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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9705 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9705

   To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef 
                 Restoration and Conservation Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    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.
                                 <all>
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