,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ahid  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #bg1 #bjba,mr4    
,wick] 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$]al res\rce ag5cies &        
regulat$ on an int]/ate & regional scale
 by v>i\s ov]lapp+ ,f$]al au?orities1   
!reby creat+ a significant ne$ =        
int]/ate coord9ation to enhance regional
 priorities1 includ+ ! ecological &     
economic heal? ( ^? areas4  7#d7 ,tribal
 gov]nm5ts h unique exp]tise & k        
important = ! /ew>d%ip ( ! ocean &      
coa/al wat]s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7b7    
,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! s5se (        
,congress t-- 7#a7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %\ld 
seek to support int]/ate coord9ation (  
%>$ regional priorities relat+ to !     
managem5t1 cons]vation1 resili5ce1 &    
re/oration ( ocean & coa/al areas to    
maximize effici5cies ?r\gh collaborative
 regional ef=ts by ,regional ,ocean     
,p>tn]%ips1 9 consultation ) ,f$]al &   
,/ate ag5cies1 ,tribal gov]nm5ts1 &     
local au?orities2  7#b7 su* ef=ts w\ld  

enhance exi/+ & effective ,/ate coa/al  
managem5t ef=ts bas$ on %>$ regional    
priorities2 &  7#c7 ,regional ,ocean    
,p>tn]%ips %\ld consult ) ,tribal       
gov]nm5ts & may include repres5tation f 
,tribal gov]nm5ts4  7c7 ,purposes ,!    
purposes ( ?is ,act are z foll[s3 7#a7  
,to complem5t & exp& 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 int]gov]nm5tal coord9ators = %>$     
int]/ate & regional priorities relat+ to
 ! 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 emp[] ,/ates to take 
a lead role 9 manag+ oceans & coa/s4    
7#f7 ,to incorporate ,tribal int]e/s 9 !
 managem5t ( oceans & coa/s & provide   
fund+ to support ,tribal ocean & coa/al 
resili5cy activities 9 coord9ation )    
,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips4  7#g7 ,to  
enable ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips1 or  
designat$ fiscal managem5t entities (   
su* p>tn]%ips1 to receive ,f$]al fund+  
to conduct ! sci5tific rese>*1          
cons]vation & re/oration activities1 &  
priority coord9ation on %>$ regional    
priorities necess>y to a*ieve ! purposes
 describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#f74  
#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 has ! mean+ giv5 t

 t]m 9 section #d ( ! ,indian           
,self-,det]m9ation & ,education         
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  
7#d7 ,in/itution ( high] education ,!   
t]m in/itution ( high] education has !  
mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #aja ( !     
,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj     
,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74  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 /ate1 )\t reg>d to :e!r ! coa/al 
/ates are contigu\s4  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 ! int]/ate        
managem5t ( ocean & coa/al res\rces2    
7,b7 focuses on ! environm5tal issues   
affect+ ! ocean & coa/al areas ( !      
memb]s p>ticipat+ 9 ! p>tn]%ip2  7,c7   
complem5ts exi/+ ,/ate coa/al & ocean   
managem5t ef=ts on an int]/ate scale1   
focus+ on %>$ regional priorities2  7,d7
 does n h a regulatory function2 &  7,e7
 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 compris$ ( ! ,/ates (        
,alabama1 ,florida1 ,l\isiana1          
,mississippi1 & ,texas4  7,b7 ,! ,nor!a/
 ,regional ,ocean ,c\ncil1 compris$ ( ! 
,/ates ( ,ma9e1 ,v]mont1 ,new ,hamp%ire1

 ,massa*usetts1 ,connecticut1 & ,rhode  
,isl&4  7,c7 ,! ,mid-,atlantic ,regional
 ,c\ncil on ! ,ocean1 compris$ ( !      
,/ates ( ,new ,york1 ,new ,j]sey1       
,delaw>e1 ,m>yl&1 & ,virg9ia4  7,d7 ,!  
,we/ ,coa/ ,ocean ,alliance1 compris$ ( 
! ,/ates ( ,cali=nia1 ,oregon1 &        
,wa%+ton & ! coa/al ,indian ,tribes     
!re94  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$]al ag5cies & 
,/ate & ,tribal gov]nm5ts 9 develop+    
/rategies-- 7,a7 to cons]ve liv+        
res\rces1 increase valuable habitats1   
enhance coa/al resili5ce & ocean        
managem5t1 promote ecological & economic
 heal?1 & address su* o!r issues relat$ 
to ! %>$ ocean or coa/al area z are     
det]m9$ to be a %>$1 regional priority  
by ^? /ates2 &  7,b7 to manage regional 
data portals & develop associat$ data   
products = purposes t support !         
priorities ( ! p>tn]%ip4  7#b7 ,9       
coop]ation ) appropriate ,f$]al & ,/ate 
ag5cies1 ,tribal gov]nm5ts1 & 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 7f74   
7#d7 ,engage1 coord9ate1 & collaborate )
 relevant gov]nm5tal entities &         

/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 areas1 z relevant4  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 a liaison )1 &  
provide in=mation to1 int]national      
c\nt]p>ts1 z appropriate on priority    
issues = ! p>tn]%ip4  7e7 ,consultation 
& engagem5t ,a ,regional ,ocean         
,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u subsection 7b7   
%all ma9ta9 me*anisms = consultation &  
engagem5t ) ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,f$]al    
,gov]nm5t4  7#b7 ,tribal gov]nm5ts4     
7#c7 ,nongov]nm5tal entities1 includ+   
academic organizations1 nonpr(it        
organizations1 & bus9esses4  7f7 ,grants
 & contracts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a ,regional

 ,ocean ,p>tn]%ip designat$ "u          
subsection 7b7 may1 9 coord9ation )     
exi/+ ,f$]al & ,/ate managem5t programs1
 f am\nts made available to ! p>tn]%ip  
by ! ,adm9i/rator or ! head ( ano!r     
,f$]al ag5cy provide grants & ent] into 
contracts = ! purposes describ$ 9       
p>agraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,purposes ,!       
purposes describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph include
 any ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,monitor+ ! wat]  
quality & liv+ res\rces ( multi-,/ate   
ocean & coa/al ecosy/ems & coa/al       
communities4  7,b7 ,rese>*+ & address+ !
 effects ( natural & human-induc$       
environm5tal *anges on-- 7i7 ocean &    
coa/al ecosy/ems2 &  7ii7 coa/al        
communities4  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  7g7 ,report requir$  7#a7 ,9    
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #e ye>s aft] ! date ( 
! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator1 9
 coord9ation ) ! ,regional ,ocean       

,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u subsection 7b71 
%all submit to ,congress a report on !  
p>tn]%ips4  7#b7 ,report requirem5ts ,! 
report requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all    
include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,an assessm5t ( !
 ov]all /atus ( ! "w ( ! ,regional      
,ocean ,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u          
subsection 7b74  7,b7 ,an assessm5t ( ! 
effectiv5ess ( ! p>tn]%ips 9 support+   
regional priorities relat+ to !         
managem5t ( common ocean & coa/al areas4
  7,c7 ,an id5tification ( any          
duplication ( ef=ts betwe5 ! p>tn]%ips &
 o!r entities4  7,d7 ,an assessm5t ( !  
b5efits & co/s ( ! p>tn]%ips4  7,e7 ,an 
assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess ( ! /rategies
 t ! p>tn]%ips are support+ or implem5t+
 & ! ext5t to :i* ! priority ne$s ( !   
regions cov]$ by ! p>tn]%ips are be+ met
 ?r\gh su* /rategies4  7,f7 ,an         
assessm5t ( h[ ! ef=ts ( ! p>tn]%ips    
support or enhance ,f$]al & ,/ate ef=ts 
consi/5t ) ! purposes ( ?is ,act4  7,g7 
,su* recomm5dations z ! ,adm9i/rator may
 h = improv+-- 7i7 ef=ts ( ! p>tn]%ips  

to support ! purposes ( ?is ,act2 &     
7ii7 collective /rategies t support !   
purposes ( ?is ,act 9 coord9ation &     
consultation ) all relevant ,f$]al1     
,/ate1 & ,tribal entities4  7,h7 ,!     
di/ribution ( funds f ea* p>tn]%ip = ea*
 fiscal ye> cov]$ by ! report4  7h7     
,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$]al ag5cy  
may provide grants to1 ent] into        
contracts )1 or o!rwise provide fund+ to
 su* p>tn]%ips4  7i7 ,au?orities ,no?+ 9
 ?is section e/abli%es any new legal or 
regulatory au?ority ( ! ,national       
,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration or 
( ! ,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips         
designat$ "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 7f74  7j7 ,fund+  7#a7       

,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips ,!re are    
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration ! foll[+ am\nts to be made
 available to ! ,regional ,ocean        
,p>tn]%ips designat$ "u subsection 7b7  
or designat$ fiscal managem5t entities (
 su* p>tn]%ips to c>ry out activities ( 
! p>tn]%ips "u ?is ,act3 7,a7           
#aj1ajj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbb4  7,b7   
#aj1bjb1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbc4  7,c7   
#aj1cjf1jdj = fiscal ye> #bjbd4  7,d7   
#aj1dab1afj = fiscal ye> #bjbe4  7,e7   
#aj1ebj1djd = fiscal ye> #bjbf4  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 ,tribal consultation ,!re is       
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration #a1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal 
ye>s #bjbb ?r\gh #bjbf = ,indian ,tribes
 to be di/ribut$ = purposes (           
p>ticipation 9 or engagem5t ) !         

,regional ,ocean ,p>tn]%ips4  7#d7      
,d]ivation ,funds to c>ry out !         
activities "u ?is ,act %all be d]iv$ f  
am\nts au?oriz$ to be appropriat$       
pursuant to p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#c7 t are 
appropriat$ aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (  
?is ,act4