I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4788 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2006 
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. 
CASE, Ms. BORDALLO, and Mr. FORTUN˜O) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
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 ‘‘Coral Reef Conserva-
tion Amendments Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PROJECT DIVERSITY.—Section 204(d) of the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403(d)) 
is amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘GEOGRAPHIC
AND BIOLOGI-
CAL’’ in the heading and inserting ‘‘PROJECT’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) Remaining funds shall be awarded for— 
‘‘(A) projects (with priority given to com-
munity-based local action strategies) that ad-
dress emerging priorities or threats, including 
international 
and 
territorial 
priorities, 
or 
threats identified by the Administrator in con-
sultation with the Coral Reef Task Force; and 
‘‘(B) other appropriate projects, as deter-
mined by the Administrator, including moni-
toring and assessment, research, pollution re-
duction, education, and technical support.’’. 
(b) APPROVAL CRITERIA.—Section 204(g) of that 
Act (16 U.S.C. 6403(g)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon in 
paragraph (9); 
(2) by striking paragraph (10); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(10) promoting activities designed to minimize 
the likelihood of vessel impacts on coral reefs, par-
ticularly those activities described in section 210(b), 
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including the promotion of ecologically sound naviga-
tion and anchorages near coral reefs; or 
‘‘(11) promoting and assisting entities to work 
with local communities, and all appropriate govern-
mental and nongovernmental organizations, to sup-
port community-based planning and management 
initiatives for the protection of coral reef systems.’’. 
SEC. 3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 
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 ACTIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may under-
take or authorize action necessary to prevent or minimize 
the destruction or loss of, or injury to, coral reefs or coral 
reef ecosystems from vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, 
vessel anchors and anchor chains, or damage from unfore-
seen or disaster-related circumstances. 
‘‘(b) ACTIONS AUTHORIZED.—Action authorized by 
subsection (a) includes vessel removal and emergency re-
stabilization of the vessel and any impacted coral reef. 
‘‘(c) PARTNERING WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES.—When possible, action by the Administrator under 
this section should— 
‘‘(1) be conducted in partnership with other 
Federal agencies, including the United States Coast 
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Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the De-
partment of the Interior; and 
‘‘(2) leverage resources of other agencies.’’. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL PROGRAM. 
Section 207(b) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act 
of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6406) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon in 
paragraph (3); 
(2) by striking ‘‘partners.’’ in paragraph (4) 
and inserting ‘‘partners; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) activities designed to minimize the likeli-
hood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to 
coral reefs, including those activities identified in 
section 210(b).’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208 of the Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 208. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘Not later than March 1, 2007, and every 3 years 
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
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Representatives a report describing all activities under-
taken to implement the strategy, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of the funds obligated by 
each participating Federal agency to advance coral 
reef conservation during each of the 3 fiscal years 
next preceding the fiscal year in which the report is 
submitted; 
‘‘(2) a description of Federal interagency and 
cooperative efforts with States and United States 
territories to prevent or address overharvesting, 
coastal runoff, or other anthropogenic impacts on 
coral reefs, including projects undertaken with the 
Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, 
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers; 
‘‘(3) a summary of the information contained in 
the vessel grounding inventory established under sec-
tion 210, including additional authorization or fund-
ing, needed for response and removal of such vessels; 
‘‘(4) a description of Federal disaster response 
actions taken pursuant to the National Response 
Plan to address damage to coral reefs and coral reef 
ecosystems; and 
‘‘(5) an assessment of the condition of United 
States coral reefs, accomplishments under this Act, 
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