[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5727-H5729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COASTAL HABITAT CONSERVATION ACT OF 2023
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2950) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, through
the Coastal Program of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to
work with willing partners and provide support to efforts to assess,
protect, restore, and enhance important coastal landscapes that provide
fish and wildlife habitat on which certain Federal trust species
depend, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2950
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal Habitat Conservation
Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to legislatively authorize the
Coastal Program of the Service in effect as of the date of
the enactment of this Act to conduct collaborative landscape-
level planning and on-the-ground coastal habitat assessment,
coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, and
coastal habitat enhancement projects in priority coastal
landscapes to conserve and recover Federal trust species.
[[Page H5728]]
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Coastal ecosystem.--The term ``coastal ecosystem''
means a biological community of organisms interacting with
each other and their habitats in a coastal landscape.
(2) Coastal habitat assessment.--The term ``coastal habitat
assessment'' means the process of evaluating the physical,
chemical, and biological function of a coastal site to
determine the value of the site to fish and wildlife.
(3) Coastal habitat enhancement.--The term ``coastal
habitat enhancement'' means the manipulation of the physical,
chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal
ecosystem to increase or decrease specific biological
functions that make the ecosystem valuable to fish and
wildlife.
(4) Coastal habitat planning.--The term ``coastal habitat
planning'' means the process of developing a comprehensive
plan that--
(A) characterizes a coastal ecosystem;
(B) sets protection, restoration, or enhancement goals and
identifies the priorities of those goals;
(C) describes conservation strategies and methodologies;
(D) establishes a timetable for implementation of the plan;
and
(E) identifies roles of participants and stakeholders.
(5) Coastal habitat protection.--
(A) In general.--The term ``coastal habitat protection''
means a long-term action to safeguard habitat of value to
fish and wildlife in a coastal ecosystem.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``coastal habitat protection''
includes activities to support establishment of a
conservation easement or fee title acquisition by Federal and
non-Federal partners.
(6) Coastal habitat restoration.--The term ``coastal
habitat restoration'' means the manipulation of the physical,
chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal
ecosystem with the goal of returning, to the maximum extent
practicable, the full natural biological functions to lost or
degraded native habitat.
(7) Coastal landscape.--The term ``coastal landscape''
means a portion of a coastal ecosystem within or adjacent to
a coastal State that contains various habitat types,
including--
(A) a fresh or saltwater wetland in a coastal watershed;
(B) a coastal river, stream, or waterway;
(C) a coastal bay or estuary;
(D) a seagrass bed, reef, or other nearshore marine
habitat;
(E) a beach or dune system;
(F) a mangrove forest; and
(G) an associated coastal upland.
(8) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal State'' means--
(A) a State in, or bordering on, the Atlantic, Pacific, or
Arctic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Long Island Sound, or 1
or more of the Great Lakes;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(I) the Republic of Palau; and
(J) the United States Virgin Islands.
(9) Federal trust species.--The term ``Federal trust
species'' means migratory birds, threatened species or
endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), interjurisdictional fish, and
marine mammals for which the Secretary has management
authority.
(10) Financial assistance.--The term ``financial
assistance'' means Federal funding provided to Federal,
State, local, or Tribal governments, nongovernmental
institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private
individuals and entities through a grant or cooperative
agreement.
(11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(12) Service.--The term ``Service'' means the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
(13) Technical assistance.--The term ``technical
assistance'' means a collaboration, facilitation, or
consulting action relating to a coastal habitat planning,
coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection,
coastal habitat restoration, or coastal habitat enhancement
project or initiative in which the Service contributes
scientific knowledge, skills, and expertise to the project or
initiative.
SEC. 4. COASTAL PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall carry out the Coastal Program within
the Service to--
(1) identify the leading threats to priority coastal
landscapes and conservation actions to address those threats
in partnership with Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit
organizations, and private individuals and entities;
(2) provide technical assistance and financial assistance
through partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit
organizations, and private individuals and entities to
conduct voluntary coastal habitat planning, coastal habitat
assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat
restoration, and coastal habitat enhancement projects on
public land or private land;
(3) ensure the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems
through adaptive management procedures based on the best
available science;
(4) build the capacity of Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit
organizations, and private individuals and entities to carry
out environmental conservation and stewardship measures;
(5) assist in the development and implementation of
monitoring protocols to ensure the success of coastal
ecosystem restoration and coastal ecosystem enhancement
measures; and
(6) collaborate and share information with partners and the
public relating to best management practices for the
conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal
ecosystems.
SEC. 5. REPORTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Service, shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees
on Appropriations and Environment and Public Works of the
Senate, and make available to the public on the website of
the Service, a report on the Coastal Program carried out
under this Act.
(b) Requirements.--Each report submitted under subsection
(a) shall assess on regional and nationwide bases--
(1) Coastal Program work on coastal ecosystems;
(2) progress made by the Coastal Program toward identifying
the leading threats to priority coastal landscapes and
conservation actions to address those threats; and
(3) prospects for, and success of, protecting, restoring,
and enhancing coastal ecosystems.
(c) Inclusions.--Each report submitted under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) quantitative information on coastal landscapes
protected, restored, or enhanced;
(2) funds appropriated to the Coastal Program that have
been expended or leveraged;
(3) a description of adaptive management practices
implemented; and
(4) a description of emerging challenges or data gaps that
hinder the ability of the Coastal Program to achieve the
purpose of this Act.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act $16,957,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-
Cortez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 2950, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Representative Huffman's bill, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act
of 2023, congressionally authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's Coastal Program.
The Coastal Program was administratively created in 1984 and annually
receives appropriations even though it has never been statutorily
authorized. H.R. 2950 would address this currently unauthorized program
and ensure that the Committee on Natural Resources has increased
oversight.
Importantly, it would better enable the Committee on Natural
Resources to make substantive changes to how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service administers the program should those changes be necessary.
The Coastal Program is a voluntary, partnership-based program that
allows the Service to provide technical and financial assistance for
habitat conservation in coastal watersheds. The committee has heard
testimony that outlined the successes of this program, which has
conserved nearly 3 million acres of priority habitat nationwide.
The bill brings greater congressional oversight over an important
program for coastal habitat conservation. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2950, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act,
introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), the Water,
Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee ranking member.
This bill would provide statutory authority for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service's Coastal Program, including authorizing nearly $17
million each year from fiscal year 2024 through 2028.
The Coastal Program is one of the Fish and Wildlife Service's most
effective voluntary programs for restoring and protecting the habitat.
It has helped coastal communities and their partners conserve and
restore coastal ecosystems since 1985. These partnerships have
benefited people, habitats, and wildlife in 24 priority coastal areas,
including the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean,
and the Pacific Ocean.
[[Page H5729]]
The program works to create resilient coastal ecosystems, support
habitat connectivity, recover Federal trust in priority species, and
promote community stewardship of fish and wildlife resources. It does
so by providing both technical and financial assistance to States,
Tribes, coastal communities, and conservation organizations for public
and private lands.
This successful program has completed nearly 5,000 projects and
collaborated with over 6,400 partners, with the outcome of protecting
more than 2.3 million acres of habitat and improving land and water for
the people and wildlife that live there.
Our country and our planet are facing a climate crisis and a
biodiversity crisis, so efforts like these are essential.
Authorizing the Coastal Program through H.R. 2950 will enable the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue identifying threats to
coastal landscapes, providing coastal habitat planning and assessments,
ensuring restoration and protection for resilient coastlines, and
developing capacity building between private and public partnerships.
I strongly support the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act and urge my
colleagues to pass this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Puerto Rico (Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon).
Mrs. GONZALEZ-COLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2950, the
Coastal Habitat Conservation Act. I was proud to join Congressman
Huffman as the co-lead on this bipartisan bill, which would
congressionally authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal
Program.
This program is one of the Service's most effective and proven
initiatives, bringing together public and private partners on a
voluntary basis to protect and improve coastal habitats and ecosystems
across our Nation. These efforts are carried out throughout 24 priority
coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of
Mexico, the Great Lakes, and of course, the Caribbean.
In 2023, the Coastal Program worked with partners and local
communities to implement 153 conservation projects across 19 States and
territories, restoring and protecting more than 87,000 acres. This was
accomplished by leveraging $3 in partners' contributions for every
Federal dollar invested in the program.
In the case of Puerto Rico, we have seen firsthand the success and
the impact of this program. Between 2010 and 2021, the Coastal Program
supported 218 voluntary-based projects on the island, which contributed
to the restoration of almost 2,900 acres of habitat. These include
projects to restore coastal dunes, wetlands, and mangrove forests. It
also supported partnerships with local farmers to convert sun-grown
coffee farms into shade-grown coffee farms which help protect streams
and coral reefs by reducing sources of sediment and nutrient pollution.
I trust that formally authorizing the Coastal Program, as H.R. 2950
seeks to do, will ensure it has the necessary tools to continue
supporting similar locally driven conservation projects across our
Nation, coastal States, and of course territories.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2950.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), the sponsor of this
bill.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York and
thank my colleagues for understanding the importance of the Fish and
Wildlife Service's Coastal Program and for supporting this legislation
to, for the first time, authorize it in statute.
Coastal conservation is not just about protecting our environment. It
is about supporting a thriving economy. However, we do face serious
threats--climate change, pollution, unsustainable development, and
other threats--to our coastal habitats, causing rapid deterioration of
these critical resources.
I want to be very clear: This is not a local issue. Over 53 percent
of the United States population lives near coastal watersheds. These
areas are home to 45 percent of federally listed threatened and
endangered species. Over 60 million American jobs depend on the health
of our coasts.
These coastal habitats are complex, dynamic, and they don't always
fit neatly within the boundaries that often guide our conservation
work. The Service's Coastal Program recognizes this, and it allows for
management flexibility by providing technical and financial assistance
for coastal land acquisitions. This helps the Service strategically
conserve coastal habitat beyond the confines of the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
{time} 1945
The Coastal Program has a great record of success. Since its
inception in Chesapeake Bay in 1985, the program has expanded to 23
other priority coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and
in the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and the Caribbean, including
wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and mangrove forests.
Within these areas, the Service facilitates a voluntary, partnership-
based relationship with coastal communities to conserve and restore
coastal ecosystems and benefit fish, wildlife, and people alike.
While the Coastal Program is designed to help conserve and recover
priority habitat in coastal areas, it can only be effective with
adequate resources. That is why the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of
2023 provides statutory authority to the program by authorizing $16.9
million annually over the next 5 fiscal years.
I am pleased that we are here supporting efforts to bring together
people and private partners to voluntarily protect and improve coastal
habitats. This is an approach that helps strike a balance between
working landscapes and habitat conservation in our coastal communities.
With this bipartisan bill, we can ensure that this great program will
continue to drive locally led conservation projects across coastal
States and territories, preserving the health and resilience of coastal
habitats to benefit the wildlife communities and economies that depend
on them for generations to come.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2950 authorizes the Coastal Program in a fiscally
responsible manner and provides for increased congressional oversight
and direction of the program.
By doing so, we, as Members of Congress, will be better able to
fulfill our oversight responsibilities. At the same time, this program
continues its work conserving coastal ecosystems for the benefit of
species and our constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2950, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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