COASTS Act

To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure that the Federal Government continues to implement and advance coastal resiliency efforts, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Creating Opportunity and Sustainability Through Science Act COASTS Act 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) coastal cities and communities are particularly vulnerable to hazards and extreme weather events, accelerating the degradation of natural and built infrastructure that coastal economies and populations depend upon; and (2) such degradation harms community resiliency and exposes coastal cities and their inhabitants to more frequent and more severe hazards, impacting the ecosystems that provide livelihoods, food, and energy, and other essential benefits. 3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research programs (a) Coastal science and assessment: Competitive external research (1) In general The Secretary of Commerce, acting through applicable National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs within the National Ocean Service, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, shall carry out an extramural competitively awarded grants program focused on interdisciplinary coastal resilience and sustainability. (2) Objective The objective of the program shall be to develop scalable, best practices— (A) to prepare more resilient, sustainable cities and resilient communities; and (B) to reduce disaster recovery costs. (3) Collaboration The Secretary shall conduct the program in collaboration with business and industry, government agencies, academic institutions, and coastal community stakeholders. (4) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an applicant must be an institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, State, local, or Tribal Governments, for-profit organization, United States Territory, or Federal agency that has statutory authority to receive transfers of funds. (b) Coastal resilience research competitive grants (1) In general The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall annually award competitive grants for— (A) activities that strengthen coastal communities; and (B) restoration of coastal habitats to provide vital habitat for fish and strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems. (2) Priorities In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to funding projects for— (A) protecting life and critical infrastructure that, if destroyed or damaged, would have a debilitating impact on economic security, undermine community resiliency and adaptation, and threaten public health or safety; (B) assessing the effects of local land-use considerations on coastal and marine resources; (C) developing decision-support tools useful to coastal communities; (D) determining societal, ecological, and resiliency benefits of coastal restoration and natural, nature-based, and man-made infrastructure, and how these benefits affect the sustainability of coastal ecosystems; (E) citizen-science monitoring of coastal and marine resources as part of efforts to protect coastal communities; (F) evaluating potential outcomes associated with developing new commercial and recreational fishery resources, including aquaculture and targeting invasive and range-expanding species; (G) monitoring and developing ecosystem-based approaches to managing coastal ecosystems to promote sustainability; (H) assessing the capacity of human communities to adapt to coastal hazards; (I) assessing coastal vulnerability and risk; (J) evaluating adaptation and restoration approaches to reduce risk, including through the use of natural, nature-based, and man-made features; and (K) minimizing costs associated with damages incurred from natural disasters, flooding, and sea level rise. 4. Third-party coastal research consortium to continue National Ocean Council policy (a) Federal ocean research plan The Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council, in consultation with the National Ocean Council, shall continue progress on the next 10-year Federal ocean research plan. (b) Consortium (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the Deputy Director of Ocean Sciences of the National Science Foundation, shall convene a third-party consortium of stakeholders to coordinate ocean research efforts, specifically related to coastal sustainability and resiliency. (2) Purpose The consortium shall serve in lieu of the Office of Science and Technology Policy leadership and ensure continued coordination among all Federal research agencies involved. (3) Representation The consortium shall have balanced representation of members with expertise in the ocean sciences and representatives from impacted communities. 5. Donations The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may accept and use donations of funds to implement this Act.

Summary: Creating Opportunity and Sustainability Through Science Act or the COASTS Act This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award competitive grants to certain entities for (1)activities that strengthen coastal communities, and (2)restoration of coastal habitats to provide vital habitat for fish and strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems.