SEC. 105. REVISIONS TO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. 
Section 206 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 6405) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 206. EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary may provide assistance, including issuing emer-
gency grants and contracts, equipment, and technical as-
sistance, to support a request from any State or local gov-
ernment agency with jurisdiction over a coral reef, or any 
entity contracted to act on behalf of a State or local gov-
ernment agency, to address an emergency pertaining to 
the coral reef or coral reef ecosystem. The costs of such 
assistance provided by the Secretary may be provided from 
an appropriate account in the Damage Assessment Res-
toration Revolving Fund established by the Department 
of Commerce Appropriations Act, 1991 (33 U.S.C. 2706 
note). 
‘‘(b) FEDERAL EMERGENCY ACTION.—In coordina-
tion with other Federal, State, or local government agen-
cies as practicable, the appropriate Federal official may 
undertake or authorize all actions necessary to— 
‘‘(1) prevent or minimize the imminent destruc-
tion, loss, or taking of, or injury to a coral reef, 
from— 
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‘‘(A) vessel impacts, including anchors, an-
chor chains, boat moorings, groundings, and 
abandoned vessels; 
‘‘(B) derelict fishing gear or other marine 
debris; 
‘‘(C) unforeseen or disaster-related cir-
cumstances pertaining to coral reef ecosystems, 
including as a result of human activities; 
‘‘(D) harmful algal blooms, coral disease 
outbreaks, or invasive or nuisance species out-
breaks; and 
‘‘(E) unexploded ordnance or similar un-
derwater munitions; and 
‘‘(2) respond rapidly to assess, stabilize, repair, 
recover, or restore a coral reef that is destroyed or 
injured, or that has lost an ecosystem function; 
‘‘(3) remove or stabilize a vessel grounded on or 
in the vicinity of a coral reef; and 
‘‘(4) otherwise provide for rapid response to, as-
sessment of, or monitoring of an emergency per-
taining to a coral reef or coral reef ecosystem. 
‘‘(c) WRITTEN AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may 
enter into written agreements with any State in which a 
coral reef is located regarding the manner in which the 
activities authorized under this section shall be conducted 
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within the affected State’s waters. Nothing in this sub-
section shall be construed to limit Federal response and 
restoration activity authority before any such agreement 
is final. 
‘‘(d) COOPERATIVE ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS.— 
All cooperative enforcement agreements in place between 
the Secretary and a State affected by this title shall be 
updated to include enforcement of this title where appro-
priate. 
‘‘(e) DAMAGE AND COST ASSESSMENT.—In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary shall assess damages to 
coral reefs and applicable response and restoration costs 
in consultation with State officials regarding response and 
damage assessment actions undertaken for coral reefs 
within State waters. The Secretary shall make such as-
sessments, including any related data and information, 
readily available to the public on a government Internet 
website upon completion of such assessments. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE FEDERAL OFFI-
CIAL.—In this section, the term ‘appropriate Federal offi-
cial’ means— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, with respect to any coral 
reef or component thereof in— 
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‘‘(A) any unit of the National Marine 
Sanctuary System; 
‘‘(B) any unit of the National Estuarine 
Research Reserve System; 
‘‘(C) any marine national monument des-
ignated by an Act of Congress or under section 
320301 of title 54, United States Code (com-
monly known as the Antiquities Act of 1906) 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Com-
merce; or 
‘‘(D) any territorial waters under the ad-
ministrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
Commerce; or 
‘‘(2) the Secretary of the Interior with respect 
to any coral reef or component thereof in— 
‘‘(A) any unit of the National Park Sys-
tem; 
‘‘(B) any unit of the National Wildlife Ref-
uge System; 
‘‘(C) any national monument or marine na-
tional monument designated by an Act of Con-
gress or under section 320301 of title 54, 
United States Code (commonly known as the 
Antiquities Act of 1906) under the jurisdiction 
of the Secretary of the Interior; or 
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‘‘(D) any territorial waters under the ad-
ministrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the 
Interior.’’. 
SEC. 106. REVISIONS TO NATIONAL PROGRAM. 
Section 207 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 6406) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) enhancing public awareness, education, un-
derstanding, and appreciation of coral reefs and 
coral reef ecosystems, including the benefits healthy 
and resilient coral reefs provide to island and coastal 
communities and to the United States;’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) removing or otherwise addressing, and pro-
viding assistance to States in removing or otherwise 
addressing, derelict fishing gear, marine debris, and 
abandoned vessels from coral reef ecosystems to con-
serve living marine resources;’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (4) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) cooperative conservation, research, restora-
tion, and management of coral reefs and coral reef 
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ecosystems with local, regional, or international pro-
grams and partners, including research institutions 
located in a State;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) improving and promoting the resilience of 
corals, coral reefs, and coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(6) activities designed to prevent or minimize 
the likelihood of vessel impacts or other physical 
damage to coral reefs, including any at-risk reefs 
identified under section 207(d); and 
‘‘(7) centrally archiving, managing, and distrib-
uting data sets and coral reef ecosystem assessments 
and making such information readily available on 
public Internet websites, including, at the discretion 
of the Administrator, on the public Internet websites 
of local, regional, or international programs and 
partners.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY.—The Sec-
retary, in coordination with other Federal agencies, may 
establish and maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding 
incidents involving coral reefs, including a description of— 
‘‘(1) the impacts to such coral reefs and related 
natural resources; 
‘‘(2) vessel and ownership information; 
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‘‘(3) an estimate of the costs for— 
‘‘(A) removal of the vessel; or 
‘‘(B) restoration of the impacted reef; 
‘‘(4) to the extent practicable, the actual costs, 
including costs estimated under section 206(e), that 
were incurred by each party that participated in 
any— 
‘‘(A) removal of the vessel; or 
‘‘(B) restoration of the impacted reef; 
‘‘(5) the response action taken by the vessel 
owner, the Secretary, the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, or other Federal or State agencies; 
‘‘(6) the status of the response action, including 
the dates of vessel removal and coral reef restora-
tion, and any actions taken to prevent future 
grounding incidents; and 
‘‘(7) any other pertinent information the Sec-
retary deems appropriate. 
‘‘(d) AT-RISK REEFS.— 
‘‘(1) INVENTORY.—The Secretary may establish 
and maintain a nationwide inventory of at-risk reefs, 
including proposed remediation to address threats or 
damage to at-risk reefs identified under this sub-
section. 
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‘‘(2) IDENTIFICATION.—The Secretary may use 
data and information collected or compiled under 
this title or any other available information source to 
identify at-risk reefs to be included in the inventory 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) REMEDIATION.—The Secretary may iden-
tify appropriate measures, including measures taken 
by other agencies, to remediate at-risk reefs, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) recommendations to prevent, reduce 
the likelihood, or otherwise address negative im-
pacts and incidents; 
‘‘(B) cooperative actions with other Fed-
eral, State, and local agencies and nongovern-
mental partners; and 
‘‘(C) a strategy and timetable to imple-
ment such measures and recommendations. 
‘‘(4) MEASURES TAKEN.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary may track any measures taken 
to remediate at-risk reefs identified under paragraph 
(2), including any measures identified and taken 
under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(5) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall make 
any inventory established and maintained under this 
subsection, a description of the remediation meas-
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ures identified under paragraph (3), and a descrip-
tion of any actions tracked under paragraph (4), 
readily available to the public on a government 
Internet website. 
‘‘(e) DATA STEWARDSHIP AND ACCESSIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with similar efforts at other Departments and 
agencies, shall provide for the long-term stewardship 
and public accessibility of all environmental data and 
information collected under this title. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) archive environmental data, research, 
and similar information collected with the use 
of Federal funds; 
‘‘(B) to the greatest extent practicable, 
make such environmental data and information 
readily available to the public on a government 
Internet website; 
‘‘(C) develop standards, protocols, and pro-
cedures for sharing Federal data with non-Fed-
eral partner agencies and the private sector or 
academia; and 
‘‘(D) develop metadata standards for coral 
reef ecosystems in accordance with Federal Ge-
ographic Data Committee guidelines.’’. 
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SEC. 107. REVISIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS REPORTS. 
Section 208 of the of the Coral Reef Conservation 
Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 208. EFFECTIVENESS REPORTS. 
‘‘Not less than once every 5 years, the Secretary, in 
cooperation with the United States Coral Reef Task 
Force, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives a report, with respect to the 5 fiscal years preceding 
the year in which the report is submitted, that— 
‘‘(1) describes the funds obligated by each Fed-
eral agency to implement the national coral reef ac-
tion strategy; 
‘‘(2) summarizes all actions taken by Federal 
and non-Federal entities under the national coral 
reef action strategy; 
‘‘(3) provides a State-by-State summary of Fed-
eral and non-Federal contributions toward the costs 
of each project for which a grant was awarded under 
the coral reef conservation grant program under sec-
tion 204; 
‘‘(4) provides an accounting of Federal funds 
transferred to a nonprofit organization and non-Fed-
eral matching funds provided by such nonprofit or-
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ganization under the coral reef public-private part-
nership under section 205; 
‘‘(5) summarizes emergency response actions 
undertaken or authorized under section 206; 
‘‘(6) summarizes the information contained in 
any vessel grounding inventory under section 207(c) 
and any additional authorization or funding needed 
for response and removal of vessels listed in such in-
ventory; 
‘‘(7) provides a summary of any at-risk reefs 
identified under section 207(d) and any remediation 
actions recommended, underway, or taken under 
such section; 
‘‘(8) assesses the conditions of coral reefs in the 
United States, accomplishments under this title, and 
the effectiveness of management actions to address 
threats to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; and 
‘‘(9) any other pertinent information, as consid-
ered appropriate by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 108. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES CORAL 
REEF TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Coral Reef Conservation Act 
of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 209 and 210 as 
sections 214 and 215, respectively; and 
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(2) by inserting after section 208 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 209. UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the United States Coral 
Reef Task Force shall be to coordinate and strengthen 
Federal, State, international, and local actions to conserve 
and restore coral reef ecosystems by— 
‘‘(1) supporting, in cooperation with non-Fed-
eral partners as appropriate, activities regarding the 
mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, mitiga-
tion, and restoration of coral reefs and coral reef 
ecosystems; 
‘‘(2) implementing the policy and Federal agen-
cy responsibilities set forth in Executive Order 
13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701; relating to coral reef 
protection) (as in effect on June 11, 1998), the na-
tional coral reef action strategy, and activities au-
thorized by this title; 
‘‘(3) analyzing the United States role in inter-
national trade and protection of coral species; 
‘‘(4) enhancing public awareness, education, un-
derstanding, and appreciation of coral reefs and 
coral reef ecosystems, including the benefits healthy 
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and resilient coral reefs provide to island and coastal 
communities and the United States; 
‘‘(5) supporting coral reef ecosystem research, 
including on the ecological and economic benefits of 
coral reefs, both extramurally and across govern-
ment agencies; and 
‘‘(6) encouraging implementation of strategies 
and actions for the conservation and sustainable use 
of coral reef resources worldwide. 
‘‘(c) LEADERSHIP.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
represented ex officio by the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Sec-
retary of the Interior shall lead the United States Coral 
Reef Task Force as co-chairs. 
‘‘(d) VOTING MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The voting members of the 
United States Coral Reef Task Force shall be com-
prised of— 
‘‘(A) the co-chairs designated under sub-
section (c); 
‘‘(B) the Federal agency members specified 
by Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 
32701; relating to coral reef protection) (as in 
effect on June 11, 1998); 
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‘‘(C) the Secretary of the Army, rep-
resented ex officio by the Assistant Secretary of 
the Army for Civil Works of the Corps of Engi-
neers; 
‘‘(D) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
and 
‘‘(E) the Governor, if such Governor elects 
to participate in the United States Coral Reef 
Task Force, of— 
‘‘(i) the State of Florida; 
‘‘(ii) the State of Hawaii; 
‘‘(iii) American Samoa; 
‘‘(iv) Guam; 
‘‘(v) the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands; 
‘‘(vi) Puerto Rico; and 
‘‘(vii) the Virgin Islands of the United 
States. 
‘‘(e) NON-VOTING MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The non-voting members of 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force shall be 
comprised of— 
‘‘(A) the President or a representative of 
the President, if such President elects to par-
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ticipate, of each of the Freely Associated States 
of— 
‘‘(i) the Federated States of Micro-
nesia; 
‘‘(ii) the Republic of the Marshall Is-
lands; and 
‘‘(iii) the Republic of Palau. 
‘‘(B) Representatives of each of the rel-
evant fishery management councils, selected by 
such councils, established under section 302 of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852) includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) the Caribbean Fishery Manage-
ment Council; 
‘‘(ii) the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Man-
agement Council; 
‘‘(iii) the South Atlantic Fishery Man-
agement Council; and 
‘‘(iv) the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council; 
‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCY MEM-
BERS.—The Federal members of the United States Coral 
Reef Task Force shall— 
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‘‘(1) identify actions by their agencies that may 
affect coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(2) utilize the authorities and programs of 
their agencies to carry out the duties of the United 
States Coral Reef Task Force as defined by sub-
section (b); and 
‘‘(3) implement the national coral reef action 
strategy and any other coordinated efforts approved 
by the United States Coral Reef Task Force. 
‘‘(g) WORKING
GROUPS.—The co-chairs of the 
United States Coral Reef Task Force may establish work-
ing groups as necessary to advance the purposes of this 
title, including— 
‘‘(1) at the request of members of the United 
States Coral Reef Task Force; and 
‘‘(2) working groups for which vested stake-
holders, including nongovernmental organizations 
and research institutions, such as marine labora-
tories and coral reef institutes, are participants. 
‘‘(h) NONAPPLICATION OF FACA.—The Federal Ad-
visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force or working 
groups established by the United States Coral Reef Task 
Force.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘United States’’ before ‘‘Coral Reef 
Task Force’’ each place it appears where ‘‘United States’’ 
does not precede ‘‘Coral Reef Task Force’’. 
SEC. 109. AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Coral Reef Conservation Act 
of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is further amended by 
inserting after section 209, as added by this Act, the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 210. AGREEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may execute and 
perform such contracts, leases, grants, cooperative agree-
ments, or other transactions as may be necessary to carry 
out the purposes of this title. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.—Under an agreement entered into 
under subsection (a), the Secretary may fulfill the terms 
of the agreement by reimbursing or providing appro-
priated funds to, and may receive funds or reimburse-
ments from— 
‘‘(1) Federal agencies, instrumentalities and 
laboratories; 
‘‘(2) State and local governments; 
‘‘(3) Federally recognized Indian Tribes and In-
dian Tribal organizations; 
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‘‘(4) international organizations; 
‘‘(5) foreign governments; 
‘‘(6) research institutions, including marine lab-
oratories and coral reef institutes; 
‘‘(7) nongovernmental organizations; 
‘‘(8) nonprofit organizations; 
‘‘(9) commercial organizations; and 
‘‘(10) other public and private persons or enti-
ties, as necessary for purposes identified in section 
202 and actions taken under section 206. 
‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a cooperative institute or cooperative insti-
tutes for the purpose of advancing and sustaining 
essential capability in coral reef research. Such insti-
tute or institutes shall include university-based coral 
reef research centers, including marine laboratories 
and coral reef institutes, located in States with coral 
reefs. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The cooperative institute or 
institutes established under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) conduct bona fide research, observa-
tion, and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems 
aimed at building capacity for more effective re-
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source management and coral reef restoration; 
and 
‘‘(B) through agreements with centers re-
ferred to in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) collaborate directly with govern-
mental resource management agencies, 
nonprofit organizations, academic research 
institutions, and other research organiza-
tions; 
‘‘(ii) build capacity within resource 
management agencies to establish research 
priorities, plan interdisciplinary research 
projects, and make effective use of re-
search results; and 
‘‘(iii) conduct public education and 
awareness programs for policymakers, re-
source managers, and the general public on 
coral reef ecosystems, best practices for 
coral reef and ecosystem management, con-
servation, and restoration, their value, and 
threats to their sustainability. 
‘‘(d) MULTIYEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The 
Secretary may enter into, extend, or renegotiate multiyear 
cooperative agreements with the heads of other Federal, 
State, and local government agencies and other vested 
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stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations 
and research institutions, such as marine laboratories and 
coral reef institutes, to further the purposes of this title 
consistent with the national coral reef action strategy de-
veloped under section 203. 
‘‘(e) OTHER USE OF AGENCIES’ RESOURCES.—For 
purposes related to the conservation, preservation, protec-
tion, restoration, or replacement of coral reefs or coral reef 
ecosystems and the enforcement of this title, the Secretary 
is authorized to use, with their consent and with or with-
out reimbursement, the land, services, equipment, per-
sonnel, and facilities of any Department, agency, or in-
strumentality of the United States, or of any State, local 
government, or Indian tribal government, or of any polit-
ical subdivision thereof, or of any foreign government or 
international organization.’’. 
SEC. 110. PERMITS. 
The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after section 
210, as added by this Act, the following: 
‘‘SEC. 211. PERMITS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, in accord-
ance with this section and regulations promulgated under 
this title, issue a permit authorizing the conduct of bona 
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fide research or other activities compatible with one or 
more of the purposes in section 202 of this title. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Secretary may 
place any terms and conditions on a permit issued under 
this section that the Secretary deems reasonable. 
‘‘(c) FEES.— 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION.—Subject 
to regulations promulgated under this title, the Sec-
retary may assess and collect fees as specified in this 
subsection. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—Any fee assessed shall be equal 
to the sum of— 
‘‘(A) all costs incurred, or expected to be 
incurred, by the Secretary in processing the 
permit application, including indirect costs; and 
‘‘(B) if the permit is approved, all costs in-
curred, or expected to be incurred, by the Sec-
retary as a direct result of the conduct of the 
activity for which the permit is issued. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FEES.—Amounts collected by the 
Secretary in the form of fees under this section may 
be used by the Secretary for issuing and admin-
istering permits under this section. 
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‘‘(4) WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES.—For 
any fee assessed under paragraph (2) of this sub-
section, the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) accept in-kind contributions in lieu of 
a fee; or 
‘‘(B) waive or reduce the fee. 
‘‘(d) FISHING.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
sidered to require a person to obtain a permit under this 
section for the conduct of any fishing activities not prohib-
ited by this title or regulations promulgated thereunder.’’. 
SEC. 111. REGULATIONS. 
The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after section 
211, as added by this Act, the following: 
‘‘SEC. 212. REGULATIONS. 
‘‘The Secretary may issue such regulations as are 
necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of 
this title. This title and any regulations promulgated 
thereunder shall be applied in accordance with inter-
national law. No restrictions shall apply to or be enforced 
against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident 
alien of the United States (including foreign-flag vessels) 
unless in accordance with international law.’’. 
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SEC. 112. USE OF RECOVERED AMOUNTS. 
The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after section 
212, as added by this Act, the following: 
‘‘SEC. 213. USE OF RECOVERED AMOUNTS. 
‘‘Any amounts available to the Secretary of Com-
merce that are attributable to fines, penalties, or forfeit-
ures of property (including proceeds from the sale of such 
forfeited property) imposed for violations of any marine 
resource law enforced by such Secretary, or regulations 
implementing such law, for damages to corals, coral reefs, 
or coral reef ecosystems shall be used by such Secretary— 
‘‘(1) for the benefit of the coral reef ecosystem 
impacted by the applicable violation, to the extent 
practicable; 
‘‘(2) to carry out emergency response activities 
authorized under section 206, including to reimburse 
any Federal, State or local government agency for 
response costs incurred; or 
‘‘(3) to carry out the purposes of this title, in-
cluding grants of financial assistance for coral reef 
conservation projects.’’. 
SEC. 113. REVISIONS TO AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS. 
Section 214 of the of the Coral Reef Conservation 
Act of 2000, as redesignated by this Act, is amended— 
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(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this 
title $27,100,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
2022, which may remain available until expended.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$1,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANT PRO-
GRAM.—From the amounts appropriated under subsection 
(a) for a fiscal year, there shall be made available to the 
Secretary of Commerce not less than $9,000,000 for the 
coral reef conservation grant program under section 
204.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL PROGRAM.—From the amounts ap-
propriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, there 
shall be made available to the Secretary of Commerce not 
less than $16,000,000 for activities conducted under sec-
tion 207.’’. 
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SEC. 114. REVISIONS TO DEFINITIONS. 
Section 215 of the of the Coral Reef Conservation 
Act of 2000, as redesignated by this Act, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, unless oth-
erwise specified’’ after ‘‘National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration’’; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) AT-RISK REEF.—The term ‘at-risk reef’ 
means a coral reef that has a high exposure to vessel 
impacts, marine debris, harmful algal blooms, over-
fishing, land-based or marine-based pollution, coast-
al development, and changes in ocean temperature 
and chemistry. 
‘‘(3) BONA FIDE RESEARCH.—The term ‘bona 
fide research’ means scientific research on corals or 
coral reefs, the results of which are likely— 
‘‘(A) to be eligible for publication in a 
peer-reviewed scientific journal; 
‘‘(B) to contribute to the basic knowledge 
of coral biology or coral reef ecology; 
‘‘(C) to improve management of coral reefs 
and coral reef ecosystems; or 
‘‘(D) to identify, evaluate, or resolve con-
servation issues or decisions.’’; 
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(3) by redesignating the original paragraph (2) 
as paragraph (4) and amending it to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘conservation’ 
means the use of any methods and procedures nec-
essary to preserve, restore, or sustain corals, coral 
reefs, and associated marine species as resilient, di-
verse, viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef eco-
systems, including— 
‘‘(A) all activities associated with resource 
management, such as assessment, research, 
protection, restoration, sustainable use, and 
management of habitat; 
‘‘(B) mapping, observation, or monitoring 
of coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(C) scientific expertise and technical as-
sistance in the development and implementation 
of management strategies for marine protected 
areas and marine resources consistent with the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1431 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fish-
ery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and with respect for the 
scientific, technical, and management expertise 
and responsibilities of State fish and wildlife 
management agencies; 
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‘‘(D) law enforcement; 
‘‘(E) conflict resolution initiatives; 
‘‘(F) community outreach and education; 
and 
‘‘(G) activities that promote safe and eco-
logically sound navigation.’’; 
(4) by redesignating the original paragraph (3) 
as paragraph (5) and by amending subparagraph 
(B) of such paragraph to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) all species of the families Milleporidae 
(fire corals) and Stylasteridae (stylasterid 
hydrocorals), of the class Hydrozoa.’’; 
(5) by redesignating the original paragraph (4) 
as paragraph (6) and amending it to read as follows: 
‘‘(6) CORAL
REEF.—The term ‘coral reef’ 
means limestone structures in the form of a reef or 
shoal, comprised in whole or in part by living coral, 
skeletal remains of coral, and other associated sessile 
invertebrates and marine plants.’’; 
(6) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(7) CORAL
REEF
COMPONENT.—The term 
‘coral reef component’ means any part of a coral 
reef, including individual living coral, skeletal re-
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mains of coral, and other associated sessile inverte-
brates or marine plants.’’; 
(7) by redesignating the original paragraph (5) 
as paragraph (8) and amending it to read as follows: 
‘‘(8) CORAL
REEF
ECOSYSTEM.—The term 
‘coral reef ecosystem’ means the system of coral and 
other geographically and ecologically associated ma-
rine species, habitats, and environment and the 
processes that control its dynamics.’’; 
(8) by redesignating the original paragraph (6) 
as paragraph (9); 
(9) by inserting after paragraph (9), as so re-
designated, the following: 
‘‘(10) DAMAGES.—The term ‘damages’ in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) compensation for— 
‘‘(i)(I) the cost of replacement, res-
toration, remediation, or acquisition of the 
equivalent of a coral or coral reef resource; 
and 
‘‘(II) the value of the lost use or serv-
ices of a coral or coral reef resource pend-
ing the replacement, restoration, remedi-
ation, or acquisition of the equivalent coral 
or coral reef resource; or 
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‘‘(ii) the value of a coral or coral reef 
resource if the coral or coral reef resource 
cannot be replaced, restored, or remediated 
or if the equivalent of such resource cannot 
be acquired; and 
‘‘(B) the reasonable cost of monitoring ap-
propriate to the injured, replaced, restored, or 
remediated coral or coral reef resource. 
‘‘(11) NATIONAL CORAL REEF ACTION STRAT-
EGY.—The term ‘national coral reef action strategy’ 
means the strategy developed under section 203. 
‘‘(12) 
RESILIENCE.—The 
term 
‘resilience’ 
means the capacity for corals, coral reefs, or coral 
reef ecosystems to resist and recover from natural 
and human disturbance and maintain structure and 
function to allow the continued provision of eco-
system goods and services, as determined by clearly 
identifiable, measurable, and science-based stand-
ards. 
‘‘(13) RESPONSE COSTS.—The term ‘response 
costs’ means the costs of actions that would be nec-
essary to— 
‘‘(A) minimize destruction, loss, or taking 
of, or injury to a coral reef or component there-
of; 
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‘‘(B) prevent or minimize the imminent 
risks of such destruction, loss, or taking of, or 
injury to; 
‘‘(C) assess the reasonable costs of damage 
as determined under section 206(e); and 
‘‘(D) respond to or otherwise address an 
emergency pertaining a coral reef or coral reef 
ecosystem. 
‘‘(14) RESTORATION.—The term ‘restoration’ 
means the use of methods and procedures necessary 
to enhance, rehabilitate, recreate, or create, a native, 
functioning coral reef or coral reef ecosystem, in 
part or in full, within suitable waters of the histor-
ical geographic range of such ecosystems.’’; 
(10) by redesignating the original paragraph 
(7) as paragraph (15); 
(11) by redesignating the original paragraph 
(8) as paragraph (16) and in such paragraph by 
striking ‘‘U.S.’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘United States’’; and 
(12) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(17) UNITED
STATES
CORAL
REEF
TASK 
FORCE.—The term ‘United States Coral Reef Task 
Force’ means the task force established under sec-
tion 209.’’. 
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SEC. 115. CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Administrator’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’ in the following sub-
sections— 
(1) subsection (a) of section 203 (16 U.S.C. 
6402); 
(2) subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), 
(h), (i), and (j) of section 204 (16 U.S.C. 6403); 
(3) subsections (a), (c), and (d) of section 205 
(16 U.S.C. 6404); and 
(4) subsection (a) of section 206 (16 U.S.C. 
6405). 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 201 of the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et 
seq.) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 
‘Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000’. 
‘‘(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents 
for this title is as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 201. Short Title. 
‘‘Sec. 202. Purposes. 
‘‘Sec. 203. National Coral Reef Action Strategy. 
‘‘Sec. 204. Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program. 
‘‘Sec. 205. Coral Reef Public-Private Partnership. 
‘‘Sec. 206. Emergency Response and Assistance. 
‘‘Sec. 207. National Program. 
‘‘Sec. 208. Effectiveness Reports. 
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‘‘Sec. 209. United States Coral Reef Task Force. 
‘‘Sec. 210. Agreements. 
‘‘Sec. 211. Permits. 
‘‘Sec. 212. Regulations. 
‘‘Sec. 213. Use of Recovered Amounts. 
‘‘Sec. 214. Authorization of Appropriations. 
‘‘Sec. 215. Definitions.’’. 
TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF THE 
INTERIOR CORAL REEF AU-
THORITIES 
SEC. 201. CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior may 
conduct activities to conserve coral reefs and coral reef 
ecosystems within— 
(1) any unit of the National Park System; 
(2) any unit of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System; 
(3) any National Monument or Marine National 
Monument designated by an Act of Congress or 
under section 320301 of title 54, United States 
Code (commonly known as the Antiquities Act of 
1906) under the administrative jurisdiction of the 
Secretary; or 
(4) any other Federal land unit or any terri-
torial waters under the administration of the Sec-
retary. 
(b) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide tech-
nical assistance, scientific expertise, and, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, financial assistance grants 
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for the conservation of coral reefs in proximity to the Fed-
eral land and waters described in paragraph (a) to— 
(1) entities eligible to receive a grant under sec-
tion 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 6403); 
(2) territories of the United States; and 
(3) Federally recognized Indian Tribes. 
(c) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
any action taken by the Secretary under this title is con-
sistent with the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 6401), as amended by this Act, including the na-
tional coral reef action strategy developed under section 
203 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6402). 
(d) OIA CORAL REEF INITIATIVE.—The Secretary 
shall establish within the Office of Insular Affairs a Coral 
Reef Initiative Program to— 
(1) provide grant funding to support local man-
agement, conservation, and protection of coral reef 
ecosystems in— 
(A) insular areas; and 
(B) freely associated states; 
(2) complement the other conservation and as-
sistance activities conducted under this title; and 
(3) provide other technical, scientific, and fi-
nancial assistance and conduct conservation activi-
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ties that advance the purposes of this title, as con-
sidered appropriate by the Secretary. 
SEC. 202. NATIONAL CORAL REEF ACTION STRATEGY. 
Section 203(a) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act 
of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6402(a)), as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by inserting ‘‘, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior,’’ before ‘‘shall periodically review 
and revise’’. 
SEC. 203. USGS CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES PRO-
GRAM. 
The Secretary shall establish within the United 
States Geological Survey a program to be known at the 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Program to— 
(1) research, monitor, and map coral reef eco-
systems to understand coral reef processes and as-
sess coral reef health, including the effects of 
changes in ocean temperature and chemistry, ocean 
acidification, land-based sources of pollution includ-
ing coastal runoff, sediment erosion and turbidity, 
and harmful algal blooms; 
(2) develop science and tools to assess and help 
address the consequences of changing coral reef 
structure on tourism, recreation, community vulner-
ability and resilience to storms, erosion, and inunda-
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tion, and to inform the management of coral reefs 
and coral reef ecosystems; 
(3) complement the other conservation and as-
sistance activities conducted under this title; 
(4) provide technical assistance, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, for research on coral 
reefs and coral reef ecosystems to— 
(A) entities eligible to receive a grant 
under section 204 of the Coral Reef Conserva-
tion Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403); and 
(B) territories of the United States; and 
(5) carry out other scientific and conservation 
activities that advance the purposes of this title, as 
considered appropriate by the Secretary. 
SEC. 204. USE OF RECOVERED AMOUNTS. 
All amounts available to the Secretary of the Interior 
that are attributable to fines, penalties, and forfeitures of 
property (or proceeds from the sale of such forfeited prop-
erty) imposed for violations of any natural resource law 
enforced by the Secretary of the Interior, including the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
and the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 
et seq.), and regulations implementing such law, for dam-
ages to corals, coral reefs, or coral reef ecosystems, shall 
be used by the Secretary of the Interior— 
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