II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 958 

To authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for innovation 

or adaptation management development relating to coral reef ecosystems, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 27, 2017 

Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. 

CARPER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions 

for innovation or adaptation management development 

relating to coral reef ecosystems, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coral Reef Sustain5 ability Through Innovation Act of 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PRIZE COMPETITIONS TO PROMOTE INNOVATION 

2 IN CORAL REEF RESEARCH AND CONSERVA3 TION. 

4 The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 

5 6401 et seq.) is amended— 

6 (1) by redesignating sections 208, 209, and 210 

7 (16 U.S.C. 6407, 6408, and 6409) as sections 209, 

8 210, and 211, respectively; and 

9 (2) by inserting after section 207 the following: 

10 ‘‘SEC. 208. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of any Federal agency 

12 with a representative serving on the U.S. Coral Reef Task 

13 Force established under Executive Order 13089 issued on 

14 June 11, 1998 (16 U.S.C. 6401 note), may, either individ15 ually or in cooperation with one or more agencies, carry 

16 out a program to award prizes competitively under section 

17 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

18 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719). 

19 ‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—Any program carried out under 

20 this section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innova21 tion to advance the ability of the United States to under22 stand, research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to 

23 develop management or adaptation options to preserve, 

24 sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems. 

25 ‘‘(c) PRIORITY PROGRAMS.—Priority shall be given to 

26 establish programs under this section that address comVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:03 Apr 28, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S958.IS S958

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1 munities, environments, or industries that are in distress 

2 due to the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, 

3 including— 

4 ‘‘(1) scientific research and monitoring that 

5 furthers the understanding of causes behind coral 

6 reef decline and degradation and the generally slow 

7 recovery following disturbances, including ocean 

8 acidification and its impacts on coral reproduction; 

9 ‘‘(2) the development of monitoring or manage10 ment options for communities or industries that are 

11 experiencing significant financial hardship; 

12 ‘‘(3) the development of adaptation options to 

13 alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by dam14 age to coral reef ecosystems; 

15 ‘‘(4) the development of measures to help vul16 nerable communities or industries, with an emphasis 

17 on rural communities and businesses; and 

18 ‘‘(5) the development of adaptation and man19 agement options for impacted tourism industries.’’. 

Æ 


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