H. R. 7776—1551 
‘‘(iii) enhance resilience of native coral populations 
to increasing ocean temperatures, changing ocean 
chemistry, coral bleaching, and coral diseases through 
selective breeding, conditioning, or other approaches 
that target genes, gene expression, phenotypic traits, 
or phenotypic plasticity. 
‘‘(g) FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.—To the extent practicable based 
upon proposals for coral reef projects submitted to the Adminis-
trator, the Administrator shall ensure that funding for grants 
awarded under this section during a fiscal year is distributed as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) Not less than 40 percent of funds available shall be 
awarded for projects in areas of the Pacific Ocean subject 
to the jurisdiction or control of the United States. 
‘‘(2) Not less than 40 percent of the funds available shall 
be awarded for projects in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, the 
Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea subject to the jurisdiction 
or control of the United States. 
‘‘(3) To the extent there are viable applications made by 
eligible coral reef stewardship partners, not more than 67 per-
cent of funds distributed in each region in accordance with 
paragraphs (1) and (2) may be made exclusively available to 
projects that are— 
‘‘(A) submitted by a coral reef stewardship partnership; 
and 
‘‘(B) consistent with the coral reef action plan in effect 
under section 205 by such a partnership. 
‘‘(4) Of the funds distributed to support projects in accord-
ance with paragraph (3), not less than 20 percent and not 
more than 33 percent shall be awarded for projects submitted 
by a Federal coral reef stewardship partnership, to the extent 
there are viable applications made by eligible Federal coral 
reef stewardship partnerships. 
‘‘(h) TASK FORCE.—The Administrator may consult with the 
Secretary of the Interior and the Task Force to obtain guidance 
in establishing priorities and evaluating proposals for coral reef 
projects under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 212. CORAL REEF RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) REEF RESEARCH COORDINATION INSTITUTES.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall designate 
2 reef research coordination institutes for the purpose of 
advancing and sustaining essential capabilities in coral reef 
research, one each in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, to be 
known as the ‘Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute’ 
and the ‘Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute’, respec-
tively. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—Each institute designated under para-
graph (1) shall be housed within a single coral reef research 
center designated by the Administrator under subsection (b). 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The institutes designated under para-
graph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) conduct federally directed research to fill national 
and regional coral reef ecosystem research gaps and 
improve understanding of, and responses to, continuing 
and emerging threats to the resilience of United States
H. R. 7776—1552 
coral reef ecosystems consistent with the National Coral 
Reef Resilience Strategy; 
‘‘(B) support ecological research and monitoring to 
study the effects of conservation and restoration activities 
funded by this title on promoting more effective coral reef 
management and restoration; and 
‘‘(C) through agreements— 
‘‘(i) collaborate directly with States, covered Native 
entities, 
covered 
coral 
reef 
managers, 
nonprofit 
organizations, and other coral reef research centers 
designated under subsection (b); 
‘‘(ii) assist in the development and implementation 
of— 
‘‘(I) 
the 
National 
Coral 
Reef 
Resilience 
Strategy; and 
‘‘(II) coral reef action plans under section 205; 
‘‘(iii) build capacity within non-Federal govern-
mental resource management agencies to establish 
research priorities and translate and apply research 
findings to management and restoration practices; and 
‘‘(iv) conduct public education and awareness pro-
grams for policymakers, resource managers, and the 
general public on— 
‘‘(I) coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(II) best practices for coral reef ecosystem 
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— 
‘‘(A) periodically solicit applications for designation 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 organization; 
‘‘(B) has established management-driven national 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 engagement 
and outreach programs related to coral reef ecosystems. 
‘‘SEC. 213. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the head of any Federal agency with a representative serving on 
the United States Coral Reef Task Force established by section 
10011 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2023, may, individually or in cooperation with
H. R. 7776—1553 
one or more agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competi-
tively under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innova-
tion 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, research, or monitor 
coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation 
options to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY PROGRAMS.—Priority shall be given to establishing 
programs under this section that address communities, environ-
ments, or industries that are in distress as a result of the decline 
or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including— 
‘‘(1) scientific research and monitoring that furthers the 
understanding of causes behind coral reef decline and degrada-
tion and the generally slow recovery following disturbances, 
including 
changing 
ocean 
chemistry, 
temperature-related 
bleaching, disease, and their associated impacts on coral physi-
ology; 
‘‘(2) the development of monitoring or management options 
for communities or industries that are experiencing significant 
financial hardship; 
‘‘(3) the development of adaptation options to alleviate eco-
nomic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral reef eco-
systems; 
‘‘(4) the development of measures to help vulnerable 
communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural commu-
nities and businesses; and 
‘‘(5) the development of adaptation and management 
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 Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2023, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to the committees specified in subsection 
(b) a report on the administration of this title during the 2-year 
period preceding submission of the report, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of all activities undertaken to implement 
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 project or 
activity funded, in full or in part, under this title. 
‘‘(b) COMMITTEES SPECIFIED.—The committees specified in this 
subsection are— 
‘‘(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘SEC. 215. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Administrator $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027 to carry out this title which shall remain available until
H. R. 7776—1554 
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 section 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 for program 
administration or overhead costs incurred by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration or the Department 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 Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1602). 
‘‘(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 
‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Represent-
atives. 
‘‘(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 ecosystems with minimal impacts 
from invasive species, including— 
‘‘(A) all activities associated with resource manage-
ment, such as monitoring, assessment, protection, restora-
tion, sustainable use, management of habitat, and mainte-
nance or augmentation of genetic diversity; 
‘‘(B) mapping; 
‘‘(C) scientific expertise and technical assistance 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 naviga-
tion 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 derivatives, or any