I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 56 
To provide for restoration of the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico affected 
by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2011 
Mr. SCALISE (for himself, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. LANDRY, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. 
ALEXANDER, and Mr. RICHMOND) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To provide for restoration of the coastal areas of the Gulf 
of Mexico affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 
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 ‘‘Gulf Coast Restoration 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) CHAIR.—The term ‘‘Chair’’ means the 
Chair of the Task Force appointed under subsection 
(d)(3). 
(2) STATE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION 
PLAN.—The term ‘‘State Coastal Ecosystem Res-
toration Plan’’ means a plan submitted under sub-
section (c) by a qualifying State to the Task Force. 
(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund established by 
subsection (b)(2)(A). 
(4) 
GOVERNORS.—The 
term 
‘‘Governors’’ 
means the Governors of each of the States of Ala-
bama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. 
(5) GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Gulf 
Coast ecosystem’’ means the coastal zones, as deter-
mined pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), of the States 
of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
Texas and adjacent State waters and areas of the 
outer Continental Shelf, adversely impacted by the 
blowout and explosion of the mobile offshore drilling 
unit Deepwater Horizon that occurred on April 20, 
2010, and resulting hydrocarbon releases into the 
environment. 
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(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) QUALIFYING STATE.—The term ‘‘qualifying 
State’’ means each of the States of Alabama, Flor-
ida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. 
(8) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘‘Task Force’’ 
means the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task 
Force established by subsection (d). 
(b) GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this sec-
tion, the Chair shall review and approve or dis-
approve State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans 
submitted by the Governors that provide for restora-
tion activities with respect to the Gulf Coast eco-
system. 
(2) GULF
COAST
ECOSYSTEM
RESTORATION 
FUND.— 
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is estab-
lished in the Treasury of the United States a 
fund to be known as the ‘‘Gulf Coast Eco-
system Restoration Fund’’. 
(B) 
TRANSFERS
TO
FUND.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall deposit into the 
Fund amounts equal to not less than 80 per-
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cent of any amounts collected by the United 
States as penalties, settlements, or fines under 
sections 309 and 311 of the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319, 1321) in 
relation to the blowout and explosion of the mo-
bile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon 
that occurred on April 20, 2010, and resulting 
hydrocarbon releases into the environment. 
(C) AUTHORIZED USES.—The Fund shall 
be available to the Chair for the conservation, 
protection, and restoration of the Gulf Coast 
ecosystem in accordance with State Coastal 
Ecosystem Restoration Plans submitted by the 
Governors and approved by the Chair under 
this section. 
(3) DISBURSEMENT.—The Chair shall disburse 
to each qualifying State for which the Chair has ap-
proved a State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plan 
under this section such funds as are allocated to the 
qualifying State under this section. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS BY QUALIFYING STATE.—A 
qualifying State shall use all amounts received under 
this section, including any amount deposited in a 
trust fund that is administered by the State and 
dedicated to uses consistent with this section, in ac-
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cordance with all applicable Federal and State law, 
only for 1 or more of the following purposes: 
(A) Projects and activities for the con-
servation, protection, or restoration of coastal 
areas, including wetlands. 
(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, 
or natural resources. 
(C) Planning assistance and the adminis-
trative costs of complying with this section. 
(D) Implementation of a federally ap-
proved marine, coastal, or comprehensive con-
servation management plan. 
(c) STATE
COASTAL
ECOSYSTEM
RESTORATION 
PLAN.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF STATE PLANS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 
1, 2011, the Governor of a qualifying State 
shall submit to the Chair a State Coastal Eco-
system Restoration Plan. 
(B) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In carrying 
out subparagraph (A), the Governor shall solicit 
local input and provide for public participation 
in the development of the plan. 
(2) APPROVAL.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Chair must ap-
prove a plan of a qualifying State submitted 
under paragraph (1) before disbursing any 
amount to the qualifying State under this sec-
tion. 
(B) REQUIRED COMPONENTS.—The Chair 
shall approve a plan submitted by a qualifying 
State under paragraph (1) if— 
(i) the Chair determines that the plan 
is consistent with the uses described in 
subsection (b); and 
(ii) the plan contains— 
(I) the name of the State agency 
that will have the authority to rep-
resent and act on behalf of the State 
in dealing with the Secretary for pur-
poses of this section; 
(II) a program for the implemen-
tation of the plan that describes how 
the amounts provided under this sec-
tion to the qualifying State will be 
used; and 
(III) a certification by the Gov-
ernor that ample opportunity has been 
provided for public participation in 
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the development and revision of the 
plan. 
(3) AMENDMENTS.—Any amendment to a plan 
submitted under paragraph (1) shall be— 
(A) developed in accordance with this sub-
section; and 
(B) submitted to the Chair for approval or 
disapproval under paragraph (4). 
(4) PROCEDURE.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date on which a plan or amendment to a plan 
is submitted under paragraph (1) or (3), respec-
tively, the Chair shall approve or disapprove the plan 
or amendment. 
(d) GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK 
FORCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall con-
sist of the following members, or in the case of a 
Federal agency, a designee at the level of Assistant 
Secretary or the equivalent: 
(A) The Secretary. 
(B) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(C) The Secretary of the Army. 
(D) The Attorney General. 
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(E) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(F) The Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(G) The Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
(H) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(I) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(J) A representative of each affected In-
dian tribe, appointed by the Secretary based on 
the recommendations of the tribal chairman. 
(K) Two representatives of each of the 
States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, and Texas, appointed by the Governor 
of each State, respectively. 
(L) Two representatives of local govern-
ment within each of the States of Alabama, 
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, ap-
pointed by the Governor of each State, respec-
tively. 
(3) CHAIR.—The Chair of the Task Force shall 
be appointed by the President from among the mem-
bers under paragraph (2) who are Federal officials. 
(4) DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE.—The Task 
Force shall— 
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(A) consult with, and provide recommenda-
tions to, the Chair regarding the approval of 
State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans; 
(B) coordinate scientific and other re-
search associated with restoration of the Gulf 
Coast ecosystem; and 
(C) submit an annual report to Congress 
that summarizes the State Coastal Ecosystem 
Restoration Plans submitted by the Governors 
and approved by the Chair. 
(5) APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE ACT.—The Task Force shall not be con-
sidered an advisory committee under the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
Æ 
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