I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2459 
To establish a competitive grant program to support the conservation and 
recovery of native plant and animal species in the State of Hawaii, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2023 
Mr. CASE (for himself and Ms. TOKUDA) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish a competitive grant program to support the 
conservation and recovery of native plant and animal 
species in the State of Hawaii, 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 ‘‘Hawaii Native Species 
Conservation and Recovery Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
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(A) the State; 
(B) a unit of local government in the 
State; 
(C) a Native Hawaiian organization; 
(D) a nonprofit organization; 
(E) a business; and 
(F) an institution of higher education. 
(2) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro-
gram’’ means the Hawaii Native Species Conserva-
tion and Recovery Grant Program established under 
section 3(a). 
(3) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 3 of the NATIVE Act 
(25 U.S.C. 4352). 
(4) NATIVE SPECIES.—The term ‘‘native spe-
cies’’ means a plant or animal species that is native 
to the State. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Hawaii. 
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SEC. 3. HAWAII NATIVE SPECIES CONSERVATION AND RE-
COVERY GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which amounts are appropriated to carry out 
this Act, the Secretary shall establish a grant program, 
to be known as the ‘‘Hawaii Native Species Conservation 
and Recovery Grant Program’’, to annually provide, 
through cooperative agreements, grants, micro grants, or 
other means, funding to eligible entities to carry out 
projects that— 
(1) achieve the funding priorities developed 
under subsection (c); and 
(2) meet the criteria developed under subsection 
(e). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The grant program shall identify pri-
orities and provide funding and technical assistance to 
carry out coordinated, science-based conservation and re-
covery projects in the State— 
(1) to prevent and mitigate the introduction 
and spread of invasive species, pests, and diseases 
that threaten native species; 
(2) to address the ecological consequences of 
climate change on native species; 
(3) to address loss and degradation of native 
species’ habitats; 
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(4) to manage, maintain, and restore popu-
lations of native species; 
(5) to increase scientific capacity to support the 
planning, monitoring, and research activities nec-
essary for the conservation and recovery of native 
species; 
(6) to improve information collection, ecological 
monitoring, and management relating to the activi-
ties described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and 
(7) to engage the public through outreach, edu-
cation, and community involvement to increase ca-
pacity and support for the conservation and recovery 
of native species in the State. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF PRIORITIES.—In carrying out 
the grant program, the Secretary shall coordinate with the 
following individuals to develop annual, science-based 
funding priorities for the grant program that support the 
purposes described in subsection (b): 
(1) The heads of Federal agencies, including— 
(A) the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration (or a des-
ignee); 
(B) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (or a designee); 
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(C) the Secretary of Agriculture (or a des-
ignee); and 
(D) the head of any other applicable Fed-
eral agency (or a designee), as determined by 
the Secretary. 
(2) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of 
Land and Natural Resources (or a designee). 
(3) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of 
Agriculture (or a designee). 
(4) Any other relevant stakeholder involved in 
the conservation and recovery of native species in 
the State that the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate. 
(d) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.—The Secretary shall 
publish in the Federal Register an annual request for pro-
posals, in accordance with the funding priorities developed 
under subsection (c). 
(e) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in coordination with 
the individuals described in subsection (c), shall annually 
develop criteria for ranking project proposals to receive 
funding under the grant program. 
(f) RECUSAL.—If the State or a unit of local govern-
ment in the State applies for a grant under the grant pro-
gram, then the individuals described in paragraphs (2), 
(3), and (4) of subsection (c) who are representatives of 
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the State or that unit of local government, as applicable, 
shall recuse themselves from all funding decisions relating 
to those applications. 
(g) COST SHARING.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a 
project carried out under the grant program 
shall not exceed 75 percent. 
(B) EXCEPTIONS.—The Federal share of 
the cost of a project carried out under the grant 
program may be 100 percent, as determined by 
the Secretary— 
(i) for any project, in the discretion of 
the Secretary; or 
(ii) if the project— 
(I) is carried out by a Native Ha-
waiian organization; 
(II) significantly contributes to 
youth workforce readiness in the im-
plementation of the project; or 
(III) is carried out using a grant 
awarded under the grant program in 
an amount of not more than $50,000. 
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(2) IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Fed-
eral share of the cost of a project carried out under 
the grant program may be provided in the form of 
an in-kind contribution of services, materials, or ac-
cess to land. 
(h) REQUIREMENT.—Of the amounts made available 
to carry out the grant program for each fiscal year, not 
less than 5 percent shall be used to award grants for 
projects described in subclauses (I) through (III) of sub-
section (g)(1)(B)(ii). 
(i) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
provide technical assistance to eligible entities to assist in 
the implementation of projects that receive funding under 
the grant program. 
(j) CONSULTATION WITH NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—The Secretary, in carrying out the grant pro-
gram, shall consult with Native Hawaiian organizations 
with respect to any project that receives funding under 
the grant program with implications for the Native Hawai-
ian Community. 
(k) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds made 
available to carry out the grant program for each fiscal 
year shall supplement and not supplant other funds made 
available to carry out the purposes described in para-
graphs (1) through (7) of subsection (b) in the State. 
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SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report on the implementation of this Act, including— 
(1) a description of each project that has re-
ceived funding under the grant program; and 
(2) the status of each project described in para-
graph (1) that is in progress on the date of submis-
sion of the applicable report. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $30,000,000 
for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enact-
ment of this Act and for each of the 9 fiscal years there-
after. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the amounts 
made available for each fiscal year under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall use not more than 5 percent for admin-
istrative expenses relating to carrying out the grant pro-
gram. 
Æ 
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