I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7387 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to 

benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and the economy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2020 

Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL (for herself, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Ms. 

BONAMICI, Mr. CASE, Mr. HUFFMAN, and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the 

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

and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant 

program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and the 

economy, 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 ‘‘Shovel-Ready Restora5 tion Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2020’’. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7387 IH

1 SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR COASTAL RESILIENCY. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

3 a grant program to provide funding and technical assist4 ance to eligible entities for purposes of carrying out a 

5 project described in subsection (d) 

6 (b) PROJECT PROPOSAL.—To be considered for a 

7 grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit 

8 a grant proposal to the Secretary in a time, place, and 

9 manner determined by the Secretary. Such proposal shall 

10 include monitoring, data collection, and measurable per11 formance criteria with respect to the project. 

12 (c) DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA.—The Secretary 

13 shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this 

14 section based on criteria developed by the Secretary, in 

15 consultation with relevant offices of the National Oceanic 

16 and Atmospheric Administration, such as the Office of 

17 Habitat Conservation and the Office for Coastal Manage18 ment. 

19 (d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A project is described by 

20 this section if— 

21 (1) the purpose of the project is to restore a 

22 marine, estuarine, coastal, or Great Lake habitat, 

23 including— 

24 (A) restoration of habitat to protect or re25 cover a species that is threatened, endangered, 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7387 IH

1 or a species of concern under the Endangered 

2 Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 

3 (B) through the removal or remediation of 

4 marine debris, including derelict vessels and 

5 fishing gear, in coastal and marine habitats; 

6 (C) for the benefit of— 

7 (i) shellfish; 

8 (ii) fish, including diadromous fish; or 

9 (iii) coral reef; or 

10 (2) provides adaptation to climate change, in11 cluding by constructing or protecting ecological fea12 tures or green infrastructure that protects coastal 

13 communities from sea level rise, coastal storms, or 

14 flooding, and blue carbon projects. 

15 (e) PRIORITY.—In determining which projects to 

16 fund under this section, the Secretary shall give priority 

17 to a proposed project— 

18 (1) that would stimulate the economy; 

19 (2) for which the applicant can demonstrate 

20 that the grant will fund work that will begin not 

21 more than 90 days after the date of the award; 

22 (3) for which the applicant can demonstrate 

23 that the grant will fund work that will employ fish24 ermen who have been negatively impacted by the 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7387 IH

1 COVID–19 pandemic or pay a fisherman for the use 

2 of a fishing vessel; 

3 (4) for which the applicant can demonstrate 

4 that any preliminary study or permit required before 

5 the project can begin has been completed or can be 

6 completed shortly after an award is made; or 

7 (5) which include communities that may not 

8 have adequate resources including low income com9 munities, communities of color, Tribal communities, 

10 and rural communities. 

11 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

12 authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000,000 for fiscal 

13 year 2020 to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this 

14 section to remain available until expended. 

15 (g) DEFINITIONS.— 

16 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this Act, ‘‘eligible 

17 entity’’ means a nonprofit, a for-profit business, an 

18 institution of higher education (as such term is de19 fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 

20 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), or a State, local, 

21 Tribal, or territorial government. 

22 (2) FISHERMEN.—The term ‘‘fisherman’’ 

23 means a commercial or for-hire fisherman or an oys24 ter farmer. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 7387 IH

1 (3) SECRETARY.—In this section, the term 

2 ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Commerce, act3 ing through the the Administrator of the National 

4 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS