H.R. 1196 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1196 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 24, 2023Ms. Plaskett (for herself, Ms. Salazar, Mrs. Peltola, and Mrs. González-Colón) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a grant program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and the economy, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Don Young Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2023. 2. Don Young restoration grants for coastlines and fisheries (a) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a grant program to provide funding and technical assistance to eligible entities for purposes of carrying out a project described in subsection (d). (b) Project proposal To be considered for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit a grant proposal to the Administrator in a time, place, and manner determined by the Administrator. Such proposal shall include monitoring, data collection, and measurable performance criteria with respect to the project. (c) Development of criteria The Administrator shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this section based on criteria developed by the Administrator, in consultation with relevant offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as the Office of Habitat Conservation, the Office for Coastal Management, the Office of Response and Restoration, and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. (d) Eligible projects A proposal is eligible for a grant under this section if— (1) the purpose of the project is to restore a marine, estuarine, coastal, or Great Lake habitat, including— (A) restoration of habitat to protect or recover a species that is threatened, endangered, or a species of concern under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (B) through the removal or remediation of marine debris, including derelict vessels and abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear, in coastal and marine habitats; or (C) for the benefit of— (i) shellfish; (ii) fish, including diadromous fish; (iii) coral reef systems; (iv) marine wildlife; (v) blue carbon ecosystems such as coastal wetlands, marshes, coastal forests, seagrasses, kelp forests, and other habitats important to carbon sequestration and storage; or (vi) ecosystems such as beaches, dunes, oyster beds, submerged aquatic vegetation, and other ecosystems that provide protection from flooding, wave effects, and other coastal hazards; or (2) provides adaptation to climate change, including sequestering and storing carbon or by constructing, restoring, or protecting ecological features or nature-based infrastructure that protects coastal communities from sea level rise, coastal storms, or flooding. (e) Priority In determining which projects to fund under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to a proposed project— (1) that would stimulate the economy; (2) for which the applicant can demonstrate that the grant will fund work that will begin not more than 90 days after the date of award; (3) for which the applicant can demonstrate that the grant will fund work that will employ fishermen who have been negatively impacted by financial hardship or pay a fisherman for the use of a fishing vessel; (4) for which the applicant can demonstrate that any preliminary study or permit required before the project can begin has been completed or can be completed shortly after an award is made; (5) that includes communities that may not have adequate resources including low-income communities, communities of color, Tribal communities, Indigenous communities, and rural communities; or (6) that is happening within National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, and Marine Protected Areas, such as National Marine Sanctuaries. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2032 to carry out this section, to remain available until expended. (g) Definitions In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a nonprofit, a for-profit business, an institution of higher education, or a State, local, Tribal, or Territorial government. (3) Fishermen The term fishermen means commercial or for-hire fishermen or oyster farmers.