,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #didh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjbd,mr4 ,manchin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,graham7 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 a grant program to foster enhanced coexistence between ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species4 #a4 ,north ,atlantic right whales and regulations ,for the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act and ending on ,december #ca1 #bjcj1 the ,north ,atlantic right whale vessel strike reduction rule contained in section #bbd4aje of title #ej1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect during fiscal year #bjbb1 may not be amended1 updated1 modified1 or replaced4 #b4 ,north ,atlantic right whale and other large cetacean species grant program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts1 on an annual basis1 to eligible entities for the eligible uses described in subsection 7e74 7b7 ,administration ,the ,secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the ,foundation pursuant to the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq47 for the ,foundation to manage and administer the ,program4 7c7 ,applications ,to be eligible for a grant under the ,program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,foundation an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,foundation determines appropriate4 7d7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,after the ,secretary enters into a cooperative agreement with the ,foundation under subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 the ,secretary shall provide to the ,foundation the amounts made available under this section to carry out the ,program in an advance payment of the entire amount on ,october #a1 or as soon as practicable thereafter1 for each fiscal year2 and 7,b7 the ,foundation shall invest and reinvest excess such amounts for the benefit of the ,program4 7#b7 ,application of ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act ,amounts received by the ,foundation under this section to carry out the ,program shall be subject to the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 except for section #aj7;a7 of that ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgji7;a774 7e7 ,eligible uses ,an eligible entity that is awarded a grant under the ,program may use such grant to develop1 assess1 and carry out activities that reduce lethal and sub-lethal interactions between ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species1 including-- 7#a7 funding research to identify1 deploy1 or test innovative avoidance technologies that reduce or eliminate harmful interactions between ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species2 7#b7 efforts to enhance awareness of existing ,north ,atlantic right whale management measures and rules2 7#c7 developing on-the-water approaches to support the coexistence of ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species2 7#d7 funding the expansion of infrastructure and capacity to disseminate management and other relevant information that reduces harmful interactions between ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species1 especially such interactions that can lead to lethal or sub-lethal injury2 and 7#e7 other uses the ,foundation1 in consultation with the ,secretary and relevant eligible entities1 determines appropriate4 7f7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the ,program1 the ,foundation shall give priority to applications-- 7#a7 with a substantial likelihood of reducing lethal and sub-lethal interactions between ocean users and ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species2 7#b7 that include cooperation among ocean users2 and 7#c7 that demonstrate1 or have the potential to provide1 economic benefits to small businesses reliant upon fishing1 tourism1 and maritime-related activities based in the ,united ,states4 7g7 ,prohibited uses 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 an eligible entity that is awarded a grant under the ,program may not use such grant to distribute resources to an entity or individual that is not a ,united ,states person4 7#b7 ,exception ,an eligible entity that is awarded a grant under the ,program may use such grant to distribute resources to a partnership that includes an entity or individual that is not a ,united ,states person if the resources are distributed directly to a partner in the partnership that is a ,united ,states person4 7h7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report regarding the results and effectiveness of-- 7#a7 projects carried out with a grant awarded under the ,program2 and 7#b7 work carried out pursuant to-- 7,a7 section #bja of division ,,jj of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #acic72 and 7,b7 section #aacjc of the ,james ,m4 ,inhofe ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjbc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #acia74 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,administrative expenses ,each fiscal year1 of the amounts made available to carry out this section under paragraph 7#a71 the ,foundation may use not more than #e percent or #hj1jjj1 whichever is greater1 of such amounts for the administrative expenses of the ,program4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state1 regional1 local1 or ,tribal government2 7,b7 a nonprofit organization or research institution with expertise in on-the-water technology for the monitoring or detection of ,north ,atlantic right whales and other large cetacean species2 7,c7 any individual or entity the ,secretary and the ,foundation jointly determine appropriate1 including ocean users in the fishing1 tourism1 fishing tackle manufacturing1 boating1 shipping1 marine electronics1 ship piloting1 vessel towing1 and other maritime sectors2 or 7,d7 a consortium of #b or more entities described in any of subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c74 7#b7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation4 7#c7 ,program ,the term ,program means the program established under subsection 7a74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce1 acting through the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere4 7#e7 ,united ,states person ,the term ,united ,states person has the meaning given the term in section #ggja7;a77#cj7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4