Youth coastal fishing grant program

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants and provide technical assistance to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing youth fishing projects.(b)

Applications

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.(c)

Determinations of eligibility

The Secretary shall develop criteria for purposes of determining whether an entity is eligible to receive a grant under this section in consultation with relevant offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as the Office of Coastal Management, the National Sea Grant Office, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.(d)

Use of funds

An eligible entity that receives a grant award under this section shall use the amount of the award for purposes related to conducting a youth fishing project, including—(1)the purchase or rental of fishing equipment;(2)the cost of transporting participants to and from a youth fishing project;(3)fees associated with boat rental, pier access, or other facilities;(4)fishing license purchases;(5)fishing guide costs; or(6)such other expenses related to conducting a youth fishing project as the Secretary considers appropriate.(e)

Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to applications containing proposals for youth fishing projects focused on an underserved community.(f)

Report required

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on—(1)the eligible entities awarded grants under this section;(2)the amount each such entity received;(3)how those entities used the grant award; and(4)the number of participants in youth fishing projects funded by grants under this section.(g)

Funding

(1)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.(2)

Availability

Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.(3)

Administrative costs

Not more than 3 percent of amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) may be used by the Secretary for the administrative costs of carrying out this section. (h)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—(A)a nonprofit organization;(B)an educational institution;(C)a State, local, or Tribal government; or(D)a Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).(2)

Nonprofit organization

The term nonprofit organization means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. (4)

State

The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (5)

Tribal government

The term Tribal government means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). (6)

Underserved community

The term underserved community means a population of individuals sharing a particular characteristic, or a geographic community, that has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, such as—(A)racial and ethnic minorities;(B)individuals with access and functional needs; or(C)individuals otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.(7)

Youth fishing project

The term youth fishing project means a project that provides youth with—(A)a recreational fishing experience conducted from a shore, pier, or boat located in the Great Lakes, coastal waters, ocean waters, or a tidal river;(B)education about marine science, conservation, and fishing regulations; and(C)information on where and how to continue fishing.