[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9705 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9705
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef
Restoration and Conservation Program.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 19, 2024
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez (for herself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef
Restoration and Conservation Program.
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 ``Oyster Reef Recovery Act''.
SEC. 2. OYSTER REEF RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
(a) Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a
program for the conservation of oyster reefs, to be known as
the ``Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program''.
(2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the
Administrator shall provide technical and financial assistance
to covered entities to--
(A) identify priorities for oyster reef
restoration, including existing oyster reef sites and
locations of historically significant oyster reefs with
the potential for restoration;
(B) evaluate the health of and threats to oyster
reefs, including through mapping and water quality
monitoring, and identify conservation actions to
address such threats;
(C) conduct voluntary planning, construction,
assessment, protection, monitoring, restoration, and
enhancement projects with respect to oyster reefs;
(D) work to ensure the health and resilience of
existing and restored oyster reefs through adaptive
management procedures based on the best available
science;
(E) build partnerships and capacity to carry out
environmental conservation and stewardship measures
with respect to oyster reefs;
(F) develop and implement monitoring protocols to
ensure the success of conservation, restoration, and
enhancement measures with respect to oyster reefs;
(G) collaborate and share information with other
covered entities and the public with respect to best
management practices for the conservation, restoration,
and enhancement of oyster reefs; and
(H) support workforce training focused on coastal
resilience and restoration concepts, principles,
techniques, and implementation, especially to benefit
underserved communities.
(3) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator shall establish
a competitive grant program to award amounts to persons
that submit an application under subparagraph (B) for
the purposes of conducting research, planning,
construction, assessments, management, building
capacity, monitoring, collaborating and sharing
information, or workforce training with respect to the
conservation, restoration, enhancement, or management
of oyster reefs.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under
this paragraph, a person shall submit to the
Administrator an application in such form, at such
time, and containing such information, including a
sufficient demonstration that the project will not
reasonably interfere with commercial or recreational
fishing or other water-related uses of the relevant
area, as the Administrator determines appropriate.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to preempt or limit the authority of a State or an Indian Tribe to
manage oyster reefs or species of oysters.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a unit of the Federal or a State, local, or
Tribal government;
(B) a nongovernmental institution;
(C) a nonprofit organization;
(D) an institution of higher education;
(E) the shellfish industry; and
(F) a private individual or entity.
(3) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization--
(A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986; and
(B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such
Code.
(4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Oyster Reef
Restoration and Conservation Program established under
subsection (a)(1).
(5) Shellfish industry.--The term ``shellfish industry''
means shellfish growers and shellfish harvesters.
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