I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 943 
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to award competitive grants to 
combat the certain species of lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean and the 
Gulf of Mexico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2017 
Mr. CURBELO of Florida (for himself and Mr. HASTINGS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to award competi-
tive grants to combat the certain species of lionfish in 
the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Finding Innovative 
Lionfish Elimination Technologies Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH-
ER EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT RESEARCH 
ORGANIZATIONS TO COMBAT LIONFISH IN 
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE GULF OF 
MEXICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
through the Cooperative Science and Education Program 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
conducted under Public Law 86–685 (74 Stat. 733), the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et 
seq.), and the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (section 101(b) of division A of Public Law 
105–277; 112 Stat. 2681–50), shall award competitive 
grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit 
research organizations to combat the species of lionfish 
Pterois miles and Pterois volitans, in the Atlantic Ocean 
and the Gulf of Mexico. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, an institution of higher education or nonprofit 
research organization must— 
(1) have established research infrastructure and 
proven capabilities of understanding the behavior of 
such species and the ecosystems of the Atlantic 
Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico; and 
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(2) demonstrate a clear appreciation and under-
standing of the biological, chemical, and physical as-
pects of such ecosystem. 
(c) ENCOURAGEMENT OF COLLABORATION.—In se-
lecting projects for grants under this section, the Sec-
retary of Commerce may encourage collaborative work 
with stakeholder groups having practical experience with 
gear, harvest techniques, and knowledge of local eco-
systems. 
(d) USE.—Amounts awarded as grants under this 
section shall be used— 
(1) for lionfish research and the impact of such 
species on the ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean or 
the Gulf of Mexico; 
(2) to develop innovative technologies, including 
autonomous cameras and active acoustic systems ap-
propriate for coastal environments, for detection of 
lionfish and determination of priority areas for re-
moval of invasive species; and 
(3) to develop lionfish mitigation technologies, 
including traps and countermeasures. 
(e) FUNDING.—Of amounts available for each of fis-
cal years 2018 through 2022 for the Coastal Ecosystem 
Resiliency Grant program of the National Oceanic and At-
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