,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hga ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #e1 #bjbe,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself and ,ms4 ,hirono7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish a competitive grant program to support the conservation and recovery of native plant1 fungi1 and animal species in the ,state of ,hawaii1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,hawaii ,native ,species ,conservation and ,recovery ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 the ,state2 7,b7 a unit of local government in the ,state2 7,c7 a ,native ,hawaiian organization2 7,d7 a nonprofit organization2 7,e7 a business2 and 7,f7 an institution of higher education4 7#b7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the ,hawaii ,native ,species ,conservation and ,recovery ,grant ,program established under section #c7;a74 7#c7 ,native ,hawaiian organization ,the term ,native ,hawaiian organization has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,,native ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dceb74 7#d7 ,native species ,the term native species means a plant1 fungi1 or animal species that is native to the ,state4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means the ,state of ,hawaii4 #c4 ,hawaii ,native ,species ,conservation and ,recovery ,grant ,program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which amounts are appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a grant program1 to be known as the ,hawaii ,native ,species ,conservation and ,recovery ,grant ,program1 to annually provide1 through cooperative agreements1 grants1 micro grants1 or other means1 funding to eligible entities to carry out projects that-- 7#a7 achieve the funding priorities developed under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 meet the criteria developed under subsection 7e74 7b7 ,purposes ,the grant program shall identify priorities and provide funding and technical assistance to carry out coordinated1 evidence-based conservation and recovery projects in the ,state-- 7#a7 to prevent and mitigate the introduction and spread of invasive species1 pests1 and diseases that threaten native species2 7#b7 to address the ecological consequences of climate change on native species2 7#c7 to address loss and degradation of native species' habitats2 7#d7 to manage1 maintain1 and restore populations of native species2 7#e7 to increase scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary for the conservation and recovery of native species2 7#f7 to improve information collection1 ecological monitoring1 and management relating to the activities described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#e72 and 7#g7 to engage the public through outreach1 education1 and community involvement to increase capacity and support for the conservation and recovery of native species in the ,state4 7c7 ,development of priorities ,in carrying out the grant program1 the ,secretary shall coordinate with the following individuals to develop annual1 evidence-based funding priorities for the grant program that support the purposes described in subsection 7b73 7#a7 ,the heads of ,federal agencies1 including-- 7,a7 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration 7or a designee72 7,b7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7or a designee72 7,c7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7or a designee72 and 7,d7 the head of any other applicable ,federal agency 7or a designee71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,the ,chairperson of the ,hawaii ,board of ,land and ,natural ,resources 7or a designee74 7#c7 ,the ,chairperson of the ,hawaii ,board of ,agriculture 7or a designee74 7#d7 ,any other relevant stakeholder involved in the conservation and recovery of native species in the ,state that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7d7 ,request for proposals ,the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register an annual request for proposals1 in accordance with the funding priorities developed under subsection 7c74 7e7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the individuals described in subsection 7c71 shall annually develop criteria for ranking project proposals to receive funding under the grant program4 7f7 ,recusal ,if the ,state or a unit of local government in the ,state applies for a grant under the grant program1 then the individuals described in paragraphs 7#b71 7#c71 and 7#d7 of subsection 7c7 who are representatives of the ,state or that unit of local government1 as applicable1 shall recuse themselves from all funding decisions relating to those applications4 7g7 ,cost sharing 7#a7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program shall not exceed #ge percent4 7,b7 ,exceptions ,the ,federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be #ajj percent1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7i7 for any project1 in the discretion of the ,secretary2 or 7ii7 if the project-- 7,i7 is carried out by a ,native ,hawaiian organization2 7,,ii7 significantly contributes to youth workforce readiness in the implementation of the project2 or 7,,iii7 is carried out using a grant awarded under the grant program in an amount of not more than #ej1jjj4 7#b7 ,in-kind contributions ,the non-,federal share of the cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be provided in the form of an in-kind contribution of services1 materials1 or access to land4 7h7 ,requirement ,of the amounts made available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year1 not less than #e percent shall be used to award grants for projects described in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iii7 of subsection 7g77#a77;,b77ii74 7i7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary may provide technical assistance to eligible entities to assist in the implementation of projects that receive funding under the grant program4 7j7 ,consultation with ,native ,hawaiian organizations ,the ,secretary1 in carrying out the grant program1 shall consult with ,native ,hawaiian organizations with respect to any project that receives funding under the grant program with implications for the ,native ,hawaiian community4 7k7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,funds made available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year shall supplement and not supplant other funds made available to carry out the purposes described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 of subsection 7b7 in the ,state4 #d4 ,annual report ,annually1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the implementation of this ,act1 including-- 7#a7 a description of each project that has received funding under the grant program2 and 7#b7 the status of each project described in paragraph 7#a7 that is in progress on the date of submission of the applicable report4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #cj1jjj1jjj for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this ,act and for each of the #i fiscal years thereafter4 7b7 ,administrative expenses ,of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall use not more than #e percent for administrative expenses relating to carrying out the grant program4