I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6288 
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 
JUNE 28, 2018 
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 Governments, for-profit orga-
nization, 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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(2) PRIORITIES.—In awarding grants under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to 
funding projects for— 
(A) protecting life and critical infrastruc-
ture that, if destroyed or damaged, would have 
a debilitating impact on economic security, un-
dermine community resiliency and adaptation, 
and threaten public health or safety; 
(B) assessing the effects of local land-use 
considerations on coastal and marine resources; 
(C) developing decision-support tools useful 
to coastal communities; 
(D) determining societal, ecological, and 
resiliency benefits of coastal restoration and 
natural, nature-based, and man-made infra-
structure, and how these benefits affect the sus-
tainability of coastal ecosystems; 
(E) citizen-science monitoring of coastal 
and marine resources as part of efforts to pro-
tect coastal communities; 
(F) evaluating potential outcomes associ-
ated with developing new commercial and rec-
reational fishery resources, including aqua-
culture and targeting invasive and range-ex-
panding species; 
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(G) monitoring and developing ecosystem- 
based approaches to managing coastal eco-
systems to promote sustainability; 
(H) assessing the capacity of human com-
munities to adapt to coastal hazards; 
(I) assessing coastal vulnerability and risk; 
(J) evaluating adaptation and restoration 
approaches to reduce risk, including through 
the use of natural, nature-based, and man-made 
features; and 
(K) minimizing costs associated with dam-
ages incurred from natural disasters, flooding, 
and sea level rise. 
SEC. 4. THIRD-PARTY COASTAL RESEARCH CONSORTIUM 
TO CONTINUE NATIONAL OCEAN COUNCIL 
POLICY. 
(a) FEDERAL OCEAN RESEARCH PLAN.—The Sub-
committee on Ocean Science and Technology of the Na-
tional Science and Technology Council, in consultation 
with the National Ocean Council, shall continue progress 
on the next 10-year Federal ocean research plan. 
(b) CONSORTIUM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
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in consultation with the Deputy Director of Ocean 
Sciences of the National Science Foundation, shall 
convene a third-party consortium of stakeholders to 
coordinate ocean research efforts, specifically related 
to coastal sustainability and resiliency. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The consortium shall serve in 
lieu of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
leadership and ensure continued coordination among 
all Federal research agencies involved. 
(3) REPRESENTATION.—The consortium shall 
have balanced representation of members with exper-
tise in the ocean sciences and representatives from 
impacted communities. 
SEC. 5. DONATIONS. 
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may ac-
cept and use donations of funds to implement this Act. 
Æ 
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