,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bfcc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #e1 #bjba,mr4 ,murphy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration to award grants to certain entities for purposes of carrying out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal communities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7#b7 ,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#c7 ,nature-based infrastructure ,the term nature-based infrastructure means a feature that is created by human design1 engineering1 and construction to provide risk reduction in coastal areas by acting in conjunction with natural processes4 7#d7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #b4 ,living shoreline grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall award grants to eligible entities for purposes of-- 7#a7 designing and implementing large- and small-scale1 climate-resilient living shoreline projects2 and 7#b7 applying innovative uses of natural materials and systems to protect coastal communities1 habitats1 and natural system functions4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity is any of the following3 7#a7 ,a unit of a ,state or local government4 7#b7 ,an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf that is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7#c7 ,an ,indian ,tribe4 7c7 ,living shoreline projects 7#a7 ,in general ,for purposes of this section1 a living shoreline project is a coastal natural infrastructure project that-- 7,a7 restores or stabilizes a shoreline using predominately natural materials to create buffers to attenuate the impact of coastal storms1 currents1 flooding1 and wave energy and to prevent or minimize shoreline erosion while providing a net ecological and climate benefit to ecosystems and habitats2 7,b7 to the extent possible1 maintains or restores existing natural slopes and connections between uplands and adjacent wetlands or surface waters2 7,c7 as necessary1 can retrofit hardened structures or surfaces to create blended projects that combine living shoreline elements with hardened techniques2 and 7,d7 meets such minimum standards as the ,administrator shall develop4 7#b7 ,minimum standards 7,a7 ,in general ,in developing minimum standards applicable to living shoreline projects under paragraph 7#a77;,d71 the ,administrator shall take into account-- 7i7 the considerations described in subsection 7e77#b72 and 7ii7 the need for the standards to be general enough to accommodate concerns related to specific project sites4 7,b7 ,consultation2 input ,in developing minimum standards applicable to living shoreline projects under 7#a77;,d71 the ,administrator may-- 7i7 consult with-- 7,i7 ,state coastal management agencies2 7,,ii7 ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations2 and 7,,iii7 relevant interagency councils1 such as the ,estuary ,habitat ,restoration ,council2 and 7ii7 seek input from relevant nongovernmental organizations4 7d7 ,project proposals ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,administrator a proposal for a living shoreline project that includes-- 7#a7 monitoring1 data collection1 and measurable performance criteria with respect to the project2 and 7#b7 an engagement or education component that seeks and solicits feedback from the local or regional community most directly affected by the proposal4 7e7 ,selection 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this section to carry out living shoreline projects based on criteria developed by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in developing criteria under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall take into account-- 7,a7 the potential of the project proposed by the eligible entity to protect the community and maintain the viability of the environment1 such as through protection of ecosystem functions1 environmental benefits1 or habitat types1 in the area where the project is to be carried out2 7,b7 the historic and future environmental conditions of the project site1 particularly those environmental conditions affected by climate change2 7,c7 the net ecological benefits of the project1 including the potential of the project to contribute to carbon sequestration and storage2 7,d7 the ability of the entity proposing the project to demonstrate the potential of the project to protect the coastal community where the project is to be carried out1 including through-- 7i7 mitigating the effects of erosion2 7ii7 attenuating the impact of coastal storms and storm surge2 7iii7 mitigating shoreline flooding2 7iv7 mitigating the effects of sea level rise1 accelerated land loss1 and extreme tides2 7v7 sustaining1 protecting1 or restoring the functions and habitats of coastal ecosystems2 7vi7 protecting important cultural sites or values2 7vii7 protecting low-income communities1 communities of color1 ,tribal communities1 ,indigenous communities1 and rural communities2 7viii7 sustaining1 protecting1 or restoring the functions and habitats of marine protected areas2 or 7ix7 such other forms of protection as the ,administrator considers appropriate2 and 7,e7 the potential of the project to support climate resiliency at a military installation or community infrastructure supportive of a military installation 7as such terms are defined in section #bcia of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code74 7f7 ,use of funds ,a grant awarded under this section to an eligible entity to carry out a living shoreline project may be used by the eligible entity only-- 7#a7 to carry out the project1 including administration1 design1 permitting1 entry into negotiated indirect cost rate agreements1 and construction2 7#b7 to monitor1 collect1 and report data on the performance 7including performance over time7 of the project1 in accordance with the standards developed by the ,administration under subsection 7c77#a77;,d72 or 7#c7 to incentivize landowners to engage in living shoreline projects4 7g7 ,monitoring and reporting 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall require each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section to carry out a living shoreline project 7or a representative of the entity7-- 7,a7 to monitor the project and to collect data on-- 7i7 the ecological1 climate1 and economic benefits of the project2 and 7ii7 the protection provided by the project for the coastal community where the project is carried out2 7,b7 to transmit to the ,administrator data collected under the project2 7,c7 to make data collected under the project available on a publicly accessible internet website of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 and 7,d7 upon the completion of the project1 to submit to the ,administrator a report on-- 7i7 the monitoring and data collection activities carried out under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 the effectiveness of the project in increasing protection of the coastal community where the project is carried out through living shorelines techniques1 including-- 7,i7 a description of-- 7aa7 the project2 7bb7 the activities carried out under the project2 and 7cc7 the techniques and materials used in carrying out the project2 and 7,,ii7 data on the performance of the project in providing protection to that coastal community4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf for purposes of carrying out this section4 #c4 ,living shoreline and nature-based infrastructure research program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall award1 on a competitive basis1 research grants to eligible entities to carry out projects focused on developing and assessing the effectiveness of innovative approaches to nature-based infrastructure for the purposes of-- 7#a7 preparing more climate-resilient1 sustainable cities and climate-resilient communities2 7#b7 reducing the costs associated with climate-related disasters1 the degradation of built infrastructure1 and human relocation2 and 7#c7 accomplishing improved climate resilience while maintaining ecosystem functions and habitats to the greatest extent possible4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity is any of the following3 7#a7 ,an institution of higher education4 7#b7 ,a nonprofit organization4 7#c7 ,a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government4 7#d7 ,a for-profit organization4 7#e7 ,a ,united ,states territory4 7#f7 ,a ,federal agency that is authorized by statute to receive transfers of funds4 7c7 ,research priorities ,the ,administrator shall award grants to eligible entities for projects that focus on one or more of the following3 7#a7 ,assessing the effectiveness of installed nature-based infrastructure in addressing1 as applicable1 coastal resilience1 shoreline erosion1 storm damage1 including windstorms1 inland flooding1 water quality1 impact on local ecosystems1 and such other criteria as the ,administrator determines appropriate4 7#b7 ,novel approaches to nature-based infrastructure and living shorelines aimed at optimizing resilience to climate change1 extreme weather1 and ecosystem sustainability4 7#c7 ,interdisciplinary research1 including engineering1 environmental and ecosystem sciences1 biology1 and social science4 7#d7 ,regional1 community1 and industry partnerships to create locally informed solutions4 7d7 ,reports for informing grant selection 7#a7 ,report required ,an eligible entity that receives a grant for a project under this section shall1 not later than the date on which such project concludes1 submit to the ,administrator a report summarizing the findings of the project4 7#b7 ,use of reports ,the ,administrator shall use each report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 to inform the selection and prioritization of living shoreline projects under section #b and other nature-based infrastructure projects4 7e7 ,use of programs ,in carrying out this section1 the ,administrator is encouraged to use-- 7#a7 the ,national ,oceanographic ,partnership ,program established under section #hica of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as a means for collaboration and coordination to leverage partnerships between public institutions of higher education and ,federal agencies2 7#b7 the ,coastlines and ,people initiative of the ,national ,science ,foundation as a tool to use ongoing interdisciplinary research2 7#c7 the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program maintained under the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaba et seq47 as a resource to help foster collaboration between public institutions of higher education and ,federal agencies2 and 7#d7 the ,community ,resilience ,center of ,excellence of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf for purposes of carrying out this section4