,i  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cijf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,june #ae1 #bjba,mr4  
,huffman 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,cleav]1 ,mr4 
,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,matsui1
 ,mr4 ,coh51 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,ms4      
,norton1 & ,mr4 ,case7 introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,natural ,res\rces1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on ,sci5ce1    
,space1 & ,te*nology1 = a p]iod to be   
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% a ,blue 
,c>bon program to cons]ve & re/ore m>9e 
& coa/al blue c>bon ecosy/ems1 & o!r    
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,blue ,c>bon ,protection   
,act4  #b4 ,blue ,c>bon ,program  7a7   
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli%
 & ma9ta9 a ,blue ,c>bon ,program )9 !  
,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration = ! purposes ( fur!r+     
cons]vation objectives = fi% & wildlife 

habitat cons]vation & re/oration &      
coa/al resili5ce includ+ ! developm5t ( 
ways to incorporate ecosy/em s]vices f  
c>bon /orage into exi/+ dome/ic &       
int]national policies1 programs1 &      
activities4  7b7 ,additional au?ority ,9
 conduct+ ! ,program1 ! ,adm9i/rator may
 ent] into & p]=m su* contracts1 leases1
 grants1 or coop]ative agreem5ts z may  
be necess>y to c>ry out ! purposes ( ?is
 subtitle on su* t]ms z ,adm9i/rator    
consid]s appropriate4  7c7 ,activities  
,! ,adm9i/rator %all conduct ! foll[+   
activities3 7#a7 ,collaborate ) ,f$]al  
ag5cies1 ,/ate ag5cies1 ,tribes1 &      
non-gov]nm5tal organizations on rese>*1 
re/oration1 & protection ef=ts relat+ to
 blue c>bon ecosy/ems4  7#b7 ,develop a 
database ( blue c>bon /ocks & fluxes 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#c7 ,assi/ 9          
exploration ( ! pot5tial = a m>ket =    
c>bon cr$its & o!r f9ancial in/rum5ts = 
protection & re/oration initiatives1    
includ+ rese>*1 developm5t ( protocols1 
& evaluation ( protocols & ! efficacy ( 

blue c>bon m>kets z a tool = protect+   
ecosy/ems4  7#d7 ,raise aw>5ess ( blue  
c>bon ecosy/ems z a tool to fur!r       
cons]vation objectives ?r\gh education &
 ext5sion activities4  7#e7 ,use exi/+  
models or develop new models to assess  
blue c>bon /orage pot5tial t include    
quantification1 v]ifiability1           
additionality z comp>$ to a hi/orical   
basel9e1 & p]man5ce ( ^? b5efits4  7#f7 
,quantify curr5t total & net ecosy/em   
c>bon /orage & seque/ration 9 coa/al &  
m>9e areas4  7#g7 ,project future total 
& net ecosy/em c>bon /orage &           
seque/ration "u diff]5t sc5>ios influ5c$
 by human population gr[?1 sea level    
rise1 & o!r sy/em-wide *anges4  7#h7    
,protect & re/ore habitats1 wat]s1 &    
organisms t are long-t]m c>bon s9ks or w
 be subject to habitat *ange z a result 
( climate *ange & developm5t4  7#i7     
,quantify co-b5efits ( blue c>bon       
ecosy/ems1 includ+ flood risk r$uction1 
habitat protection & re/oration =       
endang]$ & ?reat5$ species1 habitat     

protection & re/oration = comm]cial &   
recreational fi%]ies1 wat] quality      
improvem5ts1 habitat ma9t5ance &        
re/oration1 cycl+ ( nutri5ts o!r ?an    
c>bon1 comm]cial & recreational fi%+ &  
boat+ b5efits4  7#aj7 ,assess regional &
 national ecosy/em & socioeconomic      
impacts ( c>bon seque/ration & /orage4  
7#aa7 ,rese>* v>iability1 long-t]m      
/orage1 & innovative te*niques =        
effective1 long-t]m1 natural ocean or   
coa/al ecosy/em-bas$ c>bon seque/ration4
  7#ab7 ,id5tify areas ( p>ticul>ly high
 rates ( c>bon seque/ration & /orage4   
7#ac7 ,assess legal issues ( l&[n]%ip & 
leases 9 blue c>bon m>kets1 & develop   
guidel9es to help l&[n]s navigate !     
requirem5ts ( su* m>kets4  #c4 ,blue    
,c>bon ,p>tn]%ip ,grant ,program  7a7   
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli%
 a competitive grant program entitl$ !  
,blue ,c>bon ,p>tn]%ip ,grant ,program  
to1 beg9n+ n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] !    
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 provide     
funds to eligible entities = projects t 

protect & re/ore blue c>bon /ocks1      
oceanic blue c>bon1 & blue c>bon        
ecosy/ems & increase ! long-t]m c>bon   
/orage & seque/ration4  7b7 ,eligible   
recipi5ts ,a p]son or entity is eligible
 to receive a grant "u ! grant program  
if su* p]son is-- 7#a7 a volunt>y       
private l&[n] or gr\p ( l&[n]s2  7#b7 a 
,/ate ag5cy responsible = manag+ natural
 res\rces or wildlife2  7#c7 an ,indian 
,tribe2  7#d7 a unit ( local gov]nm5t2  
7#e7 a nonpr(it organization or l& tru/2
  7#f7 an in/itution ( high] education &
 rese>*2 or  7#g7 any gr\p ( entities   
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#f74   
7c7 ,requirem5ts ,9 adm9i/]+ ! grant    
program "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all
 develop crit]ia = ! selection (        
recipi5ts1 guidel9es = use ( grant funds
 & any contracts relat+ to ! use ( su*  
funds1 report+ requirem5ts = recipi5ts1 
& metrics = evaluat+ ! effectiv5ess ( ! 
use ( grant funds4  7d7 ,selection      
crit]ia ,9 evaluat+ applications = !    
program f eligible entities1 !          

,adm9i/rator %all give priority to      
propos$ eligible protection & re/oration
 activities t-- 7#a7 w\ld result 9      
long-t]m protection & seque/ration (    
c>bon /or$ 9 coa/al & m>9e environm5ts2 
&  7#b7 7,a7 w\ld protect key habitats =
 fi%1 wildlife1 & ! ma9t5ance (         
biodiv]sity2  7,b7 w\ld provide coa/al  
protection f developm5t1 /orms1 flood+1 
& l&-bas$ pollution2  7,c7 w\ld protect 
coa/al res\rces ( national1 hi/orical1 &
 cultural significance2  7,d7 w\ld      
b5efit communities ( color1 l[-income   
communities1 ,tribal or ,indig5\s       
communities1 or rural communities2 or   
7,e7 w\ld capitalize on exi/+ e/abli%$  
public_/private p>tn]%ips4  7e7 ,report 
to ,congress  7#a7 ,report requir$ ,!   
,adm9i/rator %all submit annually to    
,congress a report conta9+ a            
,/ate-by-,/ate analysis (-- 7,a7 ! total
 numb] ( acres ( l& or wat] protect$ or 
re/or$ ?r\gh fee title acquisition1     
easem5t1 re/oration or o!r activities "u
 ! program2  7,b7 ! /atus ( re/oration  

projects "u ?is program2 &  7,c7 ! am\nt
 ( blue c>bon captur$ or protect$ ov] a 
#ajj-ye> "t p]iod z a result ( ?is      
program4  7#b7 ,publication ( report ,! 
,adm9i/rator %all make available to !   
public ea* report requir$ by p>agraph   
7#a74  7f7 ,acreage requirem5ts ,to !   
maximum ext5t practicable1 ! ,secret>y (
 ,comm]ce %all aw>d grants "u ! grant   
program to conduct blue c>bon ecosy/em  
protection & re/oration on #a1ejj1jjj   
acres ov] #aj ye>s4  7g7 ,au?orization (
 appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be  
appropriat$ to ! ,adm9i/rator           
#cjj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( ! fiscal ye>s #bjbb
 to #bjbf to c>ry out ?is section4  #d4 
,blue c>bon areas ( significance  7a7   
,designation ,! ,adm9i/rator1 consi/5t )
 ?is section1 %all designate z a blue   
c>bon area ( significance any area t    
is-- 7#a7 9 ! coa/al zone 7z su* t]m is 
def9$ 9 section #cjd ( ! ,coa/al ,zone  
,managem5t ,act ( #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4  
#adec771 9 t]ritorial wat]s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates1 or 9 ! exclusive economic zone2 

7#b7 ! location ( wat]1 a sub/rate1 or  
an ecosy/em t-- 7,a7 provides = long-t]m
 /orage & seque/ration ( significant    
am\nts ( ecosy/em c>bon2 &  7,b7 7i7    
limits erosion & facilitates future     
l&w>d migration2  7ii7 provides a buff] 
aga9/ /orm surge1 especially =          
communities ( color1 l[-income          
communities1 & ,tribal & ,indig5\s      
communities2 or  7iii7 provides a       
spawn+1 bre$+1 fe$+1 or ne/+ habitat =  
wildlife2 &  7#c7 n exclusive ( coa/al  
or o!r res\rces t are significant 9 =   
mitigat+ or adapt+ to climate *ange4    
7b7 ,guidel9es ,! ,adm9i/rator %all1 n  
lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 e/abli% by regulation        
guidel9es bas$ on ! be/ available sci5ce
 to describe & id5tify blue c>bon areas 
( significance & measures to ensure !   
protection ( blue c>bon areas (         
significance4  7c7 ,review & update ,!  
,adm9i/rator %all review & update       
guidel9es e/abli%$ "u subsection 7b7 n  
less frequ5tly ?an once e #e ye>s or :5 

new in=mation w>rants su* an update4    
7d7 ,s*$ule ,! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli%
 a s*$ule = ! id5tification ( blue c>bon
 areas ( significance "u subsection 7b7 
& = reviews & updates "u subsection 7c71
 & %all make initial designations ( a   
blue c>bon area ( significance 9 ea*    
coa/al ,/ate n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !   
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7e7        
,recomm5dations & in=mation ,!          
,adm9i/rator %all1 ) respect to ea*     
coa/al c>bon area ( significance1       
provide recomm5dations & in=mation      
reg>d+ ! adv]se impacts & ?reats to !   
c>bon /orage1 ecosy/em s]vices1 &       
habitat capacity ( ! area1 & ! actions t
 %\ld be consid]$ to avoid adv]se       
impacts & ensure ! cons]vation &        
enhancem5t ( t area4  7f7 ,programs     
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,comm]ce ,!   
,adm9i/rator %all use programs adm9i/]$ 
by ! ,secret>y ( ,comm]ce to c>ry out   
?is section & ensure ! cons]vation &    
enhancem5t ( ea* blue c>bon area (      
significance4  7g7 ,requirem5ts = ,f$]al

 actions ,) respect to any propos$ ag5cy
 action t has ! pot5tial to cause an    
adv]se impact on ! c>bon /orage1 c>bon  
seque/ration1 ecosy/em s]vices1 or      
habitat capacity ( any blue c>bon area (
 significance1 ea* ,f$]al ag5cy %all    
comply ) ! foll[+ requirem5ts3 7#a7     
,notification ,su* ,f$]al ag5cy %all    
notify ! ,adm9i/rator ( su* propos$     
ag5cy action4  7#b7 ,det]m9ation (      
adv]se impact ,! ,adm9i/rator1 9        
consultation ) ! propos+ ag5cy & subject
 to public comm5t1 %all det]m9e :e!r !  
propos$ ag5cy action w cause an adv]se  
impact on ! c>bon /orage1 c>bon         
seque/ration1 ecosy/em1 or habitat ( a  
blue c>bon area ( significance4  7#c7   
,alt]native ,) respect to any propos$   
action ! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es w h an   
adv]se impact "u p>agraph 7#b71 !       
propos+ ag5cy1 9 consultation ) !       
,adm9i/rator1 %all det]m9e :e!r !re is  
an alt]native action t w\ld prev5t su*  
adv]se impact & fulfill ! purpose ( !   
propos$ action4 ,! propos+ ag5cy %all n 

take an action t w\ld cause an adv]se   
impact if an alt]native t w\ld n cause  
su* adv]se impact is available & w\ld   
fulfill ! purpose ( su* action4  7#d7   
,c>bon /orage (fsets ,) respect to a    
propos$ action = :i* ! ag5cy det]m9es no
 alt]native is available "u p>agraph    
7#c71 ! propos+ ag5cy %all-- 7,a7 9     
consultation ) ! ,adm9i/rator1 take     
measures to mitigate su* adv]se impact2 
7,b7 take su* action z ! ,adm9i/rator   
det]m9es necess>y to create a coa/al or 
m>9e blue c>bon ecosy/em /orage (fset t1
 tak5 9 conjunction ) ! propos$ action1 
results 9 a long t]m net increase 9     
c>bon /orage1 la/+ an equival5t "t p]iod
 z ! c>bon /orage lo/ by ! adv]se       
impact2  7,c7 demon/rate quantitatively1
 us+ ! be/ available sci5ce1 t ! c>bon  
/orage (fset w result 9 a net increase 9
 ecological c>bon /orage & is locat$ 9  
close proximity to ! orig9al site to    
keep ! affect$ communities :ole2  7,d7  
ma9ta9 su* c>bon /orage (fset = a p]iod 
( "t to be det]m9$ by ! ,adm9i/rator b n

 less ?an #ajj ye>s2 &  7,e7 publi% !   
ag5cy's propos$ c\rse ( mitigation 9 !  
,f$]al ,regi/] = public notice & comm5t4
  7h7 ,requirem5t = au?orization or     
appropriation ,any reque/s = a new      
au?orization or appropriation f a ,f$]al
 ag5cy transmitt$ to ! ,(fice (         
,managem5t & ,budget %all include1 if   
su* au?orization or appropriation may   
affect a coa/al c>bon area (            
significance1 a c]tification t su* ag5cy
 w use su* au?orization or appropriation
 9 compliance ) ?is section4  7i7       
,requir$ re/rictions ,a ,f$]al ag5cy may
 n ent] into a lease1 easem5t1 "r-(-way1
 or sale ( any l& designat$ z a blue    
c>bon area ( significance unless su*    
ag5cy atta*es appropriate re/rictions to
 ! use ( ! prop]ty to protect ! blue    
c>bon area ( significance4  7j7         
,exception ,prep>ation1 revision1       
implem5tation1 or en=cem5t ( a fi%]y    
managem5t plan "u ! ,magnuson-,/ev5s    
,fi%]y ,cons]vation & ,managem5t ,act   
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja et seq47 t applies 

to area t is subject to a prohibition on
 all bottom-t5d+ fi%+ ge> %all n be     
treat$ z an action t is subject to      
subsection 7g74  7k7 ,rules (           
con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be    
con/ru$ to affect ! application ( !     
requirem5ts ( section #djd ( ! ,clean   
,wat] ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acdd71 !     
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act1 or
 any regulations issu$ "u any su*       
section or su* ,act4  #e4 ,f$]al coa/al 
& m>9e blue c>bon re/oration &          
protections2 fund+  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior %all conduct     
coa/al & m>9e re/oration & protection   
activities on l& & wat] manag$ by !     
,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &      
,wildlife ,s]vice or ! ,director ( !    
,national ,p>k ,s]vice2 & ! ,adm9i/rator
 %all conduct coa/al & m>9e re/oration &
 protection activities on l& & wat]     
manag$ by ! ,adm9i/rator to a*ieve at   
lea/ #a ( ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! seque/ration
 ( additional c>bon dioxide ?r\gh-- 7,a7
 ! active re/oration ( degrad$ blue     

c>bon ecosy/ems2 &  7,b7 ! protection ( 
?reat5$ blue c>bon ecosy/ems4  7#b7 ,!  
halt+ ( ongo+ c>bon dioxide emissions1 &
 ! resumption ( ! natural rate ( c>bon  
capture1 ?r\gh ! re/oration ( dra9$     
coa/al wetl&s4  7#c7 ,! halt+ ( ongo+   
me?ane emissions1 & ! resumption ( !    
natural rate ( c>bon /orage1 ?r\gh !    
re/oration ( =m]ly tidal wetl& t has lo/
 tidal connectivity & become fre% wetl& 
7commonly kn[n z imp\nd$ wetl&74  7b7   
,fund+ ,= ea* fiscal ye> #bjbb ?r\gh    
#bjbf1 !re is au?oriz$ to be            
appropriat$-- 7#a7 = blue c>bon ecosy/em
 protection & re/oration on l& manag$ by
 ! ,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &   
,wildlife ,s]vice #bjj1jjj1jjj2  7#b7 = 
blue c>bon ecosy/em protection &        
re/oration on l& manag$ by ! ,director (
 ! ,national ,p>k ,s]vice #bjj1jjj1jjj2 
&  7#c7 = blue c>bon ecosy/em protection
 & re/oration on l& & wat] manag$ by !  
,adm9i/rator #bjj1jjj1jjj4  #f4         
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is  
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         

,adm9i/rator #af1jjj1jjj = ea* ( !      
fiscal ye>s #bjbb to #bjbf to c>ry out  
?is ,act4  #g4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act--
 7#a7 ! t]m ,adm9i/rator means !        
,secret>y ( ,comm]ce act+ ?r\gh !       
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,national ,oceanic &   
,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration2  7#b7 ! t]m  
blue c>bon area ( significance means any
 area designat$ by ! ,adm9i/rator "u    
section #d z a blue c>bon area (        
significance2  7#c7 ! t]m blue c>bon    
ecosy/em means vegetat$ coa/al habitats 
includ+ mangroves1 tidal m>%es1         
seagrasses1 kelp =e/s1 & o!r tidal or   
salt-wat] wetl&s t h ! capacity to      
seque/] c>bon f ! atmosph]e = a p]iod ( 
n less ?an #ajj ye>s2  7#d7 ! t]m blue  
c>bon /ocks means coa/al & m>9e         
vegetation & und]ly+ s$im5t t has !     
capacity to seque/] & /ore atmosph]ic   
c>bon2  7#e7 ! t]m c>bon seque/ration   
means ! process ( captur+ & /or+        
atmosph]ic c>bon dioxide2  7#f7 ! t]m   
c>bon /orage means seque/]$ c>bon t     
rema9s out ( ! atmosph]e1 /or$ ei!r 9   

biog5ic mat]ial or s$im5ts2 &  7#g7 !   
t]m m>9e blue c>bon means ! seque/ration
 ( c>bon 9 pelagic & deep sea ecosy/ems1
 includ+ 9 s$im5ts & ?r\gh ! ecosy/em   
impacts ( m>9e wildlife4