,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ahid ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bg1 #bjba,mr4 ,wicker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to designate ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,regional ,ocean ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress2 purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the ocean and coastal waters of the ,united ,states are foundational to the economy1 security1 global competitiveness1 and well-being of the ,united ,states and continuously serve the people of the ,united ,states and other countries as an important source of food1 energy1 economic productivity1 recreation1 beauty1 and enjoyment4 7#b7 ,over many years1 the resource productivity and water quality of the ocean and coastal areas of the ,united ,states have been diminished by pollution1 increasing population demands1 economic development1 and natural and man-made hazard events1 both acute and chronic4 7#c7 ,ocean and coastal areas of the ,united ,states are managed by ,state and ,federal resource agencies and regulated on an interstate and regional scale by various overlapping ,federal authorities1 thereby creating a significant need for interstate coordination to enhance regional priorities1 including the ecological and economic health of those areas4 7#d7 ,tribal governments have unique expertise and knowledge important for the stewardship of the ocean and coastal waters of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states should seek to support interstate coordination of shared regional priorities relating to the management1 conservation1 resilience1 and restoration of ocean and coastal areas to maximize efficiencies through collaborative regional efforts by ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships1 in consultation with ,federal and ,state agencies1 ,tribal governments1 and local authorities2 7#b7 such efforts would enhance existing and effective ,state coastal management efforts based on shared regional priorities2 and 7#c7 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships should consult with ,tribal governments and may include representation from ,tribal governments4 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are as follows3 7#a7 ,to complement and expand cooperative voluntary efforts intended to manage and restore ocean and coastal areas spanning across multiple ,state boundaries4 7#b7 ,to expand ,federal support for monitoring1 data management1 and restoration activities in ocean and coastal areas4 7#c7 ,to commit the ,united ,states to a comprehensive cooperative program to achieve improved water quality in1 and improvements in the productivity of living resources of1 all coastal ecosystems4 7#d7 ,to authorize ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships as intergovernmental coordinators for shared interstate and regional priorities relating to the collaborative management of the large marine ecosystems1 thereby reducing duplication of efforts and maximizing opportunities to leverage support in the ocean and coastal regions4 7#e7 ,to empower ,states to take a lead role in managing oceans and coasts4 7#f7 ,to incorporate ,tribal interests in the management of oceans and coasts and provide funding to support ,tribal ocean and coastal resiliency activities in coordination with ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships4 7#g7 ,to enable ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships1 or designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships1 to receive ,federal funding to conduct the scientific research1 conservation and restoration activities1 and priority coordination on shared regional priorities necessary to achieve the purposes described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#f74 #c4 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7#b7 ,coastal state ,the term coastal state has the meaning given that term in section #cjd of the ,coastal ,zone ,management ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adec74 7#c7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given that term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#d7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7b7 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,a coastal state may participate in a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership with one or more other coastal states that share a common ocean or coastal area with the coastal state1 without regard to whether the coastal states are contiguous4 7#b7 ,application ,the ,governor of a coastal state or the ,governors of a group of coastal states may apply to the ,secretary of ,commerce1 on behalf of a partnership1 for the partnership to receive designation as a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership if the partnership-- 7,a7 meets the requirements under paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 submits an application for such designation in such manner1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,requirements ,a partnership is eligible for designation as a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership by the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b7 if the partnership-- 7,a7 is established to coordinate the interstate management of ocean and coastal resources2 7,b7 focuses on the environmental issues affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the members participating in the partnership2 7,c7 complements existing ,state coastal and ocean management efforts on an interstate scale1 focusing on shared regional priorities2 7,d7 does not have a regulatory function2 and 7,e7 is not duplicative of an existing ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under paragraph 7#d71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,designation of certain entities as ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b7 or 7#c71 the following entities are designated as ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships3 7,a7 ,the ,gulf of ,mexico ,alliance1 comprised of the ,states of ,alabama1 ,florida1 ,louisiana1 ,mississippi1 and ,texas4 7,b7 ,the ,northeast ,regional ,ocean ,council1 comprised of the ,states of ,maine1 ,vermont1 ,new ,hampshire1 ,massachusetts1 ,connecticut1 and ,rhode ,island4 7,c7 ,the ,mid-,atlantic ,regional ,council on the ,ocean1 comprised of the ,states of ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 ,delaware1 ,maryland1 and ,virginia4 7,d7 ,the ,west ,coast ,ocean ,alliance1 comprised of the ,states of ,california1 ,oregon1 and ,washington and the coastal ,indian ,tribes therein4 7c7 ,governing bodies of ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 shall be governed by a governing body4 7#b7 ,membership ,a governing body described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 shall be comprised1 at a minimum1 of voting members from each coastal state participating in the ,regional ,ocean ,partnership1 designated by the ,governor of the coastal state2 and 7,b7 may include such other members as the partnership considers appropriate4 7d7 ,functions ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 may perform the following functions3 7#a7 ,promote coordination of the actions of the agencies of coastal states participating in the partnership with the actions of the appropriate officials of ,federal agencies and ,state and ,tribal governments in developing strategies-- 7,a7 to conserve living resources1 increase valuable habitats1 enhance coastal resilience and ocean management1 promote ecological and economic health1 and address such other issues related to the shared ocean or coastal area as are determined to be a shared1 regional priority by those states2 and 7,b7 to manage regional data portals and develop associated data products for purposes that support the priorities of the partnership4 7#b7 ,in cooperation with appropriate ,federal and ,state agencies1 ,tribal governments1 and local authorities1 develop and implement specific action plans to carry out coordination goals4 7#c7 ,coordinate and implement priority plans and projects1 and facilitate science1 research1 modeling1 monitoring1 data collection1 and other activities that support the goals of the partnership through the provision of grants and contracts under subsection 7f74 7#d7 ,engage1 coordinate1 and collaborate with relevant governmental entities and stakeholders to address ocean and coastal related matters that require interagency or intergovernmental solutions4 7#e7 ,implement outreach programs for public information1 education1 and participation to foster stewardship of the resources of the ocean and coastal areas1 as relevant4 7#f7 ,develop and make available1 through publications1 technical assistance1 and other appropriate means1 information pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues being addressed through the coordinated activities of the partnership4 7#g7 ,serve as a liaison with1 and provide information to1 international counterparts1 as appropriate on priority issues for the partnership4 7e7 ,consultation and engagement ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 shall maintain mechanisms for consultation and engagement with the following3 7#a7 ,the ,federal ,government4 7#b7 ,tribal governments4 7#c7 ,nongovernmental entities1 including academic organizations1 nonprofit organizations1 and businesses4 7f7 ,grants and contracts 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 may1 in coordination with existing ,federal and ,state management programs1 from amounts made available to the partnership by the ,administrator or the head of another ,federal agency provide grants and enter into contracts for the purposes described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,purposes ,the purposes described in this paragraph include any of the following3 7,a7 ,monitoring the water quality and living resources of multi-,state ocean and coastal ecosystems and coastal communities4 7,b7 ,researching and addressing the effects of natural and human-induced environmental changes on-- 7i7 ocean and coastal ecosystems2 and 7ii7 coastal communities4 7,c7 ,developing and executing cooperative strategies that-- 7i7 address regional data issues identified by the partnership2 and 7ii7 will result in more effective management of common ocean and coastal areas4 7g7 ,report required 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b71 shall submit to ,congress a report on the partnerships4 7#b7 ,report requirements ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an assessment of the overall status of the work of the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b74 7,b7 ,an assessment of the effectiveness of the partnerships in supporting regional priorities relating to the management of common ocean and coastal areas4 7,c7 ,an identification of any duplication of efforts between the partnerships and other entities4 7,d7 ,an assessment of the benefits and costs of the partnerships4 7,e7 ,an assessment of the effectiveness of the strategies that the partnerships are supporting or implementing and the extent to which the priority needs of the regions covered by the partnerships are being met through such strategies4 7,f7 ,an assessment of how the efforts of the partnerships support or enhance ,federal and ,state efforts consistent with the purposes of this ,act4 7,g7 ,such recommendations as the ,administrator may have for improving-- 7i7 efforts of the partnerships to support the purposes of this ,act2 and 7ii7 collective strategies that support the purposes of this ,act in coordination and consultation with all relevant ,federal1 ,state1 and ,tribal entities4 7,h7 ,the distribution of funds from each partnership for each fiscal year covered by the report4 7h7 ,availability of ,federal funds ,in addition to amounts made available to the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b7 by the ,administrator under this section1 the head of any other ,federal agency may provide grants to1 enter into contracts with1 or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships4 7i7 ,authorities ,nothing in this section establishes any new legal or regulatory authority of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration or of the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b71 other than-- 7#a7 the authority of the ,administrator to provide amounts to the partnerships2 and 7#b7 the authority of the partnerships to provide grants and enter into contracts under subsection 7f74 7j7 ,funding 7#a7 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration the following amounts to be made available to the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b7 or designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships to carry out activities of the partnerships under this ,act3 7,a7 #aj1ajj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb4 7,b7 #aj1bjb1jjj for fiscal year #bjbc4 7,c7 #aj1cjf1jdj for fiscal year #bjbd4 7,d7 #aj1dab1afj for fiscal year #bjbe4 7,e7 #aj1ebj1djd for fiscal year #bjbf4 7#b7 ,distribution of amounts ,amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 shall be divided evenly among the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,tribal consultation ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf for ,indian ,tribes to be distributed for purposes of participation in or engagement with the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships4 7#d7 ,derivation ,funds to carry out the activities under this ,act shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#c7 that are appropriated after the date of the enactment of this ,act4