I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3919 
To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure that 
the Federal Government continues to implement and advance coastal 
resiliency efforts, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 23, 2019 
Mr. MOULTON (for himself and Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 
and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, 
to ensure that the Federal Government continues to im-
plement and advance coastal resiliency efforts, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Creating Opportunity 
And Sustainability Through Science Act’’ or the 
‘‘COASTS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) coastal cities and communities are particu-
larly vulnerable to hazards and extreme weather 
events, accelerating the degradation of natural and 
built infrastructure that coastal economies and pop-
ulations depend upon; and 
(2) such degradation harms community resil-
iency and exposes coastal cities and their inhabitants 
to more frequent and more severe hazards, impact-
ing the ecosystems that provide livelihoods, food, and 
energy, and other essential benefits. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION RESEARCH PROGRAMS. 
(a) COASTAL SCIENCE AND ASSESSMENT: COMPETI-
TIVE EXTERNAL RESEARCH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
acting through applicable National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration programs within the Na-
tional Ocean Service, the Office of Oceanic and At-
mospheric Research, and the National Marine Fish-
eries Service, shall carry out an extramural competi-
tively awarded grants program focused on inter-
disciplinary coastal resilience and sustainability. 
(2) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the program 
shall be to develop scalable, best practices— 
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(A) to prepare more resilient, sustainable 
cities and resilient communities; and 
(B) to reduce disaster recovery costs. 
(3) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary shall con-
duct the program in collaboration with business and 
industry, government agencies, academic institu-
tions, and coastal community stakeholders. 
(4) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this subsection, an applicant must be an insti-
tution of higher education, nonprofit organization, 
State, local, or Tribal Government, for-profit organi-
zation, United States Territory, or Federal agency 
that has statutory authority to receive transfers of 
funds. 
(b) COASTAL RESILIENCE RESEARCH COMPETITIVE 
GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
acting through the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, shall annually award competi-
tive grants for— 
(A) activities that strengthen coastal com-
munities; and 
(B) restoration of coastal habitats to pro-
vide vital habitat for fish and strengthen the re-
silience of coastal ecosystems. 
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