,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjhf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ba1 #bjbc,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cornyn1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,graham1 ,mr4 ,wicker1 and ,mr4 ,carper7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,commerce to establish the ,sea ,turtle ,rescue ,assistance ,grant ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,sea ,turtle ,rescue ,assistance ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,sea ,turtle ,rescue ,assistance ,grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a grant program to be known as the ,sea ,turtle ,rescue ,assistance ,grant ,program1 to encourage and facilitate coordinated rapid response and rescue by awarding grants for the purposes described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,designation of stranding regions ,the ,secretary shall designate geographic regions of the ,united ,states as stranding regions for the purposes of carrying out this section4 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,program are to provide for-- 7#a7 the recovery1 short- or long-term care1 transportation1 and treatment of stranded marine turtles2 7#b7 the release of rescued and recovered marine turtles2 7#c7 the collection of data and samples1 including tagging information1 from stranded marine turtles for scientific research or assessments1 or both1 that inform the understanding of causes of mortality2 and 7#d7 facility operation costs that are directly related to activities described in paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71 and 7#c74 7d7 ,equitable distribution of funds ,the ,secretary shall ensure1 to the extent practicable1 that funds awarded under this section are distributed equitably among stranding regions1 taking into account-- 7#a7 the number of strandings that occurred in each stranding region in the preceding #e years2 7#b7 region-specific factors that increase risks of strandings2 and 7#c7 the conservation priorities and recovery needs of species of marine turtles that are threatened or endangered under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq474 7e7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an applicant for a grant under this section that is an eligible applicant described in paragraph 7#b7 shall submit an application in such form and manner as the ,secretary shall prescribe4 7#b7 ,eligible applicants ,an entity is an eligible applicant if the entity is-- 7,a7 a nonprofit member of the ,sea ,turtle ,stranding and ,salvage ,network2 7,b7 an ,indian ,tribe2 7,c7 an institution of higher education2 or 7,d7 another public or private organization with an established record in the rescue1 recovery1 rehabilitation1 transportation1 or release of stranded marine turtles4 7f7 ,grant criteria 7#a7 ,development of criteria ,the ,secretary shall1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 develop criteria for awarding grants under this section and provide such criteria for formal public notice and comment4 7#b7 ,stakeholder engagement ,as part of the process for developing and finalizing criteria under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 provide opportunities for engagement with representatives from-- 7,a7 stranding regions2 7,b7 ,indian ,tribes2 7,c7 institutions of higher education2 and 7,d7 public or private organizations with an established record in-- 7i7 the rescue1 recovery1 rehabilitation1 transportation1 or release of stranded marine turtles2 or 7ii7 scientific research1 marine conservation1 or forensic science1 with respect to stranded marine turtles4 7#c7 ,required criteria ,in developing criteria under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall prioritize awarding grants to applicants with an established record of rescuing1 recovering1 rehabilitating1 transporting1 or releasing stranded marine turtles or conducting scientific research pertinent to the causes of strandings4 7g7 ,acceptance of donations ,for the purposes of carrying out this section1 the ,secretary may solicit1 accept1 receive1 hold1 administer1 and use gifts1 devises1 and bequests without any further approval or administrative action4 7h7 ,liability waiver 7#a7 ,in general ,a person who is acting under the authority of an entity awarded a grant under this section is deemed to be an employee of the government for purposes of chapter #aga of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 with respect to actions of the person that-- 7,a7 are in support of rescue1 recovery1 rehabilitation1 transportation1 or release efforts2 7,b7 are in accordance with the purposes of subsection 7c72 and 7,c7 reflect sound professional judgment and are consistent with the directions of any on-site coordinator or incident commander4 7#b7 ,limitation ,paragraph 7#a7 does not apply to actions of a person described in that paragraph that are grossly negligent or that constitute willful misconduct4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbi to remain available until expended4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#b7 ,institution of higher education 7,a7 ,in general ,the term institution of higher education means an educational institution in any ,state1 district1 commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 which-- 7i7 admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education1 or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate2 7ii7 is legally authorized within such ,state1 district1 commonwealth1 territory1 or possession to provide a program of education beyond secondary education2 7iii7 provides an educational program for which a bachelor's degree or any other higher degree is awarded2 7iv7 is a public or other nonprofit institution2 and 7v7 is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term institution of higher education includes a research foundation maintained by an institution of higher education described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,marine turtle ,the term marine turtle means any member of the family ,cheloniidae or ,dermochelyidae4 7#d7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,sea ,turtle ,rescue ,assistance ,grant ,program established under subsection 7a74 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#f7 ,stranding ,the term stranding means an event in which-- 7,a7 a marine turtle is dead and is-- 7i7 on a beach or shore of the ,united ,states2 7ii7 in ,state1 district1 commonwealth1 territory1 or possession1 or ,federal1 waters of the ,united ,states2 or 7iii7 outside of its natural habitat and is in the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 a marine turtle is alive and is-- 7i7 on a beach or shore of the ,united ,states and in need of medical attention or other necessary intervention to aid its likelihood of survival2 7ii7 in ,state1 district1 commonwealth1 territory1 or possession1 or ,federal1 waters of the ,united ,states and in need of medical attention or other necessary intervention to aid its likelihood of survival2 or 7iii7 outside of its natural habitat1 is unable to return unassisted1 and is in the ,united ,states4 7#g7 ,stranding region ,the term stranding region means a geographic region designated by the ,secretary under subsection 7b74 7#h7 ,united ,states ,the term ,united ,states means any land or water of the several ,states of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and any other commonwealth1 territory1 or possession over which the ,united ,states has jurisdiction1 including internal waters1 ,state waters1 the territorial sea1 and the exclusive economic zone of the ,united ,states4