3508 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) additional authorizations and appropria-
tions necessary to implement such recommenda-
tions. 
SEC. 9604. PROMOTING PEACE, EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL 
EXCHANGE THROUGH MUSIC DIPLOMACY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) music is an important conveyer of culture and 
can be used to communicate values and build under-
standing between communities; 
(2) musical artists play a valuable role in cross-cul-
tural exchange, and their works and performances can 
promote peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts; 
(3) the music industry in the United States has 
made important contributions to American society and 
culture, and musicians and industry professionals in the 
United States can offer valuable expertise to young mu-
sical artists around the world; and 
(4) the United States Government should promote 
exchange programs, especially programs that leverage 
the expertise and resources of the private sector, that 
give young musical artists from around the world the 
chance— 
(A) to improve their skills; 
(B) share ideas;
3509 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) learn about American culture; and 
(D) develop the necessary skills to support con-
flict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in their 
communities and broader societies. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF MUSIC-RELATED EXCHANGE 
PROGRAMS.—The Mutual Educational and Cultural Ex-
change Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.; commonly 
known as the Fulbright-Hays Act) is amended— 
(1) in section 102(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2452(a)(2))— 
(A) in clause (iii), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(B) in clause (iv)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, including in coordina-
tion and consultation with the private sector,’’ 
before ‘‘similar’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(2) in section 112(a) (22 U.S.C. 2460(a))— 
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) exchange programs, including in coordination 
and consultation with the private sector, focused on
3510 
•HRES 1512 EH 
music and the performing arts that provide opportunities 
for foreign nationals and Americans to build cross-cul-
tural understanding and advance peace abroad.’’. 
(c) PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary should continue— 
(A) to partner with the private sector in sup-
port of music-related exchange programs imple-
mented by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs (referred to in this section as the ‘‘ECA’’); 
(B) to leverage private sector expertise in de-
veloping and implementing such programs; and 
(C) to expand networking and mentorship op-
portunities for program participants. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN PARTNERSHIPS.— 
The Secretary is authorized to partner with the private 
sector to recognize musicians— 
(A) whose works or performances have ad-
vanced peace abroad; and 
(B) who could contribute to networking and 
mentorship opportunities for participants of music- 
related exchange programs implemented by ECA. 
(d) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit a strategy to the appropriate congressional com-
3511 
•HRES 1512 EH 
mittees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives for advancing United States foreign pol-
icy goals, including conflict resolution and peacebuilding 
efforts, through music-related exchange programs imple-
mented by ECA. Such strategy shall include— 
(A) a description of clearly defined annual 
goals, targets, and planned outcomes for each 
music-related exchange program; 
(B) a plan to monitor and evaluate each music- 
related exchange program and progress made to-
ward achieving such goals, targets, and planned 
outcomes, including measurable benchmarks; 
(C) a plan to ensure that music-related ex-
change programs are promoting United States for-
eign policy objectives, including ensuring such pro-
grams are clearly branded and paired with robust 
public diplomacy efforts; 
(D) a plan to pursue partnerships with the pri-
vate sector while implementing music-related ex-
change programs, including leveraging industry ex-
pertise and expanding networking and mentorship 
opportunities for program participants; 
(E) examples of how ECA’s music-related ex-
change programs have contributed to conflict reso-
3512 
•HRES 1512 EH 
lution and peacebuilding efforts to date, including 
through participant and alumni actions; 
(F) a description of lessons learned regarding 
how to better encourage conflict resolution and 
peacebuilding efforts through ECA’s music-related 
exchange programs; and 
(G) a plan to incorporate such lessons learned 
into relevant current and future programming. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the strategy re-
quired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult 
with the appropriate congressional committees and rel-
evant private sector partners. 
TITLE XCVII—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 9701. SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES 
CITIZENS BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the Department should continue to eliminate 
the unreasonable barriers United States nationals face to 
obtain employment in the United Nations Secretariat, 
funds, programs, and agencies; and 
(2) the Department should bolster efforts to in-
crease the number of qualified United States nationals 
who are candidates for leadership and oversight positions
3513 
•HRES 1512 EH 
in the United Nations system, agencies, and commis-
sions, and in other international organizations. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to pro-
mote the employment and advancement of United States citi-
zens by international organizations and bodies, including 
by— 
(1) providing stipends, consultation, and analytical 
services to support United States citizen applicants; and 
(2) making grants for the purposes described in 
paragraph (1). 
(c) USING DIPLOMATIC PROGRAMS FUNDING TO PRO-
MOTE THE EMPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS BY 
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS.—Amounts appropriated 
under the heading ‘‘DIPLOMATIC PROGRAMS’’ in Acts making 
appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Oper-
ations, and Related Programs are authorized to be appro-
priated for grants, programs, and activities described in sub-
section (b). 
(d) STRATEGY TO ESTABLISH JUNIOR PROFESSIONAL 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and 
other relevant cabinet members, shall publish a strategy 
for encouraging United States citizens to pursue careers
3514 
•HRES 1512 EH 
with international organizations, particularly organiza-
tions that— 
(A) set international scientific, technical, or 
commercial standards; or 
(B) are involved in international finance and 
development. 
(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
Treasury and other relevant cabinet members, shall sub-
mit a report to the appropriate congressional committees 
that identifies— 
(A) the number of United States citizens who 
are involved in relevant junior professional pro-
grams in an international organization; 
(B) the distribution of individuals described in 
subparagraph (A) among various international or-
ganizations; and 
(C) the types of pre-deployment training that 
are available to United States citizens through a 
junior professional program at an international or-
ganization.
3515 
•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9702. INCREASING HOUSING AVAILABILITY FOR CERTAIN 
EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THE UNITED STATES 
MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS. 
Section 9(2) of the United Nations Participation Act of 
1945 (22 U.S.C. 287e–1(2)), is amended by striking ‘‘30’’ 
and inserting ‘‘41’’. 
SEC. 9703. LIMITATION ON UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED 
BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. 
The United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (22 
U.S.C. 287 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 12. LIMITATION ON UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED 
BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. 
‘‘None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or 
otherwise made available to pay assessed and other expenses 
of international peacekeeping activities under this Act may be 
made available for an international peacekeeping operation 
that has not been expressly authorized by the United Nations 
Security Council.’’.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9704. BOARDS OF RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, 
RADIO FREE ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST BROAD-
CASTING 
NETWORKS, 
AND 
THE 
OPEN 
TECH-
NOLOGY FUND. 
The United States International Broadcasting Act of 
1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 306 (22 U.S.C. 6205) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 307. GRANTEE CORPORATE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The corporate board of directors of 
each grantee under this title— 
‘‘(1) shall be bipartisan; 
‘‘(2) shall, except as otherwise provided in this Act, 
have the sole responsibility to operate their respective 
grantees within the jurisdiction of their respective States 
of incorporation; 
‘‘(3) shall be composed of not fewer than 5 mem-
bers, who shall be qualified individuals who are not em-
ployed in the public sector; and 
‘‘(4) shall appoint successors in the event of vacan-
cies on their respective boards, in accordance with appli-
cable bylaws. 
‘‘(b) NOT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—No employee of any 
grantee under this title may be a Federal employee.’’.
3517 
•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9705. BROADCASTING ENTITIES NO LONGER REQUIRED TO 
CONSOLIDATE INTO A SINGLE PRIVATE, NON-
PROFIT CORPORATION. 
Section 310 of the United States International Broad-
casting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6209) is amended. to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 310. INCORPORATION AND NON-FEDERAL STATUS OF 
BROADCASTING ENTITIES. 
‘‘(a) DEFINED TERM.—In this chapter— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘grant’ includes agreements under 
section 6305 of title 31, United States Code; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘grantee’ includes recipients of an 
agreement described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) INCORPORATION.—The Chief Executive Officer is 
authorized to incorporate grantees in accordance with the 
regular notification procedures of— 
‘‘(1) the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen-
ate; 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate; 
‘‘(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
‘‘(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL STATUS.—Nothing in this chapter or in 
any other Act, and no action taken pursuant to this chapter
3518 
•HRES 1512 EH 
or any other Act, may be construed to make a grantee incor-
porated pursuant to subsection (b), or any other grantee or 
entity provided funding by the Agency, a Federal agency or 
instrumentality. 
‘‘(d) LEADERSHIP OF GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS.—The 
chief executive officer or the equivalent official of RFE/RL 
Inc., Radio Free Asia, the Open Technology Fund, and the 
Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and any other organiza-
tion that is established or authorized under this chapter, shall 
serve at the pleasure of, and may be named by, the Chief Ex-
ecutive Officer of the Agency, with the concurrence of the 
Grantee Board and subject to the approval of the Advisory 
Board pursuant to section 306.’’. 
SEC. 9706. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ACTIVITIES. 
Section 305(a) of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6204(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘direct and’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (20); 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (21), (22), and 
(23) as paragraphs (20), (21), and (22), respectively; 
and 
(4) in paragraph (22), as redesignated, by striking 
‘‘and to condition grants’’ and all that follows and in-
serting a period.
3519 
•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9707. GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States to promote internet freedom through programs 
of the Department and USAID that preserve and expand the 
internet as an open, global space for freedom of expression 
and association, which shall be prioritized for countries— 
(1) whose governments restrict freedom of expres-
sion on the internet; and 
(2) that are important to the national interest of 
the United States. 
(b) PURPOSE AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER PRO-
GRAMS.—Global internet freedom programming under this 
section— 
(1) shall be coordinated with other United States 
foreign assistance programs that promote democracy and 
support the efforts of civil society— 
(A) to counter the development of repressive 
internet-related laws and regulations, including 
countering threats to internet freedom at inter-
national organizations; 
(B) to combat violence against bloggers and 
other civil society activists who utilize the internet; 
and 
(C) to enhance digital security training and ca-
pacity building for democracy activists; 
(2) shall seek to assist efforts—
3520 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) to research key threats to internet free-
dom; 
(B) to continue the development of tech-
nologies that provide or enhance access to the inter-
net, including circumvention tools that bypass inter-
net blocking, filtering, and other censorship tech-
niques used by authoritarian governments; and 
(C) to maintain the technological advantage of 
the Federal Government over the censorship tech-
niques described in subparagraph (B); and 
(3) shall be incorporated into country assistance 
and democracy promotion strategies, as appropriate. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2023— 
(1) $75,000,000 to the Department and USAID, to 
continue efforts to promote internet freedom globally, 
and shall be matched, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, by sources other than the Federal Government, 
including the private sector; and 
(2) $49,000,000 to the United States Agency for 
Global Media (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘USAGM’’) and its grantees, for internet freedom and 
circumvention technologies that are designed—
3521 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) for open-source tools and techniques to se-
curely develop and distribute digital content pro-
duced by the USAGM and its grantees; 
(B) to facilitate audience access to such digital 
content on websites that are censored; 
(C) to coordinate the distribution of such dig-
ital content to targeted regional audiences; and 
(D) to promote and distribute such tools and 
techniques, including digital security techniques. 
(d) UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA AC-
TIVITIES.— 
(1) ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.—For any new tools or 
techniques authorized under subsection (c)(2), the Chief 
Executive Officer of the USAGM, in consultation with 
the President of the Open Technology Fund (referred to 
in this subsection as the ‘‘OTF’’) and relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, shall submit an annual cer-
tification to the appropriate congressional committees 
that verifies they— 
(A) have evaluated the risks and benefits of 
such new tools or techniques; and 
(B) have established safeguards to minimize 
the use of such new tools or techniques for illicit 
purposes.
3522 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) INFORMATION
SHARING.—The Secretary may 
not direct programs or policy of the USAGM or the 
OTF, but may share any research and development with 
relevant Federal departments and agencies for the exclu-
sive purposes of— 
(A) sharing information, technologies, and best 
practices; and 
(B) assessing the effectiveness of such tech-
nologies. 
(3) UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.— 
The Chief Executive Officer of the USAGM, in consulta-
tion with the President of the OTF, shall— 
(A) coordinate international broadcasting pro-
grams and incorporate such programs into country 
broadcasting strategies, as appropriate; 
(B) solicit project proposals through an open, 
transparent, and competitive application process, in-
cluding by seeking input from technical and subject 
matter experts; and 
(C) support internet circumvention tools and 
techniques for audiences in countries that are stra-
tegic priorities for the OTF, in accordance with 
USAGM’s annual language service prioritization re-
view.
3523 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(e) USAGM REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Of-
fice of the USAGM shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that describes— 
(1) as of the date of the report— 
(A) the full scope of internet freedom programs 
within the USAGM, including— 
(i) the efforts of the Office of Internet 
Freedom; and 
(ii) the efforts of the Open Technology 
Fund; 
(B) the capacity of internet censorship cir-
cumvention tools supported by the Office of Inter-
net Freedom and grantees of the Open Technology 
Fund that are available for use by individuals in 
foreign countries seeking to counteract censors; and 
(C) any barriers to the provision of the efforts 
described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
(A), including access to surge funding; and 
(2) successful examples from the Office of Internet 
Freedom and Open Technology Fund involving— 
(A) responding rapidly to internet shutdowns 
in closed societies; and
3524 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) ensuring uninterrupted circumvention serv-
ices for USAGM entities to promote internet free-
dom within repressive regimes. 
(f) JOINT REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator of USAID shall jointly submit a report, which 
may include a classified annex, to the appropriate congres-
sional committees that describes— 
(1) as of the date of the report— 
(A) the full scope of internet freedom programs 
within the Department and USAID, including— 
(i) Department circumvention efforts; and 
(ii) USAID efforts to support internet in-
frastructure; 
(B) the capacity of internet censorship cir-
cumvention tools supported by the Federal Govern-
ment that are available for use by individuals in for-
eign countries seeking to counteract censors; and 
(C) any barriers to provision of the efforts enu-
merated in clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection 
(e)(1)(A), including access to surge funding; and 
(2) any new resources needed to provide the Fed-
eral Government with greater capacity to provide and 
boost internet access—
3525 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) to respond rapidly to internet shutdowns in 
closed societies; and 
(B) to provide internet connectivity to foreign 
locations where the provision of additional internet 
access service would promote freedom from repres-
sive regimes. 
(g) SECURITY AUDITS.—Before providing any support 
for open source technologies under this section, such tech-
nologies must undergo comprehensive security audits to en-
sure that such technologies are secure and have not been 
compromised in a manner that is detrimental to the interest 
of the United States or to the interests of individuals and or-
ganizations benefitting from programs supported by such 
funding. 
(h) SURGE.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Subject 
to paragraph (2), there is authorized to be appropriated, 
in addition to amounts otherwise made available for such 
purposes, up to $2,500,000 to support internet freedom 
programs in closed societies, including programs that— 
(A) are carried out in crisis situations by vet-
ted entities that are already engaged in internet 
freedom programs; 
(B) involve circumvention tools; or
3526 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) increase the overseas bandwidth for compa-
nies that received Federal funding during the pre-
vious fiscal year. 
(2) CERTIFICATION.—Amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may not be ex-
pended until the Secretary has certified to the appro-
priate congressional committees, the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives that the 
use of such funds is in the national interest of the 
United States. 
(i) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘internet 
censorship circumvention tool’’ means a software application 
or other tool that an individual can use to evade foreign gov-
ernment restrictions on internet access. 
SEC. 9708. ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT ALIGNMENT WITH THE 
EXPORT CONTROL REFORM ACT. 
Section 38(e) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2778(e)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘subsections (c), (d), (e), and (g) of 
section 11 of the Export Administration Act of 1979, 
and by subsections (a) and (c) of section 12 of such 
Act’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (c) and (d) of section 
1760 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 
U.S.C. 4819), and by subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3),
3527 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(a)(4), (a)(7), (c), and (h) of section 1761 of such Act 
(50 U.S.C. 4820)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘11(c)(2)(B) of such Act’’ and in-
serting 
‘‘1760(c)(2) 
of 
such 
Act 
(50 
U.S.C. 
4819(c)(2))’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘11(c) of the Export Administration 
Act of 1979’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1760(c) of the Ex-
port Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4819(c))’’; 
and 
(4) by striking ‘‘$500,000’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
greater of $1,200,000 or the amount that is twice the 
value of the transaction that is the basis of the violation 
with respect to which the penalty is imposed.’’. 
SEC. 9709. INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL LEASE PAY-
MENT AVAILABLE WITHOUT APPROVAL BY THE 
SECRETARY. 
Section 10(a) of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 
1926 (22 U.S.C. 301(a)), is amended by striking ‘‘$50,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$100,000’’. 
SEC. 9710. REPORT ON UNITED STATES ACCESS TO CRITICAL 
MINERAL RESOURCES ABROAD. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appro-
priate congressional committees that details, with regard to 
the Department—
3528 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) diplomatic efforts to ensure United States ac-
cess to critical minerals acquired from outside of the 
United States that are used to manufacture clean energy 
technologies; and 
(2) collaboration with other parts of the Federal 
Government to build a robust supply chain for critical 
minerals necessary to manufacture clean energy tech-
nologies. 
SEC. 9711. OVERSEAS UNITED STATES STRATEGIC INFRASTRUC-
TURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT TO UNITED STATES NA-
TIONAL SECURITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BY THE 
PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC
OF
CHINA
IN
THE
DEVELOPING 
WORLD.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
committees, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Sen-
ate, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 
the House of Representatives regarding the One Belt, One 
Road Initiative, which is the global infrastructure develop-
ment strategy initiated by the Government of the People’s 
Republic of China in 2013. 
(b) REPORT ELEMENTS.—The report required under 
subsection (a) shall—
3529 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) describe the nature and cost of One Belt, One 
Road Initiative investments, operation, and construction 
of strategic infrastructure projects, including logistics, 
refining, and processing industries and resource facili-
ties, and critical and strategic mineral resource extrac-
tion projects, including an assessment of— 
(A) the strategic benefits of such investments 
that are derived by the People’s Republic of China 
and the host nation; and 
(B) the negative impacts of such investments 
to the host nation and to United States interests; 
(2) describe the nature and total funding of United 
States’ strategic infrastructure investments and con-
struction, such as projects financed through initiatives 
such as Prosper Africa and the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation; 
(3) assess the national security threats posed by the 
foreign infrastructure investment gap between the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China and the United States, including 
strategic infrastructure, such as ports, market access to, 
and the security of, critical and strategic minerals, dig-
ital and telecommunications infrastructure, threats to 
the supply chains, and general favorability towards the 
People’s Republic of China and the United States among 
the populations of host countries;
3530 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(4) assess the opportunities and challenges for com-
panies based in the United States and companies based 
in United States partner and allied countries to invest 
in foreign strategic infrastructure projects in countries 
where the People’s Republic of China has focused these 
types of investments; 
(5) identify challenges and opportunities for the 
United States Government and United States partners 
and allies to more directly finance and otherwise support 
foreign strategic infrastructure projects, including an as-
sessment of the authorities and capabilities of United 
States agencies, departments, public-private partner-
ships, and international or multilateral organizations to 
support such projects without undermining United 
States domestic industries, such as domestic mineral de-
posits; and 
(6) include recommendations for United States Gov-
ernment agencies to undertake or increase support for 
United States businesses to support foreign, large-scale, 
strategic infrastructure projects, such as roads, power 
grids, and ports. 
SEC. 9712. PROVISION OF PARKING SERVICES AND RETENTION 
OF PARKING FEES. 
The Secretary of State may—
3531 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) provide parking services, including electric vehi-
cle charging and other parking services, in facilities op-
erated by or for the Department; and 
(2) charge fees for such services that may be depos-
ited into the appropriate account of the Department, to 
remain available until expended for the purposes of such 
account, provided that the fees shall not exceed the cost 
of the providing such services. 
SEC. 9713. DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION AREAS. 
(a) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘recep-
tion areas’’ has the meaning given such term in section 41(c) 
of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 
U.S.C. 2713(c)). 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may sell goods and 
services at fair market value and use the proceeds of such 
sales for administration and related support of the reception 
areas. 
(c) AMOUNTS COLLECTED.—Amounts collected pursuant 
to the authority provided under subsection (b) may be depos-
ited into an account in the Treasury, to remain available 
until expended.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9714. RETURN OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR PASS-
PORT APPLICATIONS THROUGH UNITED STATES 
POSTAL SERVICE CERTIFIED MAIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall estab-
lish a procedure that provides, to any individual applying for 
a new United States passport or to renew the United States 
passport of the individual by mail, the option to have sup-
porting documents for the application returned to the indi-
vidual by the United States Postal Service through certified 
mail. 
(b) COST.— 
(1) RESPONSIBILITY.—The cost of returning sup-
porting documents to an individual as described in sub-
section (a) shall be the responsibility of the individual. 
(2) FEE.—The fee charged to the individual by the 
Secretary for returning supporting documents as de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall be the sum of— 
(A) the retail price charged by the United 
States Postal Service for the service; and 
(B) the estimated cost of processing the return 
of the supporting documents. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the es-
tablishment of the procedure required under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit a report to the appro-
priate congressional committees that—
3533 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) details the costs included in the processing 
fee described in paragraph (2); and 
(B) includes an estimate of the average cost 
per request. 
SEC. 9715. REPORT ON DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONNEL AND RE-
SOURCES RELATED TO ORDERED DEPARTURES 
AND POST CLOSURES. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to 
the appropriate congressional committees that describes— 
(1) how Department personnel and resources dedi-
cated to Mission Afghanistan were reallocated following 
the closure of diplomatic posts in Afghanistan in August 
2021; and 
(2) the extent to which Department personnel and 
resources for Mission Iraq were reallocated following or-
dered departures for diplomatic posts in March 2020, 
and how such resources were reallocated. 
SEC. 9716. ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REPORTS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AUS-
TRALIA
GROUP.—Section 2(7) of Senate Resolution 75 
(105th Congress) is amended by striking subparagraph (C). 
(b) PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE GANDHI-KING SCHOL-
ARLY EXCHANGE INITIATIVE.—The Gandhi-King Scholarly
3534 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Exchange Initiative Act (subtitle D of title III of division FF 
of Public Law 116–260) is amended by striking section 336. 
(c) PROGRESS REPORT ON JERUSALEM EMBASSY.—The 
Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–45) is 
amended by striking section 6. 
(d) PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION.— 
Section 102 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fis-
cal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103–236) is amended 
by striking subsection (g). 
(e) MICROENTERPRISE FOR SELF-RELIANCE REPORT.— 
Title III of the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance and Inter-
national Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–309; 
22 U.S.C. 2462 note) is amended by striking section 304. 
SEC. 9717. LOCALITY PAY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WORKING 
OVERSEAS UNDER DOMESTIC EMPLOYEE TELE-
WORKING OVERSEAS AGREEMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CIVIL SERVICE.—The term ‘‘civil service’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) COVERED EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘covered em-
ployee’’ means an employee who— 
(A) occupies a position in the civil service; and 
(B) is working overseas under a Domestic Em-
ployee Teleworking Overseas agreement.
3535 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) LOCALITY PAY.—The term ‘‘locality pay’’ means 
a locality-based comparability payment paid in accord-
ance with subsection (b). 
(4) NONFOREIGN
AREA.—The term ‘‘nonforeign 
area’’ has the meaning given the term in section 591.205 
of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation. 
(5) OVERSEAS.—The term ‘‘overseas’’ means any 
geographic location that is not in— 
(A) the continental United States; or 
(B) a nonforeign area. 
(b) PAYMENT OF LOCALITY PAY.—Each covered em-
ployee shall be paid locality pay in an amount that is equal 
to the lesser of— 
(1) the amount of a locality-based comparability 
payment that the covered employee would have been paid 
under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States 
Code, had the official duty station of the covered em-
ployee not been changed to reflect an overseas location 
under the applicable Domestic Employee Teleworking 
Overseas agreement; or 
(2) the amount of a locality-based comparability 
payment that the covered employee would be paid under 
section 1113 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
2009 (Public Law 111–32), as limited under section
3536 
•HRES 1512 EH 
9802(c)(2) of this Act, if the covered employee were an 
eligible member of the Foreign Service (as defined in 
subsection (b) of such section 1113). 
(c) APPLICATION.—Locality pay paid to a covered em-
ployee under this section— 
(1) shall begin to be paid not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(2) shall be treated in the same manner, and sub-
ject to the same terms and conditions, as a locality-based 
comparability payment paid under section 5304 or 
5304a of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 9718. REPORT ON COUNTERING THE ACTIVITIES OF MA-
LIGN ACTORS. 
(a) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Ad-
ministrator, shall submit a report to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate, the Select Committee on 
Intelligence of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives, and the 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
House of Representatives regarding United States diplo-
3537 
•HRES 1512 EH 
matic efforts in Africa in achieving United States policy 
goals and countering the activities of malign actors. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) case studies from Mali, Sudan, the Central 
African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, Burkina Faso, and South Sudan, with the 
goal of assessing the effectiveness of diplomatic 
tools during the 5-year period ending on the date of 
the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) an assessment of— 
(i) the extent and effectiveness of certain 
diplomatic tools to advance United States pri-
orities in the respective case study countries, 
including— 
(I) in-country diplomatic presence; 
(II) humanitarian and development 
assistance; 
(III) support for increased 2-way 
trade and investment; 
(IV) United States security assist-
ance; 
(V) public diplomacy; and 
(VI) accountability measures, includ-
ing sanctions;
3538 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(ii) whether the use of the diplomatic tools 
described in clause (i) achieved the diplomatic 
ends for which they were intended; and 
(iii) the means by which the Russian Fed-
eration and the People’s Republic of China ex-
ploited any openings for diplomatic engage-
ment in the case study countries. 
(b) FORM.—The report required under subsection (b) 
shall be submitted in classified form. 
(c) CLASSIFIED BRIEFING REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary and the Administrator shall jointly brief Congress re-
garding the report required under subsection (b). 
TITLE XCVIII—EXTENSION OF 
AUTHORITIES 
SEC. 9801. DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES. 
For the purposes of calculating the costs of providing 
new United States diplomatic facilities in any fiscal year, in 
accordance with section 604(e) of the Secure Embassy Con-
struction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (22 U.S.C. 4865 
note), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the Office of Management and Budget, shall determine 
the annual program level and agency shares for such fiscal 
year in a manner that is proportional to the contribution of 
the Department of State for this purpose.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 9802. EXTENSION OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES. 
(a) PASSPORT FEES.—Section 1(b)(2) of the Passport 
Act of June 4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214(b)(2)) shall be applied 
by striking ‘‘September 30, 2010’’ and inserting ‘‘September 
30, 2026’’. 
(b) USAID CIVIL SERVICE ANNUITANT WAIVER.—Sec-
tion 625(j)(1)(B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2385(j)(1)(B)) shall be applied by striking ‘‘October 
1, 2010’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2024’’. 
(c) OVERSEAS PAY COMPARABILITY AND LIMITATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The authority provided under 
section 1113 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
2009 (Public Law 111–32) shall remain in effect 
through September 30, 2024. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The authority described in para-
graph (1) may not be used to pay an eligible member of 
the Foreign Service (as defined in section 1113(b) of the 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 
111–32)) a locality-based comparability payment (stated 
as a percentage) that exceeds two-thirds of the amount 
of the locality-based comparability payment (stated as a 
percentage) that would be payable to such member 
under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, if 
such member’s official duty station were in the District 
of Columbia.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNUITANT WAIVER.—The 
authorities provided under section 1015(b) of the Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–212)— 
(1) shall remain in effect through September 30, 
2024; and 
(2) may be used to facilitate the assignment of per-
sons for oversight of programs in Somalia, South Sudan, 
Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. 
(e) SECURITY REVIEW COMMITTEES.—The authority 
provided under section 301(a)(3) of the Omnibus Diplomatic 
Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 
4831(a)(3)) shall remain in effect for facilities in Afghanistan 
and shall apply to facilities in Ukraine through September 
30, 2024, except that the notification and reporting require-
ments contained in such section shall include the appropriate 
congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives. 
(f) DEPARTMENT
OF
STATE
INSPECTOR
GENERAL 
WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment may waive the provisions of subsections (a) through (d) 
of section 824 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
4064), on a case-by-case basis, for an annuitant reemployed 
by the Inspector General on a temporary basis, subject to the 
same constraints and in the same manner by which the Sec-
3541 
•HRES 1512 EH 
retary of State may exercise such waiver authority pursuant 
to subsection (g) of such section. 
SEC. 9803. COMMISSION ON REFORM AND MODERNIZATION OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Depart-
ment of State Act’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.—There is estab-
lished, in the legislative branch, the Commission on Reform 
and Modernization of the Department of State (referred to 
in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Commission are— 
(1) to examine the changing nature of diplomacy 
and the ways in which the Department can modernize to 
advance the interests of the United States; and 
(2) to offer recommendations to the President and 
Congress related to— 
(A) the organizational structure of the Depart-
ment; 
(B) personnel-related matters, including re-
cruitment, promotion, training, and retention of the 
Department’s workforce in order to foster effective 
diplomacy 
worldwide, 
including 
measures 
to 
strengthen diversity and inclusion to ensure that
3542 
•HRES 1512 EH 
the Department’s workforce represents all of Amer-
ica; 
(C) the Department of State’s domestic and 
overseas facilities; 
(D) the link among diplomacy and defense, de-
velopment, commercial, health, law enforcement, 
science, technology, and other core United States 
interests; 
(E) legislation that authorizes United States 
diplomacy, including the Foreign Service Act of 
1980 (Public Law 96–465); and 
(F) related regulations, rules, and processes 
that define United States diplomatic efforts, includ-
ing the Foreign Affairs Manual. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 16 members, of whom— 
(A) 4 members shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent in a nonpartisan manner; 
(B) 2 members (1 of whom may be a Member 
of Congress) shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; 
(C) 2 members (1 of whom may be a Member 
of Congress) shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives;
3543 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(D) 2 members (1 of whom may be a Member 
of Congress) shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate; 
(E) 2 members (1 of whom may be a Member 
of Congress) shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives; 
(F) 1 member shall be appointed by the chair-
person of the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate; 
(G) 1 member shall be appointed by the rank-
ing member of the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate; 
(H) 1 member shall be appointed by the chair-
person of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(I) 1 member shall be appointed by the rank-
ing member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(A) MEMBERSHIP.—Any member of the Com-
mission who is not a Member of Congress shall be 
a private United States citizen who is nationally 
recognized and has significant depth of experience 
in international relations, data-driven management,
3544 
•HRES 1512 EH 
and the policymaking, programmatic, and personnel 
aspects of the Department. 
(B) RESTRICTIONS.— 
(i) FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT 
OF 1938.—No member of the Commission may 
be a current or former registrant under the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 
U.S.C. 611 et seq.). 
(ii) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—Not more 
than 4 members of the Commission may be 
Members of Congress, who may only be ap-
pointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, 
the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, and the Mi-
nority Leader of the House of Representatives 
in accordance with paragraph (1). None of the 
members of the Commission may be individuals 
who are eligible to make such appointments. 
(3) APPOINTMENTS.— 
(A) DEADLINE.—Members of the Commission 
shall be appointed pursuant to paragraph (1) not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(B) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
Members of the Commission shall be appointed for
3545 
•HRES 1512 EH 
the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the 
Commission shall not affect the powers of the Com-
mission and shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment. 
(C) NOTIFICATIONS.—Individuals making ap-
pointments pursuant to paragraph (1) shall notify 
the Chair and Ranking Member of the appropriate 
committees of Congress and the Secretary of State 
of such appointments. 
(D) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.— 
(i) DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS.—The Demo-
cratic leader in the Senate and the Democratic 
leader in the House of Representatives shall 
jointly select 1 member of the Commission ap-
pointed pursuant to paragraph (1) to serve as 
a co-chairperson of the Commission. 
(ii) REPUBLICAN LEADERS.—The Repub-
lican leader in the Senate and the Republican 
leader in the House of Representatives shall 
jointly select 1 member of the Commission ap-
pointed pursuant to paragraph (1) to serve as 
a co-chairperson of the Commission. 
(4) REMOVAL.—A member may be removed from 
the Commission for cause by the individual serving in
3546 
•HRES 1512 EH 
the position responsible for the original appointment of 
such member under paragraph (1) if— 
(A) notice was provided to such member de-
scribing the cause for removal; and 
(B) such removal was voted and agreed upon 
by a majority of the members serving on the Com-
mission. 
(5) MEETINGS.— 
(A) INITIAL
MEETING.—Not later than 30 
days after a majority of the members of the Com-
mission have been appointed, the Commission shall 
hold the first meeting and shall begin operations as 
soon as practicable. 
(B) FREQUENCY.—The Commission shall meet 
upon the call of the co-chairpersons, acting jointly. 
(C) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Commission, or a majority of the members of a 
panel, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
conducting business. 
(e) FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(j), the Commission shall act by resolution agreed to by 
a majority of the members of the Commission voting and 
present.
3547 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) PANELS.—The Commission may establish pan-
els composed of less than the full membership of the 
Commission for purposes of carrying out the duties of 
the Commission under this section. The membership of 
such panels should reflect the bipartisan composition of 
the Commission. The actions of any such panel shall be 
subject to the review and control of the Commission. 
Any findings and determinations made by such a panel 
may not be considered the findings and determinations 
of the Commission unless such findings and determina-
tions are approved by a majority of the Commission, in-
cluding both co-chairpersons. 
(f) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—To carry out the 
purposes of the Commission described in subsection (c), 
the Commission or any panel of the Commission may, 
with the joint approval of the co-chairpersons— 
(A) hold such hearings and meetings, take 
such testimony, receive such evidence, and admin-
ister such oaths as the Commission or such des-
ignated panel considers necessary; 
(B) request the attendance and testimony of 
such witnesses and the production of such cor-
respondence, memoranda, papers, and documents,
3548 
•HRES 1512 EH 
as the Commission or such designated panel con-
siders necessary; and 
(C) secure from the Department, USAID, the 
United States International Development Finance 
Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, 
Peace Corps, the United States Trade Development 
Agency, and the United States Agency for Global 
Media information and data necessary to enable it 
to carry out its mission. 
(2) CONTRACTS.—The Commission, to such extent 
and in such amounts as are provided in appropriations 
Acts, may enter into contracts to enable the Commission 
to discharge its duties under this section. 
(g) SUPPORT FROM OTHER AGENCIES.— 
(1) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—To 
carry out the purposes of the Commission described in 
subsection (c), upon the receipt of a joint written request 
by the co-chairpersons of the Commission to any of the 
heads of the Department, USAID, the United States 
International Development Finance Corporation, the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace Corps, the 
Trade Development Agency, or the United States Agen-
cy for Global Media, the heads of such entities shall ex-
peditiously furnish the requested information to the 
Commission.
3549 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Department of State and other Federal departments and 
agencies may provide to the Commission, on a nonreim-
bursable basis, such administrative services, staff, and 
other support services as are necessary for the perform-
ance of the Commission’s duties under this section, at 
the request of the Commission. 
(3) LIAISON.—The Secretary may designate at least 
1 officer or employee of the Department to serve as a 
liaison officer between the Department and the Commis-
sion. 
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INDEPENDENT OR-
GANIZATIONS.—The 
Commission 
may 
review 
rec-
ommendations by independent organizations and outside 
experts relating to reform and modernization of the De-
partment. 
(h) CONGRESSIONAL CONSULTATION.—Not later than 
180 days after the initial meeting of the Commission, and not 
less frequently than semiannually thereafter, the Commission 
shall provide a briefing to Congress regarding the work of the 
Commission. 
(i) STAFF AND COMPENSATION.— 
(1) STAFF.— 
(A) COMPENSATION.—The co-chairpersons of 
the Commission shall appoint and fix the compensa-
3550 
•HRES 1512 EH 
tion of a staff director and such other personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
out its duties, without regard to the provisions of 
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments 
in the competitive service, and without regard to the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
chapter 53 of such title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate 
of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the 
equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a 
position at level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of such title. 
(B) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—A 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to 
the Commission without reimbursement, and such 
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 
service status or privilege. 
(C) 
PROCUREMENT
OF
TEMPORARY
AND 
INTERMITTENT
SERVICES.—The co-chairs of the 
Commission may procure temporary and intermit-
tent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, at rates for individuals that do 
not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of such title.
3551 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(D) STATUS AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Not-
withstanding the requirements under section 2105 
of title 5, United States Code, including the re-
quired supervision under subsection (a)(3) of such 
section, the members of the commission shall be 
deemed to be Federal employees. 
(2) COMMISSION MEMBERS.— 
(A) COMPENSATION.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (C), each member of the Commission 
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the 
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pay-
able for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
day (including travel time) during which that mem-
ber is engaged in the actual performance of the du-
ties of the Commission. 
(B) WAIVER OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.—Sub-
sections (a) through (d) of section 824 of the For-
eign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4064) are 
waived for an annuitant on a temporary basis so as 
to be compensated for work performed as part of 
the Commission. 
(C) RESTRICTION
FOR
MEMBERS
OF
CON-
GRESS.—Any Member of Congress serving as a 
member of the Commission shall not receive any ad-
3552 
•HRES 1512 EH 
ditional compensation or pay for their service on the 
Commission. 
(3) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—While away from their 
homes or regular places of business in the performance 
of service for the Commission, members and staff of the 
Commission, and any Federal Government employees de-
tailed to the Commission, shall be allowed travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as persons employed intermittently in Gov-
ernment service are allowed expenses under section 
5703(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(4) SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR COMMISSION MEM-
BERS AND STAFF.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Members and staff shall 
have or be eligible to receive the appropriate secu-
rity clearance to conduct their duties. 
(B) EXPEDITED PROCESSING.—The Office of 
Senate Security shall ensure the expedited proc-
essing of appropriate security clearances for mem-
bers, officers, and employees of the Commission. 
(j) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months after 
the first date on which a majority of the members of the 
Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall
3553 
•HRES 1512 EH 
submit a final report to the Secretary and Congress that 
includes— 
(A) a detailed statement of the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission; and 
(B) the recommendations of the Commission 
for such legislative and administrative actions as 
the Commission considers appropriate in light of 
the results of the study, including the anticipated 
amount of time and resources required to imple-
ment such recommendations. 
(2) DEPARTMENT
RESPONSE.—The Secretary, in 
coordination with the heads of appropriate Federal de-
partments and agencies, shall have the right to review 
and respond to all Commission recommendations before 
the Commission submits its final report to the Secretary 
and Congress. The Commission shall provide the Depart-
ment with its recommendations not later than 90 days 
before the date of submission of its final report. 
(k) TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the au-
thorities under this section, shall terminate on the date 
that is 60 days after the date on which the final report 
is submitted pursuant to subsection (j)(1). 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES
BEFORE
TERMI-
NATION.—The Commission may use the 60-day period
3554 
•HRES 1512 EH 
referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose of con-
cluding its activities, including providing testimony to 
the appropriate committees of Congress concerning its 
reports and disseminating the report. 
(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated up to $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 to carry 
out this section. 
(2) TRANSFERS; SUPPORT.—In addition to other 
transfers and support otherwise authorized by law, the 
Secretary may— 
(A) transfer any amounts appropriated pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) to the Commission; and 
(B) use the amounts referred to in subpara-
graph (A) to provide non-reimbursable support to 
the Commission. 
(3) COMMISSION ACCOUNTS.— 
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury may establish 1 or more accounts to facili-
tate transfers to the Commission of amounts au-
thorized under paragraph (2)(A). 
(B) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts transferred to 
the Commission pursuant to subparagraph(A) may 
be used for the activities of the Commission, includ-
ing—
3555 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(i) the payment of Commission expenses; 
(ii) the compensation of Commission 
members, officers, and employees. 
(m) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro-
priate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate; 
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives. 
DIVISION J—OCEANS AND 
ATMOSPHERE 
SEC. 10000. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this division is as follows: 
Sec. 10000. Table of contents. 
TITLE C—CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
Sec. 10001. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 
Subtitle B—United States Coral Reef Task Force 
Sec. 10011. Establishment. 
Sec. 10012. Duties. 
Sec. 10013. Membership. 
Sec. 10014. Responsibilities of Federal agency members. 
Sec. 10015. Working groups. 
Sec. 10016. Definitions. 
Subtitle C—Department of the Interior Coral Reef Authorities 
Sec. 10021. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance. 
Subtitle D—Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship
3556 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Sec. 10031. Susan L. Williams National Coral Reef Management Fellowship. 
TITLE CI—BOLSTERING LONG-TERM UNDERSTANDING AND EX-
PLORATION OF THE GREAT LAKES, OCEANS, BAYS, AND ESTU-
ARIES 
Sec. 10101. Purpose. 
Sec. 10102. Definitions. 
Sec. 10103. Workforce study. 
Sec. 10104. Accelerating innovation at Cooperative Institutes. 
Sec. 10105. Blue Economy valuation. 
Sec. 10106. No additional funds authorized. 
TITLE CII—REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS 
Sec. 10201. Findings; purposes. 
Sec. 10202. Regional Ocean Partnerships. 
TITLE CIII—NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION 
Sec. 10301. Findings. 
Sec. 10302. Definitions. 
Sec. 10303. Ocean Policy Committee. 
Sec. 10304. National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Coun-
cil. 
Sec. 10305. Modifications to the ocean exploration program of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Sec. 10306. Repeal. 
Sec. 10307. Modifications to ocean and coastal mapping program of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Sec. 10308. Modifications to Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. 
TITLE CIV—MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND RESPONSE 
Sec. 10401. Data collection and dissemination. 
Sec. 10402. Stranding or entanglement response agreements. 
Sec. 10403. Unusual mortality event activity funding. 
Sec. 10404. Liability. 
Sec. 10405. National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank and tissue analysis. 
Sec. 10406. Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program and Rapid 
Response Fund. 
Sec. 10407. Health MAP. 
Sec. 10408. Reports to Congress. 
Sec. 10409. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 10410. Definitions. 
Sec. 10411. Study on marine mammal mortality. 
TITLE CV—VOLCANIC ASH AND FUMES 
Sec. 10501. Modifications to National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring 
System. 
TITLE CVI—LEARNING EXCELLENCE AND GOOD EXAMPLES 
FROM NEW DEVELOPERS 
Sec. 10601. Learning excellence and good examples from new developers.
3557 
•HRES 1512 EH 
TITLE C—CORAL REEF 
CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—Reauthorization of Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
SEC. 10001. REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVA-
TION ACT OF 2000. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended by striking sec-
tions 202 through 210 and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 202. PURPOSES. 
‘‘The purposes of this title are— 
‘‘(1) to conserve and restore the condition of United 
States coral reef ecosystems challenged by natural and 
human-accelerated changes, including increasing ocean 
temperatures, changing ocean chemistry, coral bleaching, 
coral diseases, water quality degradation, invasive spe-
cies, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; 
‘‘(2) to promote the science-based management and 
sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local 
communities and the Nation, including through im-
proved integration and cooperation among Federal and 
non-Federal stakeholders responsible for managing coral 
reef resources; 
‘‘(3) to develop sound scientific information on the 
condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and
3559 
•HRES 1512 EH 
pose immediate and long-term threats to coral reefs, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) coral disease outbreaks; 
‘‘(B) invasive or nuisance species; 
‘‘(C) coral bleaching; 
‘‘(D) natural disasters; and 
‘‘(E) industrial or mechanical disasters, includ-
ing vessel groundings, hazardous spills, and coastal 
construction accidents; and 
‘‘(8) to serve as a model for advancing similar inter-
national efforts to monitor, conserve, and restore coral 
reef ecosystems. 
‘‘SEC. 203. FEDERAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT AND RESTORA-
TION ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, the Secretary of 
the Interior, or the Secretary of Commerce 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 manage-
ment in Federal and State waters, including this Act; 
‘‘(2) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy; 
and 
‘‘(3) coral reef action plans in effect under section 
205, as applicable.
3560 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—Activities described in 
this subsection are activities to conserve, research, monitor, 
assess, and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in 
waters managed under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency 
specified in subsection (c) or in coordination with a State in 
waters managed under the jurisdiction of such State, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) developing, including through the collection of 
requisite in situ and remotely sensed data, high-quality 
and digitized maps reflecting— 
‘‘(A) current and historical live coral cover 
data; 
‘‘(B) coral reef habitat quality data; 
‘‘(C) priority areas for coral reef conservation 
to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem structure 
and function, including the reef matrix, that benefit 
coastal communities and living marine resources; 
‘‘(D) priority areas for coral reef restoration to 
enhance biodiversity and ecosystem structure and 
function, including the reef matrix, to benefit coast-
al communities and living marine resources; and 
‘‘(E) areas of concern that may require en-
hanced monitoring of coral health and cover; 
‘‘(2) enhancing compliance with Federal laws that 
prohibit or regulate—
3561 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(A) the taking of coral products or species as-
sociated with coral reefs; or 
‘‘(B) the use and management of coral reef 
ecosystems; 
‘‘(3) long-term ecological monitoring of coral reef 
ecosystems; 
‘‘(4) implementing species-specific recovery plans 
for listed coral species consistent with the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
‘‘(5) restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(6) reducing land-based stressors to coral reef eco-
systems; 
‘‘(7) promoting ecologically sound navigation and 
anchorages, including through navigational aids and ex-
pansion of reef-safe anchorages and mooring buoy sys-
tems, to enhance recreational access while preventing or 
minimizing the likelihood of vessel impacts or other 
physical damage to coral reefs; 
‘‘(8) monitoring and responding to severe bleaching 
or mortality events, disease outbreaks, invasive species 
outbreaks, and significant maritime accidents, including 
hazardous spill cleanup and the removal of grounded 
vessels;
3562 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(9) conducting scientific research that contributes 
to the understanding, sustainable use, and long-term 
conservation of coral reefs; 
‘‘(10) enhancing public awareness, understanding, 
and appreciation of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems 
and their ecological and socioeconomic value; and 
‘‘(11) centrally archiving, managing, and distrib-
uting on a public website data sets and coral reef eco-
system assessments, including the data repositories of 
the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL AGENCIES SPECIFIED.—A Federal agen-
cy specified in this subsection is one of the following: 
‘‘(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(2) The National Park Service. 
‘‘(3) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
‘‘(4) The Office of Insular Affairs. 
‘‘SEC. 204. NATIONAL CORAL REEF RESILIENCE STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 2 years after the date of the en-
actment of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, develop a national 
coral reef resilience strategy; and 
‘‘(2) review and revise the strategy—
3563 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(A) not less frequently than once every 15 
years; 
‘‘(B) not less frequently than once every 5 
years, in the case of guidance on best practices 
under subsection (b)(4); and 
‘‘(C) as appropriate. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) A discussion addressing— 
‘‘(A) continuing and emerging threats to the 
resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(B) remaining gaps in coral reef ecosystem 
research, monitoring, and assessment; 
‘‘(C) the status of management cooperation 
and integration among Federal reef managers and 
covered reef managers; 
‘‘(D) the status of efforts to manage and dis-
seminate critical information, and enhance inter-
jurisdictional data sharing, related to research, re-
ports, data sets, and maps; 
‘‘(E) areas of special focus, which may in-
clude— 
‘‘(i) improving natural coral recruitment; 
‘‘(ii) preventing avoidable losses of corals 
and their habitat;
3564 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(iii) enhancing the resilience of coral 
populations; 
‘‘(iv) supporting a resilience-based man-
agement approach; 
‘‘(v) developing, coordinating, and imple-
menting watershed management plans; 
‘‘(vi) building and sustaining watershed 
management capacity at the local level; 
‘‘(vii) providing data essential for coral 
reef fisheries management; 
‘‘(viii) building capacity for coral reef fish-
eries management; 
‘‘(ix) increasing understanding of coral 
reef ecosystem services; 
‘‘(x) educating the public on the impor-
tance of coral reefs, threats and solutions; and 
‘‘(xi) evaluating intervention efficacy; 
‘‘(F) the status of conservation efforts, includ-
ing the use of marine protected areas to serve as re-
plenishment zones developed consistent with local 
practices and traditions and in cooperation with, 
and with respect for the scientific, technical, and 
management expertise and responsibilities of, cov-
ered reef managers;
3565 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(G) science-based adaptive management and 
restoration efforts; and 
‘‘(H) management of coral reef emergencies 
and disasters. 
‘‘(2) A statement of national goals and objectives 
designed to guide— 
‘‘(A) future Federal coral reef management 
and restoration activities authorized under section 
203; 
‘‘(B) conservation and restoration priorities for 
grants awarded under section 211; and 
‘‘(C) research priorities for the reef research 
coordination institutes designated under section 
213(b)(1)(B). 
‘‘(3) A designation of priority areas for conserva-
tion, and priority areas for restoration, to support the 
review and approval of grants under section 211(e). 
‘‘(4) Technical assistance in the form of general 
templates for use by covered reef managers and Federal 
reef managers to guide the development of coral reef ac-
tion plans under section 205, including guidance on the 
best science-based practices to respond to coral reef 
emergencies that can be included in coral reef action 
plans.
3566 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing all elements of the 
strategy required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) consult with the Secretary of the Interior, the 
Task Force, covered States, and covered Native entities; 
‘‘(2) consult with the Secretary of Defense, as ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(3) engage stakeholders, including covered States, 
coral reef stewardship partnerships, reef research insti-
tutes and research centers described in section 213, and 
recipients of grants under section 211; and 
‘‘(4) solicit public review and comment regarding 
scoping and the draft strategy. 
‘‘(d) SUBMISSION
TO CONGRESS; PUBLICATION.—The 
Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) submit the strategy required by subsection (a) 
and any revisions to the strategy to the appropriate con-
gressional committees; and 
‘‘(2) publish the strategy and any such revisions on 
public websites of— 
‘‘(A) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) the Task Force.
3567 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘SEC. 205. CORAL REEF ACTION PLANS. 
‘‘(a) PLANS
PREPARED
BY
FEDERAL
REEF
MAN-
AGERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of the enactment of the James M. Inhofe Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
and 2 years after the date of publication of each Na-
tional Coral Reef Resilience Strategy, each Federal reef 
manager shall— 
‘‘(A) prepare a coral reef action plan to guide 
management and restoration activities to be under-
taken within the responsibilities and jurisdiction of 
the manager; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a reef under the jurisdic-
tion of a Federal reef manager for which there is 
an action plan in effect as of such date of enact-
ment, update that plan to comply with the require-
ments of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—A plan prepared under para-
graph (1) by a Federal reef manager shall include a dis-
cussion of the following: 
‘‘(A) Short- and medium-term coral reef con-
servation and restoration objectives within the juris-
diction of the manager.
3568 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) A current adaptive management frame-
work to inform research, monitoring, and assess-
ment needs. 
‘‘(C) Tools, strategies, and partnerships nec-
essary to identify, monitor, and address pollution, 
water quality, and other negative impacts to coral 
reef ecosystems within the jurisdiction of the man-
ager. 
‘‘(D) The status of efforts to improve coral 
reef ecosystem management cooperation and inte-
gration between Federal reef managers and covered 
reef managers, including the identification of exist-
ing research and monitoring activities that can be 
leveraged for coral reef status and trends assess-
ments within the jurisdiction of the manager. 
‘‘(E) Estimated budgetary and resource consid-
erations necessary to carry out the plan. 
‘‘(F) Contingencies for response to and recov-
ery from emergencies and disasters. 
‘‘(G) In the case of an updated plan, annual 
records of significant management and restoration 
actions taken under the previous plan, cash and 
noncash resources used to undertake the actions, 
and the source of such resources.
3569 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(H) Documentation by the Federal reef man-
ager that the plan is consistent with the National 
Coral Reef Resilience Strategy. 
‘‘(I) A data management plan to ensure data, 
assessments, and accompanying information are ap-
propriately preserved, curated, publicly accessible, 
and broadly reusable. 
‘‘(3) SUBMISSION TO TASK FORCE.—Each Federal 
reef manager shall submit a plan prepared under para-
graph (1) to the Task Force. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE 
ACT.—Each plan prepared under paragraph (1) shall be 
subject to the requirements of subchapter II of chapter 
5, and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘Administrative Procedure Act’). 
‘‘(b) PLANS
PREPARED
BY
COVERED
REEF
MAN-
AGERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered reef manager may 
elect to prepare, submit to the Task Force, and maintain 
a coral reef action plan to guide management and res-
toration activities to be undertaken within the respon-
sibilities and jurisdiction of the manager. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—A plan prepared under 
this subsection shall remain in effect for 5 years, or until
3571 
•HRES 1512 EH 
and trends assessments within the jurisdiction 
of the manager; 
‘‘(ii) a current adaptive management 
framework to inform research, monitoring, and 
assessment needs; 
‘‘(iii) tools, strategies, and partnerships 
necessary to identify, monitor, and address pol-
lution and water quality impacts to coral reef 
ecosystems within the jurisdiction of the man-
ager; and 
‘‘(iv) a data management plan to ensure 
data, assessments, and accompanying informa-
tion are appropriately preserved, curated, pub-
licly accessible, and broadly reusable. 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator and 
the Task Force shall make reasonable efforts to provide tech-
nical assistance upon request by a Federal reef manager or 
covered reef manager developing a coral reef action plan 
under this section. 
‘‘(d) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall publish 
each coral reef action plan prepared and submitted to the 
Task Force under this section on the public website of the 
Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration.
3572 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘SEC. 206. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To further community-based stew-
ardship of coral reefs, coral reef stewardship partnerships for 
Federal and non-Federal coral reefs may be established in ac-
cordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) STANDARDS
AND PROCEDURES.—The Adminis-
trator shall develop and adopt— 
‘‘(1) standards for identifying individual coral reefs 
and ecologically significant units of coral reefs; and 
‘‘(2) processes for adjudicating multiple applicants 
for stewardship of the same coral reef or ecologically sig-
nificant unit of a reef to ensure no geographic overlap 
in representation among stewardship partnerships au-
thorized by this section. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP
FOR FEDERAL CORAL 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 203(c) shall, at a minimum, in-
clude the following: 
‘‘(1) That Federal agency, a representative of which 
shall serve as chairperson of the coral reef stewardship 
partnership.
3573 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) A State or county’s resource management 
agency to the extent that such partnership covers a reef 
within such States or county’s jurisdiction. 
‘‘(3) A coral reef research center designated under 
section 212(b). 
‘‘(4) A nongovernmental organization. 
‘‘(5) A covered Native entity culturally affiliated 
with the subject reef or ecologically significant unit, if 
any. 
‘‘(6) Such other members as the partnership con-
siders appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups 
and covered Native entities. 
‘‘(d) 
MEMBERSHIP
FOR
NON-FEDERAL
CORAL 
REEFS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A coral reef stewardship part-
nership that has identified, as the subject of its steward-
ship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant 
component of a coral reef that is not under the manage-
ment jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in sec-
tion 203(c) shall, at a minimum, include the following: 
‘‘(A) A State or county’s resource management 
agency or a covered Native entity, a representative 
of which shall serve as the chairperson of the coral 
reef stewardship partnership.
3574 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) A coral reef research center designated 
under section 212(b). 
‘‘(C) A nongovernmental organization. 
‘‘(D) Such other members as the partnership 
considers appropriate, such as interested stake-
holder groups. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), a coral reef stewardship partnership described 
in paragraph (1) may also include representatives of 
one or more Federal agencies. 
‘‘(B) REQUESTS; APPROVAL.—A representative 
of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) 
may become a member of a coral reef stewardship 
partnership described in paragraph (1) if— 
‘‘(i) the representative submits a request 
to become a member to the chairperson of the 
partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); 
and 
‘‘(ii) the chairperson consents to the re-
quest. 
‘‘(e) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to coral reef stewardship part-
nerships under this section.
3575 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘SEC. 207. BLOCK GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In each fiscal year beginning in fis-
cal year 2023 and subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Administrator shall provide block grants of finan-
cial assistance of not less than $500,000 to each covered 
State to support management and restoration activities and 
further the implementation of coral reef action plans in effect 
under section 205 by covered States and non-Federal coral 
reef stewardship partnerships in accordance with this section. 
The Administrator shall review each covered State’s applica-
tion for block grant funding to ensure that applications are 
consistent with applicable action plans and the National 
Coral Reef Resilience Strategy. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
Administrator is responsible for— 
‘‘(1) providing guidance on the proper documenta-
tion of expenditures authorized under this Act; 
‘‘(2) issuing annual solicitations to covered States 
for awards under this section; and 
‘‘(3) determining the appropriate allocation of addi-
tional amounts among covered States in accordance with 
this section. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF COVERED STATES.—Each 
covered State is responsible for documenting and reporting— 
‘‘(1) such State’s use of Federal funds received 
under this Act; and
3576 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) such expenditures of non-Federal funds made 
in furtherance of coral reef management and restoration 
as the Administrator determines appropriate. 
‘‘(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Administrator may seek to enter 
into a cooperative agreement with a covered State to fund 
coral reef conservation and restoration activities in waters 
managed under the jurisdiction of such covered State that 
are consistent with the National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy and any applicable action plan under section 205. 
‘‘(e) ALL ISLANDS COMMITTEE.—The Administrator 
may enter into a cooperative agreement with the All Islands 
Committee of the Task Force to provide support for its ac-
tivities. 
‘‘SEC. 208. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP FUND. 
‘‘(a) AGREEMENT.—The Administrator shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation (in this section referred to as the ‘Foundation’), 
authorizing the Foundation to receive, hold, and administer 
funds received under this section. 
‘‘(b) FUND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation shall establish 
an account, which shall—
3577 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(A) be known as the ‘Coral Reef Stewardship 
Fund’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Fund’); 
and 
‘‘(B) serve as the successor to the account 
known before the date of the enactment of the 
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2023 as the Coral Reef Con-
servation Fund and administered through a public- 
private partnership with the Foundation. 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—The Foundation shall deposit 
funds received under this section into the Fund. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSES.—The Fund shall be available sole-
ly to support coral reef stewardship activities that— 
‘‘(A) further the purposes of this title; and 
‘‘(B) are consistent with— 
‘‘(i) the National Coral Reef Resilience 
Strategy; and 
‘‘(ii) coral reef action plans in effect, if 
any, under section 205 covering a coral reef or 
ecologically significant component of a coral 
reef to be impacted by such activities, if appli-
cable. 
‘‘(4) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.—The Foun-
dation shall invest such portion of the Fund as is
3578 
•HRES 1512 EH 
not required to meet current withdrawals in inter-
est-bearing obligations of the United States or in 
obligations guaranteed as to both principal and in-
terest by the United States. 
‘‘(B) INTEREST AND PROCEEDS.—The interest 
on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption 
of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be cred-
ited to and form a part of the Fund. 
‘‘(5) REVIEW
OF
PERFORMANCE.—The Adminis-
trator shall conduct a continuing review of all deposits 
into, and disbursements from, the Fund. Each review 
shall include a written assessment concerning the extent 
to which the Foundation has implemented the goals and 
requirements of— 
‘‘(A) this section; and 
‘‘(B) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION TO SOLICIT DONATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to an agreement en-
tered into under subsection (a), the Foundation may ac-
cept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift 
(including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
United States Code, donations of services) to further the 
purposes of this title.
3579 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS IN FUND.—Notwithstanding section 
3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received 
as a gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund. 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION.—Under an agreement entered 
into pursuant to subsection (a), and subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Administrator may transfer funds ap-
propriated for such purposes to carry out this title to the 
Foundation. Amounts received by the Foundation under this 
subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, 
contributions (whether in money, services, or property) made 
to the Foundation by private persons, State or local govern-
ment agencies, or covered Native entities. 
‘‘SEC. 209. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, from funds appropriated pursuant to the author-
ization of appropriations under section 215, the Adminis-
trator may provide emergency assistance to any covered State 
or coral reef stewardship partnership to respond to immediate 
harm to coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems arising from any 
of the exigent circumstances described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) CORAL REEF EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.—The Ad-
ministrator shall develop a list of, and criteria for, cir-
cumstances that pose an exigent threat to coral reefs, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;
3580 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or nui-
sance species; 
‘‘(3) new and ongoing coral bleaching events; 
‘‘(4) natural disasters; 
‘‘(5) industrial or mechanical incidents, such as ves-
sel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction 
accidents; and 
‘‘(6) such other circumstances as the Administrator 
determines appropriate. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT ON EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.— 
On February 1 of each year, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees, the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives a report that— 
‘‘(1) describes locations with exigent circumstances 
described in subsection (b) that were considered but de-
clined for emergency assistance, and the rationale for 
the decision; and 
‘‘(2) with respect to each instance in which emer-
gency assistance under this section was provided— 
‘‘(A) the location and a description of the exi-
gent circumstances that prompted the emergency 
assistance, the entity that received the assistance, 
and the current and expected outcomes from the as-
sistance;
3583 
•HRES 1512 EH 
cept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift 
(including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
United States Code, donations of services) to further the 
purposes of this title. 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS IN FUND.—Notwithstanding section 
3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received 
as a gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund. 
‘‘SEC. 211. RUTH D. GATES CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Administrator shall establish a program (to be 
known as the ‘Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant 
Program’) to provide grants for projects for the conservation 
and restoration of coral reef ecosystems (in this section re-
ferred to as ‘coral reef projects’) pursuant to proposals ap-
proved by the Administrator in accordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), Federal funds for any coral reef project for 
which a grant is provided under subsection (a) may not 
exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. 
‘‘(2) 
NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—The 
non-Federal 
share of the cost of a coral reef project may be provided 
by in-kind contributions and other noncash support.
3584 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—The Administrator may waive all or 
part of the matching requirement under paragraph (1) 
if the Administrator determines that no reasonable 
means are available through which an applicant can 
meet the matching requirement with respect to a coral 
reef project and the probable benefit of the project out-
weighs the public interest in the matching requirement. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An entity described in para-
graph (2) may submit to the Administrator a proposal 
for a coral reef project. 
‘‘(2) ENTITIES DESCRIBED.—An entity described in 
this paragraph is— 
‘‘(A) a covered reef manager or a covered Na-
tive entity; 
‘‘(B) a regional fishery management council es-
tablished under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-
servation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.); 
‘‘(C) a coral reef stewardship partnership seek-
ing to implement a coral reef action plan in effect 
under section 205; 
‘‘(D) a coral reef research center designated 
under section 212(b); or
3585 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(E) a nongovernmental organization or re-
search institution with demonstrated expertise in 
the conservation or restoration of coral reefs in 
practice or through significant contributions to the 
body of existing scientific research on coral reefs. 
‘‘(d) PROJECT PROPOSALS.—Each proposal for a grant 
under this section for a coral reef project shall include the 
following: 
‘‘(1) The name of the individual or entity respon-
sible for conducting the project. 
‘‘(2) A description of the qualifications of the indi-
vidual or entity. 
‘‘(3) A succinct statement of the purposes of the 
project. 
‘‘(4) An estimate of the funds and time required to 
complete the project. 
‘‘(5) Evidence of support for the project by appro-
priate representatives of States or other government ju-
risdictions in which the project will be conducted. 
‘‘(6) Information regarding the source and amount 
of matching funding available to the applicant. 
‘‘(7) A description of how the project meets one or 
more of the criteria under subsection (e)(2). 
‘‘(8) In the case of a proposal submitted by a coral 
reef stewardship partnership, a description of how the
3586 
•HRES 1512 EH 
project aligns with the applicable coral reef action plan 
in effect under section 205. 
‘‘(9) Any other information the Administrator con-
siders to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the 
project for a grant under this subsection. 
‘‘(e) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall review 
each coral reef project proposal submitted under this 
section to determine if the project meets the criteria set 
forth in subsection (f). 
‘‘(2) 
PRIORITIZATION
OF
CONSERVATION 
PROJECTS.—The Administrator shall prioritize the 
awarding of funding for projects that meet the criteria 
for approval described in— 
‘‘(A) subparagraphs (A) through (G) of sub-
section (f)(2) that are proposed to be conducted 
within priority areas identified for coral reef con-
servation by the Administrator under the National 
Coral Reef Resilience Strategy; and 
‘‘(B) subparagraphs (E) through (L) of sub-
section (f)(2) that are proposed to be conducted 
within priority areas identified for coral reef res-
toration by the Administrator under the National 
Coral Reef Resilience Strategy.
3587 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(3) REVIEW; APPROVAL
OR
DISAPPROVAL.—Not 
later than 180 days after receiving a proposal for a coral 
reef project under this section, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) request and consider written comments 
on the proposal from each Federal agency, State 
government, covered Native entity, or other govern-
ment jurisdiction, including the relevant regional 
fishery management councils established under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Man-
agement Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or any Na-
tional Marine Sanctuary or Marine National Monu-
ment, with jurisdiction or management authority 
over coral reef ecosystems in the area where the 
project is to be conducted, including the extent to 
which the project is consistent with locally estab-
lished priorities, unless such entities were directly 
involved in the development of the project proposal; 
‘‘(B) provide for the merit-based peer review of 
the proposal and require standardized documenta-
tion of that peer review; 
‘‘(C) after considering any written comments 
and recommendations based on the reviews under 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), approve or disapprove 
the proposal; and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(D) provide written notification of that ap-
proval or disapproval, with summaries of all written 
comments, recommendations, and peer reviews, to 
the entity that submitted the proposal, and each of 
those States, covered Native entity, and other gov-
ernment jurisdictions that provided comments under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(f) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Administrator may 
not approve a proposal for a coral reef project under this sec-
tion unless the project— 
‘‘(1) is consistent with— 
‘‘(A) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy; and 
‘‘(B) any Federal or non-Federal coral reef ac-
tion plans in effect under section 205 covering a 
coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral 
reef to be affected by the project; and 
‘‘(2) will enhance the conservation and restoration 
of coral reefs by— 
‘‘(A) addressing conflicts arising from the use 
of environments near coral reefs or from the use of 
corals, species associated with coral reefs, and coral 
products, including supporting consensus-driven and 
community-based planning and management initia-
tives for the protection of coral reef ecosystems;
3589 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) improving compliance with laws that pro-
hibit or regulate the taking of coral products or spe-
cies associated with coral reefs or regulate the use 
and management of coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(C) designing and implementing networks of 
real-time water quality monitoring along coral reefs, 
including data collection related to turbidity, nutri-
ent availability, harmful algal blooms, and plankton 
assemblages, with an emphasis on coral reefs im-
pacted by agriculture and urban development; 
‘‘(D) promoting ecologically sound navigation 
and anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to 
promote enhanced recreational access, near coral 
reefs; 
‘‘(E) furthering the goals and objectives of 
coral reef action plans in effect under section 205; 
‘‘(F) mapping the location and distribution of 
coral reefs and potential coral reef habitat; 
‘‘(G) stimulating innovation to advance the 
ability of the United States to understand, research, 
or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop man-
agement or adaptation options to conserve and re-
store coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(H) implementing research to ensure the pop-
ulation viability of coral species in United States
3590 
•HRES 1512 EH 
waters listed as threatened or endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 as detailed in the 
population-based recovery criteria included in spe-
cies-specific recovery plans established under such 
Act; 
‘‘(I) developing and implementing cost-effective 
methods to restore degraded coral reef ecosystems 
or to create geographically appropriate coral reef 
ecosystems in suitable waters, including by improv-
ing habitat or promoting success of keystone spe-
cies, with an emphasis on novel restoration strate-
gies and techniques to advance coral reef recovery 
and growth near population centers threatened by 
rising sea levels and storm surge; 
‘‘(J) translating and applying coral genetics re-
search to coral reef ecosystem restoration, including 
research related to traits that promote resilience to 
increasing ocean temperatures, changing ocean 
chemistry, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and 
invasive species; 
‘‘(K) developing and maintaining in situ native 
coral propagation sites; or 
‘‘(L) developing and maintaining ex situ coral 
propagation nurseries and land-based coral gene 
banks to—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
reef research centers designated under sub-
section (b); 
‘‘(ii) assist in the development and imple-
mentation of— 
‘‘(I) the National Coral Reef Resil-
ience Strategy; and 
‘‘(II) coral reef action plans under 
section 205; 
‘‘(iii) build capacity within non-Federal 
governmental resource management agencies to 
establish research priorities and translate and 
apply research findings to management and 
restoration practices; and 
‘‘(iv) conduct public education and aware-
ness programs for policymakers, resource man-
agers, and the general public on— 
‘‘(I) coral reefs and coral reef eco-
systems; 
‘‘(II) best practices for coral reef eco-
system management and restoration; 
‘‘(III) the value of coral reefs; and 
‘‘(IV) the threats to the sustainability 
of coral reef ecosystems. 
‘‘(b) CORAL REEF RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(A) periodically solicit applications for des-
ignation of qualifying institutions in covered States 
as coral reef research centers; and 
‘‘(B) designate all qualifying institutions in 
covered States as coral reef research centers. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFYING INSTITUTIONS.—For purposes of 
paragraph (1), an institution is a qualifying institution 
if the Administrator determines that the institution— 
‘‘(A) is operated by an institution of higher 
education or nonprofit marine research organiza-
tion; 
‘‘(B) has established management-driven na-
tional or regional coral reef research or restoration 
programs; 
‘‘(C) has demonstrated abilities to coordinate 
closely with appropriate Federal and State agencies, 
and other academic and nonprofit organizations; 
and 
‘‘(D) maintains significant local community en-
gagement and outreach programs related to coral 
reef ecosystems. 
‘‘SEC. 213. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the head of any Federal agency with a representa-
tive serving on the United States Coral Reef Task Force es-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
tablished by section 10011 of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, may, indi-
vidually or in cooperation with one or more agencies, carry 
out a program to award prizes competitively under section 24 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3719). 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—Any program carried out under this 
section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innovation to 
advance the ability of the United States to understand, re-
search, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop man-
agement or adaptation options to preserve, sustain, and re-
store coral reef ecosystems. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY PROGRAMS.—Priority shall be given to 
establishing programs under this section that address com-
munities, environments, or industries that are in distress as 
a result of the decline or degradation of coral reef eco-
systems, including— 
‘‘(1) scientific research and monitoring that fur-
thers the understanding of causes behind coral reef de-
cline and degradation and the generally slow recovery 
following disturbances, including changing ocean chem-
istry, temperature-related bleaching, disease, and their 
associated impacts on coral physiology;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) the development of monitoring or management 
options for communities or industries that are experi-
encing significant financial hardship; 
‘‘(3) the development of adaptation options to al-
leviate economic harm and job loss caused by damage to 
coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(4) the development of measures to help vulnerable 
communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural 
communities and businesses; and 
‘‘(5) the development of adaptation and manage-
ment options for impacted tourism industries. 
‘‘SEC. 214. REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of the James M. Inhofe National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, and every 2 
years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the com-
mittees specified in subsection (b) a report on the administra-
tion of this title during the 2-year period preceding submis-
sion of the report, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of all activities undertaken to im-
plement the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy; 
‘‘(2) a statement of all funds obligated under the 
authorities of this title; and 
‘‘(3) a summary, disaggregated by State, of Federal 
and non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each
3598 
•HRES 1512 EH 
project or activity funded, in full or in part, under this 
title. 
‘‘(b) COMMITTEES SPECIFIED.—The committees speci-
fied in this subsection are— 
‘‘(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, Committee on Environment and Public 
Works, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
‘‘SEC. 215. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Administrator $45,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2027 to carry out this title which shall 
remain available until expended. Of such amounts, there is 
authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) $12,000,000 to carry out section 207; 
‘‘(2) $3,500,000 for activities authorized under sec-
tion 211; and 
‘‘(3) $4,500,000 to be provided to the cooperative 
institutes designated under section 212(a) to carry out 
the functions described in such section. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Not more than 10 percent of 
the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) may be used
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•HRES 1512 EH 
for program administration or overhead costs incurred by the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the De-
partment of Commerce. 
‘‘SEC. 216. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Administrator’ 
means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(2) ALASKA
NATIVE
CORPORATION.—The term 
‘Alaska Native Corporation’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘Native Corporation’ in section 3 of the Alaska Na-
tive Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602). 
‘‘(3) 
APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ 
means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(4) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘conservation’ 
means the use of methods and procedures necessary to 
preserve or sustain native corals and associated species 
as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef eco-
systems with minimal impacts from invasive species, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) all activities associated with resource 
management, such as monitoring, assessment, pro-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
tection, restoration, sustainable use, management of 
habitat, and maintenance or augmentation of ge-
netic diversity; 
‘‘(B) mapping; 
‘‘(C) scientific expertise and technical assist-
ance in the development and implementation of 
management strategies for marine protected areas 
and marine resources required by Federal law; 
‘‘(D) law enforcement; 
‘‘(E) conflict resolution initiatives; 
‘‘(F) community outreach and education; and 
‘‘(G) promotion of safe and ecologically sound 
navigation and anchoring. 
‘‘(5) CORAL.—The term ‘coral’ means species of the 
phylum Cnidaria, including— 
‘‘(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia 
(black 
corals), 
Scleractinia 
(stony 
corals), 
Alcyonacea 
(soft 
corals, 
organ 
pipe 
corals, 
gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the 
class Anthozoa; and 
‘‘(B) all species of the order Anthoathecata 
(fire corals and other hydrocorals) of the class 
Hydrozoa. 
‘‘(6) CORAL PRODUCTS.—The term ‘coral products’ 
means any living or dead specimens, parts, or deriva-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
tives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or de-
rivatives, of any species of coral. 
‘‘(7) CORAL REEF.—The term ‘coral reef’ means 
calcium carbonate structures in the form of a reef or 
shoal, composed in whole or in part by living coral, skel-
etal remains of coral, crustose coralline algae, and other 
associated sessile marine plants and animals. 
‘‘(8) CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM.—The term ‘coral 
reef ecosystem’ means— 
‘‘(A) corals and other geographically and eco-
logically associated marine communities of other 
reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) 
associated with coral reef habitat; and 
‘‘(B) the biotic and abiotic factors and proc-
esses that control or significantly affect coral calcifi-
cation rates, tissue growth, reproduction, recruit-
ment, abundance, coral-algal symbiosis, and bio-
diversity in such habitat. 
‘‘(9) CORAL
REEF
ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES.—The 
term ‘coral reef ecosystem services’ means the attributes 
and benefits provided by coral reef ecosystems includ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) protection of coastal beaches, structures, 
and infrastructure;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) habitat for organisms of economic, eco-
logical, biomedical, medicinal, and cultural value; 
‘‘(C) serving as centers for the promulgation, 
performance, and training of cultural practices rep-
resentative of traditional ecological knowledge; and 
‘‘(D) aesthetic value. 
‘‘(10) COVERED NATIVE ENTITY.—The term ‘cov-
ered Native entity’ means a Native entity with interests 
in a coral reef ecosystem. 
‘‘(11) COVERED REEF MANAGER.—The term ‘cov-
ered reef manager’ means— 
‘‘(A) a management unit of a covered State 
with jurisdiction over a coral reef ecosystem; 
‘‘(B) a covered State; or 
‘‘(C) a coral reef stewardship partnership 
under section 206. 
‘‘(12) COVERED STATE.—The term ‘covered State’ 
means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is-
lands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin 
Islands. 
‘‘(13) FEDERAL REEF MANAGER.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘Federal reef 
manager’ means—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(i) a management unit of a Federal 
agency specified in subparagraph (B) with lead 
management jurisdiction over a coral reef eco-
system; or 
‘‘(ii) a coral reef stewardship partnership 
under section 206(c). 
‘‘(B) FEDERAL AGENCIES SPECIFIED.—A Fed-
eral agency specified in this subparagraph is one of 
the following: 
‘‘(i) The National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
‘‘(ii) The National Park Service. 
‘‘(iii) The United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. 
‘‘(iv) The Office of Insular Affairs. 
‘‘(14) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(15) INTERESTED
STAKEHOLDER
GROUPS.—The 
term ‘interested stakeholder groups’ means any of the 
following with interest in an applicable coral reef or eco-
logically significant unit of a coral reef: 
‘‘(A) A business. 
‘‘(B) A commercial or recreational fisherman.
3604 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(C) A recreationalist. 
‘‘(D) A Federal, State, Tribal, or local govern-
ment unit with related jurisdiction. 
‘‘(E) An institution of higher education (as 
such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(F) A nongovernmental organization. 
‘‘(16) NATIONAL CORAL REEF RESILIENCE STRAT-
EGY.—The term ‘National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy’ means the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy 
in effect under section 204. 
‘‘(17) NATIVE ENTITY.—The term ‘Native entity’ 
means any of the following: 
‘‘(A) An Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education As-
sistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)). 
‘‘(B) An Alaska Native Corporation. 
‘‘(C) The Department of Hawaiian Home 
Lands. 
‘‘(D) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 
‘‘(E) A Native Hawaiian organization (as de-
fined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)). 
‘‘(18) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘non-
profit organization’ means any corporation, trust, asso-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
ciation, cooperative, or other organization, not including 
an institution of higher education, that— 
‘‘(A) is operated primarily for scientific, edu-
cational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in 
the public interest; 
‘‘(B) is not organized primarily for profit; and 
‘‘(C) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, 
or expand the operations of the organization. 
‘‘(19) 
RESTORATION.—The 
term 
‘restoration’ 
means the use of methods and procedures necessary to 
enhance, rehabilitate, recreate, or create a functioning 
coral reef or coral reef ecosystem, in whole or in part, 
within suitable waters of the historical geographic range 
of such ecosystems, to provide ecological, economic, cul-
tural, or coastal resiliency services associated with 
healthy coral reefs and benefit native populations of 
coral reef organisms. 
‘‘(20) RESILIENCE.—The term ‘resilience’ means 
the capacity for corals within their native range, coral 
reefs, or coral reef ecosystems to resist and recover from 
natural and human disturbances, and maintain structure 
and function to provide coral reef ecosystem services, as 
determined by clearly identifiable, measurable, and 
science-based standards.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(21) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
‘‘(22) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means— 
‘‘(A) any State of the United States that con-
tains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward 
boundaries; 
‘‘(B) American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, 
or the United States Virgin Islands; or 
‘‘(C) any other territory or possession of the 
United States or separate sovereign in free associa-
tion with the United States that contains a coral 
reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries. 
‘‘(23) STEWARDSHIP.—The term ‘stewardship’, 
with respect to a coral reef, includes conservation, res-
toration, and public outreach and education. 
‘‘(24) TASK FORCE.—The term ‘Task Force’ means 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force established 
under section 10011 of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO NATIONAL OCEANS 
AND COASTAL SECURITY ACT.—Section 905(a) of the Na-
tional Oceans and Coastal Security Act (16 U.S.C. 7504(a)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘and coastal infrastructure’’ and in-
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•HRES 1512 EH 
serting ‘‘, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem services pro-
vided by natural systems such as coral reefs’’. 
(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF CORAL REEF 
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall, not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, submit to Congress and 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a re-
port that— 
(1) examines the budget and accounting practices of 
the coral reef conservation programs of such Administra-
tion, including expenditure tracking across line and pro-
gram offices; 
(2) examines the process for determining appro-
priate project goals and funding priorities; and 
(3) includes recommendations on policies or best 
practices that may improve the transparency and ac-
countability of coral reef conservation programs. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—None of the amendments made 
by or provisions of this title may be construed to enlarge the 
management authority of a Federal agency or coral reef stew-
ardship partnership to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems 
outside the boundaries of such agency’s or partnership’s ju-
risdiction.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
Subtitle B—United States Coral Reef 
Task Force 
SEC. 10011. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a task force to lead, coordinate, and 
strengthen Federal Government actions to better preserve, 
conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems, to be known as 
the ‘‘United States Coral Reef Task Force’’ (in this subtitle 
referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
SEC. 10012. DUTIES. 
The duties of the Task Force shall be— 
(1) to coordinate, in cooperation with covered 
States, covered Native entities, Federal reef managers, 
covered reef managers, coral reef research centers des-
ignated under section 212(b) of the Coral Reef Con-
servation Act of 2000 (as added by this division), and 
other nongovernmental and academic partners as appro-
priate, activities regarding the mapping, monitoring, re-
search, conservation, mitigation, and restoration of coral 
reefs and coral reef ecosystems; 
(2) to monitor and advise regarding implementation 
of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set 
forth in— 
(A) Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 
32701; relating to coral reef protection); and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy; 
(3) to work in coordination with the other members 
of the Task Force— 
(A) to assess the United States role in inter-
national trade and protection of coral species; 
(B) to encourage implementation of appro-
priate strategies and actions to promote conserva-
tion and sustainable use of coral reef resources 
worldwide; and 
(C) to collaborate with international commu-
nities successful in managing coral reefs; 
(4) to provide technical assistance for the develop-
ment and implementation, as appropriate, of— 
(A) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strat-
egy; and 
(B) coral reef action plans under section 205 
of that Act; and 
(5) to produce a report each year, for submission to 
the appropriate congressional committees and publica-
tion on the public website of the Task Force, high-
lighting the status of the coral reef resources of a cov-
ered State on a rotating basis, including—
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) a summary of recent coral reef manage-
ment and restoration activities undertaken in that 
State; and 
(B) updated estimates of the direct and indi-
rect economic activity supported by, and other bene-
fits associated with, those coral reef resources. 
SEC. 10013. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) VOTING MEMBERSHIP.—The voting members of the 
Task Force shall be— 
(1) the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
and Atmosphere and the Secretary of Interior, who shall 
be co-chairpersons of the Task Force; 
(2) such representatives from other Federal agen-
cies as the President, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary, determines appropriate; and 
(3) the Governor, or a representative of the Gov-
ernor, of each covered State. 
(b) NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The Task Force shall have 
the following nonvoting members: 
(1) A member of the South Atlantic Fishery Man-
agement Council who is designated by the Governor of 
Florida under section 302(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Ste-
vens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1852(b)(1)).
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) A member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Man-
agement Council who is designated by the Governor of 
Florida under such section. 
(3) A member of the Western Pacific Fishery Man-
agement Council who is designated under such section 
and selected as follows: 
(A) For the period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act and ending on December 
31 of the calendar year during which such date of 
enactment occurs, the member shall be selected 
jointly by the Governors of Hawaii, American 
Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands. 
(B) For each calendar year thereafter, the 
Governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is-
lands shall, on a rotating basis, take turns selecting 
the member. 
(4) A member of the Caribbean Fishery Manage-
ment Council who is designated under such section and 
selected as follows: 
(A) For the period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act and ending on December 
31 of the calendar year during which such date of 
enactment occurs, the member shall be selected
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(4) engage in any other coordinated efforts ap-
proved by the Task Force. 
(b) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—In addition to their responsibil-
ities under subsection (a), the co-chairpersons of the Task 
Force shall perform the administrative functions of the Task 
Force and facilitate the coordination of the members of the 
Task Force described in section 10013(a). 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not less than 30 days before each meet-
ing of the Task Force, the program offices of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration responsible for im-
plementing this title shall provide a briefing to the relevant 
congressional committees on efforts and spending associated 
with such implementation. 
SEC. 10015. WORKING GROUPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The co-chairpersons of the Task 
Force may establish working groups as necessary to meet the 
goals and carry out the duties of the Task Force. 
(b) REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS.—The members of the 
Task Force may request that the co-chairpersons establish a 
working group under subsection (a). 
(c) PARTICIPATION BY NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—The co-chairpersons may allow nongovernmental or-
ganizations as appropriate, including academic institutions, 
conservation groups, and commercial and recreational fishing
3614 
•HRES 1512 EH 
associations, to participate in a working group established 
under subsection (a). 
(d) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to working groups established 
under this section. 
SEC. 10016. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
The 
term 
‘‘appropriate 
congressional 
committees’’ 
means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate; and 
(D) the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) CONSERVATION, CORAL, CORAL REEF, ETC.— 
The terms ‘‘conservation’’, ‘‘coral’’, ‘‘coral reef’’, ‘‘coral 
reef ecosystem’’, ‘‘covered reef manager’’, ‘‘covered 
State’’, ‘‘Federal reef manager’’, ‘‘National Coral Reef 
Resilience Strategy’’, ‘‘restoration’’, ‘‘resilience’’, and 
‘‘State’’ have the meanings given those terms in section
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•HRES 1512 EH 
216 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as 
added by this division. 
Subtitle C—Department of the 
Interior Coral Reef Authorities 
SEC. 10021. CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior may 
provide scientific expertise and technical assistance, and sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, financial assistance 
for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs consistent 
with all applicable laws governing resource management in 
Federal, State, and Tribal waters, including— 
(1) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy; 
and 
(2) coral reef action plans in effect under section 
205 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as 
added by this division, as applicable. 
(b) CORAL REEF INITIATIVE.—The Secretary may es-
tablish a Coral Reef Initiative Program— 
(1) to provide grant funding to support local man-
agement, conservation, and protection of coral reef eco-
systems in— 
(A) coastal areas of covered States; and 
(B) Freely Associated States;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) to enhance resource availability of National 
Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System man-
agement units to implement coral reef conservation and 
restoration activities; 
(3) to complement the other conservation and as-
sistance activities conducted under this Act or the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 
10001; and 
(4) to provide other technical, scientific, and finan-
cial assistance and conduct conservation and restoration 
activities that advance the purposes of this title and the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by 
this division. 
(c) CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COM-
MERCE.— 
(1) CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of the Interior may consult 
with the Secretary of Commerce regarding the conduct 
of any activities to conserve and restore coral reefs and 
coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the juris-
diction of the Federal agencies specified in paragraphs 
(2) and (3) of section 203(c) of the Coral Reef Con-
servation Act of 2000, as added by this division. 
(2) AWARD
OF
CORAL
REEF
MANAGEMENT
FEL-
LOWSHIP.—The Secretary of the Interior shall consult
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•HRES 1512 EH 
with the Secretary of Commerce to award the Susan L. 
Williams Coral Reef Management Fellowship under sub-
title D. 
(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior may 
enter into cooperative agreements with covered reef managers 
to fund coral reef conservation and restoration activities in 
waters managed under the jurisdiction of such managers 
that— 
(1) are consistent with the National Coral Reef Re-
silience Strategy; and 
(2) support and enhance the success of coral reef 
action plans in effect under section 205 of the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as added by this divi-
sion. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CONSERVATION, CORAL, CORAL REEF, ETC.— 
The terms ‘‘conservation’’, ‘‘coral reef’’, ‘‘covered reef 
manager’’, ‘‘covered State’’, ‘‘National Coral Reef Resil-
ience Strategy’’, ‘‘restoration’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the 
meanings given those terms in section 216 of the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as added by this divi-
sion. 
(2) TRIBE; TRIBAL.—The terms ‘‘Tribe’’ and ‘‘Trib-
al’’ refer to Indian Tribes (as defined in section 102 of
3618 
•HRES 1512 EH 
the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 
(25 U.S.C. 5130)). 
Subtitle D—Susan L. Williams Na-
tional Coral Reef Management Fel-
lowship 
SEC. 10031. SUSAN L. WILLIAMS NATIONAL CORAL REEF MAN-
AGEMENT FELLOWSHIP. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ALASKA
NATIVE
CORPORATION.—The term 
‘‘Alaska Native Corporation’’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘‘Native Corporation’’ in section 3 of the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602). 
(2) FELLOW.—The term ‘‘fellow’’ means a National 
Coral Reef Management Fellow. 
(3) FELLOWSHIP.—The term ‘‘fellowship’’ means 
the National Coral Reef Management Fellowship estab-
lished in subsection (c). 
(4) COVERED NATIVE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered 
Native entity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
216 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as 
added by this division. 
(5) COVERED STATE.—The term ‘‘covered State’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 216 of the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as added by this 
division.
3619 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(6) NATIVE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘Native entity’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 216 of the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as added by this divi-
sion. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the 
Secretary of Commerce. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a National 
Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the fellowship 
are— 
(A) to encourage future leaders of the United 
States to develop additional coral reef management 
capacity in States and local communities with coral 
reefs; 
(B) to provide management agencies of covered 
States and covered Native entities with highly quali-
fied candidates whose education and work experi-
ence meet the specific needs of each covered State 
or covered Native entity; and 
(C) to provide fellows with professional experi-
ence in management of coastal and coral reef re-
sources. 
(c) FELLOWSHIP AWARDS.—
3620 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Interior, shall award a fellow-
ship in accordance with this subsection. 
(2) TERM OF FELLOWSHIP.—A fellowship awarded 
under this subsection shall be for a term of not more 
than 2 years. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of the Interior, shall award a fel-
lowship to individuals who have demonstrated— 
(A) an intent to pursue a career in marine 
services and outstanding potential for such a career; 
(B) leadership potential, actual leadership ex-
perience, or both; 
(C) possession of a college or graduate degree 
in biological science, a college or graduate degree in 
resource management with experience that cor-
relates with aptitude and interest for marine man-
agement, or both; 
(D) proficient writing and speaking skills; and 
(E) such other attributes as the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, con-
siders appropriate. 
(d) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—
3621 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), the non-Federal share of the costs of a fellowship 
under this section shall be 25 percent of such costs. 
(2) WAIVER
OF
MATCHING
REQUIREMENT.—The 
Secretary may waive the application of paragraph (1) to 
a fellowship if the Secretary finds that such waiver is 
necessary to support a project that the Secretary has 
identified as a high priority. 
TITLE 
CI—BOLSTERING 
LONG- 
TERM 
UNDERSTANDING 
AND 
EXPLORATION OF THE GREAT 
LAKES, OCEANS, BAYS, AND ES-
TUARIES 
SEC. 10101. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this title is to promote and support— 
(1) the monitoring, understanding, and exploration 
of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts; 
and 
(2) the collection, analysis, synthesis, and sharing of 
data related to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, 
and coasts to facilitate scientific research and oper-
ational decisionmaking. 
SEC. 10102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title:
3622 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administration’’ 
means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administrator’’ 
means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere in the capacity as Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
SEC. 10103. WORKFORCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(a) of the America COM-
PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (33 U.S.C. 893c(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Commerce’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, skillsets, or 
credentials’’ after ‘‘degrees’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or highly quali-
fied technical professionals and tradespeople’’ after ‘‘at-
mospheric scientists’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, skillsets, or 
credentials’’ after ‘‘degrees’’;
3624 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(c) REPORT.—Section 303(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 
893c(c)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the date of enactment of this Act’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the date of the enactment of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Commerce’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘to each committee’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘section 302 of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives’’. 
(d) PROGRAM AND PLAN.—Section 303(d) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 893c(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration’’ and inserting 
‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmos-
phere’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘academic partners’’ and all that 
follows and inserting ‘‘academic partners.’’.
3625 
•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 10104. ACCELERATING INNOVATION AT COOPERATIVE IN-
STITUTES. 
(a) FOCUS ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.—The Admin-
istrator shall consider evaluating the goals of 1 or more Co-
operative Institutes of the Administration to include focusing 
on advancing or applying emerging technologies, which may 
include— 
(1) applied uses and development of real-time and 
other advanced genetic technologies and applications, in-
cluding such technologies and applications that derive 
genetic material directly from environmental samples 
without any obvious signs of biological source material; 
(2) deployment of, and improvements to the dura-
bility, maintenance, and other lifecycle concerns of, ad-
vanced unmanned vehicles, regional small research ves-
sels, and other research vessels that support and launch 
unmanned vehicles and sensors; and 
(3) supercomputing and big data management, in-
cluding data collected through model outputs, electronic 
monitoring, and remote sensing. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—The Co-
operative Institutes shall work with the Interagency Ocean 
Observation Committee, the regional associations of the Inte-
grated Ocean Observing System, and other ocean observing 
programs to coordinate technology needs and the transition 
of new technologies from research to operations.
3626 
•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 10105. BLUE ECONOMY VALUATION. 
(a) MEASUREMENT
OF
INDUSTRIES.—The Adminis-
trator, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Fed-
eral agencies and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
shall establish a program to improve the collection, aggrega-
tion, and analysis of data to measure the value and impact 
of industries related to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estu-
aries, and coasts on the economy of the United States, in-
cluding military uses, living resources, marine construction, 
marine transportation, offshore energy development and 
siting including for renewable energy, offshore mineral pro-
duction, ship and boat building, tourism, recreation, subsist-
ence, commercial, recreational, and charter fishing, seafood 
processing, and other fishery-related businesses, aquaculture 
such as kelp and shellfish, and other industries the Adminis-
trator determines appropriate. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall— 
(1) work with the Director of the Bureau of Eco-
nomic Analysis and the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies to develop a Coastal and Ocean Economy Sat-
ellite Account that includes national, Tribal, and State- 
level statistics to measure the contribution of the Great 
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts to the overall 
economy of the United States; and
3627 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) collaborate with national and international orga-
nizations and governments to promote consistency of 
methods, measurements, and definitions to ensure com-
parability of results between countries. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than 
every 2 years thereafter until the date that is 20 years after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator, 
in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall publish a report that— 
(1) defines the Blue Economy in consultation with 
Indian Tribes and with input from academia, the private 
sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other rel-
evant experts; 
(2) makes recommendations for updating North 
American Industry Classification System reporting codes 
to reflect the Blue Economy; and 
(3) provides a comprehensive estimate of the value 
and impact of the Blue Economy with respect to each 
State and territory of the United States, including— 
(A) the value and impact of— 
(i) economic activities that are dependent 
upon the resources of the Great Lakes, oceans, 
bays, estuaries, and coasts;
3628 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(ii) the population and demographic char-
acteristics of the population along the coasts; 
(iii) port and shoreline infrastructure; 
(iv) the volume and value of cargo shipped 
by sea or across the Great Lakes; 
(v) data collected from the Great Lakes, 
oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, including 
such data collected by businesses that purchase 
and commodify the data, including weather 
prediction and seasonal agricultural fore-
casting; and 
(vi) military uses; and 
(B) to the extent possible, the qualified value 
and impact of the natural capital of the Great 
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts with re-
spect to tourism, recreation, natural resources, and 
cultural heritage, including other indirect values. 
(d) 
CENTRALIZED
WEBSITE
FOR
RESILIENCY 
GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Adminis-
trator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, shall create and regularly update a 
public website to improve education, outreach, and public
3629 
•HRES 1512 EH 
information regarding grants and other public funding 
opportunities of the Administration related to resiliency. 
(2) CONTENTS OF WEBSITE.—The website created 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) Hyperlinks, descriptions, deadlines, and re-
sources to support applicants including technical as-
sistance and other information as the Administrator 
determines appropriate relating to resilience grants 
administered by— 
(i) the Administration; 
(ii) other relevant Federal agencies; or 
(iii) foundations in coordination with the 
Administration. 
(B) Information described in subparagraph (A) 
that is specific to supporting Tribal Governments 
and Tribal Colleges and Universities, and, with re-
spect to each such grant described in paragraph 
(1), the contact information for an individual of the 
Administration who can assist Tribal Governments 
and Tribal Colleges and Universities in applying for 
such grants. 
(C) Information described in subparagraph (A) 
that is specific to supporting Historically Black Col-
leges and Universities, and, with respect to each 
such grant described in paragraph (1), the contact
3630 
•HRES 1512 EH 
information for an individual of the Administration 
who can assist Historically Black Colleges and Uni-
versities in applying for such grants. 
(3) OUTREACH.—The Administrator shall conduct 
outreach activities to inform State, Tribal, and local gov-
ernments of resiliency, adaptation, and mitigation grants 
that are available to such governments. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(A) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES.—The term ‘‘Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities’’ has the meaning given the term 
‘‘part B institution’’ in section 322 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(B) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.—The 
term ‘‘Tribal College or University’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 316 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c). 
SEC. 10106. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 
Funds to carry out this title may, as provided in advance 
in appropriations Acts, only come from within amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration.
3631 
•HRES 1512 EH 
TITLE CII—REGIONAL OCEAN 
PARTNERSHIPS 
SEC. 10201. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The ocean and coastal waters and the Great 
Lakes of the United States are foundational to the econ-
omy, security, global competitiveness, and well-being of 
the United States and continuously serve the people of 
the United States and other countries as an important 
source of food, energy, economic productivity, recreation, 
beauty, and enjoyment. 
(2) Over many years, the resource productivity and 
water quality of the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
areas of the United States have been diminished by pol-
lution, increasing population demands, economic develop-
ment, and natural and man-made hazard events, both 
acute and chronic. 
(3) The ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas of 
the United States are managed by State and Federal re-
source agencies and Indian Tribes and regulated on an 
interstate and regional scale by various overlapping Fed-
eral authorities, thereby creating a significant need for 
interstate coordination to enhance regional priorities, in-
cluding the ecological and economic health of those 
areas.
3632 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(4) Indian Tribes have unique expertise and knowl-
edge important for the stewardship of the ocean and 
coastal waters and the Great Lakes of the United 
States. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this title are as fol-
lows: 
(1) To complement and expand cooperative vol-
untary efforts intended to manage, conserve, and restore 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas spanning across 
multiple State and Indian Tribe jurisdictions. 
(2) To expand Federal support for monitoring, data 
management, restoration, research, and conservation ac-
tivities in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas. 
(3) To commit the United States to a comprehen-
sive cooperative program to achieve improved water qual-
ity in, and improvements in the productivity of living re-
sources of, oceans, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. 
(4) To authorize Regional Ocean Partnerships as 
intergovernmental coordinators for shared regional prior-
ities among States and Indian Tribes relating to the col-
laborative management of the large marine ecosystems, 
thereby reducing duplication of efforts and maximizing 
opportunities to leverage support in the ocean and coast-
al regions.
3633 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) To empower States to take a lead role in man-
aging oceans, coastal, and Great Lakes areas. 
(6) To incorporate rights of Indian Tribes in the 
management of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes re-
sources and provide resources to support Indian Tribe 
participation in and engagement with Regional Ocean 
Partnerships. 
(7) To enable Regional Ocean Partnerships, or des-
ignated fiscal management entities of such partnerships, 
to receive Federal funding to conduct the scientific re-
search, conservation, and restoration activities, and pri-
ority coordination on shared regional priorities necessary 
to achieve the purposes described in paragraphs (1) 
through (6). 
SEC. 10202. REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administrator’’ 
means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. 
(2) COASTAL
STATE.—The term ‘‘coastal State’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘Coastal state’’ in sec-
tion 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1453). 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian
3634 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) REGIONAL
OCEAN
PARTNERSHIP.—The term 
‘‘Regional Ocean Partnership’’ means a Regional Ocean 
Partnership designated under subsection (b). 
(b) REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A coastal State or Indian Tribe 
may form a partnership with— 
(A) a coastal State that shares a common 
ocean or coastal area with the coastal State, with-
out regard to whether the coastal States are contig-
uous; and 
(B) States— 
(i) that share a common ocean, coastal 
area, or watershed with the coastal State, with-
out regard to whether the coastal States are 
contiguous; or 
(ii) that would contribute to the priorities 
of the partnership; and 
(C) Indian Tribes. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A partnership formed under 
paragraph (1) may apply for designation as a Regional 
Ocean Partnership in such time and manner as deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary if the partnership—
3635 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(A) is established to coordinate the manage-
ment of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources 
among the members of the partnership; 
(B) focuses on the environmental issues affect-
ing the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas of the 
members participating in the partnership; 
(C) complements existing coastal and ocean 
management efforts of States and Indian Tribes on 
an interstate scale, focusing on shared regional pri-
orities; 
(D) does not have a regulatory function; and 
(E) is not duplicative of an existing Regional 
Ocean Partnership designated under paragraph (3), 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(3) DESIGNATION
OF
CERTAIN
ENTITIES
AS
RE-
GIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS.—The following entities 
are designated as Regional Ocean Partnerships: 
(A) The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, comprised of 
the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, and Texas. 
(B) The Northeast Regional Ocean Council, 
comprised of the States of Maine, Vermont, New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode 
Island.
3636 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the 
Ocean, comprised of the States of New York, New 
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. 
(D) The West Coast Ocean Alliance, comprised 
of the States of California, Oregon, and Washington 
and the coastal Indian Tribes therein. 
(4) GREAT
LAKES.—A partnership established 
under this section for the purposes described in sub-
section (d) with respect to a Great Lake may be known 
as a ‘‘Regional Coastal Partnership’’ or a ‘‘Regional 
Great Lakes Partnership’’. 
(c) GOVERNING BODIES OF REGIONAL OCEAN PART-
NERSHIPS.—A Regional Ocean Partnership shall have a gov-
erning body that— 
(1) shall be comprised, at a minimum, of voting 
members from each coastal state participating in the Re-
gional Ocean Partnership, designated by the Governor of 
the coastal state; and 
(2) may include such other members as the partner-
ship considers appropriate. 
(d) FUNCTIONS.—A Regional Ocean Partnership may 
perform the following functions: 
(1) Promote coordination of the actions of the agen-
cies of governments participating in the partnership with 
the actions of the appropriate officials of Federal agen-
3637 
•HRES 1512 EH 
cies, State governments, and Indian Tribes in developing 
strategies— 
(A) to conserve living resources, increase valu-
able habitats, enhance coastal resilience and ocean 
management, promote ecological and economic 
health, and address such other issues related to the 
shared ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes areas as are 
determined to be a shared, regional priority by 
those states; and 
(B) to manage regional data portals and de-
velop associated data products for purposes that 
support the priorities of the partnership. 
(2) In cooperation with appropriate Federal and 
State agencies, Indian Tribes, and local authorities, de-
velop and implement specific action plans to carry out 
coordination goals. 
(3) Coordinate and implement priority plans and 
projects, and facilitate science, research, modeling, moni-
toring, data collection, and other activities that support 
the goals of the partnership through the provision of 
grants and contracts under subsection (f). 
(4) Engage, coordinate, and collaborate with rel-
evant governmental entities and stakeholders to address 
ocean and coastal related matters that require inter-
agency or intergovernmental solutions.
3638 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) Implement outreach programs for public infor-
mation, education, and participation to foster steward-
ship of the resources of the ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes areas, as relevant. 
(6) Develop and make available, through publica-
tions, technical assistance, and other appropriate means, 
information pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues 
being addressed through the coordinated activities of the 
partnership. 
(7) Serve as a liaison with, and provide information 
to, international counterparts, as appropriate on priority 
issues for the partnership. 
(e) COORDINATION, CONSULTATION, 
AND
ENGAGE-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Regional Ocean Partnership 
shall maintain mechanisms for coordination, consulta-
tion, and engagement with the following: 
(A) The Federal Government. 
(B) Indian Tribes. 
(C) Nongovernmental entities, including aca-
demic organizations, nonprofit organizations, and 
private sector entities. 
(D) Other federally mandated regional entities, 
including the Regional Fishery Management Coun-
cils, the regional associations of the National Inte-
3639 
•HRES 1512 EH 
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System, and 
relevant Marine Fisheries Commissions. 
(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in para-
graph (1)(B) may be construed as affecting any require-
ment to consult with Indian Tribes under Executive 
Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301 note; relating to consulta-
tion and coordination with Indian Tribal Governments) 
or any other applicable law or policy. 
(f) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Regional Ocean Partnership 
may, in coordination with existing Federal, State, and 
Tribal management programs, from amounts made avail-
able to the partnership by the Administrator or the head 
of another Federal agency, subject to appropriations for 
such purpose, provide grants and enter into contracts for 
the purposes described in paragraph (2). 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes described in this 
paragraph include any of the following: 
(A) Monitoring the water quality and living re-
sources of multistate ocean and coastal ecosystems 
and coastal communities. 
(B) Researching and addressing the effects of 
natural and human-induced environmental changes 
on— 
(i) ocean and coastal ecosystems; and
3640 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(ii) coastal communities. 
(C) Developing and executing cooperative 
strategies that— 
(i) address regional data issues identified 
by the partnership; and 
(ii) will result in more effective manage-
ment of common ocean and coastal areas. 
(g) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in 
coordination with the Regional Ocean Partnerships, shall 
submit to Congress a report on the partnerships. 
(2) REPORT REQUIREMENTS.—The report required 
by paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the overall status of the 
work of the Regional Ocean Partnerships. 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
partnerships in supporting regional priorities relat-
ing to the management of common ocean, coastal, 
and Great Lakes areas. 
(C) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
strategies that the partnerships are supporting or 
implementing and the extent to which the priority 
needs of the regions covered by the partnerships are 
being met through such strategies.
3641 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(D) An assessment of how the efforts of the 
partnerships support or enhance Federal and State 
efforts consistent with the purposes of this title. 
(E) Such recommendations as the Adminis-
trator may have for improving— 
(i) efforts of the partnerships to support 
the purposes of this title; and 
(ii) collective strategies that support the 
purposes of this title in coordination with all 
relevant Federal and State entities and Indian 
Tribes. 
(F) The distribution of funds from each part-
nership for each fiscal year covered by the report. 
(h) AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS.—In addition to 
amounts made available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships 
by the Administrator under this section, the head of any 
other Federal agency may provide grants to, enter into con-
tracts with, or otherwise provide funding to such partner-
ships, subject to availability of appropriations for such pur-
poses. 
(i) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section establishes 
any new legal or regulatory authority of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration or of the Regional Ocean 
Partnerships, other than—
3642 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(1) the authority of the Administrator to provide 
amounts to the partnerships; and 
(2) the authority of the partnerships to provide 
grants and enter into contracts under subsection (f). 
(j) AUTHORIZATIONS.— 
(1) REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator the 
following amounts to be made available to the Regional 
Ocean Partnerships or designated fiscal management en-
tities of such partnerships to carry out activities of such 
partnerships under this title: 
(A) $10,100,000 for fiscal year 2023. 
(B) $10,202,000 for fiscal year 2024. 
(C) $10,306,040 for fiscal year 2025. 
(D) $10,412,160 for fiscal year 2026. 
(E) $10,520,404 for fiscal year 2027. 
(2) DISTRIBUTION OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts made 
available under this subsection shall be divided evenly 
among the Regional Ocean Partnerships. 
(3) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 
to be distributed to Indian Tribes for purposes of par-
ticipation in or engagement with the Regional Ocean 
Partnerships.
3643 
•HRES 1512 EH 
TITLE CIII—NATIONAL OCEAN 
EXPLORATION 
SEC. 10301. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The health and resilience of the ocean are vital 
to the security and economy of the United States and to 
the lives of the people of the United States. 
(2) The United States depends on the ocean to reg-
ulate weather and climate, to sustain and protect the di-
versity of life, for maritime shipping, for national de-
fense, and for food, energy, medicine, recreation, and 
other services essential to the people of the United 
States and all humankind. 
(3) The prosperity, security, and well-being of the 
United States depend on successful understanding and 
stewardship of the ocean. 
(4) Interdisciplinary cooperation and engagement 
among government agencies, research institutions, non-
governmental organizations, States, Indian Tribes, and 
the private sector are essential for successful steward-
ship of ocean and coastal environments, national eco-
nomic growth, national security, and development of 
agile strategies that develop, promote, and use new tech-
nologies.
3644 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) Ocean exploration can help the people of the 
United States understand how to be effective stewards of 
the ocean and serve as catalysts and enablers for other 
sectors of the economy. 
(6) Mapping, exploration, and characterization of 
the ocean provides basic, essential information to protect 
and restore the marine environment, stimulate economic 
activity, and provide security for the United States. 
(7) A robust national ocean exploration program en-
gaging multiple Federal agencies, Indian Tribes, the pri-
vate sector, nongovernmental organizations, and aca-
demia is— 
(A) essential to the interests of the United 
States and vital to its security and economy and the 
health and well-being of all people of the United 
States; and 
(B) critical to reestablish the United States at 
the forefront of global ocean exploration and stew-
ardship. 
SEC. 10302. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CHARACTERIZATION.—The term ‘‘characteriza-
tion’’ means activities that provide comprehensive data 
and interpretations for a specific area of interest of the 
sea floor, sub-bottom, water column, or hydrologic fea-
3645 
•HRES 1512 EH 
tures, including water masses and currents, in direct 
support of specific research, environmental protection, 
resource management, policymaking, or applied mission 
objectives. 
(2) EXPLORATION.—The term ‘‘exploration’’ means 
activities that provide— 
(A) a multidisciplinary view of an unknown or 
poorly understood area of the seafloor, sub-bottom, 
or water column; and 
(B) an initial assessment of the physical, chem-
ical, geological, biological, archeological, or other 
characteristics of such an area. 
(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) MAPPING.—The term ‘‘mapping’’ means activi-
ties that provide comprehensive data and information 
needed to understand seafloor characteristics, such as 
depth, topography, bottom type, sediment composition 
and distribution, underlying geologic structure, and 
benthic flora and fauna. 
SEC. 10303. OCEAN POLICY COMMITTEE. 
(a) SUBCOMMITTEES.—Section 8932(c) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
3646 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(c) SUBCOMMITTEES.—(1) The Committee shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a subcommittee to be known as the ‘Ocean 
Science and Technology Subcommittee’; and 
‘‘(B) a subcommittee to be known as the ‘Ocean 
Resource Management Subcommittee’. 
‘‘(2) In discharging its responsibilities in support of 
agreed-upon scientific needs, and to assist in the execution of 
the responsibilities described in subsection (b), the Committee 
may delegate responsibilities to the Ocean Science and Tech-
nology Subcommittee, the Ocean Resource Management Sub-
committee, or another subcommittee of the Committee, as the 
Committee determines appropriate.’’. 
(b) INCREASED ACCESS
TO GEOSPATIAL DATA
FOR 
MORE EFFICIENT AND INFORMED DECISIONMAKING.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF DOCUMENT SYSTEM.—Sec-
tion 8932(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in paragraph (4)(F), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
3647 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(5) for projects under the purview of the Com-
mittee, establish or designate one or more systems for 
ocean-related and ocean-mapping-related documents pre-
pared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), in accordance with sub-
section (h).’’. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Section 8932 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection (h): 
‘‘(h) ELEMENTS OF DOCUMENT SYSTEM.—The systems 
established or designated under subsection (b)(5) may include 
the following: 
‘‘(1) A publicly accessible, centralized digital archive 
of documents described in subsection (b)(5) that are fi-
nalized after the date of the enactment of the James M. 
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023, including— 
‘‘(A) environmental impact statements; 
‘‘(B) environmental assessments; 
‘‘(C) records of decision; and 
‘‘(D) other relevant documents as determined 
by the lead agency on a project.
3648 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) Geospatially referenced data, if any, contained 
in the documents under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) A mechanism to retrieve information through 
geo-information tools that can map and integrate rel-
evant geospatial information, such as— 
‘‘(A) Ocean Report Tools; 
‘‘(B) the Environmental Studies Program In-
formation System; 
‘‘(C) Regional Ocean Partnerships; and 
‘‘(D) the Integrated Ocean Observing System. 
‘‘(4) Appropriate safeguards on the public accessi-
bility of data to protect national security equities.’’. 
SEC. 10304. NATIONAL OCEAN MAPPING, EXPLORATION, AND 
CHARACTERIZATION COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish a 
council, to be known as the ‘‘National Ocean Mapping, Ex-
ploration, and Characterization Council’’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Council’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Council shall— 
(1) update national priorities for ocean mapping, 
exploration, and characterization; and 
(2) coordinate and facilitate activities to advance 
those priorities. 
(c) REPORTING.—The Council shall report to the Ocean 
Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy
3649 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Committee established under section 8932(c) of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall be composed of 
senior-level representatives from the appropriate Federal 
agencies. 
(e) CO-CHAIRS.—The Council shall be co-chaired by— 
(1) two senior-level representatives from the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and 
(2) one senior-level representative from the Depart-
ment of the Interior. 
(f) DUTIES.—The Council shall— 
(1) set national ocean mapping, exploration, and 
characterization priorities and strategies; 
(2) cultivate and facilitate transparent and sus-
tained partnerships among Federal and State agencies, 
Indian Tribes, private industry, academia, and non-
governmental organizations to conduct ocean mapping, 
exploration, and characterization activities and related 
technology development; 
(3) coordinate improved processes for data compila-
tion, management, access, synthesis, and visualization 
with respect to ocean mapping, exploration, and charac-
terization, with a focus on building on existing ocean 
data management systems and with appropriate safe-
3650 
•HRES 1512 EH 
guards on the public accessibility of data to protect na-
tional security equities, as appropriate; 
(4) encourage education, workforce training, and 
public engagement activities that— 
(A) advance interdisciplinary principles that 
contribute to ocean mapping, exploration, research, 
and characterization; 
(B) improve public engagement with and un-
derstanding of ocean science; and 
(C) provide opportunities for underserved pop-
ulations; 
(5) coordinate activities as appropriate with domes-
tic and international ocean mapping, exploration, and 
characterization initiatives or programs; and 
(6) establish and monitor metrics to track progress 
in achieving the priorities set under paragraph (1). 
(g) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON OCEAN EXPLO-
RATION AND CHARACTERIZATION.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall estab-
lish a new interagency working group to be known as the 
‘‘Interagency Working Group on Ocean Exploration and 
Characterization’’. 
(2) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
Interagency 
Working 
Group on Ocean Exploration and Characterization shall 
be comprised of senior representatives from Federal
3651 
•HRES 1512 EH 
agencies with ocean exploration and characterization re-
sponsibilities. 
(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Interagency Working Group 
on Ocean Exploration and Characterization shall support 
the Council and the Ocean Science and Technology Sub-
committee of the Ocean Policy Committee established 
under section 8932(c) of title 10, United States Code, on 
ocean exploration and characterization activities and as-
sociated technology development across the Federal Gov-
ernment, State governments, Indian Tribes, private in-
dustry, nongovernmental organizations, and academia. 
(h) OVERSIGHT.—The Council shall oversee— 
(1) the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Ex-
ploration and Characterization established under sub-
section (g)(1); and 
(2) the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping under section 12203 of the Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3502). 
(i) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Council shall de-
velop or update and submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a plan for an integrated cross-sectoral 
ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization initia-
tive.
3652 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The plan required by paragraph 
(1) shall— 
(A) discuss the utility and benefits of ocean ex-
ploration and characterization; 
(B) identify and describe national ocean map-
ping, exploration, and characterization priorities; 
(C) identify and describe Federal and federally 
funded ocean mapping, exploration, and character-
ization programs; 
(D) facilitate and incorporate non-Federal 
input into national ocean mapping, exploration, and 
characterization priorities; 
(E) ensure effective coordination of ocean map-
ping, exploration, and characterization activities 
among programs described in subparagraph (C); 
(F) identify opportunities for combining over-
lapping or complementary needs, activities, and re-
sources of Federal agencies and non-Federal organi-
zations relating to ocean mapping, exploration, and 
characterization while not reducing benefits from 
existing mapping, explorations, and characterization 
activities; 
(G) promote new and existing partnerships 
among Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, 
private industry, academia, and nongovernmental
3653 
•HRES 1512 EH 
organizations to conduct or support ocean mapping, 
exploration, and characterization activities and tech-
nology development needs, including through coordi-
nation under section 3 of the Commercial Engage-
ment Through Ocean Technology Act of 2018 (33 
U.S.C. 4102) and the National Oceanographic Part-
nership Program under section 8931 of title 10, 
United States Code; 
(H) develop a transparent and sustained mech-
anism for non-Federal partnerships and stakeholder 
engagement in strategic planning and mission exe-
cution to be implemented not later than December 
31, 2023, for coordinating such activities with— 
(i) institutions of higher education (as 
such term is defined in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a)), the private sector, philanthropic or-
ganizations, and nonprofits; and 
(ii) international partners for activities re-
lating to maritime areas (including the sea 
floor) beyond the jurisdiction of the Federal 
Government; 
(I) establish standardized collection and data 
management protocols, including with respect to
3654 
•HRES 1512 EH 
metadata, for ocean mapping, exploration, and 
characterization which— 
(i) are publicly accessible and locatable via 
appropriate Federal repositories; 
(ii) can facilitate the integration of ocean 
data into products and use innovations from 
non-Federal partners; and 
(iii) have appropriate safeguards on the 
public accessibility of data to protect national 
security; 
(J) encourage the development, testing, dem-
onstration, and adoption of innovative ocean map-
ping, exploration, and characterization technologies 
and applications; 
(K) promote protocols for accepting data, 
equipment, approaches, or other resources that sup-
port national ocean mapping, exploration, and char-
acterization priorities; 
(L) identify best practices for the protection of 
marine life during mapping, exploration, and char-
acterization activities; 
(M) identify training, technology, and other re-
source requirements for enabling the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration and other ap-
propriate Federal agencies to support a coordinated
3655 
•HRES 1512 EH 
national ocean mapping, exploration, and character-
ization effort; 
(N) identify and facilitate a centralized mecha-
nism or office for coordinating data collection, com-
pilation, processing, archiving, and dissemination 
activities relating to ocean mapping, exploration, 
and characterization that meets Federal mandates 
for data accuracy and accessibility; 
(O) designate repositories responsible for 
archiving and managing ocean mapping, explo-
ration, and characterization data; 
(P) set forth a timetable and estimated costs 
for implementation and completion of the plan; 
(Q) to the extent practicable, align ocean ex-
ploration and characterization efforts with existing 
programs and identify key gaps; and 
(R) identify criteria for determining the opti-
mal frequency of observations; and 
(S) provide recommendations, developed in co-
ordination with the private sector, to improve incen-
tives, access, and processes for the private sector to 
share ocean-related data with the public and Fed-
eral Government. 
(j) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once
3656 
•HRES 1512 EH 
every 2 years thereafter, the Council shall brief the appro-
priate committees of Congress on— 
(1) progress made toward meeting the national pri-
orities described in subsection (i)(2)(B); and 
(2) recommendations for meeting such priorities, 
such as additional authorities that may be needed to de-
velop a mechanism for non-Federal partnerships and 
stakeholder 
engagement 
described 
in 
subsection 
(i)(2)(H). 
(k) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CONGRESS
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of 
Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Natural Resources, the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives. 
SEC. 10305. MODIFICATIONS TO THE OCEAN EXPLORATION 
PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT-
MOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 12001 of the Omnibus Public 
Land Management Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3401) is amended 
by striking ‘‘and the national undersea research program’’.
3657 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(b) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—Section 12002 of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 3402) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘and under-
sea’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘and under-
sea research and exploration’’ and inserting ‘‘research 
and ocean exploration and characterization efforts’’. 
(c) POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 12003(a) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3403(a)) is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
inserting ‘‘, in consultation with the Ocean Policy 
Committee established under section 8932 of title 
10, United States Code,’’ after ‘‘Administration’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘voyages’’ and inserting 
‘‘expeditions’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Federal agencies’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘and survey’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Federal and State agencies, Tribal Gov-
ernments, private industry, academia (includ-
ing secondary schools, community colleges, and 
universities), and nongovernmental organiza-
tions, to map, explore, and characterize’’; and
3658 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘characterize,’’ after ‘‘ob-
serve,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘of the ex-
clusive economic zone’’ after ‘‘deep ocean regions’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘voyages’’ 
and inserting ‘‘expeditions’’; 
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘, in con-
sultation with the National Science Foundation,’’; 
(F) by amending paragraph (5) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(5) support technological innovation of the United 
States marine science community by promoting the de-
velopment and use of new and emerging technologies for 
research, communication, navigation, and data collection, 
such as sensors and autonomous vehicles;’’; 
(G) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘, in con-
sultation with the National Ocean Mapping, Explo-
ration, and Characterization Council established 
under section 5405 of the James M. Inhofe Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2023,’’ after ‘‘forum’’; 
(H) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) provide guidance, in consultation with the Na-
tional Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characteriza-
tion Council, to Federal and State agencies, Tribal Gov-
3659 
•HRES 1512 EH 
ernments, private industry, academia (including sec-
ondary schools, community colleges, and universities), 
and nongovernmental organizations on data standards, 
protocols for accepting data, and coordination of data 
collection, compilation, processing, archiving, and dis-
semination for data relating to ocean exploration and 
characterization; and 
‘‘(8) coordinate with applicable ocean mapping, 
ocean monitoring, and ocean observation programs to 
maximize coordination and collaboration opportunities, 
prevent duplication of such activities and identify gaps 
in data.’’. 
(2) DONATIONS.—Section 12003(b) of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3403(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) DONATIONS.—For the purpose of mapping, explor-
ing, and characterizing the oceans or increasing the knowl-
edge of the oceans, the Administrator may— 
‘‘(1) accept monetary donations, which shall be 
credited as discretionary offsetting collections to the cur-
rently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 
shall be made available for such purposes only to the ex-
tent and in the amounts provided in advance in appro-
priations Acts;
3660 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) accept donations of property, data, and equip-
ment; and 
‘‘(3) pay all necessary expenses in connection with 
the conveyance or transfer of a gift, devise, or bequest.’’. 
(3) DEFINITION OF EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.— 
Section 12003 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3403) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.—In 
this section, the term ‘exclusive economic zone’ means the 
zone established by Presidential Proclamation Number 5030, 
dated March 10, 1983 (16 U.S.C. 1453 note).’’. 
(d) REPEAL OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND UNDERSEA 
RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY
AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
TASK 
FORCE.—Section 12004 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3404) is re-
pealed. 
(e) EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND OUT-
REACH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Such Act is further amended by 
inserting after section 12003 the following new section 
12004: 
‘‘SEC. 12004. EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND OUT-
REACH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall—
3661 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(1) conduct education and outreach efforts in 
order to broadly disseminate information to the public 
on the discoveries made by the program under section 
12002; 
‘‘(2) to the extent possible, coordinate the efforts 
described in paragraph (1) with the outreach strategies 
of other domestic or international ocean mapping, explo-
ration, and characterization initiatives; and 
‘‘(3) establish a fellowship program at the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide 
year-long fellowships to undergraduate students from in-
stitutions described in section 371(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965. 
‘‘(b) EDUCATION
AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.—Efforts 
described in subsection (a)(1) may include— 
‘‘(1) education of the general public, teachers, stu-
dents, and ocean and coastal resource managers; and 
‘‘(2) workforce training, reskilling, and opportuni-
ties to encourage development of ocean-related science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics technical 
training programs involving secondary schools, commu-
nity colleges, and universities, including institutions de-
scribed in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965.
3662 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(c) OUTREACH STRATEGY.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of the National Ocean Explo-
ration Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall develop an outreach strat-
egy to broadly disseminate information on the discoveries 
made by the program under section 12002.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Manage-
ment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 
12004 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 12004. Education, workforce training, and outreach.’’. 
(f) OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 12005(a) of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 3505(a)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including representatives 
from academic, commercial, nonprofit, philan-
thropic, policy, and Tribal entities’’ after ‘‘relevant 
fields’’; 
(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) to advise the Administrator on priority areas 
for survey, discovery, and opportunities for extramural 
collaboration and partnerships;’’; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (6); and
3663 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) to identify market barriers to development or 
commercialization of novel ocean mapping, exploration, 
and characterization products, processes, and tools; 
‘‘(5) to identify best practices to improve data man-
agement, processing, storage, and archiving standards; 
and’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 12005(c) of 
such Act (33 U.S.C. 3505(c)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘this’’ before ‘‘part’’. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
12006 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3406) is amended by striking 
‘‘this part’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘this part 
$60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028’’. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—Such Act is further amended by in-
serting after section 12006 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 12007. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this part: 
‘‘(1) CHARACTERIZATION.—The terms ‘character-
ization’, ‘characterize’, and ‘characterizing’ mean activi-
ties that provide comprehensive data and interpretations 
for a specific area of interest of the sea floor, sub-bot-
tom, water column, or hydrologic features, such as water 
masses and currents, in direct support of specific re-
3664 
•HRES 1512 EH 
search, environmental protection, resource management, 
policymaking, or applied mission objectives. 
‘‘(2) EXPLORATION.—The term ‘exploration’, ‘ex-
plore’, and ‘exploring’ means activities that provide— 
‘‘(A) a multidisciplinary view of an unknown or 
poorly understood area of the sea floor, sub-bottom, 
or water column; and 
‘‘(B) an initial assessment of the physical, 
chemical, geological, biological, archaeological, or 
other characteristics of such an area. 
‘‘(3) MAPPING.—The terms ‘map’ and ‘mapping’ 
mean activities that provide comprehensive data and in-
formation needed to understand sea floor characteristics, 
including depth, topography, bottom type, sediment com-
position and distribution, underlying geologic structure, 
and benthic flora and fauna.’’. 
(i) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 
2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 12006 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 12007. Definitions.’’. 
SEC. 10306. REPEAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The NOAA Undersea Research Pro-
gram Act of 2009 (part II of subtitle A of title XII of Public 
Law 111–11; 33 U.S.C. 3421 et seq.) is repealed.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 
2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by 
striking the items relating to part II of subtitle A of title XII 
of such Act. 
SEC. 10307. MODIFICATIONS TO OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING 
PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT-
MOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 12202(a) of the Ocean 
and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 
3501(a)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘establish a program to develop 
a coordinated and’’ and inserting ‘‘establish and 
maintain a program to coordinate’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘plan’’ and inserting ‘‘efforts’’; 
and 
(C) by striking ‘‘that enhances’’ and all that 
follows and inserting ‘‘that— 
‘‘(1) enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-
making for natural resource and habitat management 
restoration and conservation, emergency response, and 
coastal resilience and adaptation; 
‘‘(2) establishes research and mapping priorities;
3666 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(3) supports the siting of research and other plat-
forms; and 
‘‘(4) advances ocean and coastal science.’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—Section 12202 of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3501) is amended by striking subsection (b) and 
redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b). 
(3) PROGRAM PARAMETERS.—Subsection (b) of sec-
tion 12202 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3501), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (2), is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘developing’’ and inserting ‘‘maintaining’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and for 
leveraging existing Federal geospatial services ca-
pacities and contract vehicles for efficiencies’’ after 
‘‘coastal mapping’’; 
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘with coastal 
state and local government programs’’ and inserting 
‘‘with mapping programs, in conjunction with Fed-
eral and State agencies, Tribal governments, private 
industry, academia, and nongovernmental organiza-
tions’’; 
(D) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘of real-time 
tide data and the development’’ and inserting ‘‘of 
tide data and water-level data and the development 
and dissemination’’;
3667 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(E) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(F) in paragraph (10), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) support— 
‘‘(A) the Ocean Science and Technology Sub-
committee of the Ocean Policy Committee estab-
lished under section 8932(c) of title 10, United 
States Code; and 
‘‘(B) the National Ocean Mapping, Explo-
ration, and Characterization Council established 
under section 5405 of the National Ocean Explo-
ration Act.’’. 
(b) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP
ON OCEAN
AND 
COASTAL MAPPING.— 
(1) NAME CHANGE.—The Ocean and Coastal Map-
ping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in section 12202 (33 U.S.C. 3501)— 
(i) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Inter-
agency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Map-
ping’’ and inserting ‘‘Interagency Working 
Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping under 
section 12203’’; and
3668 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(ii) in subsection (b), as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘Committee’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Working Group’’; 
(B) in section 12203 (33 U.S.C. 3502)— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘COMMITTEE’’ and inserting ‘‘WORKING 
GROUP’’; 
(ii) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, 
by striking ‘‘committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Work-
ing Group’’; 
(iii) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘com-
mittee’’ and inserting ‘‘Working Group’’; and 
(iv) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘com-
mittee’’ and inserting ‘‘Working Group’’; and 
(C) in section 12208 (33 U.S.C. 3507), by 
amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) WORKING GROUP.—The term ‘Working Group’ 
means the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping under section 12203.’’. 
(2) IN GENERAL.—Section 12203(a) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3502(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘within 30 
days’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘not later than 
30 days after the date of the enactment of the National 
Ocean Exploration Act, shall use the Interagency Work-
ing Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping in existence
3669 
•HRES 1512 EH 
as of the date of the enactment of such Act to imple-
ment section 12202.’’. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.—Section 12203(b) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3502(b)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘senior’’ both places it appears 
and inserting ‘‘senior-level’’; 
(B) by striking the second sentence; 
(C) by striking ‘‘the Minerals Management 
Service’’ and inserting ‘‘the Bureau of Ocean En-
ergy Management of the Department of the Inte-
rior, the Office of the Assistant Secretary, Fish and 
Wildlife and Parks of the Department of the Inte-
rior’’; and 
(D) by striking ‘‘the Chief of Naval Oper-
ations’’ and inserting ‘‘the Department of the 
Navy’’. 
(4) CO-CHAIRS.—Section 12203(c) of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3502(c)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) CO-CHAIRS.—The Working Group shall be co- 
chaired by one representative from each of the following: 
‘‘(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(2) The Department of the Interior.’’.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) SUBORDINATE GROUPS.—Section 12203(d) of 
such Act (33 U.S.C. 3502(d)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) SUBORDINATE GROUPS.—The co-chairs may estab-
lish such permanent or temporary subordinate groups as de-
termined appropriate by the Working Group.’’. 
(6) MEETINGS.—Section 12203(e) of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3502(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘each sub-
committee and each working group’’ and inserting ‘‘each 
subordinate group’’. 
(7) COORDINATION.—Section 12203(f) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3502(f)) is amended by striking paragraphs 
(1) through (5) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) other Federal efforts; 
‘‘(2) international mapping activities; 
‘‘(3) coastal States; 
‘‘(4) coastal Indian Tribes; 
‘‘(5) data acquisition and user groups through 
workshops, partnerships, and other appropriate mecha-
nisms; and 
‘‘(6) representatives of nongovernmental entities.’’. 
(8) ADVISORY PANEL.—Section 12203 of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3502) is amended by striking subsection (g).
3671 
•HRES 1512 EH 
(9) FUNCTIONS.—Section 12203 of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3502), as amended by paragraph (8), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) SUPPORT FUNCTIONS.—The Working Group shall 
support the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Char-
acterization Council established under section 5405 of the 
National Ocean Exploration Act and the Ocean Science and 
Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee es-
tablished under section 8932(c) of title 10, United States 
Code, on ocean mapping activities and associated technology 
development across the Federal Government, State govern-
ments, coastal Indian Tribes, private industry, nongovern-
mental organizations, and academia.’’. 
(10) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Man-
agement Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 
991) is amended by striking the item relating to section 
12203 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 12203. Interagency working group on ocean and coastal mapping.’’. 
(c) BIENNIAL REPORTS.—Section 12204 of the Ocean 
and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3503) is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by strik-
ing ‘‘No later’’ and all that follows through ‘‘House of 
Representatives’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of the National
3672 
•HRES 1512 EH 
Ocean Exploration Act, and biennially thereafter until 
2040, the co-chairs of the Working Group, in coordina-
tion with the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and 
Characterization Council established under section 5405 
of such Act, shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including the 
data maintained by the National Centers for Environ-
mental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration,’’ after ‘‘mapping data’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, including a 
plan to map the coasts of the United States on a re-
quirements-based cycle, with mapping agencies and part-
ners coordinating on a unified approach that factors in 
recent related studies, meets multiple user requirements, 
and identifies gaps’’ after ‘‘accomplished’’; 
(4) by striking paragraph (10) and redesignating 
paragraphs (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (10), 
(11), and (12), respectively; 
(5) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘with coastal State and local government programs’’
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•HRES 1512 EH 
and inserting ‘‘with international, coastal State, and 
local government and nongovernmental mapping pro-
grams’’; 
(6) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by para-
graph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘increase’’ and inserting 
‘‘streamline and expand’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘for the purpose of fulfilling 
Federal mapping and charting responsibilities, 
plans, and strategies’’ after ‘‘entities’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semi-
colon; 
(7) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by para-
graph (4), by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing a semicolon; and 
(8) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) a progress report on the development of new 
and innovative technologies and applications through re-
search and development, including cooperative or other 
agreements with joint or cooperative research institutes 
and centers and other nongovernmental entities; 
‘‘(14) a description of best practices in data proc-
essing and distribution and leveraging opportunities 
among agencies represented on the Working Group and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
with coastal States, coastal Indian Tribes, and non-
governmental entities; 
‘‘(15) an identification of any training, technology, 
or other requirements for enabling Federal mapping pro-
grams, vessels, and aircraft to support a coordinated 
ocean and coastal mapping program; and 
‘‘(16) a timetable for implementation and comple-
tion of the plan described in paragraph (3), including 
recommendations for integrating new approaches into 
the program.’’. 
(d) NOAA JOINT OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING CEN-
TERS.— 
(1) CENTERS.—Section 12205(c) of such Act (33 
U.S.C. 3504(c)) is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘three’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘and 
uncrewed’’ after ‘‘sensing’’. 
(2) PLAN.—Section 12205 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 
3504) is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘PLAN’’ 
and inserting ‘‘NOAA JOINT OCEAN AND COAST-
AL MAPPING CENTERS’’; 
(B) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (d); 
and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(c) NOAA 
JOINT OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING CENTERS.— 
’’. 
(3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Manage-
ment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 
12205 and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 12205. NOAA joint ocean and coastal mapping centers.’’. 
(e) OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING FEDERAL FUNDING 
OPPORTUNITY.—The Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integra-
tion Act (33 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 12206, 12207, and 
12208 as sections 12208, 12209, and 12210, respec-
tively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 12205 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 12206. OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING FEDERAL FUND-
ING OPPORTUNITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of the National Ocean Exploration Act, 
the Administrator shall develop an integrated ocean and 
coastal mapping Federal funding match opportunity, to be 
known as the ‘Brennan Ocean Mapping Fund’ in memory of 
Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan, within the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration with Federal, State, 
Tribal, local, nonprofit, private industry, or academic part-
3676 
•HRES 1512 EH 
ners in order to increase the coordinated acquisition, proc-
essing, stewardship, and archival of new ocean and coastal 
mapping data in United States waters. 
‘‘(b) RULES.—The Administrator shall develop adminis-
trative and procedural rules for the ocean and coastal map-
ping Federal funding match opportunity developed under sub-
section (a), to include— 
‘‘(1) specific and detailed criteria that must be ad-
dressed by an applicant, such as geographic overlap with 
preestablished priorities, number and type of project 
partners, benefit to the applicant, coordination with 
other funding opportunities, and benefit to the public; 
‘‘(2) determination of the appropriate funding 
match amounts and mechanisms to use, such as grants, 
agreements, or contracts; and 
‘‘(3) other funding award criteria as are necessary 
or appropriate to ensure that evaluations of proposals 
and decisions to award funding under this section are 
based on objective standards applied fairly and equitably 
to those proposals. 
‘‘(c) GEOSPATIAL
SERVICES
AND
CONTRACT
VEHI-
CLES.—The ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding 
match opportunity developed under subsection (a) shall lever-
age Federal expertise and capacities for geospatial services
3677 
•HRES 1512 EH 
and Federal geospatial contract vehicles using the private sec-
tor for acquisition efficiencies. 
‘‘SEC. 12207. AGREEMENTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) AGREEMENTS.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations for such purpose, the head of a Federal agency that 
is represented on the Interagency Committee on Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping may enter into agreements with any other 
agency that is so represented to provide, on a reimbursable 
or nonreimbursable basis, facilities, equipment, services, per-
sonnel, and other support services to carry out the purposes 
of this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator may 
make financial assistance awards (grants of cooperative 
agreements) to any State or subdivision thereof or any public 
or private organization or individual to carry out the pur-
poses of this subtitle.’’. 
(f) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
12209 of such Act, as redesignated by subsection (e)(1), is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘this subtitle’’ and 
all that follows and inserting ‘‘this subtitle $45,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘this subtitle’’ and 
all that follows and inserting ‘‘this subtitle $15,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028.’’;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(3) by striking subsection (c); and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING FEDERAL FUND-
ING OPPORTUNITY.—Of amounts authorized pursuant to sub-
section (a), $20,000,000 is authorized to carry out section 
12206.’’. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING.—Paragraph (5) 
of section 12210 of such Act, as redesignated by sub-
section (e)(1), is amended by striking ‘‘processing, and 
management’’ and inserting ‘‘processing, management, 
maintenance, interpretation, certification, and dissemina-
tion’’. 
(2) COASTAL
INDIAN
TRIBE.—Section 12210 of 
such Act, as redesignated by subsection (e)(1), is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) COASTAL INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘coastal 
Indian Tribe’ means an ‘Indian Tribe’, as defined in sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), the land of which is 
located in a coastal State.’’. 
(h) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 
2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by
3679 
•HRES 1512 EH 
striking the items relating to sections 12206 through 12208 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 12206. Ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding opportunity. 
‘‘Sec. 12207. Cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants. 
‘‘Sec. 12208. Effect on other laws. 
‘‘Sec. 12209. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘Sec. 12210. Definitions.’’. 
SEC. 10308. MODIFICATIONS TO HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IM-
PROVEMENT ACT OF 1998. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 302(4)(A) of the Hydro-
graphic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 
892(4)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘hydrodynamic forecast 
and datum transformation models,’’ after ‘‘nautical informa-
tion databases,’’. 
(b) FUNCTIONS
OF
THE
ADMINISTRATOR.—Section 
303(b) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 892a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by in-
serting ‘‘precision navigation,’’ after ‘‘promote’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and hydrodynamic forecast 
models’’ after ‘‘monitoring systems’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and provide foundational in-
formation and services required to support coastal 
resilience planning for coastal transportation and 
other infrastructure, coastal protection and restora-
tion projects, and related activities’’ after ‘‘effi-
ciency’’; and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semi-
colon. 
(c) QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.—Section 304(a) of 
such Act (33 U.S.C. 892b(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘prod-
uct produced’’ and inserting ‘‘product or service produced or 
disseminated’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
306(a) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 892d(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$70,814,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘$71,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2028’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$25,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘$34,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2028’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘$29,932,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘$38,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2028’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘$26,800,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘$45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2028’’; and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(5) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘$30,564,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting 
‘‘$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2028’’. 
TITLE CIV—MARINE MAMMAL 
RESEARCH AND RESPONSE 
SEC. 10401. DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION. 
Section 402 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘or en-
tangled’’ after ‘‘stranded’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘strandings,’’ and inserting 
‘‘strandings and entanglements, including un-
usual mortality events,’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘stranding’’ before ‘‘re-
gion’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘marine mammals; and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘marine mammals and entangled 
marine mammals to allow comparison of the 
causes of illness and deaths in stranded marine 
mammals and entangled marine mammals with 
physical, chemical, and biological environ-
mental parameters; and’’; and
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘analyses, 
that would allow comparison of the causes of illness 
and deaths in stranded marine mammals with phys-
ical, chemical, and biological environmental param-
eters.’’ and inserting ‘‘analyses.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED AND 
COLLECTED.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—After each response to a 
stranding or entanglement event, the Secretary shall col-
lect (including from any staff of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration that respond directly to 
such an event), and shall require each stranding network 
participant who responds to that stranding or entangle-
ment to submit to the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Director 
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service— 
‘‘(A) data on the stranding event, including 
NOAA Form 89–864 (OMB #0648–0178), NOAA 
Form 89–878 (OMB #0648–0178), similar suc-
cessor forms, or similar information in an appro-
priate format required by the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service for species under its manage-
ment authority;
3683 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) supplemental data to the data described 
in subparagraph (A), which may include, as avail-
able, relevant information about— 
‘‘(i) weather and tide conditions; 
‘‘(ii) offshore human, predator, or prey ac-
tivity; 
‘‘(iii) morphometrics; 
‘‘(iv) behavior; 
‘‘(v) health assessments; 
‘‘(vi) life history samples; or 
‘‘(vii) stomach and intestinal contents; 
and 
‘‘(C) data and results from laboratory analysis 
of tissues, which may include, as appropriate and 
available— 
‘‘(i) histopathology; 
‘‘(ii) toxicology; 
‘‘(iii) microbiology; 
‘‘(iv) virology; or 
‘‘(v) parasitology. 
‘‘(2) TIMELINE.—A stranding network participant 
shall submit— 
‘‘(A) the data described in paragraph (1)(A) 
not later than 30 days after the date of a response 
to a stranding or entanglement event;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) the compiled data described in paragraph 
(1)(B) not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the data is available to the stranding network 
participant; and 
‘‘(C) the compiled data described in paragraph 
(1)(C) not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the laboratory analysis has been reported to 
the stranding network participant. 
‘‘(3) ONLINE DATA INPUT SYSTEM.—The Secretary, 
acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere, in consultation with the strand-
ing network and the Office of Evaluation Sciences of the 
General Services Administration, shall establish an on-
line system for the purposes of efficient and timely sub-
mission of data described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(d) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop a 
program to make information, including any data and 
metadata collected under paragraph (3) or (4) of sub-
section (b) or subsection (c), available to researchers, 
stranding network participants, and the public— 
‘‘(A) to improve real-time coordination of re-
sponse to stranding and entanglement events across 
geographic areas and between stranding coordina-
tors;
3685 
•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(B) to identify and quickly disseminate infor-
mation on potential public health risks; 
‘‘(C) to facilitate integrated interdisciplinary 
research; 
‘‘(D) to facilitate peer-reviewed publications; 
‘‘(E) to archive regional data into 1 national 
database for future analyses; and 
‘‘(F) for education and outreach activities. 
‘‘(2) ACCESS TO DATA.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that any data or metadata collected under subsection 
(c)— 
‘‘(A) by staff of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration or the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service that responded directly to a 
stranding or entanglement event is available to the 
public through the Health MAP and the Observa-
tion System not later than 30 days after that data 
or metadata is collected by, available to, or reported 
to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) by a stranding network participant that 
responded directly to a stranding or entanglement 
event is made available to the public through the 
Health MAP and the Observation System 2 years 
after the date on which that data are submitted to 
the Secretary under subsection (c).
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) WRITTEN
RELEASE.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary may make data de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(B) publicly available ear-
lier than 2 years after the date on which that data 
are submitted to the Secretary under subsection (c), 
if the stranding network participant has completed 
a written release stating that such data may be 
made publicly available. 
‘‘(B) LAW
ENFORCEMENT.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (2), the Secretary may withhold data for 
a longer period than the period of time described in 
paragraph (2) in the event of a law enforcement ac-
tion or legal action that may be related to that 
data. 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the marine mammal stranding community, shall— 
‘‘(1) make publicly available guidance about uni-
form data and metadata standards to ensure that data 
collected in accordance with this section can be archived 
in a form that is readily accessible and understandable 
to the public through the Health MAP and the Observa-
tion System; and 
‘‘(2) periodically update such guidance.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(f) MANAGEMENT POLICY.—In collaboration with the 
regional stranding networks, the Secretary shall develop, and 
periodically update, a data management and public outreach 
collaboration policy for stranding or entanglement events. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORSHIP AGREEMENTS
AND ACKNOWLEDG-
MENT POLICY.—The Secretary, acting through the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall in-
clude authorship agreements or other acknowledgment con-
siderations for use of data by the public, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(h) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The Secretary shall not require 
submission of research data that are not described in sub-
section (c).’’. 
SEC. 10402. STRANDING OR ENTANGLEMENT RESPONSE AGREE-
MENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 403 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421b) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘OR EN-
TANGLEMENT’’ before ‘‘RESPONSE’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘or entanglement.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon;
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•HRES 1512 EH 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) include a description of the data management 
and public outreach policy established under section 
402(f).’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
contents in the first section of the Marine Mammal Protec-
tion Act of 1972 (Public Law 92–522; 86 Stat. 1027) is 
amended by striking the item related to section 403 and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 403. Stranding or entanglement response agreements.’’. 
SEC. 10403. UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT ACTIVITY FUNDING. 
Section 405(b) the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421d(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) USES.—Amounts in the Fund shall be available 
only for use by the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of the Interior, and dispersed among claimants based 
on budgets approved by the Secretary prior to expenditure— 
‘‘(1) to make advance, partial, or progress pay-
ments under contracts or other funding mechanisms for 
property, supplies, salaries, services, and travel costs in-
curred in acting in accordance with the contingency plan 
issued under section 404(b) or under the direction of an 
Onsite Coordinator for an unusual mortality event des-
ignated under section 404(a)(2)(B)(iii);
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(2) for reimbursing any stranding network partici-
pant for costs incurred in the collection, preparation, 
analysis, and transportation of marine mammal tissues 
and samples collected with respect to an unusual mor-
tality event for the Tissue Bank; and 
‘‘(3) for the care and maintenance of a marine 
mammal seized under section 104(c)(2)(D); and’’. 
SEC. 10404. LIABILITY. 
Section 406(a) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421e(a)) is amended, in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1)— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or entanglement’’ after ‘‘to a 
stranding’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘government’’ and inserting ‘‘Gov-
ernment’’. 
SEC. 10405. NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE BANK AND TIS-
SUE ANALYSIS. 
Section 407 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421f) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘the health 
of marine mammals and’’ and inserting ‘‘marine mam-
mal health and mortality and the health of’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by inserting ‘‘public’’ before ‘‘access’’.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
SEC. 10406. MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND RESPONSE GRANT 
PROGRAM AND RAPID RESPONSE FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 408 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421f–1) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting 
‘‘MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND RESPONSE GRANT 
PROGRAM AND RAPID RESPONSE FUND’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (a) through (d) and sub-
sections (f) through (h); 
(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(f); and 
(4) by inserting before subsection (f), as redesig-
nated by paragraph (3), the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘emergency as-
sistance’ means— 
‘‘(i) financial assistance provided to re-
spond to, or that results from, a stranding 
event or entanglement event that— 
‘‘(I) causes an immediate increase in 
the cost of a response, recovery, or reha-
bilitation that is greater than the usual 
cost of a response, recovery, or rehabilita-
tion; 
‘‘(II) is cyclical or endemic; or
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•HRES 1512 EH 
‘‘(III) involves a marine mammal 
that is out of the normal range for that 
marine mammal; or 
‘‘(ii) financial assistance provided to re-
spond to, or that results from, a stranding 
event or an entanglement event that— 
‘‘(I) the applicable Secretary con-
siders to be an emergency; or 
‘‘(II) with the concurrence of the ap-
plicable Secretary, a State, territorial, or 
Tribal Government considers to be an 
emergency. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘emergency as-
sistance’ does not include financial assistance to re-
spond to an unusual mortality event. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3(12)(A). 
‘‘(3) STRANDING REGION.—The term ‘stranding re-
gion’ means a geographic region designated by the appli-
cable Secretary for purposes of administration of this 
title. 
‘‘(b) JOHN H. PRESCOTT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE 
AND RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The applicable Secretary shall 
carry out a grant program, to be known as the ‘John H.
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•HRES 1512 EH 
Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant 
Program’ (referred to in this section as the ‘grant pro-
gram’), to award grants to eligible stranding network 
participants or stranding network collaborators, as de-
scribed in this subsection. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the grant pro-
gram are to provide for— 
‘‘(A) the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, 
injured, or entangled marine mammals; 
‘‘(B) responses to marine mammal stranding 
events that require emergency assistance; 
‘‘(C) the collection of data and samples from 
living or dead stranded marine mammals for sci-
entific research or assessments regarding marine 
mammal health; 
‘‘(D) facility operating costs that are directly 
related to activities described in subparagraph (A), 
(B), or (C); and 
‘‘(E) development of stranding network capac-
ity, including training for emergency response, 
where facilities do not exist or are sparse. 
‘‘(3) CONTRACT, GRANT, AND COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The applicable Secretary 
may enter into a contract, grant, or cooperative