223 
from flooding, wave effects, and other coast-
al hazards; or 
(2) provides adaptation to climate change, in-
cluding sequestering and storing carbon or by con-
structing, restoring, or protecting ecological features 
or nature-based infrastructure that protects coastal 
communities from sea level rise, coastal storms, or 
flooding. 
(e) PRIORITY.—In determining which projects to fund 
under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to 
a proposed project— 
(1) that would stimulate the economy; 
(2) for which the applicant can demonstrate that 
the grant will fund work that will begin not more 
than 90 days after the date of award; 
(3) for which the applicant can demonstrate that 
the grant will fund work that will employ fishermen 
who have been negatively impacted by the COVID–19 
pandemic or pay a fisherman for the use of a fishing 
vessel; 
(4) for which the applicant can demonstrate that 
any preliminary study or permit required before the 
project can begin has been completed or can be com-
pleted shortly after an award is made; 
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(5) that includes communities that may not have 
adequate resources including low-income commu-
nities, communities of color, Tribal communities, In-
digenous communities, and rural communities; or 
(6) that is happening within National Wildlife 
Refuges, National Parks, and Marine Protected Areas, 
such as National Marine Sanctuaries. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 to carry out this sec-
tion, to remain available until expended. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a nonprofit, a for-profit business, an insti-
tution of higher education, or a State, local, Tribal, 
or Territorial government. 
(2) FISHERMEN.—The term ‘‘fishermen’’ means 
commercial or for-hire fishermen or oyster farmers. 
SEC. 905. STRATEGIC CLIMATE CHANGE RELOCATION INI-
TIATIVE AND PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIATIVE.—The Chairman 
of the Council on Environmental Quality (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Chair’’) shall establish a Strategic Cli-
mate Change Relocation Initiative (in this section referred 
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to as the ‘‘Initiative’’) for the purposes of coordinating Fed-
eral agency activities to identify and assist communities 
that have expressed affirmative interest in relocation due 
to health, safety, and environmental impacts from climate 
change, including hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, ero-
sion, and repeat wildfires. 
(b) DIRECTOR.—The Chair shall appoint a Strategic 
Climate Relocation Director to manage the Initiative. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Chair shall coordinate and 
consult with Federal agencies conducting activities related 
to this section including the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, the Department of the Interior, in-
cluding the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment, the Denali Commission, the Corps of Engineers, the 
Office of Management and Budget, the National Economic 
Council, the National Security Council, the White House 
Council on Native American Affairs Interagency Subgroup 
on Tribal Resilience, and other Federal agencies as appro-
priate. 
(d) EXTERNAL ADVISORY PANEL.—The Chair shall es-
tablish an external advisory panel that may include com-
munity leaders, nongovernmental organizations, State and 
local government representatives, Tribal leaders, Indigenous 
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community representatives, climate adaptation profes-
sionals, institutions of higher education, and other relevant 
experts as appropriate. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chair shall 
submit a report to Congress recommending key elements of 
a Strategic Climate Change Relocation Program to identify 
and assist communities that have expressed affirmative in-
terest in relocation due to health, safety, and environmental 
impacts from climate change. The report shall— 
(1) identify— 
(A) areas where climate change impacts 
make relocation a likely climate change adapta-
tion strategy; 
(B) communities that have expressed af-
firmative interest in relocation (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘sending communities’’); and 
(C) potential relocation areas and commu-
nities that have expressed interest in attracting 
climate migrants (in this section referred to as 
‘‘receiving communities’’); 
(2) propose criteria to qualify for climate reloca-
tion assistance, with preference given to disadvan-
taged communities where community members have 
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indicated a preference for retreat which would other-
wise be challenged to relocate; 
(3) describe the roles and responsibilities of spe-
cific Federal agencies in implementing the Strategic 
Climate Change Relocation Program and how the 
Program should be coordinated with applicable State 
and Federal agency plans and programs and identify 
Federal programs that can be tailored to incentivize 
self-identification of communities as receiving areas; 
(4) outline the role that State, Tribal, Indige-
nous, and local governments should play in imple-
menting the Strategic Climate Change Relocation 
Program, including identification of areas or commu-
nities where people leaving areas vulnerable to cli-
mate change can consider locating, and the specific 
resources needed to prepare those communities to be 
receiving communities in terms of Federal investment 
in infrastructure, affordable housing, and social serv-
ices; 
(5) summarize existing Federal and State pro-
grams for purchase of individual properties vulner-
able to the impacts of climate change and propose 
how these programs might be restructured, improved, 
or expanded to incentivize climate change relocation; 
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(6) describe measures that governments or other 
organizations can take to reduce the psychological 
stress associated with relocation to preserve or sup-
port the historical and cultural identity of commu-
nities being relocated and to restore and conserve 
areas that are relocated from as publicly accessible 
natural assets, and how Federal programs will sup-
port these efforts; 
(7) identify and recommend measures to over-
come how institutional barriers, such as Federal pro-
grams that do not account for Tribal sovereignty, con-
strain Tribal communities’ ability to pursue self-de-
termined management of their resources and built en-
vironment; 
(8) identify measures that Congress, Federal 
agencies, or State and local governments should take 
to discourage or restrict new development or redevel-
opment and hard structural measures in areas vul-
nerable to such significant climate change impacts 
that they are likely to require a solution that includes 
relocation, in particular, where the Federal Govern-
ment could establish stricter funding requirements for 
postdisaster funding that require updated building 
codes and land use strategies reflecting climate risk; 
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(9) describe existing policies and clarify respon-
sibilities of governments in complying with obliga-
tions to maintain public infrastructure and to protect 
private property, including providing just compensa-
tion for any taking of private property; 
(10) propose an application process, available 
online, and in hardcopy, for States, Tribes, and com-
munities to express affirmative interest in climate re-
location assistance, either as a leaving community or 
receiving community; 
(11) provide guidance on and identify additional 
funding for re-use planning and operations and 
maintenance requirements for vacated land, and iden-
tify the resources needed to prioritize public access, 
recreational and sustainable tourism spaces, or con-
servation areas; 
(12) review efficacy of existing flood mitigation 
strategies on reducing flood risk to human popu-
lations, and identify opportunities to coordinate blue- 
green infrastructure solutions with buyout programs 
that increase the resilience of remaining residents; 
and 
(13) outline the amount and timing of Federal 
funding that is expected to be needed to implement 
the Climate Change Relocation Program. 
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(f) DEVELOPMENT OF REPORT TO CONGRESS.—In de-
veloping the report required under subsection (e), the Chair 
shall— 
(1) provide for public review and comment of a 
draft of the report; 
(2) solicit feedback from organizations rep-
resenting State and local governments; 
(3) engage in consultation with Indian Tribes; 
(4) engage in review by the external advisory 
panel; and 
(5) evaluate projects implemented under the Na-
tional Disaster Resilience Competition administered 
by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment. 
(g) CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIC RELOCATION PRO-
GRAM PILOT PROJECTS.—Within 2 years after the date of 
submission of the report under subsection (e), the Chair 
shall establish and carry out pilot projects based upon the 
recommendations included in such report. 
(h) SUBSEQUENT
PERIODIC
REPORTS
TO
CON-
GRESS.—Within 3 years after the date of submission of the 
report under subsection (e), and every 3 years thereafter, 
the Chair shall submit to Congress a report evaluating 
progress in the implementation of the Climate Change Relo-
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cation Program and making recommendations for needed 
changes to the Program. 
SEC. 906. NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL 
RESILIENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall designate 
institutions of higher education, defined by section 101(a) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), 
as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Resilience Re-
search and Education (in this section referred to as ‘‘Cen-
ters of Excellence’’). 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of such designations are 
the following: 
(1) To recognize institutions of higher education 
that have exhibited national leadership in research 
and education in coastal climate change adaptation 
and mitigation. 
(2) To identify such Centers of Excellence as 
sources of expert advice and guidance for Federal 
agencies engaged in research and education related to 
coastal climate change resilience. 
(3) To formalize and enhance existing collabora-
tions and partnerships between public institutions of 
higher education and Federal agencies, with the goal 
of ensuring information and recommendations are 
communicated effectively between such entities. 
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(c) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.—The Administrator 
shall designate an institution of higher education as a Cen-
ter of Excellence that— 
(1) has demonstrated proven expertise in the 
physical, engineering, social, and environmental 
sciences, particularly research and education focused 
on the impacts of sea level rise, coastal flooding, 
storms, or shoreline erosion; 
(2) has demonstrated a commitment to under-
standing the socioeconomic impacts of climate change; 
(3) is located in a State that frequently experi-
ences coastal flooding or shoreline erosion in connec-
tion with sea level rise, severe coastal storms, or re-
lated pollution of ground water supplies; 
(4) has previously partnered with, or is receiving 
funds from, Federal agencies for research on coastal 
flooding or shoreline erosion issues; 
(5) can demonstrate institutional collaboration 
in research and education with other public institu-
tions of higher education, including minority-serving 
institutions; and 
(6) can demonstrate capabilities for convening 
local, State, or Federal entities to develop plans for 
coastal flooding, storm preparedness, shoreline ero-
sion, and other resilience-related decisionmaking. 
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(d) REVIEWS AND ADDITIONAL DESIGNS.— 
(1) REVIEW OF REPORTS FROM NATIONAL CEN-
TERS OF EXCELLENCE.—The Administrator shall re-
view reports from National Centers of Excellence to 
ensure that recommendations and guidance of such 
Centers regarding sea level rise, coastal flooding, 
shoreline erosion, and related issues are commu-
nicated to relevant Federal agencies. 
(2) REVIEW OF NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCEL-
LENCE AND POTENTIAL DESIGNEES.—The Adminis-
trator shall periodically review each Center of Excel-
lence and potential new designees as such Centers, 
to— 
(A) ensure that each Center of Excellence 
continues to meet the criteria for designation 
under this Act; and 
(B) designate additional National Centers 
of Excellence in accordance with this Act. 
(3) REVOCATION.—If the Administrator deter-
mines under paragraph (1) that a Center of Excel-
lence does not meet the criteria for such designation, 
the Administrator shall revoke such designation by 
such process as the Administrator determines appro-
priate. 
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(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
SEC. 907. INITIATE DESIGNATION PROCESS FOR SUCCESS-
FUL SANCTUARY NOMINATIONS AND TECH-
NICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE NATIONAL MA-
RINE SANCTUARIES ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than four years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
initiate the process to designate as a national marine sanc-
tuary under section 304 of the National Marine Sanctuaries 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1433) each of the areas identified in the 
Inventory of Successful Nominations of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration as of October 20, 
2020. 
(b) REMOVAL OF LIMITATIONS ON DESIGNATIONS AND 
CHANGES TO EFFECTIVE DATE OF DESIGNATIONS.—Sec-
tion 304 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1434) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ‘‘the forty- 
five day period of continuous session of Congress be-
ginning on the date of submission of the documents’’ 
and inserting ‘‘60-day period’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘forty-five 
days of continuous session of Congress beginning on 
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the day on which such notice is published’’ and in-
serting ‘‘60 days’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (b)(3); and 
(4) by striking subsection (f). 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 in each fiscal 
year to carry out this section for fiscal years 2022 through 
2026. 
SEC. 908. GRANTS TO FURTHER RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE 
RESEARCH WITH INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL 
COMMUNITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish a new grant program in the National Marine Sanc-
tuary System to support climate research and resilience 
with indigenous and local knowledge of marine and natural 
areas. 
(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Administrator may 
award competitive grants to Indian Tribes and Indigenous 
communities and States to— 
(1) engage, support, and perpetuate ecosystem 
and conservation practices such as Native Hawaiian 
Ahupuaa management; and 
(2) establish a long-term data monitoring and 
methods throughout the Sanctuary System for track-
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ing and modeling the impacts of climate change on 
the cultural, natural, and marine environment. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 in each fiscal 
year to carry out this section for fiscal years 2022 through 
2026. 
SEC. 909. GRANTS FOR CONSERVING, RECOVERING, AND 
MAINTAINING KELP FOREST ECOSYSTEMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish a grant program (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Program’’) under which the Administrator shall award 
grants to eligible entities described in subsection (b) to 
carry out projects relating to the conservation, restoration, 
or management of kelp forest ecosystems. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this section, an entity shall— 
(1) be a member of the fishing industry, an aca-
demic community, a relevant nonprofit organization, 
a federally recognized Indian Tribe, or a relevant 
State agency; 
(2) propose or be conducting a project relating to 
the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp 
forest ecosystems developed through consultation with 
any of the other entities described in paragraph (1); 
and 
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(3) submit to the Administrator an application 
describing such project at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Adminis-
trator may require, including information about what 
criteria will be used to monitor and evaluate the effec-
tiveness of the project. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Administrator shall 
award grants to eligible entities for projects that— 
(1) address greatest relative regional declines in 
kelp forest ecosystems; 
(2) focus on— 
(A) long term ecosystem resilience; 
(B) long term socioeconomic resilience; 
(C) kelp forest seeding and connectivity; 
(D) urchin removal and predator control ef-
forts; 
(E) monitoring and assessment of kelp for-
est ecosystems; or 
(F) other efforts to restore kelp forest eco-
systems and prevent large scale losses of kelp for-
ests; or 
(3) are identified by Federal or State restoration 
and management plans as focal areas for recovery of 
kelp forests and associated species. 
(d) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
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