I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7973 

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to support 

the restoration of coral reefs in South Florida. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 12, 2024 

Mr. GIMENEZ (for himself and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant 

program to support the restoration of coral reefs in 

South Florida. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SOUTH FLORIDA CORAL REEF RESTORATION 

4 GRANT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

6 grant program to award amounts to eligible entities— 

7 (1) to carry out coral reef restoration activities 

8 in South Florida; or 

9 (2) to reimburse such eligible entities for 

10 amounts spent by such eligible entities to carry out 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7973 IH

1 coral reef restoration activities in South Florida 

2 within the 5 years preceding the date on which such 

3 eligible entities are awarded a grant under this sec4 tion. 

5 (b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 

6 this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 

7 an application in such form, at such time, and containing 

8 such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

9 (c) GRANT AMOUNT LIMITATION.—The Secretary 

10 may not award any single eligible entity more than 

11 $1,000,000 under this section in a single fiscal year. 

12 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

13 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

14 out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 

15 through 2028. 

16 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

17 (1) CORAL REEF RESTORATION ACTIVITY.—The 

18 term ‘‘coral reef restoration activity’’ means— 

19 (A) the sexual propagation of coral to in20 crease diversity of genetic-based resiliency in 

21 support of coral restoration; and 

22 (B) the evacuation, rehabilitation, and re23 deployment of coral fragments. 

24 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti25 ty’’— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7973 IH

1 (A) means— 

2 (i) a State; 

3 (ii) a local municipality; 

4 (iii) a nonprofit organization; and 

5 (iv) a nongovernmental organization; 

6 and 

7 (B) includes the Mote Marine Laboratory. 

8 (3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term 

9 ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization— 

10 (A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the 

11 Internal Revenue Code of 1968; and 

12 (B) exempt from taxation under section 

13 501(a) of such Code. 

14 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

15 the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Ad16 ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos17 pheric Administration. 

18 (5) SOUTH FLORIDA.—The term ‘‘South Flor19 ida’’ means— 

20 (A) all land and water within the adminis21 trative boundaries of the South Florida Water 

22 Management District; 

23 (B) regional coastal waters, including Bis24 cayne Bay, the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7973 IH

1 Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and St. Lucie River 

2 Estuary; and 

3 (C) the Florida Reef Tract. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS