,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #baff  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ah1 #bjai ,mr4  
,wick] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4    
,cassidy1 ,ms4 ,coll9s1 & ,ms4          
,cantwell7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 
0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on
 ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation   
,a ,,bill  ,to designate ,regional      
,ocean ,p>tn]%ips ( ! ,national ,oceanic
 & ,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration1 & = o!r   
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,regional ,ocean        
,p>tn]%ip ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s2 s5se (     
,congress2 purposes  7a7 ,f9d+s         
,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! 
ocean & coa/al wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
are f\ndational to ! economy1 security1 
global competitiv5ess1 & well-be+ ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates & cont9u\sly s]ve ! p ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates & o!r c\ntries z an       
important s\rce ( food1 en]gy1 economic 
productivity1 recreation1 beauty1 &     
enjoym5t4  7#b7 ,ov] _m ye>s1 ! res\rce 
productivity & wat] quality ( ! ocean & 

coa/al areas ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates h be5    
dim9i%$ by pollution1 increas+          
population dem&s1 economic developm5t1 &
 natural & man-made haz>d ev5ts1 bo?    
acute & *ronic4  7#c7 ,ocean & coa/al   
areas ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates are manag$ by   
,/ate & ,f$]al res\rce ag5cies &        
regulat$ by v>i\s ov]lapp+ au?orities1  
!reby creat+ a significant ne$ =        
coord9ation to enhance ! ecological &   
economic heal? ( ^? areas4  7b7 ,s5se ( 
,congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t !  
,unit$ ,/ates %\ld seek to atta9        
coord9ation ( ! ef=ts relat+ to !       
managem5t1 cons]vation1 resili5ce1 &    
re/oration ( ocean & coa/al areas to    
r$uce duplication ( ef=ts & maximize    
effici5cies ?r\gh collaborative regional
 ef=ts by ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips1 9
 consultation ) ,f$]al ag5cies & ,/ate &
 local au?orities4  7c7 ,purposes ,!    
purposes ( ?is ,act are z foll[s3 7#a7  
,to exp& & /r5g!n coop]ative volunt>y   
ef=ts int5d$ to manage & re/ore ocean & 
coa/al areas spann+ across multiple     

,/ate b\nd>ies4  7#b7 ,to exp& ,f$]al   
support = monitor+1 data managem5t1 &   
re/oration activities 9 ocean & coa/al  
areas4  7#c7 ,to commit ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
to a compreh5sive coop]ative program to 
a*ieve improv$ wat] quality 91 &        
improvem5ts 9 ! productivity ( liv+     
res\rces (1 all coa/al ecosy/ems4  7#d7 
,to au?orize ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips
 z coord9ators ( ,f$]al & ,/ate         
au?orities relat+ to volunt>y ef=ts = ! 
collaborative managem5t ( ! l>ge m>9e   
ecosy/ems1 !reby r$uc+ duplication (    
ef=ts & maximiz+ opportunities to       
lev]age support 9 ! ocean & coa/al      
regions4  7#e7 ,to enable ,regional     
,ocean ,p>tn]%ips to receive ,f$]al     
fund+ to conduct ! sci5tific rese>*1    
cons]vation & re/oration managem5t1 &   
priority coord9ation necess>y to a*ieve 
! purposes describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7    
?r\gh 7#d74  #c4 ,regional ,ocean       
,p>tn]%ips  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is      
section3 7#a7 ,adm9i/rator ,! t]m       
,adm9i/rator means ! ,adm9i/rator ( !   

,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration4  7#b7 ,coa/al /ate ,! t]m
 coa/al /ate has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9   
section #cjd ( ! ,coa/al ,zone          
,managem5t ,act ( #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4  
#adec74  7#c7 ,indian ,tribe ,! t]m     
,indian ,tribe means an ,indian tribe1 z
 def9$ 9 section #d ( ! ,indian         
,self-,det]m9ation & ,education         
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  
7b7 ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,a coa/al /ate may p>ticipate 9 a
 ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip ) "o or m   
o!r coa/al /ates t %>e a common ocean or
 coa/al area ) ! coa/al /ate4  7#b7     
,application ,! ,gov]nor ( a coa/al /ate
 or ! ,gov]nors ( a gr\p ( coa/al /ates 
may apply to ! ,secret>y ( ,comm]ce1 on 
behalf ( a p>tn]%ip1 = ! p>tn]%ip to    
receive designation z a ,regional ,ocean
 ,p>tn]%ip if ! p>tn]%ip--  7,a7 meets !
 requirem5ts "u p>agraph 7#c72 &  7,b7  
submits an application = su* designation
 9 su* mann]1 9 su* =m1 & conta9+ su*   
in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require4    

7#c7 ,requirem5ts ,a p>tn]%ip is        
eligible = designation z a ,regional    
,ocean ,p>tn]%ip by ! ,secret>y "u      
p>agraph 7#b7 if ! p>tn]%ip--  7,a7 is  
e/abli%$ to coord9ate ! managem5t (     
coa/al res\rces2  7,b7 focuses on !     
environm5tal issues affect+ ! ocean &   
coa/al areas ( ! coa/al /ates p>ticipat+
 9 ! p>tn]%ip2  7,c7 does n h a         
regulatory function2 &  7,d7 is n       
duplicative ( an exi/+ ,regional ,ocean 
,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u p>agraph 7#d71 z 
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#d7           
,designation ( c]ta9 entities z         
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips ,not)/&+    
p>agraph 7#b7 or 7#c71 ! foll[+ entities
 are designat$ z ,regional ,ocean       
,p>tn]%ips3  7,a7 ,! ,gulf ( ,mexico    
,alliance1 repres5t+ ! ocean & coa/al   
area %>$ by ! ,/ates ( ,alabama1        
,florida1 ,l\isiana1 ,mississippi1 &    
,texas4  7,b7 ,! ,nor!a/ ,regional      
,ocean ,c\ncil1 repres5t+ ! ocean &     
coa/al area %>$ by ! ,/ates ( ,ma9e1    
,v]mont1 ,new ,hamp%ire1 ,massa*usetts1 

,connecticut1 & ,rhode ,isl&4  7,c7 ,!  
,mid-,atlantic ,regional ,c\ncil on !   
,ocean1 repres5t+ ! ocean & coa/al area 
%>$ by ! ,/ates ( ,new ,york1 ,new      
,j]sey1 ,delaw>e1 ,m>yl&1 & ,virg9ia4   
7,d7 ,! ,we/ ,coa/ ,ocean ,alliance1    
includ+ ! ,/ates ( ,cali=nia1 ,oregon1 &
 ,wa%+ton & ! ,indian ,tribes 9 ^?      
,/ates4  7c7 ,gov]n+ bodies ( ,regional 
,ocean ,p>tn]%ips  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a     
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u 
subsection 7b7 %all be gov]n$ by a      
gov]n+ body4  7#b7 ,memb]%ip ,a gov]n+  
body describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7--  7,a7   
%all be compris$1 at a m9imum1 ( vot+   
memb]s f ea* coa/al /ate p>ticipat+ 9 ! 
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip1 designat$ by
 ! ,gov]nor ( ! coa/al /ate2 &  7,b7 may
 include su* o!r memb]s z ! p>tn]%ip    
consid]s appropriate4  7d7 ,functions ,a
 ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u
 subsection 7b7 may p]=m ! foll[+       
functions3  7#a7 ,promote coord9ation ( 
! actions ( ! ag5cies ( coa/al /ates    
p>ticipat+ 9 ! p>tn]%ip ) ! actions ( ! 

appropriate (ficials ( ,f$]al ag5cies & 
o!r au?orities 9 develop+ /rategies--   
7,a7 to cons]ve liv+ res\rces1 increase 
valuable habitats1 enhance coa/al       
resili5ce1 & address su* o!r issues     
relat$ to ! %>$ ocean or coa/al area z  
are det]m9$ to be a priority by ^?      
/ates2  7,b7 to manage regional data    
portals & develop associat$ data        
products = purposes t support !         
priorities ( ^? /ates2 &  7,c7 to obta9 
! support ( appropriate (ficials = su*  
/rategies4  7#b7 ,9 coop]ation )        
appropriate ,f$]al ag5cies & ,/ate &    
local au?orities1 develop & implem5t    
specific action plans to c>ry out       
coord9ation goals4  7#c7 ,coord9ate &   
implem5t priority plans & projects1 &   
facilitate sci5ce1 rese>*1 model+1      
monitor+1 data collection1 & o!r        
activities t support ! goals ( !        
p>tn]%ip ?r\gh ! provision ( grants &   
contracts "u subsection 7e74  7#d7      
,engage & collaborate ) /akehold]s to   
address ocean & coa/al relat$ matt]s t  

require int]ag5cy or int]gov]nm5tal     
solutions4  7#e7 ,implem5t outrea*      
programs = public in=mation1 education1 
& p>ticipation to fo/] /ew>d%ip ( !     
res\rces ( ! ocean & coa/al areas4  7#f7
 ,develop & make available1 ?r\gh       
publications1 te*nical assi/ance1 & o!r 
appropriate means1 in=mation p]ta9+ to  
cross-jurisdictional issues be+ address$
 ?r\gh ! coord9at$ activities ( !       
p>tn]%ip4  7#g7 ,s]ve z ! liaison )1 &  
provide in=mation to1 int]national      
c\nt]p>ts1 z appropriate4  7e7 ,grants &
 contracts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a ,regional  
,ocean ,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u subsection
 7b7 may1 f am\nts made available to !  
p>tn]%ip by ! ,adm9i/rator or ! head (  
ano!r ,f$]al ag5cy--  7,a7 provide      
grants to eligible p]sons describ$ 9    
p>agraph 7#b7 = ! purposes describ$ 9   
p>agraph 7#c72 &  7,b7 ent] into        
contracts ) su* p]sons = su* purposes4  
7#b7 ,eligible p]sons ,! eligible p]sons
 describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph are ! foll[+3  
7,a7 ,indian ,tribes4  7,b7 ,/ate &     

local gov]nm5ts4  7,c7 ,nongov]nm5tal   
organizations4  7,d7 ,in/itutions (     
high] education4  7,e7 ,individuals4    
7,f7 ,private entities4  7#c7 ,purposes 
,! purposes describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph are 
! foll[+3 7,a7 ,monitor+ ! wat] quality 
& liv+ res\rces ( multi-,/ate ocean &   
coa/al ecosy/ems4  7,b7 ,rese>*+ &      
address+ ! effects ( natural &          
human-induc$ environm5tal *anges to     
ocean & coa/al ecosy/ems4  7,c7         
,develop+ & execut+ coop]ative /rategies
 t-- 7i7 address regional data issues   
id5tifi$ by ! p>tn]%ip2 &  7ii7 w result
 9 m effective managem5t ( common ocean 
& coa/al areas4  7f7 ,reports &         
assessm5ts  7#a7 ,annual report ,n lat] 
?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 & annually !reaft]1 ea*       
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u 
subsection 7b7 %all submit to !         
,adm9i/rator1 & make available to !     
public1 a report t describes ! foll[+3  
7,a7 ,ea* project & activity = :i* !    
p>tn]%ip receiv$ fund+ "u ?is section   

dur+ ! previ\s fiscal ye>4  7,b7 ,!     
goals & objectives ( ^? projects &      
activities4  7,c7 ,! net b5efits ( !    
projects & activities fund$ "u ?is      
section dur+ previ\s fiscal ye>s4  7,d7 
,! collaborative ef=ts ( ! p>tn]%ip4    
7#b7 ,assessm5ts & reports  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #e ye>s aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & e #e ye>s      
!reaft]1 ! ,adm9i/rator1 9 coord9ation )
 ! ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips designat$
 "u subsection 7b71 %all--  7i7 assess !
 effectiv5ess ( ! p>tn]%ips 9 coord9at+ 
regional priorities relat+ to !         
managem5t ( common ocean & coa/al areas2
 &  7ii7 submit to ,congress a report on
 t assessm5t4  7,b7 ,report requirem5ts 
,! report requir$ "u subp>agraph        
7,a77ii7 %all include ! foll[+3  7i7 ,an
 assessm5t ( ! ov]all /atus ( coord9at$ 
ef=ts 9 regional ecosy/ems cov]$ by !   
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u
 subsection 7b74  7ii7 ,an assessm5t ( !
 effectiv5ess ( ! managem5t /rategies t 
su* p>tn]%ips are implem5t+ & ! ext5t to

 :i* ! priority ne$s ( ! regions cov]$  
by su* p>tn]%ips are be+ met ?r\gh su*  
/rategies4  7iii7 ,su* recomm5dations z 
! ,adm9i/rator may h = ! improv$        
coord9ation among ! regulatory &        
nonregulatory programs op]at+ 9 !       
regions cov]$ by su* p>tn]%ips1 includ+ 
recomm5dations = /r5g!n+ ! /rategies be+
 implem5t$ or adopt+ improv$ /rategies4 
7g7 ,availability ( ,f$]al funds ,9     
addition to am\nts made available to    
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u
 subsection 7b7 by ! ,adm9i/rator "u ?is
 section1 ! head ( any o!r ,f$]al ag5cy 
may provide grants to1 ent] into        
contracts )1 or o!rwise provide fund+ to
 su* p>tn]%ips4  7h7 ,au?orities ,no?+ 9
 ?is section e/abli%es any new legal or 
regulatory au?ority ( ! ,national       
,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration or 
( ! ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips         
designat$ "u subsection 7b71 o!r ?an--  
7#a7 ! au?ority ( ! ,adm9i/rator to     
provide am\nts to ! p>tn]%ips2 &  7#b7 !
 au?ority ( ! p>tn]%ips to provide      

grants & ent] into contracts "u         
subsection 7e74  7i7 ,fund+  7#a7 ,9    
g5]al ,( am\nts au?oriz$ to be          
appropriat$ to ! ,national ,oceanic &   
,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration1 !            
,adm9i/rator may make ! foll[+ am\nts   
available to ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips
 designat$ "u subsection 7b7 to c>ry out
 activities ( ! p>tn]%ips "u ?is ,act3  
7,a7 #aj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbj4    
7,b7 #aj1ajj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjba4    
7,c7 #aj1bjb1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbb4    
7,d7 #aj1cjf1jdj = fiscal ye> #bjbc4    
7,e7 #aj1dab1afj = fiscal ye> #bjbd4    
7,f7 #aj1ebj1djd = fiscal ye> #bjbe4    
7#b7 ,di/ribution ( am\nts ,am\nts made 
available "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be      
divid$ ev5ly among ! ,regional ,ocean   
,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u subsection 7b74 
7#c7 ,availability ( am\nts ,am\nts made
 available "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all rema9  
available until exp5d$4