I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9705 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef Restoration 
and Conservation Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ (for herself and Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster 
Reef Restoration and Conservation Program. 
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 ‘‘Oyster Reef Recovery 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OYSTER REEF RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) OYSTER REEF RESTORATION AND CONSERVA-
TION PROGRAM.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a program for the conservation of oyster 
reefs, to be known as the ‘‘Oyster Reef Restoration 
and Conservation Program’’. 
(2) PROGRAM
DUTIES.—In carrying out the 
Program, the Administrator shall provide technical 
and financial assistance to covered entities to— 
(A) identify priorities for oyster reef res-
toration, including existing oyster reef sites and 
locations of historically significant oyster reefs 
with the potential for restoration; 
(B) evaluate the health of and threats to 
oyster reefs, including through mapping and 
water quality monitoring, and identify conserva-
tion actions to address such threats; 
(C) conduct voluntary planning, construc-
tion, assessment, protection, monitoring, res-
toration, and enhancement projects with respect 
to oyster reefs; 
(D) work to ensure the health and resil-
ience of existing and restored oyster reefs 
through adaptive management procedures based 
on the best available science; 
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(E) build partnerships and capacity to 
carry out environmental conservation and stew-
ardship measures with respect to oyster reefs; 
(F) develop and implement monitoring pro-
tocols to ensure the success of conservation, 
restoration, and enhancement measures with re-
spect to oyster reefs; 
(G) collaborate and share information with 
other covered entities and the public with re-
spect to best management practices for the con-
servation, restoration, and enhancement of oys-
ter reefs; and 
(H) support workforce training focused on 
coastal resilience and restoration concepts, prin-
ciples, techniques, and implementation, espe-
cially to benefit underserved communities. 
(3) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall establish a competitive grant program to 
award amounts to persons that submit an appli-
cation under subparagraph (B) for the purposes 
of conducting research, planning, construction, 
assessments, management, building capacity, 
monitoring, collaborating and sharing informa-
tion, or workforce training with respect to the 
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conservation, restoration, enhancement, or man-
agement of oyster reefs. 
(B) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a 
grant under this paragraph, a person shall sub-
mit to the Administrator an application in such 
form, at such time, and containing such infor-
mation, including a sufficient demonstration 
that the project will not reasonably interfere 
with commercial or recreational fishing or other 
water-related uses of the relevant area, as the 
Administrator determines appropriate. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to preempt or limit the authority 
of a State or an Indian Tribe to manage oyster reefs or 
species of oysters. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2025 through 2029. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
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(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means— 
(A) a unit of the Federal or a State, local, 
or Tribal government; 
(B) a nongovernmental institution; 
(C) a nonprofit organization; 
(D) an institution of higher education; 
(E) the shellfish industry; and 
(F) a private individual or entity. 
(3) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization— 
(A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and 
(B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) 
of such Code. 
(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Pro-
gram established under subsection (a)(1). 
(5) SHELLFISH INDUSTRY.—The term ‘‘shell-
fish industry’’ means shellfish growers and shellfish 
harvesters. 
Æ 
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