I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4160 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and to establish 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 2, 2019 
Mr. SOTO (for himself, Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico, Mr. CRIST, 
Mr. MAST, Mrs. MURPHY, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, and Ms. GABBARD) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
and to establish the United States Coral Reef Task 
Force, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 
ACT OF 2000 
Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 
TITLE II—UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE 
Sec. 201. Establishment. 
Sec. 202. Duties. 
Sec. 203. Membership. 
Sec. 204. Responsibilities of Federal agency members. 
Sec. 205. Working groups. 
Sec. 206. Definitions. 
TITLE III—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF 
AUTHORITIES 
Sec. 301. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance. 
TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF 
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 
ACT OF 2000 
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVA-
TION ACT OF 2000. 
The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 202 through 
210 and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 202. PURPOSES. 
‘‘The purposes of this title are— 
‘‘(1) to preserve, sustain, and restore the condi-
tion of United States coral reef ecosystems chal-
lenged by natural and human-accelerated changes, 
including increasing ocean temperatures, ocean 
acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and 
invasive species; 
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‘‘(2) to promote the science-based management 
and sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to ben-
efit local communities and the Nation, including 
through 
improved 
integration 
and 
cooperation 
among Federal, State, and locally managed jurisdic-
tions with coral reef equities; 
‘‘(3) to develop sound scientific information on 
the condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing 
and emerging threats to such ecosystems, and the 
efficacy of innovative tools, technologies, and strate-
gies to restore such ecosystems; 
‘‘(4) to assist in the preservation of coral reefs 
by supporting consensus-driven State and commu-
nity-based coral reef management, including con-
servation and restoration projects that empower 
local communities, small businesses, and nongovern-
mental organizations; 
‘‘(5) to provide financial resources, technical as-
sistance, and scientific expertise to supplement and 
strengthen State and community-based management 
programs and conservation and restoration projects; 
‘‘(6) to establish a formal mechanism for col-
lecting and allocating monetary donations from the 
private sector to be used for coral reef conservation 
and restoration projects; 
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‘‘(7) to support the rapid and effective, science- 
based response to emergencies that imminently 
threaten coral reefs, such as coral disease outbreaks, 
invasive species, coral bleaching, natural disasters, 
vessel groundings or chemical spills, and other exi-
gent circumstances; and 
‘‘(8) to serve as a model for advancing similar 
international efforts to preserve, sustain, and restore 
coral reef ecosystems in the jurisdictions of United 
States allies and trading partners. 
‘‘SEC. 203. NATIONAL CORAL REEF RESILIENCE STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act 
of 2019, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees and publish in the Federal Reg-
ister a national coral reef resilience strategy. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required by para-
graph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(1) a statement of goals and objectives and an 
implementation plan for supporting— 
‘‘(A) the coral reef conservation program 
under section 221; and 
‘‘(B) future Federal coral reef manage-
ment and restoration activities under section 
205; 
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‘‘(2) national maps of— 
‘‘(A) the current range and extent of coral 
reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(B) the historic range and extent of coral 
reef ecosystems; and 
‘‘(C) prime habitat for restoring reef eco-
system structure and functions to benefit coast-
al communities and living marine resources; 
and 
‘‘(3) a discussion of— 
‘‘(A) continuing and emerging threats to 
the resilience of United States coral reef eco-
systems; 
‘‘(B) national and regional gaps in coral 
reef ecosystem research, monitoring, and as-
sessments; 
‘‘(C) the status of efforts to improve man-
agement, integration, and cooperation among 
Federal, State, Tribal, and locally managed ju-
risdictions with coral reef equities; and 
‘‘(D) efforts to manage and disseminate 
critical information, such as publicly accessible 
research, reports, datasets, and maps, including 
through interjurisdictional data sharing. 
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‘‘(c) REVISIONS.—The Administrator shall periodi-
cally, but not less frequently than every 20 years, review 
and revise the strategy required by subsection (a) as ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the strategy 
required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult 
with the Secretary of the Interior and the Task Force. 
‘‘(e) USE OF EXISTING PLAN.—At the discretion of 
the Administrator, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s 2018 Coral Reef Conservation Program 
Strategic Plan may be considered to fulfill the require-
ments of this section until January 1, 2040. 
‘‘SEC. 204. FEDERAL CORAL REEF ACTION PLANS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2021, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of coral 
reef action plans for each individual management unit of 
a Federal agency specified in section 205(c) with jurisdic-
tion over coral reef ecosystems and established for at least 
5 years— 
‘‘(1) developed and submitted to the Adminis-
trator by the Secretary of the Interior and the As-
sistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service, 
as applicable; and 
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‘‘(2) that meet the requirements of subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL CORAL REEF 
ACTION PLANS.—A coral reef action plan of a manage-
ment unit described in subsection (a) meets the require-
ments of this subsection if the plan includes— 
‘‘(1) a statement of goals and objectives to be 
accomplished during the 5-year period following de-
velopment of the plan and consistent with the na-
tional coral reef resilience strategy in effect as devel-
oped in accordance with section 203; and 
‘‘(2) a discussion of— 
‘‘(A) a review of such unit’s efforts and 
success in managing and restoring coral reef 
ecosystems under the previous coral reef action 
plan in effect as developed under this section, 
if applicable, and how such review informs the 
newly effective action plan; 
‘‘(B) short- and mid-term coral reef con-
servation and restoration objectives for such 
unit’s coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(C) an assessment of whether such unit 
has experienced more than a 10 percent loss of 
living coral cover during the 10-year period pre-
ceding the date of the plan or retains less than 
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50 percent of its historic living coral cover as 
of that date; 
‘‘(D) an updated adaptive management 
framework to inform research, monitoring, and 
assessment needs; 
‘‘(E) any coral reef emergency plans cer-
tified under section 216 for coral reef eco-
systems within such unit, and a review of any 
circumstance that led to the activation of such 
plans within such unit, including an evaluation 
of the emergency responses; 
‘‘(F) tools and strategies to address pollu-
tion and water quality impacts to coral reef eco-
systems arising wholly from within the adminis-
trative boundaries of such unit; 
‘‘(G) the status of efforts to improve coral 
reef ecosystem management integration and co-
operation among neighboring Federal, State, 
Tribal, or locally managed jurisdictions, includ-
ing identification of existing research and moni-
toring activities that can be leveraged for coral 
reef status and trends assessments within such 
unit; 
‘‘(H) a list of all coral reefs or ecologically 
significant units of coral reefs identified by 
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coral reef stewardship partnerships certified 
under section 210(e) or subject to stewardship 
activities governed by coral reef stewardship 
plans certified under section 212 during the 
preceding 5-year period within such unit; 
‘‘(I) coral reef-related public outreach and 
education efforts; 
‘‘(J) an accounting of annual unit expendi-
tures on coral reef management and restoration 
during the 5-year period preceding the date of 
the plan; and 
‘‘(K) estimated budgetary and other re-
source considerations necessary to carry out 
such plan. 
‘‘(c) ADOPTION OF STEWARDSHIP AND EMERGENCY 
PLANS.—In developing a coral reef action plan under this 
section, a management unit described in subsection (a) 
may adopt any coral reef stewardship plans certified under 
section 212 and coral reef emergency plans certified under 
section 216 governing stewardship or emergency response 
activities within the administrative boundaries of such 
unit. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the action 
plans required by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Inte-
rior or the Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean 
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Service may consult with the Administrator and the Task 
Force. 
‘‘SEC. 205. FEDERAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT AND RES-
TORATION ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may conduct ac-
tivities described in subsection (b) to conserve and restore 
coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems that are consistent 
with— 
‘‘(1) all applicable laws governing resource 
management in Federal and State waters, including 
this title; 
‘‘(2) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
in effect as developed under section 203; and 
‘‘(3) Federal coral reef action plans in effect 
and developed under section 204. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—Activities described 
in this subsection are activities to conserve and restore 
coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed 
under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in sub-
section (c), including— 
‘‘(1) enhancing compliance with Federal laws 
that prohibit or regulate— 
‘‘(A) the taking of coral products or spe-
cies associated with coral reefs; or 
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‘‘(B) the use and management of coral reef 
ecosystems; 
‘‘(2) mapping of— 
‘‘(A) the current range and extent of coral 
reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(B) the historical range and extent of 
coral reef ecosystems; and 
‘‘(C) prime habitat for restoring reef eco-
system structure and functions to benefit coast-
al communities and living marine resources; 
‘‘(3) long-term ecological monitoring of coral 
reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(4) 
implementing 
species-specific 
recovery 
plans for listed coral species consistent with the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.); 
‘‘(5) restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(6) promoting ecologically sound navigation 
and anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to 
promote enhanced recreational access, near coral 
reefs; and 
‘‘(7) monitoring and responding to severe 
bleaching or mortality events, disease outbreaks, 
invasive species outbreaks, and significant maritime 
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accidents, including chemical spill cleanup and the 
removal of grounded vessels. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL AGENCIES SPECIFIED.—A Federal 
agency specified in this subsection is one of the following: 
‘‘(1) The National Ocean Service of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(2) The National Park Service. 
‘‘(3) The United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
‘‘(4) The Office of Insular Affairs of the De-
partment of the Interior. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
THE INTERIOR.—The Secretary shall coordinate with the 
Secretary of the Interior regarding the conduct of any ac-
tivities to conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef 
ecosystems in waters managed under the jurisdiction of 
a Federal agency specified in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) 
of subsections (c). 
‘‘(e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—At the discretion of the 
Secretary, the Administrator may enter into cooper-
ative agreements with States to fund coral reef con-
servation and restoration activities in waters man-
aged under the jurisdiction of such States that are 
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consistent with the national coral reef resilience 
strategy in effect as developed under section 203. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Administrator may not 
provide more than $500,000 in total funding under 
paragraph (1) to one State in a fiscal year. 
‘‘SEC. 206. STATE CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT AND RES-
TORATION STRATEGIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2022, and every 20 years thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of State 
coral reef management and restoration strategies— 
‘‘(1) developed and voluntarily submitted to the 
Administrator by covered States; and 
‘‘(2) that meet the requirements of subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE STRATEGIES.—A 
coral reef management and restoration strategy of a cov-
ered State meets the requirements of this subsection if the 
strategy includes— 
‘‘(1) a statement of goals and objectives to be 
accomplished during the 20-year period following the 
development of the strategy; and 
‘‘(2) a discussion of— 
‘‘(A) updated State mapping of— 
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‘‘(i) the current range and extent of 
coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(ii) the historical range and extent of 
coral reef ecosystems; and 
‘‘(iii) prime habitat for restoring reef 
ecosystem functions to benefit coastal com-
munities and living marine resources; 
‘‘(B) continuing and emerging threats to 
the resilience of coral reef ecosystems within 
such State; 
‘‘(C) statewide gaps in research, moni-
toring, and assessment; 
‘‘(D) long-term State conservation and res-
toration goals, including the status of efforts to 
improve management integration and coopera-
tion among Federal, State, Tribal, and locally 
managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities; 
‘‘(E) the role of coral reef stewardship 
partnerships certified under section 210(e) 
within such State, and the role of such partner-
ships in the coral reef management and restora-
tion strategy of such State; and 
‘‘(F) efforts to manage and disseminate 
critical information such as publicly accessible 
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research, reports, datasets, and maps, including 
through interjurisdictional data sharing. 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon request by a 
covered State, the Administrator shall make reasonable ef-
forts to provide technical assistance in the development 
of the coral reef management and restoration strategy of 
such State under this subsection. 
‘‘SEC. 207. STATE CORAL REEF ACTION PLANS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2023, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and publish in the Federal Register a compilation of State 
coral reef action plans— 
‘‘(1) developed and voluntarily submitted to the 
Administrator by covered States; and 
‘‘(2) that meet the requirements of subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE PLANS.—A State 
coral reef action plan meets the requirements of this sub-
section if the plan includes— 
‘‘(1) a statement of goals and objectives to be 
accomplished during the 5-year period following de-
velopment of the plan and consistent with such cov-
ered State’s coral reef management and restoration 
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strategy in effect as developed in accordance with 
section 206, if any; and 
‘‘(2) a discussion of— 
‘‘(A) a review of the most recent State 
coral reef action plan assessment developed 
under section 208, as applicable, and how such 
assessment informs the newly submitted action 
plan; 
‘‘(B) short- and mid-term State coral reef 
conservation and restoration objectives; 
‘‘(C) an assessment of whether such State 
has experienced more than a 10 percent loss of 
living coral cover during the 10-year period pre-
ceding the date of the plan or retains less than 
50 percent of its historical living coral cover as 
of that date; 
‘‘(D) an updated adaptive management 
framework to inform research, monitoring, and 
assessment needs; 
‘‘(E) any coral reef emergency plans cer-
tified under section 216 in effect for coral reef 
ecosystems within such State, and a review of 
any circumstance that led to the activation of 
such plans within such State, including an eval-
uation of the emergency responses; 
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‘‘(F) tools and strategies to address pollu-
tion and water quality impacts to coral reef eco-
systems within such State; 
‘‘(G) the status of efforts to improve coral 
reef ecosystem management integration and co-
operation among Federal, State, Tribal, or lo-
cally managed jurisdictions, including identifica-
tion of existing research and monitoring activi-
ties that can be leveraged for coral reef status 
and trends assessments within such State; 
‘‘(H) a list of all coral reefs or ecologically 
significant units of coral reefs identified by 
coral reef stewardship partnerships certified 
under section 210(e) or subject to stewardship 
activities governed by coral reef stewardship 
plans certified under section 212 during the 
preceding 5-year period within such State; 
‘‘(I) coral reef-related public outreach and 
education efforts; 
‘‘(J) an accounting of such State’s annual 
expenditures on coral reef management and res-
toration during the 5-year period preceding the 
date of the plan; and 
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‘‘(K) estimated budgetary and other re-
source considerations necessary to carry out 
such plan. 
‘‘(c) ADOPTION OF STEWARDSHIP AND EMERGENCY 
PLANS.—In developing a coral reef action plan under this 
section, a covered State may adopt any coral reef steward-
ship plans certified under section 212 and coral reef emer-
gency plans certified under section 216 governing steward-
ship or emergency response activities within the adminis-
trative boundaries of the State. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon request by a 
covered State, the Administrator shall make reasonable ef-
forts to provide technical assistance in the development 
of the State’s coral reef action plan under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 208. STATE CORAL REEF ACTION PLAN ASSESS-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 
2027, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and publish in the Federal Register an assessment, for 
each covered State with an action plan developed under 
section 207 and in effect, of— 
‘‘(1) the capacity of such covered State to man-
age coral reef ecosystems in the State; 
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‘‘(2) a review of such covered State’s efforts 
and success in managing and restoring coral reef 
ecosystems under the previous coral reef action plan 
developed under section 207 and in effect, as appli-
cable; and 
‘‘(3) a review of any circumstance that led to 
the activation of a coral reef emergency plan cer-
tified under section 216 and in effect within such 
covered State, including an evaluation of the emer-
gency responses. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATIONS.—In conducting an assessment 
under subsection (a) with respect to a covered State, the 
Administrator may consult with the covered State, the 
Task Force, coral reef stewardship partnerships certified 
under section 210(e) operating within the covered State, 
and impacted Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. 
‘‘(c) USE IN DEVELOPMENT OF STATE CORAL REEF 
ACTION PLANS.—It is the sense of Congress that the Ad-
ministrator should conduct assessments under subsection 
(a) with the goal of informing and supporting the develop-
ment of subsequent State coral reef action plans developed 
under section 207. 
‘‘SEC. 209. STATE BLOCK GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall provide 
block grants of financial assistance to covered States in 
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response to annual proposals for funds to support State 
activities that would further the implementation of State 
coral reef management and restoration strategies devel-
oped under section 206, State coral reef action plans de-
veloped under section 207, and coral reef stewardship 
plans certified under section 212. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A covered State is eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this subsection if the State has in ef-
fect— 
‘‘(1) a State coral reef management and res-
toration strategy in effect published by the Adminis-
trator in the Federal Register under section 206 and 
a State coral reef action plan in effect published by 
the Administrator in the Federal Register under sec-
tion 207; or 
‘‘(2) at least one coral reef stewardship plan 
certified under section 212 in effect within its ad-
ministrative boundaries. 
‘‘(c) FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2) or subsection (d), the amount of Federal 
funds provided to a covered State as a block grant 
under this section may not exceed the total amount 
of the annual expenditures of the State on the im-
plementation of its State coral reef management and 
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restoration strategy under section 206, its State 
coral reef action plan under section 207, and its re-
sponsibilities to coral reef stewardship plans certified 
under section 212. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSIONS.—Any Federal funds pro-
vided to a natural resource management authority of 
a State or other State government authority under 
this section or section 205, 213, 218, 219, or 221 
shall not be considered State expenditures for the 
purposes of calculating the limitation under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—Notwithstanding para-
graph (1), in determining the amount of Federal 
funds a covered State receives as a block grant 
under this section, the Administrator may consider 
the following factors: 
‘‘(A) The quality of such State’s funding 
proposal under subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) The findings from such State’s most 
recent action plan assessment under section 
208, if applicable. 
‘‘(C) Estimates of direct and indirect eco-
nomic activity supported by coral reef eco-
systems within such State. 
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‘‘(d) WAIVERS OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Administrator may waive the eligibility requirements 
under subsection (b), in full or in part, through fiscal year 
2023. 
‘‘SEC. 210. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS.— 
The Administrator shall establish standards for the forma-
tion of partnerships among government and community 
members for the stewardship of coral reefs (in this title 
referred to as ‘coral reef stewardship partnerships’) in ac-
cordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION OF REEFS.—Each coral reef 
stewardship partnership shall identify with particularity 
the coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef 
that will be the subject of its stewardship activities. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP FOR FEDERAL REEFS.—A coral 
reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the 
subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or eco-
logically significant unit of a coral reef that is fully or par-
tially under the management jurisdiction of any Federal 
agency specified in section 205(c), shall, at a minimum, 
include the following: 
‘‘(1) That Federal agency, a representative of 
which shall serve as chair of the coral reef steward-
ship partnership. 
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‘‘(2) A State, county, or Tribal organization’s 
resource management agency. 
‘‘(3) A coral reef research center described in 
section 223(c)(2) or other institution of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(4) A nongovernmental organization. 
‘‘(5) Other members as appropriate, such as in-
terested stakeholder groups. 
‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP FOR NON-FEDERAL REEFS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A coral reef stewardship 
partnership that has identified, as the subject of its 
stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically sig-
nificant unit of a coral reef that is not under the 
management jurisdiction of any Federal agency 
specified in section 205(c) shall, at a minimum, in-
clude the following: 
‘‘(A) A State, county, or Tribal organiza-
tion’s resource management agency, a rep-
resentative of which shall serve as the chair of 
the coral reef stewardship partnership. 
‘‘(B) A coral reef research center described 
in section 223(c)(2) or another institution of 
higher education. 
‘‘(C) A nongovernmental organization. 
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