I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9453 
To authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for innovation 
or the development of adaptation or management options relating to 
coral reef ecosystems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 7, 2022 
Mr. CASE (for himself, Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. PA-
NETTA, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the 
following 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 authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions 
for innovation or the development of adaptation or man-
agement options relating to coral reef ecosystems, 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 ‘‘Coral Reef Sustain-
ability Through Innovation Act of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 2. PRIZE COMPETITIONS TO PROMOTE INNOVATION 
IN CORAL REEF RESEARCH AND CONSERVA-
TION. 
The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 208, 209, and 210 
(16 U.S.C. 6407, 6408, and 6409) as sections 209, 
210, and 211, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 207 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 208. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of any Federal agency 
with a representative serving on the U.S. Coral Reef Task 
Force established under Executive Order 13089 issued on 
June 11, 1998 (16 U.S.C. 6401 note), may, either individ-
ually 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 innova-
tion to advance the ability of the United States to under-
stand, 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 
establish programs under this section that address com-
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munities, environments, or industries that are in distress 
due to 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 degradation and the generally slow 
recovery following disturbances, including ocean 
acidification and its impacts on coral reproduction; 
‘‘(2) the development of monitoring or manage-
ment options for communities or industries that are 
experiencing significant financial hardship; 
‘‘(3) the development of adaptation options to 
alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by dam-
age to coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(4) the development of measures to help vul-
nerable communities or industries, with an emphasis 
on rural communities and businesses; and 
‘‘(5) the development of adaptation and man-
agement options for impacted tourism industries.’’. 
Æ 
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