I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 660 
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 
FEBRUARY 1, 2021 
Ms. PLASKETT (for herself and Mr. YOUNG) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Shovel-Ready Restora-
tion Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. SHOVEL-READY RESTORATION AND RESILIENCY 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a grant program to provide funding and technical assist-
ance to eligible entities for purposes of carrying out a 
project described in subsection (d). 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSAL.—To be considered for a 
grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit 
a grant proposal to the Secretary in a time, place, and 
manner determined by the Secretary. Such proposal shall 
include monitoring, data collection, and measurable per-
formance criteria with respect to the project. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT
OF CRITERIA.—The Secretary 
shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this 
section based on criteria developed by the Secretary, in 
consultation with relevant offices of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, such as the Office of 
Habitat Conservation and the Office for Coastal Manage-
ment. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A project is described in 
this subsection if— 
(1) the purpose of the project is to restore a 
marine, estuarine, coastal, or Great Lake habitat, 
including— 
(A) restoration of habitat to protect or re-
cover a species that is threatened, endangered, 
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or a species of concern under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
(B) through the removal or remediation of 
marine debris, including derelict vessels and 
fishing gear, in coastal and marine habitats; 
and 
(C) for the benefit of— 
(i) shellfish; 
(ii) fish, including diadromous fish; or 
(iii) coral reef; or 
(2) the project provides adaptation to climate 
change, including— 
(A) by constructing or protecting ecological 
features or nature-based infrastructure that 
protects coastal communities from sea level rise, 
coastal storms, or flooding; and 
(B) blue carbon projects. 
(e) PRIORITY.—In determining which projects to 
fund under this section, the Secretary shall give priority 
to a proposed project— 
(1) that would stimulate the economy; 
(2) for which the applicant can demonstrate 
that the grant will fund work that will begin not 
more than 90 days after the date of the award; 
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(3) for which the applicant can demonstrate 
that the grant will fund work that will employ fish-
ermen who have been negatively impacted by the 
COVID–19 pandemic or pay a fisherman for the use 
of a fishing vessel; 
(4) for which the applicant can demonstrate 
that any preliminary study or permit required before 
the project can begin has been completed or can be 
completed shortly after an award is made; or 
(5) that includes communities that may not 
have adequate resources, including low-income com-
munities, communities of color, Tribal communities, 
Indigenous communities, and rural communities. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain 
available until expended, to carry out this section. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a nonprofit, a for-profit business, an in-
stitution of higher education (as such term is de-
fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), or a State, local, 
Tribal, or Territorial government. 
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(2) 
FISHERMAN.—The 
term 
‘‘fisherman’’ 
means a commercial or for-hire fisherman or an oys-
ter farmer. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
Æ 
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