[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4579 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4579
To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 18, 2024
Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act
to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Northwest Straits Marine
Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION
INITIATIVE ACT.
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act (title IV
of Public Law 105-384; 112 Stat. 3458) is amended--
(1) in section 402, by striking ``Commission (in this title
referred to as the `Commission').'' and inserting
``Commission.''; and
(2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and inserting
the following:
``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.
``Congress makes the following findings:
``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest
Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a
unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to
the people of the United States.
``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of
the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by
impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse
of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine
habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
``(3) Increasingly, the Northwest Straits have been
threatened by sea level rise, ocean acidification, and other
effects of climate change.
``(4) This title was enacted to tap the unprecedented level
of citizen stewardship demonstrated in the Northwest Straits
and create a mechanism to mobilize public support and raise
capacity for local efforts to protect and restore the ecosystem
of the Northwest Straits.
``(5) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
helps the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
other Federal agencies with their marine missions by fostering
local interest in marine issues and involving diverse
communities.
``(6) The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
shares many of the same goals with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, including fostering citizen
stewardship of marine resources, general ecosystem management,
and protecting federally managed marine species.
``(7) Ocean literacy, kelp habitat conservation and
monitoring, Veterans Conservation Corps internships, and
removal of marine debris projects are examples of previous and
ongoing partnerships between the Northwest Straits Marine
Conservation Initiative and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Areas of partnership may evolve
with emerging opportunities.
``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the
Northwest Straits Advisory Commission established by section
402.
``(2) Marine resources committee.--The term `marine
resources committee' means a county government committee that
assists in assessing marine resource and conservation needs.
``(3) Northwest straits region.--The term `Northwest
Straits region' means the marine waters of the Strait of Juan
de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the
south end of Snohomish County.
``(4) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government'
means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska
Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community,
component band, or component reservation individually
identified (including parenthetically) in the list published
most recently as of the date of enactment of the Northwest
Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of
2024 pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian
Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
``(5) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.
``(a) Composition.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 14
members, except as provided in paragraph (2), who shall be
appointed as follows:
``(A) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for San Juan
County, Washington.
``(B) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Island
County, Washington.
``(C) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Skagit
County, Washington.
``(D) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Whatcom
County, Washington.
``(E) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Snohomish
County, Washington.
``(F) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Clallam
County, Washington.
``(G) One member appointed by a consensus of the
members of a marine resources committee for Jefferson
County, Washington.
``(H) Two members appointed by the Secretary of the
Interior, in coordination with the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission and in consultation with the
Tribal governments affected by this title, to represent
the interests of such Tribal governments.
``(I) One member appointed by the Governor of the
State of Washington to represent the interests of the
Puget Sound Partnership.
``(J) Four members appointed by the Governor of the
State of Washington who--
``(i) are residents of the State of
Washington; and
``(ii) are not employed by a Federal,
State, or local government, excluding an
institution of higher education.
``(2) Additional members.--The Commission may, as
determined necessary to improve the ability of the Commission
to perform the duties of the Commission under section 406(b),
appoint members in addition to those appointed under paragraph
(1). Any such additional member shall be appointed by a
consensus of the members of a marine resources committee that
is not described in such paragraph.
``(b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
``(c) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson from
among its members.
``(d) Meeting.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson, but not less frequently than quarterly.
``(e) Liaison.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation
with the Commission, shall appoint an employee of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--
``(A) to serve as a liaison between the Commission
and the Department of Commerce;
``(B) to coordinate programs of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with activities
related to the goal of the Commission described in
section 406(a); and
``(C) to perform additional liaison functions
benefitting the Commission and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, which may include, as
agreed to by the Commission and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, attending meetings and
other events of the Commission as a nonvoting
participant.
``(2) Limitation.--Service as a member of the Commission by
the employee appointed under paragraph (1)--
``(A) is limited to the employee's service as a
liaison; and
``(B) does not obligate the employee to perform any
duty of the Commission under section 406(b).
``(f) Administration.--The Commission may enter into cooperative
agreements with the State of Washington for staffing and administrative
services for the purposes of supporting the duties of the Commission
under section 406(b).
``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits
region to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use by--
``(1) designing and recommending projects that are driven
by the best available science, local priorities, community-
based decisions, and the ability to measure results;
``(2) building awareness and stewardship and making
recommendations to improve the health of the marine resources
of the Northwest Straits region;
``(3) maintaining and expanding diverse membership and
collaboration with partner organizations, such as the Puget
Sound Partnership;
``(4) expanding partnerships with Tribal governments and
continuing to support Tribal treaties, cultures, and
subsistence and Tribal treaty rights; and
``(5) recognizing the importance of economic and social
benefits that are dependent on marine environments and
sustainable marine resources.
``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are the following:
``(1) To provide resources and technical support for marine
resources committees.
``(2) To work with such marine resources committees and
appropriate entities of Federal, State, and local governments
and Tribal governments to provide advice in developing regional
programs to monitor the overall health of the marine ecosystem
of the Northwest Straits region.
``(3) To collect marine resources data and identify factors
adversely affecting or preventing the restoration of the health
of the marine ecosystem and coastal economies of the Northwest
Straits region to inform decisionmakers.
``(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration and
protection recommendations, informed by local priorities, that
address such factors.
``(5) To serve as a public forum for the informal
discussion of policies and actions, with respect to the marine
ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region, of Federal, State,
or local governments, Tribal governments, or the Government of
Canada.
``(6) To inform appropriate authorities and local
communities about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits
region and about issues relating to the marine ecosystem of the
Northwest Straits region.
``(7) To consult with all affected Tribal governments in
the Northwest Straits region to ensure that the work of the
Commission does not violate Tribal treaty rights.
``(c) Coordination and Collaboration.--The Commission--
``(1) shall carry out the duties described in subsection
(b) in coordination and collaboration, as appropriate, with
Federal, State, and local governments and Tribal governments,
including by--
``(A) providing technical support and assistance to
any Tribal government seeking representation and
participation on the Commission; and
``(B) supporting the work and duties of the liaison
to the Commission under section 405(e); and
``(2) may enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit
entities, such as the Northwest Straits Foundation, to provide
assistance, including financial assistance, in carrying out the
duties described in subsection (b).
``(d) Limitations.--Nothing in this title provides the Commission
with authority to issue regulations or implement any Federal law or
regulation.
``(e) Acceptance of Donations.--For purposes of carrying out this
section, the Commission may solicit, accept, receive, hold, administer,
and use gifts, devises, and bequests without any further approval or
administrative action.
``(f) Annual Report.--
``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission shall prepare,
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Under
Secretary, and make available to the public a report
describing--
``(A) the activities carried out by the Commission
during the preceding year; and
``(B) the progress in achieving the benchmarks
described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Benchmarks.--The benchmarks described in this
paragraph are the following:
``(A) Protection and restoration of marine,
coastal, and nearshore habitats within the Northwest
Straits region.
``(B) Protection and restoration of marine
resources populations to healthy, sustainable levels.
``(C) Improvement of the water quality of the
Northwest Straits region.
``(D) Collection of high-quality data and promotion
of the use and dissemination of such data for the
purposes of ecosystem monitoring.
``(E) Promotion of stewardship and understanding of
marine resources of the Northwest Straits region
through education and outreach, including by targeted
outreach to underresourced communities.
``SEC. 407. FUNDING.
``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Under Secretary such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this title, including to be made available to the Commission
to carry out the duties of the Commission under this title.
``(b) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary may, from amounts
made available to the Under Secretary to carry out this title,
provide assistance to the Commission in carrying out the duties
of the Commission under this title.
``(2) Provision.--The Under Secretary may provide the
assistance described in paragraph (1), and make available
amounts to the Commission to carry out the duties of the
Commission, through a contract with the Director of the Padilla
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, unless the Governor of
the State of Washington objects. If such Governor so objects,
the Under Secretary may provide such assistance and make
available such amounts to the Commission.''.
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