a5a1d4dfb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A coral reef research center described in section 215(c)(4) or another institution of higher education.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idee89d9ac297641b994560926c12371b9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A nongovernmental organization.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb78e7694f73544879dd50c5381a2c8d3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2b35db32359f456586df22c3bfe6ed20"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional members</header><subparagraph id="id8efc20e093e24fcaae57a2a493e91b09"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) may also include representatives of one or more Federal agencies that have management responsibility in the reef that is the subject of the partnership’s stewardship activities.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59f1eca50d334c399f5d83c916965b10"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requests; approval</header><text>A representative of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) may become a member of a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) if—</text><clause id="id80246ebe3f574f75a087ed54d4776beb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the representative submits a request to become a member to the chair of the partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); and</text></clause><clause id="idbe7f4746eea546d7bd372ad92e92688c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the chair consents to the request.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8aa7cc530dba48b29bd55ca29e9f6199"><enum>(e)</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="id0bd7ad1311454aa6993e940cfe975b47"><enum>207.</enum><header>State block grants</header><subsection id="id9847034649f34a14b18ce4f5bbfb4405"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall provide block grants of financial assistance to covered States to support management and restoration activities and further the implementation of coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 by covered States and non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnerships.</text></subsection><subsection id="id573c1e9118454201b74bf26d4681174b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility for additional amounts</header><text>A covered State shall qualify for and receive additional grant amounts beyond the base award specified in subsection (c)(1) if there is at least one coral reef action plan in effect within the jurisdiction of the covered State developed by that covered State or a non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership.</text></subsection><subsection id="idf40e114069b8414b883a670f9ada104e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Funding formula</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, the amount of each block grant awarded to a covered State under this section shall be the sum of—</text><paragraph id="id6bdca72831d4458a88446b477df0336f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a base award of $100,000; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idab74a2f295984d3d92448a77e78bbdde"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if the State is eligible under subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id95cf80976ab34129b3493a1516e7ea49"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an amount that is equal to non-Federal expenditures of up to $3,000,000 on coral reef management and restoration activities within the jurisdiction of the State, as reported within the previous fiscal year; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf11af2e89c00467f840dc96244c63c67"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an additional amount, from any funds appropriated for block grants under this section that remain after distribution under subparagraph (A) and paragraph (1), based on the proportion of the State’s share of total non-Federal expenditures on coral reef management and restoration activities, as reported within the previous fiscal year, in excess of $3,000,000, relative to other covered States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9d95a1f0dc1549beaaa077d2fabc1c03"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>For the purposes of calculating block grant amounts under subsection (c), Federal funds provided to a covered State or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership shall not be considered as qualifying non-Federal expenditures, but non-Federal matching funds used to leverage Federal awards may be considered as qualifying non-Federal expenditures.</text></subsection><subsection id="iddd639e9b15c047fa8abbc690482caacb"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Responsibilities of the administrator</header><text>The Administrator is responsible for—</text><paragraph id="id17c9961d227041b896ec115691bc5e4a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>providing guidance on qualifying non-Federal expenditures and the proper documentation of such expenditures;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idce0f7504750c4b9fa7d62c525fd8f8b7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>issuing annual solicitations to covered States for additional awards under this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id694f84897ef4478198a8423a52f74f44"><enum>(3)</enum><text>determining the appropriate allocation of additional amounts among covered States in accordance with this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfd442ff80c524a2c869f468b1e5525f1"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Responsibilities of covered States</header><text>Each covered State is responsible for documenting non-Federal expenditures within the jurisdiction of the State and formally reporting those expenditures for review in response to annual solicitations by the Administrator under subsection (e).</text></subsection><subsection id="id89a8742cdce94a87943af791710e9371"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Unexpended amounts</header><text>Any amounts available for block grants under this section that are not expended shall be transferred to the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund under section 208(b).</text></subsection><subsection id="id0ca2ac1a8fae40dd981262982569e95b"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Waivers of certain requirements</header><text>The Administrator may waive the eligibility requirements under subsection (b) through fiscal year 2023.</text></subsection></section><section id="id842f675c1b684beab987d937b37bde5b"><enum>208.</enum><header>Coral reef stewardship fund</header><subsection id="id51e4bef7076d46a6be9415466d4340b7"><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 under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd5db202cfd41432891e4a73d36cd0be9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The Foundation shall invest, reinvest, and otherwise administer the funds received under 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>, and known before the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021</short-title> as the Coral Reef Conservation Fund administered through a public-private partnership with the Foundation), established by the Foundation solely to support coral reef stewardship partnership activities that—</text><paragraph id="idf3c094a9dd5d420cba6aa2fe5739cd42"><enum>(1)</enum><text>further the purposes of this title; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id878fd8f16b02487080cad07312ea5316"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are consistent with—</text><subparagraph id="idaccc7c8bf67943c3a4961e324e13d7ef"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc3bd18f638cb4a9887b2faadb28e0bef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coral reef action plans in effect, if any, under section 205 covering a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef to be impacted by such activities, if applicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbe2ceb3a9cea490fbf79b738bf585bfc"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization To solicit donations</header><paragraph id="ide4e06d3e14d4455daa5aeeacd233331d"><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="id620d5169a7264ba1b05cd70d7d99fc29"><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="id8a7b37b0e5d34e9d8bd66d9e41492bc0"><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="ide36a3c378401445ebea555a43e4ffd9d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review of performance</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct a continuing review of all deposits into, and disbursements from, the Fund. Each review shall include a written assessment concerning the extent to which the Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of—</text><paragraph id="idadc002cc608f46f98d214ba5154e1558"><enum>(1)</enum><text>this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id231b062245564894895cdb7eed27479a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id294d576938264430a57530de06ed002a"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>Under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), and subject to the availability of appropriations, 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="idb72ea70aeb044e1d87a6cccdf440b9b9"><enum>209.</enum><header>Coral reef emergency plans</header><subsection id="idaf906ff68e7e40208a6e8d1fef9a5121"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered reef manager may develop and periodically update a plan (in this title referred to as a <quote>coral reef emergency plan</quote>) consistent with the template described in section 204A(b)(3) to guide the rapid and effective response to circumstances that pose an urgent and immediate threat to the coral reef ecosystems within the manager’s responsibilities and jurisdictions, and consistent with any applicable coral reef action plan.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8cfae7ec9b4a48228319777e0e669d31"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coral reef emergencies</header><text>The Administrator shall develop a list of, 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="idf905d4cf81764ad29950bbea4d1c84ba"><enum>(1)</enum><text>new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idccba6a6d8bc74612baa9d27eaedcc74f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or nuisance species;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaa9175533fef4ce7b0fe8a992bd34d4d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>new and ongoing coral bleaching events;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idebfd16fe00e84effa98a2f37534fd038"><enum>(4)</enum><text>natural disasters;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2fb7f9138e9b43ddbcbbd04bfff7f682"><enum>(5)</enum><text>man-made disasters, including vessel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction accidents; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd2ebc5793054310a777dbde8d296ea8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>other exigent circumstances.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id179c5c325ed44812b2a5683015af0438"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Best response practices</header><text>The Administrator shall develop guidance on best practices to respond to coral reef emergencies that can be adopted within coral reef emergency plans. Such best practices shall be—</text><paragraph id="idddd6caec163b424783103e828f88a247"><enum>(1)</enum><text>based on the best available science and integrated with evolving innovative technologies; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id972176d95cef4cc9b6ef0e3f5e771654"><enum>(2)</enum><text>revised not less frequently than once every 5 years.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9c0da3719b44420c8b756754e70801c3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Plan elements</header><text>A coral reef emergency plan shall include the following elements:</text><paragraph id="ida59004129ec7449aadec21b323eb81a1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of particular threats, and the proposed responses, consistent with the best practices developed under subsection (d).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id94edee1603ea4316a15279eb89ee4fb7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A delineation of roles and responsibilities for executing the plan.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb514e790e8154f8589434520456e707f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Evidence of engagement with interested stakeholder groups, as applicable, in the development of the plan.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idffc75b06a66c435bafa143a67b22f963"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Any other information the Administrator considers to be necessary for the plan.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc76a4734343f42489094307fbe0e2cb9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Administrator and the Task Force shall make all reasonable efforts to provide technical assistance upon request by a covered reef manager developing a coral reef emergency plan under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="idf0a529af8e704aa3a1a3ec6192e87a3b"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Adoption of coral reef emergency plans</header><text>A covered reef manager may adopt a coral reef emergency plan developed by another covered reef manager, in full or in part, as relevant to the adopting manager’s applicable jurisdiction.</text></subsection><subsection id="id04cf0fe43e0e4bc9913c70d9595ab5bd"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Public review</header><text>The development of a coral reef action plan by a covered reef manager under subsection (a), and the adoption of a plan under subsection (f), shall be subject to public review and comment.</text></subsection><subsection id="id20416baded03402081def8d2520e252c"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Administrator shall publish each coral reef emergency plan prepared and submitted to the Task Force under this section on publicly available internet websites of—</text><paragraph id="id7dbe2521cf0e46dbb83482e309e0ed33"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5b5e06c72b24496a997d2ac3fe4f7787"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Task Force.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7d25f929a3e246728bce1f002a30cd47"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Plan in effect</header><text>A coral reef emergency plan shall be deemed to be in effect if the plan was submitted to the Task Force under this section during the preceding 6 years.</text></subsection></section><section id="id055a530cbc1f488ab85dd86558a9af6b"><enum>210.</enum><header>Coral reef emergency fund</header><subsection id="id6d71cadde0e54d469b6603da07ed1f97"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of fund</header><text>There is established in the Treasury an interest-bearing fund to be known as the <quote>Coral Reef Emergency Fund</quote>, which shall consist of amounts deposited into the Fund under subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="id562224574c32429492f70c14fdfa5087"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Uses</header><text>Amounts in the Fund—</text><paragraph id="id594a9b06f8fb4e758ab0a3f6cc462d9a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall be available only for use by the Secretary to compensate covered coral reef mangers to implement a coral reef emergency plan in effect under sections 210 and 212; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id32685c18bdb848bbb37262c7414a3b27"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall remain available until expended.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id12b7ca23b44d4ebb901f807fc27164a4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Deposits into the fund</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, there shall be deposited into the Fund—</text><paragraph id="id7a314f11beb74fe8a880999c4366839f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts appropriated for the Fund; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc4c72c7834ca46419a2e5e18eaa13d2f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>other amounts appropriated to the Secretary for use with respect to coral reef emergencies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7232db7c435046f290d41b0c25f1bbc1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Acceptance of donations</header><paragraph id="id096a470ff4be412ab4d0451bd5bf451d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this title, the Secretary may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, donations of services).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id49b0bf497a874c3d867ec7997b96fe53"><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></subsection></section><section id="id9ef25f923851463586275e00b756053a"><enum>211.</enum><header>Emergency assistance</header><subsection id="ide5de06aa108a48669bb802fd14f519d4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Coral reef emergency declarations</header><paragraph id="id03b7b811558d43dd9614c2dfbce23efa"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sua sponte declaration</header><subparagraph id="id09C72F5E8C35450595BA2C0683385941"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may determine and declare a coral reef emergency, including at the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ece1a6dd8234384b22d449836a0b21f"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In declaring a coral reef emergency under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="id36df0e5121084aa5bec95a4d9645e328"><enum>(i)</enum><text>certify that an emergency has occurred that is ecologically significant and harmful to coral reefs; and</text></clause><clause id="id42c38474a7dc423082a767afe37133bb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>submit to the appropriate congressional committees findings and analysis to justify the declaration. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaa2d79fb1c9d44ce907dafdf063ba687"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Petitions</header><text>If a covered State or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership believes that a coral reef emergency has occurred, and is impacting coral reefs or ecologically significant components of coral reefs subject to the responsibilities or jurisdiction 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="id45dd87c458cf4c93ba59f8fb1059092e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Evaluation and action</header><subparagraph id="ide422b4a9a0ae485f817ec9ccb5f35161"><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="idae70e65cdb42411f98ba07ef9a056722"><enum>(i)</enum><text>evaluate the petition to determine whether a coral reef emergency has occurred; and</text></clause><clause id="ide193e647d18d459681c686a53baeee3e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>declare a coral reef emergency or deny the petition.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48e3c2b5818d44818bed7b96564c2c10"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Secretary may extend the deadline provided for under subparagraph (A) by not more than 15 days.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3256726d4d1f4d8dba831b5ee32288b6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text>If the Secretary denies a petition for an emergency declaration submitted under paragraph (2), the State or partnership that submitted the petition 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="id7ce6a54ead1340229218841bf175e4bb"><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="id055b32de1ded45cc9e72743758b93b59"><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="id0b8d11639aaa4c5c88154800d1322dda"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grant authority</header><paragraph id="id897b83183fef44d3b0d4374e3912763a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, 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 in effect under section 209.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb6bc117a3f3b4d3da2a1a0419f5ad71f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A proposal for a grant under this subsection to implement a coral reef emergency plan in effect under section 209 shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id4f243043adcf41ad95f231b6517a52ab"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the name of the entity submitting the proposal;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a409bd2263949cba336924cc3aa5ad4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a copy of the coral reef emergency plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12d0b673f94b4418a09ffe18d880146c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of the qualifications of the individuals and entities who will implement the plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51f95d5115b942b08e3454b65551d363"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an estimate of the funds and time required to complete the implementation of the plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ba7f21c83ef40d9806aa82e617f62ad"><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="id164b8148455547d696365e870451598c"><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 requirements of paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide33c8b324fff4ddd86fe7554ecdf783e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Concurrent review</header><text>An entity seeking a grant under this subsection may submit a 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 components of coral reefs subject to the responsibilities or jurisdiction of the entity.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0d0b250aadfc4dd2a536ae1e5099120b"><enum>212.</enum><header>Vessel grounding inventory</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other Federal agencies, shall establish and maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents involving United States coral reefs, including a description of—</text><paragraph id="id7d2f5e8184f34ab896d066e543337c4b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the impacts of each such incident to coral reefs and related natural resources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2abf5162f13f4bf092c45e8d6ad796f1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>vessel and ownership information relating to each such incident, if available;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4b3443421a2c4e098f29de52ed8a1429"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the estimated cost of removal of the vessel, mitigation, or restoration relating to each such incident;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc5bd5302962244a38807a2bd259d335f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the response actions taken by the owner of the vessel, the Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, or representatives of other Federal or State agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7e4633fcb5124e7ab4221e1fc2c3fd98"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the status of the response actions, including the dates of—</text><subparagraph id="idcae65e127ef54b02affb209f4e524246"><enum>(A)</enum><text>vessel removal;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id36e82ca0c70e4ed196efc68aa6c53512"><enum>(B)</enum><text>mitigation or restoration activities, including whether a coral reef emergency plan was implemented; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb6305f5673ef498eb958bc7f9cc2d30e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any actions taken to prevent future grounding incidents; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf95e911097ce4ee6bf3452da9fe28703"><enum>(6)</enum><text>recommendations for additional navigational aids or other mechanisms for preventing future grounding incidents.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id7e5dc04e39e44b4189fbf67c2f2ab3ec"><enum>213.</enum><header>Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program</header><subsection id="id2648952bcf6e44a49311827efe54eec1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall establish a program (to be known as the <quote>Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program</quote>) to provide grants for projects for the conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems (in this section referred to as <quote>coral reef projects</quote>) pursuant to proposals approved by the Administrator in accordance with this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idb8384b0450d04eab88e03fa6f84e83e6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><paragraph id="ide5265a51f8b74bad9a228f64f061f833"><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="id441b7a57398d43e8a5108d3b3942077a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Entities described</header><text>An entity described in this paragraph is—</text><subparagraph id="id48d0fc781199441988c867a3bd453397"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a natural resource management authority of a State or local government or Tribal organization—</text><clause id="idacf91dfc45844016be1fa23f9e1186f2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>with responsibility for coral reef management; or</text></clause><clause id="id2c06223fc4024b08b1c61cbac0b1c5db"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the activities of which directly or indirectly affect coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7499b9947c794987bfeed7fd62beeaf6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a regional fishery management council 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.);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9441e64efbe2460d9679e7e8aca83492"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a coral reef stewardship partnership seeking to implement a coral reef action plan in effect under section 205;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfed8df59fc9c438c85fa5990488248f8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a coral reef research center designated under section 215(c)(4); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f4eb2389cd5438387b5389630d00493"><enum>(E)</enum><text>another nongovernmental organization or 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="id3fbee09920294afa87d271f2ea00e3ed"><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="id1e7305e439d8493dbc892db18dd0b20f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The name of the individual or entity responsible for conducting the project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc84b4a717eab464e9820d160ae541179"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A description of the qualifications of the individual or entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9930febdbb524e47b8bade6cead8b6a0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A succinct statement of the purposes of the project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idda7557c251fc478099cf8b04df5d964e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An estimate of the funds and time required to complete the project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe701d82478e4e75a8ab00606fc89988"><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="idde4894f73b694bdb819c95ba6c2d9824"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available to the applicant.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0b3326382df7436daaefdd66d34f69b7"><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="id353d249d67b54694b40a398a6ae7a141"><enum>(8)</enum><text>In the case of a proposal submitted by a coral reef stewardship partnership, a description of how the project aligns with the applicable coral reef action plan in effect under section 205.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9cd423ad435b4b8086d33e9cb11f5773"><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="id09bf3c95b1264c7aae25f956a94bbfca"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Project review and approval</header><paragraph id="id62cf5f728d434e2e8debf56ac970598c"><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="id2376e57a16c54f22a447d4c1707444fa"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prioritization of conservation projects</header><text>The Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of grants for projects that meet the criteria for approval under subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (e)(2) that are proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for coral reef conservation by the Administrator and consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf5803df1b8ff4f03b6915cca8baa7cdb"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prioritization of restoration projects</header><text>The Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of grants for projects that meet the criteria for approval under subparagraphs (E) through (L) of subsection (e)(2) that are proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for coral reef restoration by the Administrator and consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc41093eab49d4001bebfc268a023653c"><enum>(4)</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="idd1a6626b6cf6406d81297d7ff4c6fbc4"><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 or Marine National Monument, 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="id6759e1b57b734e50bf6b4c657c125eab"><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="id50ac4c444d3947908ab8b0400d8d32cb"><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="id44b71bb053f24073a758bce9d9886eb6"><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="idc3fb9a7d43f346b48dd27999f2b37034"><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="id0426dad280174f42b1ba2fb2fce5e9b6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is consistent with—</text><subparagraph id="idc73b37e73c6b452399f1d44b7d833032"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id158e3a2e7898499693d59c766b7f4c95"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any Federal or non-Federal coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 covering a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef to be affected by the project; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id45d5192825f34a7faafd021dd4f01609"><enum>(2)</enum><text>will enhance the conservation and restoration of coral reefs by—</text><subparagraph id="id66398cde9fab4402a2cc79314870457e"><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="id02f4e9d343e94aa195f58331f75af249"><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="idec89067a3fb54646a53444818c61d860"><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="id52edf957d822454b9cd9a1bda0f03760"><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="idd40b70041d8f44ae91325b4b0fb42323"><enum>(E)</enum><text>furthering the goals and objectives of coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 and coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 209;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca646eebda154a899a16b60d1f5b39a0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>mapping the location and distribution of coral reefs and potential coral reef habitat;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1e05919946924d4885de29bb84a3b49e"><enum>(G)</enum><text>stimulating innovation to advance the ability of the United States to understand, research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation options to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2531CB760ED048E59374A0847913DC48"><enum>(H)</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="id923d3f438ccd4a96b4a09650acaf0c6c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>developing and implementing cost-effective methods to restore degraded coral reef ecosystems or to create geographically appropriate 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="id94a89df52cdf4be5925e76b1e2c24b4d"><enum>(J)</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="id7324ca99d7a644e3aea030957227ab77"><enum>(K)</enum><text>developing and maintaining in situ native coral propagation sites; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8a46559a3f8f403fb372491c558dfff2"><enum>(L)</enum><text>developing and maintaining ex situ coral propagation nurseries and land-based coral gene banks to—</text><clause id="idb8febffa1c0b48d3b8939e8377d6e02c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conserve or augment genetic diversity of native coral populations;</text></clause><clause id="id46c602f1620943f8b92b7f25a28dad4c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>support captive breeding of rare coral species; or</text></clause><clause id="id55ce2e383bf7438c975e09b20fcf8938"><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="idfdc7d84440e54ba2b99f6bb32c093d41"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Funding requirements</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><paragraph id="id9bda1bc345f1452588d483da8612f3a6"><enum>(1)</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></paragraph><paragraph id="id9c71e1ab1f564b4caf36c9947e492476"><enum>(2)</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></paragraph><paragraph id="idb9abf587c9d04af4bb08ae725f99f174"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not more than 67 percent of funds distributed in each region in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made exclusively available to projects that are—</text><subparagraph id="id0d973210529b49f08248ec1d705eb655"><enum>(A)</enum><text>submitted by a coral reef stewardship partnership; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida8cd47b0552b4a1c9f0873eaba3d08ea"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consistent with the coral reef action plan in effect under section 205 by such a partnership.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id04611d3565f14d538668873af9a5b398"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Of the funds distributed to support projects in accordance with paragraph (3), not less than 20 percent and not more than 33 percent shall be awarded for projects submitted by a Federal coral reef stewardship partnership.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0a06f771beb94cf3b5a7cf795be59e2a"><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="id2f86577dadc44e1bb52b86c327c74985"><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 and evaluating proposals for coral reef projects under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id07a9905dfb3a43879199094798751868"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Unexpended amounts</header><text>Any amounts available for grants under this section that are not expended shall be transferred to the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund under section 208(b).</text></subsection></section><section id="id987e7448ba734df08230948a3823417d"><enum>214.</enum><header>Reports on administration</header><subsection id="id3df699b40e354e9d8dfd565566eeb2a5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021</short-title>, and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the committees specified in subsection (b) a report on the administration of this title during the 2-year period preceding submission of the report, including—</text><paragraph id="id2a1908fafcf7429db6fc8591581bfd2b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of all activities undertaken to implement the most recent national coral reef resilience strategy under section 204A;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc44273d8e823464bb8f4ef301a04a452"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a statement of all funds obligated under the authorities of this title; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id056645cd5140459b8d6464d8536aabaa"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a summary, disaggregated by State, of Federal and non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each project or activity funded, in full or in part, under the authorities of this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddf9c74b6775f44b3bcccd69720a62670"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Committees specified</header><text>The committees specified in this subsection are—</text><paragraph id="id5c6f4ef67144451d89ddd1f4fc6a489e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id527916784836403eac62ee073f9259f0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id8a4b48307c24486c9dd3579b3b0ebc1d"><enum>215.</enum><header>Authority to enter into agreements</header><subsection id="id4728088ddc8c41c49339e5e3ed058620"><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="id7ffa67fd24b0462c8853b8c0e654b691"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph id="id45f86ac0eb8e4716b7cb787ef61549db"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Under an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Administrator may reimburse or provide funds authorized to be appropriated by section 216 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="idf1bbdc4c845a4fde8d96c7b4ad66be6f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Individuals and entities described</header><text>Individuals and entities described in this paragraph are the following:</text><subparagraph id="idc50c27d902d24b7cb3c3f1924e55f554"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Federal agencies, instrumentalities, and laboratories.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1b8277672e394997bbf190c414a394a7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State and local governments.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idadd8cbd8707c436196e7e1c8c7c3d406"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48e10b2d38d94a43a113328d2d3a1761"><enum>(D)</enum><text>International organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5abf8ace80204426b358b6e5497fb225"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Foreign governments not subject to economic sanctions imposed by the United States.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb493f5f1c3d94f0ba1de563df768c533"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Institutions of higher education, research centers, and other educational institutions.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id091a038582324815a08d1457d18a3a18"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Nonprofit organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae7b7ac3f84d45faa3b950167d442d3f"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Commercial organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide5c9d94e89394b538e20b95f70567463"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Other public or private individuals or entities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0e7dcaf9bfbd480f91a79a905ac2c238"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative institutes</header><paragraph id="idcbe655c9f5e54c7f854a4965bcd773fa"><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 Institute</quote> and the <quote>Pacific Coral Reef Institute</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaac1e4727e81439184f83023313dbc0c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>Each institute established under paragraph (1) shall be housed within a single coral reef research center designated by the Administrator under paragraph (4) in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, respectively, and may contract with other coral reef research centers within the same basin to support each institute’s capacity and reach.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd4cea3ac6005418b914bb6be7947c8b1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The institutes established under paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id3c0ce999060846418e1e481eda9b3b51"><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 consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaceec6527cd9435ebec23843219bef5b"><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="id1c571697775742aaa3b4273914f4cc90"><enum>(C)</enum><text>through agreements—</text><clause id="id8e9ebd39eb3641048ad7e4e77ead68d6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>collaborate directly with governmental resource management agencies, coral reef stewardship partnerships, nonprofit organizations, and other coral reef research centers designated under paragraph (4);</text></clause><clause id="iddb9b667490b4467b9e731f16e6a2eae3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assist in the development and implementation of—</text><subclause id="idbef1c37e666c411a80de4b497cab9149"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy under section 204A;</text></subclause><subclause id="id90cdad428d85402aa5add7d3f79de2e5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>coral reef action plans under section 205; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id2924994951ac4e25b6c097c04c28175c"><enum>(III)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans under section 209;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idf6d365c6c61e40bc8845133d8a6a9f2c"><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="idaf936961037d42249d92b7af8ae38a68"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>conduct public education and awareness programs for policymakers, resource managers, and the general public on—</text><subclause id="idcea6eb0204374d5495de024c8dc9c586"><enum>(I)</enum><text>coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;</text></subclause><subclause id="id21a262531cab4bedb11e21621ead2e06"><enum>(II)</enum><text>best practices for coral reef ecosystem management and restoration;</text></subclause><subclause id="id991d5eb258ef40169305c9c6a0360668"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the value of coral reefs; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idc5aa8e2596c4448e970c0c2431794291"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the threats to the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4a7033812fa6440fa52641bd941955ff"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coral reef research centers</header><subparagraph id="id8aa5a89f568d49679df0998e91bff27a"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall periodically solicit applications and designate all qualifying institutions in a covered State as coral reef research centers.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9fb54f242cd748b6a1a41595d3ae709d"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>An institution qualifies for designation as a coral reef research center under subparagraph (A) if the Administrator determines that the institution—</text><clause id="id2782324f38d14636b45bb6bcab359add"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is operated by an institution of higher education or nonprofit marine research organization;</text></clause><clause id="id33bc90e41e6147409253fc15c4d8ea86"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has established management-driven national or regional coral reef research or restoration programs;</text></clause><clause id="id6965d19a4e7c4e2eae9f573010f90f4d"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has demonstrated abilities to coordinate closely with appropriate Federal and State agencies, as well as other academic and nonprofit organizations; and</text></clause><clause id="idcd5098df1ea14ea2a6774f1e60ead9a6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>maintains significant local community engagement and outreach programs related to coral reef ecosystems.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb255d5e0c37f4f829025e895161b5ec0"><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 this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id87209a30fa7e421d89225f0e4192da6e"><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="iddbeb42e8cfa142b08239c402499f1019"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb022da4dd95246b2aebe8cbec7a8da06"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any State or local government;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idebf3a86d4ca04964ad8bba0e39f5c166"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any Indian Tribe; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id523b2518366f4d60a436e01ecd5f19ee"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any foreign government not subject to economic sanctions imposed by the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1d9e30cd8da84d628ad49aa0f20995d1"><enum>216.</enum><header>Coral reef prize competitions</header><subsection id="idf6fa8cc72fb7457698973dd6bbf78196"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The head of any Federal agency with a representative serving on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force established by Executive Order 13089 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6401">16 U.S.C. 6401</external-xref> note; relating to coral reef protection), may, individually or in cooperation with one or more agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competitively under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/3719">15 U.S.C. 3719</external-xref>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id3545e112b7d149dd9501e07ceb96d460"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>Any program carried out under this section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innovation to advance the ability of the United States to understand, research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation options to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems.</text></subsection><subsection id="id4efdd23e64b443169f0110486fe3a665"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority programs</header><text>Priority shall be given to establishing programs under this section that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress as a result of the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including—</text><paragraph id="id0ee2337fe8514ed3b9755b08770f1366"><enum>(1)</enum><text>scientific research and monitoring that furthers the understanding of causes behind coral reef decline and degradation and the generally slow recovery following disturbances, including ocean acidification and its impacts on coral reproduction;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1372d91a36d47b3bc4aee6034674db1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the development of monitoring or management options for communities or industries that are experiencing significant financial hardship;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1cf453c1aee4c3bafbe279675db09c7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the development of adaptation options to alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id766555af1cb7405cba4120350606067e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the development of measures to help vulnerable communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural communities and businesses; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e3f2d1a79034976b8a7e27e245895a0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the development of adaptation and management options for impacted tourism industries.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6ca8500da09c494f885e8c7ea48899fb"><enum>217.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><subsection id="ida1528fb283fe41ff93dc8392d8ce9fd7"><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 id="id1a563980191147d1b5bafc3dfc44d5a1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$31,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb3b51e30122048a7ae02587e25bc93df"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$32,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd9a4f5f1547449d92088346d9c31dab"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$34,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id48bbc6f369d34884861abefa61782fdb"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$35,500,000 for fiscal year 2024.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0585fccda9dd48c4b83edaf4786446d6"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$37,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0cf5140a193a457a9f4ddd1bf709be10"><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="ida4cbf6eaeeaa4b329046f17f4381788b"><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 203 and 207:</text><paragraph id="idc26e715b84744b8a9613cb1c4c6f5a34"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$23,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which not less than $8,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 207.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id451a758f4b79418381d37930d1b72f2b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$24,500,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which not less than $8,500,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 207.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id01f0b83b55ed40f786853defb93d9327"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$26,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which not less than $9,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 207.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id28592fc0d4484b6ab2d80e44c876bea2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$27,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less than $10,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 207.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfcf3b9e160a1403db179a30a37b83760"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$29,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which not less than $11,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 207.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id45daa3ecdcba42d69d36fa585407e1da"><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 2021 through 2025 to support purposes consistent with this title, of which—</text><paragraph id="idac5815fcd955483ca105fa5b933165fb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not less than $3,500,000 shall be made available for each such fiscal year for authorized activities under section 213; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida458db0e3c0f4d2db296f2ee0143e154"><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 215(c).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id90c84705059645d9a60110d9f5c6350e"><enum>218.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id5505f276fa804828a8a8fd248a643837"><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="id97a2c06877cf454c86e6f5574e1dc376"><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="id6946bcb1f7774a15a6c191a0e7785e38"><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="id8c4a464bffd745baadd05d2b4c32d3e1"><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="id56276af329c54907badf51bd2746062b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>mapping;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbc1cad3600414504a2283a73e8dfd5ad"><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="id9e0c7c0cf5d6439c8b983f9eb224a6a4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>law enforcement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd040de6ce6c24b88b21335ac66c4a952"><enum>(E)</enum><text>conflict resolution initiatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaf8d433801954887b0012a8d0a0b2bad"><enum>(F)</enum><text>community outreach and education; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id56d3802f5ac141b5bb61bcb1ca2652a9"><enum>(G)</enum><text>promotion of safe and ecologically sound navigation and anchoring.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfa1eedb85bfd4c82871d8bae58756a25"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coral</header><text>The term <term>coral</term> means species of the phylum Cnidaria, including—</text><subparagraph id="ida25b5c8851254ff8a69b0a5963c024b8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all species of the orders Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Alcyonacea (soft corals, organ pipe corals, gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the class Anthozoa; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaf3c393798874436be3a0fac9853c24e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all species of the order Anthoathecata (fire corals and other hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb2369aff95c6484da8ddbc0044672e0e"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Coral reef</header><text>The term <term>coral reef</term> means limestone structures 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 id="id118f57bd14744f0985e8e18bd8fd0954"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Coral reef ecosystem</header><text>The term <term>coral reef ecosystem</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id7c4764bcd8bb48eb84df3a28ed649735"><enum>(A)</enum><text>corals and other geographically and ecologically associated marine communities of other reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) associated with coral reef habitat; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd7b423ea019540068749a5649b9628e0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the biotic and abiotic factors and processes that control coral calcification rates, tissue growth, reproduction, recruitment, abundance, coral-algal symbiosis, and biodiversity in such habitat.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4c6470234d794e2e8eda8db696902fb8"><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="id2590dae52b184bd5b32c7517021887bd"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Covered reef manager</header><subparagraph id="id02a78295769745e3a6809753b37ab3cf"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>covered reef manager</term> means a management unit of a Federal agency specified in subparagraph (B) with jurisdiction over a coral reef ecosystem, covered State, or coral reef stewardship partnership.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2820d2afdea64b55bb7264e569a00063"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Federal agencies specified</header><text>A Federal agency specified in this subparagraph is one of the following:</text><clause id="idf2fee2b745cf4f92ab35df8116f0d0bf"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></clause><clause id="idf4b26279f3704fa3963e7714958818df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The National Park Service.</text></clause><clause id="id24b67be043ab4bdfb858b15e8cf8b90f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></clause><clause id="idd6bc00b3e4e6456c81adaa40998b7187"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The Office of Insular Affairs.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb09170b5bbb94b12a2ae9618fa7e5b60"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Covered State</header><text>The term <term>covered State</term> means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc3b3545da092459295d34badf5714c34"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Indian tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given that term 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="id2302333973b34d65a270c3d172eabee0"><enum>(11)</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="id22047abba87644c5ad8bfc886c75d545"><enum>(12)</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="id5ec2bee4af2045518c9610d7e5c20de8"><enum>(13)</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="id265c3806a74c44e38c5ae599beb291e8"><enum>(14)</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="id07b439ab48054f6792361ad721a0d4e1"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Resilience</header><text>The term <term>resilience</term> means the capacity for corals within their native range, coral reefs, or coral reef ecosystems to recover from natural and human disturbances as determined by clearly identifiable, measurable, and science-based standards.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id267d37d63b30485e8f576d0517aedcf6"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Commerce.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id89eced1e987242f5a48e386e91f0ec92"><enum>(17)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1bd0f96e30b94999893462b3d2005389"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any State of the United States that contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9910cc76af314247878675eec9d9e287"><enum>(B)</enum><text>American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7672670d9172451db4eeb1978fd9ac4c"><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="idb04e95d004f04187ba6af5f0eaf65499"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Stewardship</header><text>The term <term>stewardship</term>, with respect to a coral reef, includes conservation, restoration, and public outreach and education.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id99f7de2f1b05454c95db822ddb52e9ea"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Task force</header><text>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 2021</short-title>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1f686542ea5454c99f5df94f00b86f1"><enum>(20)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given the term <quote>tribal organization</quote> in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id84bb0be52d624154a667c370d23ee3a7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming amendment to National Oceans and Coastal Security Act</header><text>Section 905(a) of the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/7504">16 U.S.C. 7504(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and coastal infrastructure</quote> and inserting <quote>, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem services provided by natural systems such as coral reefs</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="id124FADC6BBC64A658E46E562859923D7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Modification to section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6403">16 U.S.C. 6403</external-xref>)</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6403">16 U.S.C. 6403</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id65b356a7c54b48aea092957748db1501"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>section 213</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id449fac286fb1404495f98a9bf97ca46a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05d34c7c8bca47e592d0813757ad64eb"><paragraph id="idde3d037794d84d4f8e2cd5c72fe2a128"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1), block grant funds awarded to the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands under section 207 shall qualify as the non-Federal share of project costs.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idae0a393b144641f19a51528ad313c473"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking subsections (c) through (j).</text></paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>United States Coral Reef Task Force</header><section id="id0dcf07f88d054bf597be43ace82c1c70"><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="id26ac280f226a4d37b1211269b3628b88"><enum>202.</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The duties of the Task Force shall be—</text><paragraph id="idc2aa64e8ef5e4b92a48fbfac6960c4cb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to coordinate, in cooperation with State, Tribal, and local government partners, coral reef research centers designated under section 215(c) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (as amended by section 101), and other nongovernmental and academic partners as appropriate, activities regarding the mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, mitigation, and restoration of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5b379df2b1d461f943c8371ac94437e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to monitor and advise regarding implementation of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set forth in—</text><subparagraph id="idd24a2f4628a54a708d2f8566b005970a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701; relating to coral reef protection); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id379db26c2b444154b0a6a3dee09213dc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy developed under section 204A of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd7e3f6dd203c436e88a9e7c7994f829e"><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="id0e1d4c253d2a41b6b3d6c14df80881e6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to assess the United States role in international trade and protection of coral species;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc323bd623c4145b98d92a3f5c5770b48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to encourage implementation of appropriate strategies and actions to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reef resources worldwide; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf76f3f1051d94289bdeb410926b71d85"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to collaborate with international communities successful in managing coral reefs;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9f85fc8f92104f97bbf6f0ec7e1d3bea"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance for the development and implementation, as appropriate, of—</text><subparagraph id="idab021662d55f46629668a5d88cbbf4c3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy under section 204A of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3f3cadad6b794639989d67f2b80abf12"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coral reef action plans under section 205 of that Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id35535f47730d4e2eafc1626d4bb8aa5b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans under section 209 of that Act; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3ac4b0c75bc843c3b799bcf7b5eb3beb"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to produce a report each year, for submission to the appropriate congressional committees and publication on a publicly available internet website of the Task Force, highlighting the status of the coral reef equities of a covered State on a rotating basis, including—</text><subparagraph id="id4015f3f20a124708baeaa65402d73097"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a summary of recent coral reef management and restoration activities undertaken in that State; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida75a6c7fd0444cb78ebf7fdf6a4d4e77"><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="id611eb29617814d87b3c26e077cb0c3ff"><enum>203.</enum><header>Membership</header><subsection id="id08987e647c2147d69ad883fe418f15f7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Voting membership</header><text>The Task Force shall have the following voting members:</text><paragraph id="id943a2d4e642e4cff88f503df58d1dd83"><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="id90514a026be74bbcb526d16c7b3dd7e2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0efd2eda93684f078c560950b5df7442"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0130ac9df32d4b59b3a0b99c371bad71"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Secretary of Defense.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id819df4b977cb49c196ddf2b8bcd3ce65"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idef81088618fd428791f8fb592ed239d5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8c0f19c3e144d5687041148180ccfca"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Commandant of the Coast Guard.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id201d30933f5944fba1ebdc219a3e3436"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The Attorney General.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb791e9328f464afa9efcb662a664908e"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The Secretary of State.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9fe1c14d3c4b4b0ca0f7784c332db2e7"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The Secretary of Transportation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0c6a10c7e4a74ee7bc5766ca3bc6ec80"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4c005b7914ff4c76ba543bd37b6ac956"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb3f78717a35e4b1a8a63a899a5b4a8dc"><enum>(13)</enum><text>The Director of the National Science Foundation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0db02f835107476db41c05cf6b01f63a"><enum>(14)</enum><text>The Governor, or a representative of the Governor, of each covered State.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6ffb6c56cd924be39cd40d63d04e7298"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Nonvoting members</header><text>The Task Force shall have the following nonvoting members:</text><paragraph id="idecd61a88a4bb45e3b70aa80aa1a539c2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A 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 id="idd613f25f28864c7495572d6d2dd4f186"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under such section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id445fb2b6990a42049012c4777423f5ea"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A member of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council who is designated under such section and selected as follows:</text><subparagraph id="id13ee3a2744ce4ca5bb1e34d1abe111dc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>For the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 of the calendar year during which such date of enactment occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a0945fd8b004f8ea42755b7ce5b1b44"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For each calendar year thereafter, the governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall, on a rotating basis, take turns selecting the member.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc2d93afa2235428f9c76f848a21e4e97"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A member of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council who is designated under such section and selected as follows:</text><subparagraph id="id5e29e99232f74cd6b881907f22349e89"><enum>(A)</enum><text>For the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 of the calendar year during which such date of enactment occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide543154dd1954ca19038b02503d6bf80"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For each calendar year thereafter, the governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands shall, on an alternating basis, take turns selecting the member.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idffcba2bfab6c4f16b4a2396c19fe033f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A member appointed by the President of the Federated States of Micronesia.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id48d89147fe644b699c23fb726195f5f1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A member appointed by the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5133feb1a7ea41cc8e47e2cb341b956b"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A member appointed by the President of the Republic of Palau.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="iddf30337a86bf430c8e998f9149a5b4de"><enum>204.</enum><header>Responsibilities of Federal agency members</header><subsection id="id95d328e3561d45cd9fd00dd0620aa939"><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="idb93d87109013457cb7b25156103eee48"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify the actions of the agency that member represents that may affect coral reef ecosystems;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddee742dbeb004003af08e7326fec2b34"><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="id4bdd0cbbbea94e7095cbfeb405e48b5b"><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="id5f36d1c009184fe6bdf8f346474a9cfe"><enum>(4)</enum><text>engage in any other coordinated efforts approved by the Task Force.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id068a078f13724b34808fc393ae7857eb"><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 (14) of section 203(a).</text></subsection></section><section id="idbbdd0cdfdba4414f8aa5ce6afbcf8cd3"><enum>205.</enum><header>Working groups</header><subsection id="id9886dcdf5c8b401f98776d0d7c92c3b9"><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="id1dac7506884244b5915ace9e8553f25d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requests from members</header><text>The members of the Task Force may request that the co-chairs establish a working group under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id2ca10588d69c4c0080468abece61bda4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Participation by nongovernmental organizations</header><text>The co-chairs may allow nongovernmental organizations as appropriate, including academic institutions, conservation groups, and commercial and recreational fishing associations, to participate in a working group established under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="idf1236875f4ef4267ba64accb9e8e0f15"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act</header><text>The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to working groups established under this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="id1c42727246ba4139b08a491988bf84aa"><enum>206.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id70f2186124de4a7ca0aeecdd125123a8"><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 id="id79b7319017744333a583eabe9cbcc75b"><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 218 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="id9b8b1e48c3e243f494e08d7de41c6c80"><enum>301.</enum><header>Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance</header><subsection id="id7b875ef3b22341c19fd97b9cc74c72a5"><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, State, and Tribal waters, including—</text><paragraph id="id9107b30c16704dc1ab73a76f7e199fa4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9c8f00a0528d4267bf5a5b65d7548754"><enum>(2)</enum><text>coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 of that Act, as applicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5d4bcd5b672d459aa9f05d6d16972a3e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 209 of that Act, as applicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd13244ce2dc24529941d41c0f6264d66"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Office of insular affairs coral reef initiative</header><text>The Secretary may establish within the Office of Insular Affairs a Coral Reef Initiative Program—</text><paragraph id="ide41d0800080041ba9ee3600f6c7f0b17"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to provide grant funding to support local management, conservation, and protection of coral reef ecosystems in—</text><subparagraph id="ide92e0bbf75a64960a3e077559fd580fd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>insular areas of covered States; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0fcaefb6d29a4cafac78f070a6e7c494"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Freely Associated States;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d96bde76cb845349038cf82a6ff4f7c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to complement the other conservation and assistance activities conducted under this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8cdfdaa773fa41a4b6b1603134eb356e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide other technical, scientific, and financial assistance and conduct conservation activities that advance the purpose of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9225b04b384847009e044e2d1a57a600"><enum>(c)</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) and (3) of section 203(c) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide119befcee60434aa749910628fc004a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with covered reef managers to fund coral reef conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the jurisdiction of such managers that—</text><paragraph id="id542673e16cc74046b0d1a6cfa7bb20b3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>are consistent with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204A of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd24dda9a3cbc444face5547d24db0f22"><enum>(2)</enum><text>support and enhance the success of—</text><subparagraph id="id7ebe7ce9fda04bb4af5d55f471e3ecfd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 of that Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8c62494a4d1f450d8ca5d9fd47bb2469"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 209 of that Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcc4b940316bd41da89a4dd9570950c2a"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>conservation</term>, <term>coral reef</term>, <term>covered reef manager</term>, <term>covered State</term>, <term>restoration</term>, and <term>State</term> have the meaning given those terms in section 218 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship</header><section id="id700016b340de4aa595850e1bdfceda1a"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Act of 2021</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="idd70ee14422f4487e8f4cfec8c69976d2"><enum>402.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id35bbd9bbdbec49f1be76b582764eda9f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Fellow</header><text>The term <term>fellow</term> means a National Coral Reef Management Fellow.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id99bd113ea94344789b53cf5c9261d675"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fellowship</header><text>The term <term>fellowship</term> means the National Coral Reef Management Fellowship established in section 403. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id942C46095596474280887F80842E2823"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Indian tribe; tribal organization</header><text>The terms <term>Indian Tribe</term> and <term>Tribal organization</term> have the meanings given those terms 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="id71717b260cf540d9baaf333418adef1c"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Commerce.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id2c6f8a621bb24bb4931a38d9bbc37bba"><enum>403.</enum><header>Establishment of fellowship program</header><subsection id="idff1bb2d918604072b9cbadda963974db"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program.</text></subsection><subsection id="id040cf2183c594f62b561901a78602c89"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The purposes of the fellowship are—</text><paragraph id="idb8058a78f9734b068e5b34aa943a5d80"><enum>(1)</enum><text> to encourage future leaders of the United States to develop additional coral reef management capacity in States and local communities with coral reefs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id996f30f658c9491daa394b4305d06d82"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to provide management agencies of States, Tribal organizations, and Freely Associated States with highly qualified candidates whose education and work experience meet the specific needs of each State, Indian Tribe, and Freely Associated State; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8761408356d84c608dc0b3da31fbad45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide fellows with professional experience in management of coastal and coral reef resources.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idbc8c68f6e6f6416bbe4ed7d96a0297c5"><enum>404.</enum><header>Fellowship awards</header><subsection id="id103f65b25abf402f96fbd6eae53b7c7d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall award the fellowship in accordance with this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0f055fa09a6f4d728741a021986f458c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Term of fellowship</header><text>A fellowship awarded under this section shall be for a term of not more than 24 months.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6410caa882ee4f848cf8b58403bc9632"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>The Secretary shall award the fellowship to individuals who have demonstrated—</text><paragraph id="idf85ba8932aa04aba9cf6be70922220e5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an intent to pursue a career in marine services and outstanding potential for such a career;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id58a66bc95bff4a3fa1c92753a318e4cc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>leadership potential, actual leadership experience, or both;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f54b0a752ed4699873c82b3537c7ecb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a college or graduate degree in biological science, experience that correlates with aptitude and interest for marine management, or both;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ided7c530db3484bbd9c77aa3b9846869f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>proficient writing and speaking skills; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0adcbee95cf94a51a1f3d555fc02dd4b"><enum>(5)</enum><text>such other attributes as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id7bc605f6d86344cebdf41a8bbf527894"><enum>405.</enum><header>Matching requirement</header><subsection id="id9b283a1607ac4c7c95893192b22ae8ac"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), the non-Federal share of the costs of a fellowship under this section shall be 25 percent of such costs.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0d21507385ab4f4ca2faee282239cde9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waiver of requirements</header><text>The Secretary may waive the application of subsection (a) if the Secretary finds that such waiver is necessary to support a project that the Secretary has identified as a high priority. </text></subsection></section>