SECTION 1. FRONT MATTER. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement 
Act’’. 
(b) DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.— 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of com-
plying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Front matter. 
TITLE I—COASTAL RESILIENCE AND ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT 
Sec. 101. Grants to further achievement of Tribal coastal zone objectives. 
Sec. 102. Living Shoreline Grant Program. 
Sec. 103. Working Waterfronts Grant Program. 
Sec. 104. Working Waterfronts Preservation Fund; grants. 
Sec. 105. Eligibility of District of Columbia for Federal funding under the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. 
Sec. 106. Climate change preparedness in the coastal zone. 
Sec. 107. Update to environmental sensitivity index products of National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration for Great Lakes. 
Sec. 108. Prize competitions. 
Sec. 109. Catalog of research on applicable coastal risk reduction and resilience 
measures. 
TITLE II—FISHERY RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships 
Sec. 201. Purpose. 
Sec. 202. Definitions. 
Sec. 203. National Fish Habitat Board.
Sec. 204. Fish Habitat Partnerships. 
Sec. 205. Fish Habitat Conservation Projects. 
Sec. 206. Technical and scientific assistance. 
Sec. 207. Coordination with States and Indian Tribes. 
Sec. 208. Interagency Operational Plan. 
Sec. 209. Accountability and reporting. 
Sec. 210. Effect of this subtitle. 
Sec. 211. Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
Sec. 212. Funding. 
Sec. 213. Prohibition against implementation of regulatory authority by Fed-
eral agencies through Partnerships. 
Subtitle B—Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization 
Sec. 221. Definitions. 
Sec. 222. Findings. 
Sec. 223. Great Lakes monitoring, assessment, science, and research. 
Sec. 224. Authorization of appropriations. 
Subtitle C—Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research 
Sec. 231. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 232. Grants for researching oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. 
TITLE III—MEETING 21ST CENTURY OCEAN AND COASTAL DATA 
NEEDS 
Subtitle A—Digital Coast 
Sec. 301. Findings. 
Sec. 302. Definitions. 
Sec. 303. Establishment of the Digital Coast. 
Subtitle B—Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Sec. 311. Staggered terms for National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observa-
tion System Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 312. Integrated coastal and ocean observation system cooperative agree-
ments. 
Sec. 313. Reauthorization of Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act of 2009. 
Sec. 314. Advanced Research Projects Agency–Oceans. 
TITLE IV—NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM 
AMENDMENTS 
Sec. 401. References to the National Sea Grant College Program Act. 
Sec. 402. Modification of Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. 
Sec. 403. Modification of authority of Secretary of Commerce to accept dona-
tions for National Sea Grant College Program. 
Sec. 404. Repeal of requirement for report on coordination of oceans and coast-
al research activities. 
Sec. 405. Reduction in frequency required for National Sea Grant Advisory 
Board report. 
Sec. 406. Modification of elements of National Sea Grant College Program. 
Sec. 407. Direct hire authority; Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow-
ship.
Sec. 408. Authorization of appropriations for National Sea Grant College Pro-
gram. 
Sec. 409. Technical corrections. 
TITLE I—COASTAL RESILIENCE 
AND ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT 
SEC. 101. GRANTS TO FURTHER ACHIEVEMENT OF TRIBAL 
COASTAL ZONE OBJECTIVES. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Coastal Zone Man-
agement Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 320. GRANTS TO FURTHER ACHIEVEMENT OF TRIBAL 
COASTAL ZONE OBJECTIVES. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may 
award competitive grants to Indian Tribes to further 
achievement of the objectives of such a Tribe for its Tribal 
coastal zone. 
‘‘(b) COST SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
cost of any activity carried out with a grant under 
this section shall be— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a grant of less than 
$200,000, 100 percent of such cost; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a grant of $200,000 or 
more, 95 percent of such cost, except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the 
application of paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a
grant to an Indian Tribe, or otherwise reduce the 
portion of the share of the cost of an activity re-
quired to be paid by an Indian Tribe under such 
paragraph, if the Secretary determines that the 
Tribe does not have sufficient funds to pay such por-
tion. 
‘‘(c) COMPATIBILITY.—The Secretary may not award 
a grant under this section unless the Secretary determines 
that the activities to be carried out with the grant are 
compatible with this title and that the grantee has con-
sulted with the affected coastal state regarding the grant 
objectives and purposes. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZED OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES.— 
Amounts awarded as a grant under this section shall be 
used for one or more of the objectives and purposes au-
thorized under subsections (b) and (c), respectively, of sec-
tion 306A. 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.—Of amounts appropriated to carry 
out this Act, $5,000,000 is authorized to carry out this 
section for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INDIAN
LAND.—The term ‘Indian land’ 
has the meaning that term has under section 2601 
of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3501).
‘‘(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 
means an Indian tribe, as that term is defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(3) TRIBAL COASTAL ZONE.—The term ‘Tribal 
coastal zone’ means any Indian land of an Indian 
Tribe that is within the coastal zone. 
‘‘(4) TRIBAL COASTAL ZONE OBJECTIVE.—The 
term ‘Tribal coastal zone objective’ means, with re-
spect to an Indian Tribe, any of the following objec-
tives: 
‘‘(A) Protection, restoration, or preserva-
tion of areas in the Tribal coastal zone of such 
Tribe that hold— 
‘‘(i) important ecological, cultural, or 
sacred significance for such Tribe; or 
‘‘(ii) traditional, historic, and esthetic 
values essential to such Tribe. 
‘‘(B) Preparing and implementing a special 
area management plan and technical planning 
for important coastal areas. 
‘‘(C) Any coastal or shoreline stabilization 
measure, including any mitigation measure, for 
the purpose of public safety, public access, or 
cultural or historical preservation.’’.
(b) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Com-
merce shall issue guidance for the program established 
under the amendment made by subsection (a), including 
the criteria for awarding grants under such program based 
on consultation with Indian Tribes (as that term is defined 
in that amendment). 
(c) USE OF STATE GRANTS TO FULFILL TRIBAL OB-
JECTIVES.—Section 306A(c)(2) of the Coastal Zone Man-
agement Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455a(c)(2)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end of sub-
paragraph (D), by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (E) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(F) fulfilling any Tribal coastal zone ob-
jective (as that term is defined in section 
320).’’. 
(d) OTHER PROGRAMS NOT AFFECTED.—Nothing in 
this section shall be construed to affect the ability of an 
Indian Tribe to apply for, receive assistance under, or par-
ticipate in any program authorized by the Coastal Zone 
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) or 
other related Federal laws.
SEC. 102. LIVING SHORELINE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Administrator 
shall 
make grants to eligible entities for purposes of— 
(1) designing and implementing large- and 
small-scale, climate-resilient living shoreline projects; 
and 
(2) applying innovative uses of natural mate-
rials and systems to protect coastal communities, 
habitats, and natural system functions. 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall— 
(1) submit to the Administrator a proposal for 
a living shoreline project, including monitoring, data 
collection, and measurable performance criteria with 
respect to the project; 
(2) demonstrate to the Administrator that the 
entity has any permits or other authorizations from 
local, State, and Federal government agencies nec-
essary to carry out the living shoreline project or 
provide evidence demonstrating general support from 
such agencies; and 
(3) include an outreach or education component 
that seeks and solicits feedback from the local or re-
gional community most directly affected by the pro-
posal. 
(c) PROJECT SELECTION.—
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA.—The Admin-
istrator shall select eligible entities to receive grants 
under this section based on criteria developed by the 
Administrator, in consultation with relevant offices 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, such as the Office of Habitat Conservation, 
the Office for Coastal Management, and the Res-
toration Center. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing criteria 
under paragraph (1) to evaluate a proposed living 
shoreline project, the Administrator shall take into 
account— 
(A) the potential of the project to protect 
the community and maintain the viability of the 
environment, such as through protection of eco-
system functions, environmental benefits, or 
habitat types, in the area where the project is 
to be carried out; 
(B) the historic and future environmental 
conditions of the project site, particularly those 
environmental conditions affected by climate 
change; 
(C) the ecological benefits of the project; 
(D) the ability of the entity proposing the 
project to demonstrate the potential of the
project to protect the coastal community where 
the project is to be carried out, including 
through— 
(i) mitigating the effects of erosion; 
(ii) attenuating the impact of coastal 
storms and storm surge; 
(iii) mitigating shoreline flooding; 
(iv) mitigating the effects of sea level 
rise, accelerated land loss, and extreme 
tides; 
(v) sustaining, protecting, or restoring 
the functions and habitats of coastal eco-
systems; or 
(vi) such other forms of coastal pro-
tection as the Administrator considers ap-
propriate; and 
(E) the potential of the project to support 
resiliency at a military installation or commu-
nity infrastructure supportive of a military in-
stallation (as such terms are defined in section 
2391 of title 10, United States Code). 
(3) PRIORITY.—In selecting living shoreline 
projects to receive grants under this section, the Ad-
ministrator shall give priority consideration to a pro-
posed project to be conducted in an area—
(A) for which the President has declared, 
during the 10-year period preceding the submis-
sion of the proposal for the project under sub-
section (b), that a major disaster exists pursu-
ant to section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5170) because of a hurricane, trop-
ical storm, coastal storm, or flooding; 
(B) that has a documented history of 
coastal erosion or frequent coastal inundation 
during that 10-year period; or 
(C) which include communities that may 
not have adequate resources to prepare for or 
respond to coastal hazards, including low in-
come communities, communities of color, Tribal 
communities, and rural communities. 
(4) MINIMUM STANDARDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall develop minimum standards to be used in 
selecting eligible entities to receive grants under 
this section, taking into account— 
(i) the considerations described in 
paragraph (2);
(ii) the need for such standards to be 
general enough to accommodate concerns 
relating to specific project sites; and 
(iii) the consideration of an estab-
lished eligible entity program with systems 
to disburse funding from a single grant to 
support multiple small-scale projects. 
(B) 
CONSULTATIONS.—In 
developing 
standards under subparagraph (A), the Admin-
istrator— 
(i) shall consult with relevant offices 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, such as the Office of Habi-
tat Conservation, the Office for Coastal 
Management, and the Restoration Center; 
and 
(ii) may consult with— 
(I) relevant interagency councils, 
such as the Estuary Habitat Restora-
tion Council; 
(II) Tribes and Tribal organiza-
tions; 
(III) State coastal management 
agencies; and
(IV) relevant nongovernmental 
organizations. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant awarded under this 
section to an eligible entity to carry out a living shoreline 
project may be used by the eligible entity only— 
(1) to carry out the project, including adminis-
tration, design, permitting, entry into negotiated in-
direct cost rate agreements, and construction; 
(2) to monitor, collect, and report data on the 
performance (including performance over time) of 
the project, in accordance with standards issued by 
the Administrator under subsection (f)(2); and 
(3) to incentivize landowners to engage in living 
shoreline projects. 
(e) COST-SHARING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), an eligible entity that receives a grant 
under this section to carry out a living shoreline 
project shall provide, from non-Federal sources, 
funds or other resources (such as land or conserva-
tion easements or in-kind matching from private en-
tities) valued at not less than 50 percent of the total 
cost, including administrative costs, of the project. 
(2) REDUCED
MATCHING
REQUIREMENT
FOR 
CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES.—The Administrator may
reduce or waive the matching requirement under 
paragraph (1) for an eligible entity representing a 
community or nonprofit organization if— 
(A) the eligible entity submits to the Ad-
ministrator in writing— 
(i) a request for such a reduction and 
the amount of the reduction; and 
(ii) a justification for why the entity 
cannot meet the matching requirement; 
and 
(B) the Administrator agrees with the jus-
tification. 
(f) MONITORING AND REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall re-
quire each eligible entity receiving a grant under this 
section (or a representative of the entity) to carry 
out a living shoreline project— 
(A) to transmit to the Administrator data 
collected under the project; 
(B) to monitor the project and to collect 
data on— 
(i) the ecological benefits of the 
project and the protection provided by the 
project for the coastal community where
the project is carried out, including 
through— 
(I) mitigating the effects of ero-
sion; 
(II) attenuating the impact of 
coastal storms and storm surge; 
(III) mitigating shoreline flood-
ing; 
(IV) mitigating the effects of sea 
level rise, accelerated land loss, and 
extreme tides; 
(V) sustaining, protecting, or re-
storing the functions and habitats of 
coastal ecosystems; or 
(VI) such other forms of coastal 
protection as the Administrator con-
siders appropriate; and 
(ii) the performance of the project in 
providing such protection; 
(C) to make data collected under the 
project available on a publicly accessible inter-
net website of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration; and 
(D) not later than 1 year after the entity 
receives the grant, and annually thereafter until
the completion of the project, to submit to the 
Administrator a report on— 
(i) the measures described in subpara-
graph (B); and 
(ii) the effectiveness of the project in 
increasing protection of the coastal com-
munity where the project is carried out 
through living shorelines techniques, in-
cluding— 
(I) a description of— 
(aa) the project; 
(bb) the activities carried 
out under the project; and 
(cc) the techniques and ma-
terials used in carrying out the 
project; and 
(II) data on the performance of 
the project in providing protection to 
that coastal community. 
(2) GUIDELINES.—In developing guidelines re-
lating to paragraph (1)(C), the Administrator shall 
consider how additional data could safely be col-
lected before and after major disasters or severe 
weather events to measure project performance and 
project recovery.
(3) STANDARDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall, in consultation with rel-
evant offices of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, relevant interagency 
councils, and relevant nongovernmental organi-
zations, issue standards for the monitoring, col-
lection, and reporting under subsection (d)(2) 
of data regarding the performance of living 
shoreline projects for which grants are awarded 
under this section. 
(B) REPORTING.—The standards issued 
under subparagraph (A) shall require an eligi-
ble entity receiving a grant under this section 
to report the data described in that subpara-
graph to the Administrator on a regular basis. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to the Ad-
ministrator for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025 
for purposes of carrying out this section. 
(h) MINIMUM REQUIRED FUNDS FOR SHORELINE 
PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN THE GREAT LAKES.—The 
Secretary shall make not less than 10 percent of the funds
awarded under this section to projects located in the Great 
Lakes. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means any of the following: 
(A) A unit of a State or local government. 
(B) An organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
that is exempt from taxation under section 
501(a) of such Code. 
(C) An Indian Tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)). 
(3) LIVING
SHORELINE
PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘living shoreline project’’— 
(A) means a project that— 
(i) restores or stabilizes a shoreline, 
including marshes, wetlands, and other 
vegetated areas that are part of the shore-
line ecosystem, by using natural materials 
and systems to create buffers to attenuate 
the impact of coastal storms, currents,
flooding, and wave energy and to prevent 
or minimize shoreline erosion while sup-
porting coastal ecosystems and habitats; 
(ii) incorporates as many natural ele-
ments as possible, such as native wetlands, 
submerged aquatic plants, corals, oyster 
shells, native grasses, shrubs, or trees; 
(iii) utilizes techniques that incor-
porate ecological and coastal engineering 
principles in shoreline stabilization; and 
(iv) to the extent possible, maintains 
or restores existing natural slopes and con-
nections between uplands and adjacent 
wetlands or surface waters; 
(B) may include the use of— 
(i) natural elements, such as sand, 
wetland plants, logs, oysters or other shell-
fish, submerged aquatic vegetation, corals, 
native grasses, shrubs, trees, or coir fiber 
logs; 
(ii) project elements that provide eco-
logical benefits to coastal ecosystems and 
habitats in addition to shoreline protection; 
and
(iii) structural materials, such as 
stone, concrete, wood, vinyl, oyster domes, 
or other approved engineered structures in 
combination with natural materials; and 
(C) may include a project that expands 
upon or restores natural living shorelines or ex-
isting living shoreline projects. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
SEC. 103. WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT PROGRAM. 
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 321. WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) WORKING WATERFRONT TASK FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
FUNCTIONS.—The 
Secretary of Commerce shall establish a task force 
to work directly with coastal States, user groups, 
and coastal stakeholders to identify and address crit-
ical needs with respect to working waterfronts.
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The members of the task 
force shall be appointed by the Secretary of Com-
merce, and shall include— 
‘‘(A) experts in the unique economic, so-
cial, cultural, ecological, geographic, and re-
source concerns of working waterfronts; and 
‘‘(B) representatives from the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Of-
fice of Coastal Management, the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of 
Agriculture, 
the 
Environmental 
Protection 
Agency, the United States Geological Survey, 
the Navy, the National Marine Fisheries Serv-
ice, the Economic Development Agency, and 
such other Federal agencies as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The task force shall— 
‘‘(A) identify and prioritize critical needs 
with respect to working waterfronts in States 
that have a management program approved by 
the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 
306, in the areas of— 
‘‘(i) economic and cultural importance 
of working waterfronts to communities;
‘‘(ii) 
changing 
environments 
and 
threats working waterfronts face from en-
vironment changes, trade barriers, sea level 
rise, extreme weather events, ocean acidifi-
cation, and harmful algal blooms; and 
‘‘(iii) identifying working waterfronts 
and highlighting them within communities; 
‘‘(B) outline options, in coordination with 
coastal States and local stakeholders, to address 
such critical needs, including adaptation and 
mitigation where applicable; 
‘‘(C) identify Federal agencies that are re-
sponsible under existing law for addressing such 
critical needs; and 
‘‘(D) recommend Federal agencies best 
suited to address any critical needs for which 
no agency is responsible under existing law. 
‘‘(4) INFORMATION
TO
BE
CONSIDERED.—In 
identifying and prioritizing policy gaps pursuant to 
paragraph (3), the task force shall consider the find-
ings and recommendations contained in section VI of 
the report entitled ‘The Sustainable Working Water-
fronts Toolkit: Final Report’, dated March 2013. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the task
force shall submit a report to Congress on its find-
ings. 
‘‘(6) IMPLEMENTATION.—The head of each 
Federal agency identified in the report pursuant to 
paragraph (3)(C) shall take such action as is nec-
essary to implement the recommendations contained 
in the report by not later than 1 year after the date 
of the issuance of the report. 
‘‘(b) WORKING WATERFRONT GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall establish a Working 
Waterfront Grant Program, in cooperation with ap-
propriate State, regional, and other units of govern-
ment, under which the Secretary may make a grant 
to any coastal State for the purpose of implementing 
a working waterfront plan approved by the Secretary 
under subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Secretary shall award matching grants 
under the Working Waterfronts Grant Program to 
coastal States with approved working waterfront 
plans through a regionally equitable, competitive 
funding process in accordance with the following: 
‘‘(A) The Governor, or the lead agency 
designated by the Governor for coordinating the 
implementation of this section, where appro-
priate in consultation with the appropriate local 
government, shall determine that the applica-
tion is consistent with the State’s or territory’s 
approved coastal zone plan, program, and poli-
cies prior to submission to the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) In developing guidelines under this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with coastal 
States, other Federal agencies, and other inter-
ested stakeholders with expertise in working 
waterfront planning. 
‘‘(C) Coastal States may allocate grants to 
local governments, agencies, or nongovern-
mental organizations eligible for assistance 
under this section. 
‘‘(3) In awarding a grant to a coastal State, the 
Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(A) the economic, cultural, and historical 
significance of working waterfront to the coast-
al State; 
‘‘(B) the demonstrated working waterfront 
needs of the coastal State as outlined by a 
working waterfront plan approved for the coast-
al State under subsection (c), and the value of 
the proposed project for the implementation of 
such plan;
‘‘(C) the ability to successfully leverage 
funds among participating entities, including 
Federal programs, regional organizations, State 
and other government units, landowners, cor-
porations, or private organizations; 
‘‘(D) the potential for rapid turnover in 
the ownership of working waterfront in the 
coastal State, and where applicable the need for 
coastal States to respond quickly when prop-
erties in existing or potential working water-
front areas or public access areas as identified 
in the working waterfront plan submitted by 
the coastal State come under threat or become 
available; and 
‘‘(E) the impact of the working waterfront 
plan approved for the coastal State under sub-
section (c) on the coastal ecosystem and the 
users of the coastal ecosystem. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall approve or reject an 
application for such a grant within 60 days after re-
ceiving an application for the grant. 
‘‘(c) WORKING WATERFRONT PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) To be eligible for a grant under subsection 
(b), a coastal State must submit and have approved 
by the Secretary a comprehensive working water-
front plan in accordance with this subsection, or be 
in the process of developing such a plan and have an 
established working waterfront program at the State 
or local level, or the Secretary determines that an 
existing coastal land use plan for that State is in ac-
cordance with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) Such plan— 
‘‘(A) must provide for preservation and ex-
pansion of access to coastal waters to persons 
engaged in commercial fishing, recreational 
fishing and boating businesses, aquaculture, 
boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, coastal- 
related business; 
‘‘(B) shall include one or more of— 
‘‘(i) an assessment of the economic, 
social, cultural, and historic value of work-
ing waterfront to the coastal State; 
‘‘(ii) a description of relevant State 
and local laws and regulations affecting 
working waterfront in the geographic areas 
identified in the working waterfront plan; 
‘‘(iii) 
identification 
of 
geographic 
areas where working waterfronts are cur-
rently under threat of conversion to uses 
incompatible with commercial and rec-
reational fishing, recreational fishing and 
boating 
businesses, 
aquaculture, 
boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, 
coastal-related business, and the level of 
that threat; 
‘‘(iv) identification of geographic areas 
with a historic connection to working wa-
terfronts where working waterfronts are 
not currently available, and, where appro-
priate, an assessment of the environmental 
impacts of any expansion or new develop-
ment of working waterfronts on the coastal 
ecosystem; 
‘‘(v) identification of other working 
waterfront needs including improvements 
to existing working waterfronts and work-
ing waterfront areas; 
‘‘(vi) a strategic and prioritized plan 
for the preservation, expansion, and im-
provement of working waterfronts in the 
coastal State; 
‘‘(vii) 
for 
areas 
identified 
under 
clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), identifica-
tion of current availability and potential
for expansion of public access to coastal 
waters; 
‘‘(viii) a description of the degree of 
community support for such strategic plan; 
and 
‘‘(ix) a contingency plan for properties 
that revert to the coastal State pursuant to 
determinations made by the coastal State 
under subsection (g)(4)(C); 
‘‘(C) may include detailed environmental 
impacts on working waterfronts, including haz-
ards, sea level rise, inundation exposure, and 
other resiliency issues; 
‘‘(D) may be part of the management pro-
gram approved under section 306; 
‘‘(E) shall utilize to the maximum extent 
practicable existing information contained in 
relevant surveys, plans, or other strategies to 
fulfill the information requirements under this 
paragraph; and 
‘‘(F) shall incorporate the policies and reg-
ulations adopted by communities under local 
working waterfront plans or strategies in exist-
ence before the date of the enactment of this 
section.
‘‘(3) A working waterfront plan— 
‘‘(A) shall be effective for purposes of this 
section for the 5-year period beginning on the 
date it is approved by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) must be updated and re-approved by 
the Secretary before the end of such period; and 
‘‘(C) shall be complimentary to and incor-
porate the policies and objectives of regional or 
local working waterfront plans as in effect be-
fore the date of enactment of this section or as 
subsequently revised. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) award planning grants to coastal 
States for the purpose of developing or revising 
comprehensive working waterfront plans; and 
‘‘(B) award grants consistent with the pur-
poses of this section to States undertaking the 
working waterfront planning process under this 
section, for the purpose of preserving and pro-
tecting working waterfronts during such proc-
ess. 
‘‘(5) Any coastal State applying for a working 
waterfront grant under this title shall—
‘‘(A) develop a working waterfront plan, 
using a process that involves the public and 
those with an interest in the coastal zone; 
‘‘(B) coordinate development and imple-
mentation of such a plan with other coastal 
management programs, regulations, and activi-
ties of the coastal State; and 
‘‘(C) if the coastal State allows qualified 
holders (other than the coastal State) to enter 
into working waterfront covenants, provide as 
part of the working waterfront plan under this 
subsection a mechanism or procedure to ensure 
that the qualified holders are complying their 
duties to enforce the working waterfront cov-
enant. 
‘‘(d) USES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) Each grant made by the Secretary under 
this section shall be subject to such terms and condi-
tions as may be appropriate to ensure that the grant 
is used for purposes consistent with this section. 
‘‘(2) A grant under this section may be used— 
‘‘(A) to acquire a working waterfront, or 
an interest in a working waterfront;
‘‘(B) to make improvements to a working 
waterfront, including the construction or repair 
of wharfs, boat ramps, or related facilities; or 
‘‘(C) for necessary climate adaptation miti-
gation. 
‘‘(e) PUBLIC ACCESS REQUIREMENT.—A working 
waterfront project funded by grants made under this sec-
tion must provide for expansion, improvement, or preser-
vation of reasonable and appropriate public access to 
coastal waters at or in the vicinity of a working water-
front, except for commercial fishing or other industrial ac-
cess points where the coastal State determines that public 
access would be unsafe. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
grant awarded under this section may be used to 
purchase working waterfront or an interest in work-
ing waterfront, including an easement, only from a 
willing seller and at fair market value. 
‘‘(2) A grant awarded under this section may 
be used to acquire working waterfront or an interest 
in working waterfront at less than fair market value 
only if the owner certifies to the Secretary that the 
sale is being entered into willingly and without coer-
cion.
‘‘(3) No Federal, State, or local entity may ex-
ercise the power of eminent domain to secure title to 
any property or facilities in connection with a 
project carried out under this section. 
‘‘(g) ALLOCATION OF GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERN-
MENTS AND OTHER ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall encourage coastal 
States to broadly allocate amounts received as 
grants under this section among working water-
fronts identified in working waterfront plans ap-
proved under subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) Subject to the approval of the Secretary, 
a coastal State may, as part of an approved working 
waterfront plan, designate as a qualified holder any 
unit of State or local government or nongovern-
mental organization, if the coastal State is ulti-
mately responsible for ensuring that the property 
will be managed in a manner that is consistent with 
the purposes for which the land entered into the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(3) A coastal State or a qualified holder des-
ignated by a coastal State may allocate to a unit of 
local government, nongovernmental organization, 
fishing cooperative, or other entity, a portion of any 
grant made under this section for the purpose of
carrying out this section, except that such an alloca-
tion shall not relieve the coastal State of the respon-
sibility for ensuring that any funds so allocated are 
applied in furtherance of the coastal State’s ap-
proved working waterfront plan. 
‘‘(4) A qualified holder may hold title to or in-
terest in property acquired under this section, except 
that— 
‘‘(A) all persons holding title to or interest 
in working waterfront affected by a grant under 
this section, including a qualified holder, private 
citizen, private business, nonprofit organization, 
fishing cooperative, or other entity, shall enter 
into a working waterfront covenant; 
‘‘(B) such covenant shall be held by the 
coastal State or a qualified holder designated 
under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(C) if the coastal State determines, on 
the record after an opportunity for a hearing, 
that the working waterfront covenant has been 
violated— 
‘‘(i) all right, title, and interest in and 
to the working waterfront covered by such 
covenant shall, except as provided in sub-
paragraph (D), revert to the coastal State; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the coastal State shall have the 
right of immediate entry onto the working 
waterfront; 
‘‘(D) if a coastal State makes a determina-
tion under subparagraph (C), the coastal State 
may convey or authorize the qualified holder to 
convey the working waterfront or interest in 
working waterfront to another qualified holder; 
and 
‘‘(E) nothing in this subsection waives any 
legal requirement under any Federal or State 
law. 
‘‘(h) MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
Secretary shall require that each coastal State that 
receives a grant under this section, or a qualified 
holder designated by that coastal State under sub-
section (g), shall provide matching funds in an 
amount equal to at least 25 percent of the total cost 
of the project carried out with the grant. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may waive the application 
of paragraph (1) for any qualified holder that is an 
underserved community, a community that has an
inability to draw on other sources of funding because 
of the small population or low income of the commu-
nity, or for other reasons the Secretary considers ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(3) A local community designated as a quali-
fied holder under subsection (g) may utilize funds or 
other in-kind contributions donated by a nongovern-
mental partner to satisfy the matching funds re-
quirement under this subsection. 
‘‘(4) As a condition of receipt of a grant under 
this section, the Secretary shall require that a coast-
al State provide to the Secretary such assurances as 
the Secretary determines are sufficient to dem-
onstrate that the share of the cost of each eligible 
project that is not funded by the grant awarded 
under this section has been secured. 
‘‘(5) If financial assistance under this section 
represents only a portion of the total cost of a 
project, funding from other Federal sources may be 
applied to the cost of the project. Each portion shall 
be subject to match requirements under the applica-
ble provision of law. 
‘‘(6) The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal 
match the value of a working waterfront or interest 
in a working waterfront, including conservation and
other easements, that is held in perpetuity by a 
qualified holder, if the working waterfront or inter-
est is identified in the application for the grant and 
acquired by the qualified holder within 3 years of 
the grant award date, or within 3 years after the 
submission of the application and before the end of 
the grant award period. Such value shall be deter-
mined by an appraisal performed at such time before 
the award of the grant as the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(7) The Secretary shall treat as non-Federal 
match the costs associated with acquisition of a 
working waterfront or an interest in a working wa-
terfront, and the costs of restoration, enhancement, 
or other improvement to a working waterfront, if the 
activities are identified in the project application and 
the costs are incurred within the period of the grant 
award, or, for working waterfront described in para-
graph (6), within the same time limits described in 
that paragraph. These costs may include either cash 
or in-kind contributions. 
‘‘(i) LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—No more 
than 5 percent of the funds made available to the Sec-
retary under this section may be used by the Secretary
for planning or administration of the program under this 
section. 
‘‘(j) OTHER TECHNICAL
AND FINANCIAL ASSIST-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(1) Up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated 
under this section shall be used by the Secretary for 
purposes of providing technical assistance as de-
scribed in this subsection. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) provide technical assistance to coastal 
States and local governments in identifying and 
obtaining other sources of available Federal 
technical and financial assistance for the devel-
opment and revision of a working waterfront 
plan and the implementation of an approved 
working waterfront plan; 
‘‘(B) provide technical assistance to States 
and local governments for the development, im-
plementation, and revision of comprehensive 
working waterfront plans, which may include, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, 
planning grants and assistance, pilot projects, 
feasibility studies, research, and other projects 
necessary to further the purposes of this sec-
tion;
‘‘(C) assist States in developing other tools 
to protect working waterfronts; 
‘‘(D) collect and disseminate to States 
guidance for best storm water management 
practices in regards to working waterfronts; 
‘‘(E) provide technical assistance to States 
and local governments on integrating resilience 
planning into working waterfront preservation 
efforts; and 
‘‘(F) collect and disseminate best practices 
on working waterfronts and resilience planning. 
‘‘(k) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) develop performance measures to 
evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the 
program under this section in accomplishing the 
purpose of this section; and 
‘‘(B) submit to Congress a biennial report 
that includes such evaluations, an account of all 
expenditures, and descriptions of all projects 
carried out using grants awarded under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may submit the biennial re-
port under paragraph (1)(B) by including it in the 
biennial report required under section 316.
‘‘(l) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘qualified holder’ means a coast-
al State or a unit of local or coastal State govern-
ment or a non-State organization designated by a 
coastal State under subsection (g). 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary, 
acting through the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘working waterfront’ means real 
property (including support structures over water 
and other facilities) that provides access to coastal 
waters to persons engaged in commercial and rec-
reational fishing, recreational fishing and boating 
businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other 
water-dependent, coastal-related business and is 
used for, or that supports, commercial and rec-
reational fishing, recreational fishing and boating 
businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other 
water-dependent, coastal-related business. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘working waterfront covenant’ 
means an agreement in recordable form between the 
owner of working waterfront and one or more quali-
fied holders, that provides such assurances as the 
Secretary may require that—
State approved by the Secretary under this 
section; and 
‘‘(D) such covenant is subject to enforce-
ment and oversight by the coastal State or by 
another person as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(m) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Grant Program 
$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 104. WORKING WATERFRONTS PRESERVATION FUND; 
GRANTS. 
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 322. WORKING WATERFRONTS PRESERVATION LOAN 
FUND. 
‘‘(a) FUND.—There is established in the Treasury a 
separate account that shall be known as the ‘Working Wa-
terfronts Preservation Loan Fund’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Fund’). 
‘‘(b) USE.— 
‘‘(1) Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, amounts in the Fund may be used by the Sec-
retary to make loans to coastal States for the pur-
pose of implementing a working waterfront plan ap-
proved by the Secretary under section 321(c) 
through preservation, improvement, restoration, re-
habilitation, acquisition of working waterfront prop-
erties under criteria established by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) Upon enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary of Commerce shall conduct a feasibility study 
on the administration of the development and man-
agement of a Working Waterfronts Preservation 
Loan Fund. 
‘‘(3) Upon the completion of the study under 
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish a fund 
in accordance with the results of that study, and es-
tablish such criteria as referenced in subsection (c) 
in consultation with States that have a management 
program approved by the Secretary of Commerce 
pursuant to section 306 and local government coast-
al management programs. 
‘‘(c) AWARD CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall award 
loans under this section through a regionally equitable, 
competitive funding process, and in accordance with the 
following: 
‘‘(1) The Governor, or the lead agency des-
ignated by the Governor for coordinating the imple-
mentation of this section, where appropriate in con-
sultation with the appropriate local government,
shall determine that an application for a loan is con-
sistent with the State’s approved coastal zone plan, 
program, and policies prior to submission to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) In developing guidelines under this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with coastal States, other 
Federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders 
with expertise in working waterfront planning. 
‘‘(3) Coastal States may allocate amounts 
loaned under this section to local governments, agen-
cies, or nongovernmental organizations eligible for 
loans under this section. 
‘‘(4) In awarding a loan for activities in a 
coastal State, the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(A) the economic and cultural significance 
of working waterfront to the coastal State; 
‘‘(B) the demonstrated working waterfront 
needs of the coastal State as outlined by a 
working waterfront plan approved for the coast-
al State under section 321(c), and the value of 
the proposed loan for the implementation of 
such plan; 
‘‘(C) the ability to successfully leverage 
loan funds among participating entities, includ-
ing Federal programs, regional organizations,
State and other government units, landowners, 
corporations, or private organizations; 
‘‘(D) the potential for rapid turnover in 
the ownership of working waterfront in the 
coastal State, and where applicable the need for 
coastal States to respond quickly when prop-
erties in existing or potential working water-
front areas or public access areas as identified 
in the working waterfront plan submitted by 
the coastal State come under threat or become 
available; 
‘‘(E) the impact of the loan on the coastal 
ecosystem and the users of the coastal eco-
system; and 
‘‘(F) the extent of the historic connection 
between working waterfronts for which the loan 
will be used and the local communities within 
the coastal State. 
‘‘(d) LOAN AMOUNT AND TERMS.— 
‘‘(1) The amount of a loan under this section— 
‘‘(A) shall be not less than $100,000; and 
‘‘(B) shall not exceed 15 percent of the 
amount in the Fund as of July 1 of the fiscal 
year in which the loan is made.
‘‘(2) The interest rate for a loan under this sec-
tion shall not exceed 4 percent. 
‘‘(3) The repayment term for a loan under this 
section shall not exceed 20 years. 
‘‘(e) DEADLINE
FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary 
shall approve or reject an application for a loan under this 
section within 60 days after receiving an application for 
the loan. 
‘‘(f) LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—No more 
than 5 percent of the funds made available to the Sec-
retary under this section may be used by the Secretary 
for planning or administration of the program under this 
section. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions in section 321(l) 
shall apply to this section. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $12,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 105. ELIGIBILITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR 
FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER THE COASTAL 
ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1972. 
Section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone Management Act 
of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(4)) is amended by inserting ‘‘the 
District of Columbia,’’ after ‘‘the term also includes’’.
SEC. 106. CLIMATE CHANGE PREPAREDNESS IN THE 
COASTAL ZONE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 323. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PREPAREDNESS 
AND RESPONSE PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish, 
consistent with the national policies set forth in section 
303, a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness 
and response program to— 
‘‘(1) provide assistance to coastal States to vol-
untarily develop coastal climate change adaptation 
plans, pursuant to approved management programs 
approved under section 306, to minimize contribu-
tions to climate change and to prepare for and re-
duce the negative consequences that may result from 
climate change in the coastal zone; and 
‘‘(2) provide financial and technical assistance 
and training to enable coastal States to implement 
plans developed pursuant to this section through 
coastal States’ enforceable policies. 
‘‘(b) COASTAL
CLIMATE
CHANGE
ADAPTATION 
PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, may make a grant
to any coastal State for the purpose of developing 
climate change adaptation plans pursuant to guide-
lines issued by the Secretary under paragraph (8). 
‘‘(2) PLAN CONTENT.—A plan developed with a 
grant under this subsection shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Identification of public facilities and 
public services, working waterfronts, coastal re-
sources of national significance, coastal waters, 
energy facilities, or other land and water uses 
located in the coastal zone that are likely to be 
impacted by climate change. 
‘‘(B) Adaptive management strategies for 
land use to respond or adapt to changing envi-
ronmental conditions, including strategies to 
combat invasive species, protect biodiversity, 
protect water quality, and establish habitat 
buffer zones, migration corridors, and climate 
refugia. 
‘‘(C) Adaptive management strategies for 
ocean-based ecosystems and resources, includ-
ing strategies to plan for and respond to geo-
graphic or temporal shifts in marine resources, 
to create protected areas that will provide cli-
mate refugia, and to maintain and restore 
ocean ecosystem function. 
‘‘(D) Adaptive management strategies for 
Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, includ-
ing strategies to support freshwater fisheries, 
monitor ice cover, manage phosphorous and ni-
trogen chemical loads, minimize invasive species 
and harmful blooms of algae, and create pro-
tected areas to maintain Great Lakes eco-
systems. 
‘‘(E) Requirements to initiate and main-
tain long-term monitoring of environmental 
change to assess coastal zone adaptation and to 
adjust when necessary adaptive management 
strategies and new planning guidelines to attain 
the policies under section 303. 
‘‘(F) A description of how the plan will ad-
dress the impact of climate change affecting 
coastal communities will have on nearby Tribes, 
Tribal communities, and low-income or low-re-
source communities and how those stakeholders 
will be included in and informed about the de-
velopment of the plan. 
‘‘(G) Other information considered nec-
essary by the Secretary to identify the full
range of climate change impacts affecting coast-
al communities. 
‘‘(3) STATE
HAZARD
MITIGATION
PLANS.— 
Plans developed with a grant under this subsection 
shall be consistent with State hazard mitigation 
plans and natural disaster response and recovery 
programs developed under State or Federal law. 
‘‘(4) ALLOCATION.—Grants under this sub-
section shall be available only to coastal States with 
management programs approved by the Secretary 
under section 306 and shall be allocated among such 
coastal States in a manner consistent with regula-
tions promulgated pursuant to section 306(c). 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY.—In the awarding of grants 
under this subsection, the Secretary may give pri-
ority to any coastal State that has received grant 
funding to develop program changes pursuant to 
paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of sec-
tion 309(a). 
‘‘(6) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may provide technical assistance to a coastal State 
consistent with section 310 to ensure the timely de-
velopment of plans supported by grants awarded 
under this subsection.
‘‘(7) FEDERAL APPROVAL.—In order to be eligi-
ble for a grant under subsection (c), a coastal State 
must have its plan developed under this subsection 
approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(8) GUIDELINES.—Within 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the coastal States, shall issue 
guidelines for the implementation of the grant pro-
gram established under this subsection. 
‘‘(c) COASTAL
CLIMATE
CHANGE
ADAPTATION 
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, may make grants 
to any coastal State that has a climate change adap-
tation plan approved under subsection (b)(7), in 
order to support projects that implement strategies 
contained within such plans. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary, within 90 days after approval of the first 
plan approved under subsection (b)(7), shall publish 
in the Federal Register requirements regarding ap-
plications, allocations, eligible activities, and all 
terms and conditions for grants awarded under this 
subsection. No less than 30 percent, and no more 
than 50 percent, of the funds appropriated in any
fiscal year for grants under this subsection shall be 
awarded through a merit-based competitive process. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 
may award grants to coastal States to implement 
projects in the coastal zone to address stress factors 
in order to improve coastal climate change adapta-
tion, including the following: 
‘‘(A) Activities to address physical disturb-
ances within the coastal zone, especially activi-
ties related to public facilities and public serv-
ices, tourism, sedimentation, ocean acidification, 
coastal acidification, hypoxia, harmful algal 
blooms, and other factors negatively impacting 
coastal waters. 
‘‘(B) Monitoring, control, or eradication of 
disease organisms and invasive species. 
‘‘(C) Activities to address the loss, deg-
radation, or fragmentation of wildlife habitat 
through projects to establish or protect marine, 
avian, and terrestrial habitat buffers, wildlife 
refugia, other wildlife refuges, or networks 
thereof, preservation of migratory wildlife cor-
ridors and other transition zones, and restora-
tion of fish, avian, and wildlife habitat.
‘‘(D) Projects to reduce, mitigate, or other-
wise address likely impacts caused by natural 
hazards in the coastal zone, including sea level 
rise, coastal inundation, storm water manage-
ment, coastal erosion and subsidence, severe 
weather 
events 
such 
as 
cyclonic 
storms, 
tsunamis and other seismic threats, and fluc-
tuating Great Lakes water levels. The Secretary 
shall give priority to projects that utilize green 
infrastructure solutions. 
‘‘(E) Projects to adapt existing infrastruc-
ture, including enhancements to both built and 
natural environments, such as sea walls and liv-
ing shorelines. 
‘‘(F) Provision of technical training and 
assistance to local coastal policy makers to in-
crease awareness of science, management, and 
technology 
information 
related 
to 
climate 
change and adaptation strategies. 
‘‘(G) Projects to assess the impact on 
coastal resiliency of water level regulating prac-
tices on the Great Lakes. 
‘‘(H) Activities or projects to address the 
immediate and long-term degradation or loss of 
coral and coral reefs in response to bacteria,
fungi, viruses, increased sea surface tempera-
tures, ultraviolet radiation, and pollutants. 
‘‘(4) PROMOTION AND USE OF NATIONAL ESTU-
ARINE RESEARCH RESERVES.—The Secretary shall 
promote and encourage the use of National Estua-
rine Research Reserves as sites for pilot or dem-
onstration projects carried out with grants awarded 
under this section.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
318(a) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1464(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (1); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (2) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) for grants under section 323, such sums 
as are necessary.’’. 
(c) INTENT OF CONGRESS.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to require any coastal State to amend 
or modify its approved management program pursuant to 
section 306(e) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455(e)) or to extend the enforceable 
policies of a coastal State beyond the coastal zone as iden-
tified in the coastal State’s approved management pro-
gram. 
SEC. 107. UPDATE TO ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX 
PRODUCTS OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AT-
MOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FOR GREAT 
LAKES. 
(a) UPDATE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL SENSI-
TIVITY INDEX PRODUCTS FOR GREAT LAKES.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall 
commence updating the environmental sensitivity index 
products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes. 
(b) PERIODIC UPDATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SEN-
SITIVITY INDEX PRODUCTS GENERALLY.—Subject to the 
availability of appropriations and the priorities set forth 
in subsection (c), the Under Secretary shall— 
(1) periodically update the environmental sensi-
tivity index products of the Administration; and 
(2) endeavor to do so not less frequently than 
once every 7 years. 
(c) PRIORITIES.—When prioritizing geographic areas 
to update environmental sensitivity index products, the 
Under Secretary shall consider—
(1) the age of existing environmental sensitivity 
index products for the areas; 
(2) the occurrence of extreme events, be it nat-
ural or man-made, which have significantly altered 
the shoreline or ecosystem since the last update; 
(3) the natural variability of shoreline and 
coastal environment; and 
(4) the volume of vessel traffic and general vul-
nerability to spilled pollutants. 
(d) ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX PRODUCT 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘environmental 
sensitivity index product’’ means a map or similar tool 
that is utilized to identify sensitive shoreline, coastal or 
offshore, resources prior to an oil spill event in order to 
set baseline priorities for protection and plan cleanup 
strategies, typically including information relating to 
shoreline type, biological resources, and human use re-
sources. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Under Secretary $7,500,000 to 
carry out subsection (a). 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated or 
otherwise made available pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall be available to the Under Secretary for the 
purposes set forth in such paragraph until expended. 
SEC. 108. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 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), for the purpose described in sub-
section (b). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose described in this sub-
section is to stimulate innovation to advance the following 
coastal risk reduction and resilience measures: 
(1) Natural features, including dunes, reefs, 
and wetlands. 
(2) Nature-based features, including beach 
nourishment, dune restoration, wetland and other 
coastal habitat restoration, and living shoreline con-
struction. 
(3) Nonstructural measures, including flood 
proofing of structures, flood warning systems, and 
elevated development.
SEC. 109. CATALOG OF RESEARCH ON APPLICABLE COAST-
AL RISK REDUCTION AND RESILIENCE MEAS-
URES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 
acting through the Administrator, shall— 
(1) identify all Department of Commerce re-
search activities regarding applicable coastal risk re-
duction and resilience measures; 
(2) consult with the heads of other Federal 
agencies to identify what activities, if any, those 
Federal agencies are conducting regarding applicable 
coastal risk reduction and resilience measures; 
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of the activities 
identified under paragraphs (1) and (2); and 
(4) appoint one or more officers or employees of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion to liaise with non-Federal entities conducting 
research related to applicable coastal risk reduction 
and resilience measures in order to eliminate 
redundancies, cooperate for common climate re-
search goals, and to make research findings readily 
available to the public. 
(b) DEFINITION OF APPLICABLE COASTAL RISK RE-
DUCTION AND RESILIENCE MEASURES.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘applicable coastal risk reduction and resilience
measures’’ means natural features, nature-based features, 
or nonstructural measures. 
TITLE II—FISHERY RESEARCH 
AND CONSERVATION 
Subtitle A—National Fish Habitat 
Conservation Through Partner-
ships 
SEC. 201. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this subtitle is to encourage partner-
ships among public agencies and other interested persons 
to promote fish conservation— 
(1) to achieve measurable habitat conservation 
results through strategic actions of Fish Habitat 
Partnerships that lead to better fish habitat condi-
tions and increased fishing opportunities by— 
(A) improving ecological conditions; 
(B) restoring natural processes; or 
(C) preventing the decline of intact and 
healthy systems; 
(2) to establish a consensus set of national con-
servation strategies as a framework to guide future 
actions and investment by Fish Habitat Partner-
ships; 
(3) to broaden the community of support for 
fish habitat conservation by—
(A) increasing fishing opportunities; 
(B) fostering the participation of local 
communities, especially young people in local 
communities, in conservation activities; and 
(C) raising public awareness of the role 
healthy fish habitat play in the quality of life 
and economic well-being of local communities; 
(4) to fill gaps in the National Fish Habitat As-
sessment and the associated database of the Na-
tional Fish Habitat Assessment— 
(A) to empower strategic conservation ac-
tions supported by broadly available scientific 
information; and 
(B) to integrate socioeconomic data in the 
analysis to improve the lives of humans in a 
manner consistent with fish habitat conserva-
tion goals; and 
(5) to communicate to the public and conserva-
tion partners— 
(A) the conservation outcomes produced 
collectively by Fish Habitat Partnerships; and 
(B) new opportunities and voluntary ap-
proaches for conserving fish habitat. 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle:
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on En-
vironment and Public Works of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Fish Habitat Board established by section 
203. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. 
(4) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AS-
SISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Environ-
mental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator’’ 
means the Assistant Administrator for Water of the 
Environmental Protection Agency. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given to the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(6) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION
ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR.—The
term ‘‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration Assistant Administrator’’ means the Assist-
ant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(7) PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘Partnership’’ 
means an entity designated by Congress as a Fish 
Habitat Partnership under section 204. 
(8) REAL
PROPERTY
INTEREST.—The term 
‘‘real property interest’’ means an ownership interest 
in— 
(A) land; or 
(B) water (including water rights). 
(9) MARINE
FISHERIES
COMMISSIONS.—The 
term ‘‘Marine Fisheries Commissions’’ means— 
(A) the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission; 
(B) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Com-
mission; and 
(C) the Pacific States Marine Commission. 
(10) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of the Interior. 
(11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, 
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the United 
States Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
(12) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agen-
cy’’ means— 
(A) the fish and wildlife agency of a State; 
and 
(B) any department or division of a de-
partment or agency of a State that manages in 
the public trust the inland or marine fishery re-
sources of the State or sustains the habitat for 
those fishery resources pursuant to State law or 
the constitution of the State. 
SEC. 203. NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) FISH
HABITAT
BOARD.—There is estab-
lished a board, to be known as the ‘‘National Fish 
Habitat Board’’, whose duties are— 
(A) to promote, oversee, and coordinate the 
implementation of this subtitle; 
(B) to establish national goals and prior-
ities for fish habitat conservation; 
(C) to recommend to Congress entities for 
designation as Partnerships; and 
(D) to review and make recommendations 
regarding fish habitat conservation projects. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be com-
posed of 26 members, of whom—
(A) one shall be a representative of the De-
partment of the Interior; 
(B) one shall be a representative of the 
United States Geological Survey; 
(C) one shall be a representative of the De-
partment of Commerce; 
(D) one shall be a representative of the 
Department of Agriculture; 
(E) one shall be a representative of the As-
sociation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; 
(F) four shall be representatives of State 
agencies, one of whom shall be nominated by a 
regional association of fish and wildlife agencies 
from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-
west, and Western regions of the United States; 
(G) two shall be representatives of either— 
(i) Indian Tribes in the State of Alas-
ka; or 
(ii) Indian Tribes in States other than 
the State of Alaska; 
(H) one shall be a representative of ei-
ther— 
(i) the Regional Fishery Management 
Councils established under section 302 of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conserva-
tion and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1852); or 
(ii) a representative of the Marine 
Fisheries Commissions; 
(I) one shall be a representative of the 
Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council; 
(J) seven shall be representatives selected 
from at least one from each of the following: 
(i) the recreational sportfishing indus-
try; 
(ii) the commercial fishing industry; 
(iii) marine recreational anglers; 
(iv) freshwater recreational anglers; 
(v) habitat conservation organizations; 
and 
(vi) science-based fishery organiza-
tions; 
(K) one shall be a representative of a na-
tional private landowner organization; 
(L) one shall be a representative of an ag-
ricultural production organization; 
(M) one shall be a representative of local 
government interests involved in fish habitat 
restoration;
(N) two shall be representatives from dif-
ferent sectors of corporate industries, which 
may include— 
(i) natural resource commodity inter-
ests, such as petroleum or mineral extrac-
tion; 
(ii) natural resource user industries; 
and 
(iii) industries with an interest in fish 
and fish habitat conservation; and 
(O) one shall be a leadership private sector 
or landowner representative of an active part-
nership. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—A member of the Board 
shall serve without compensation. 
(4) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Board may be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from the home or regular place of business of 
the member in the performance of the duties of the 
Board. 
(b) APPOINTMENT AND TERMS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this section, a member of the Board de-
scribed in any of subparagraphs (F) through (O) of 
subsection (a)(2) shall serve for a term of 3 years. 
(2) INITIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The initial Board shall 
consist of representatives as described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (F) of subsection 
(a)(2). 
(B) REMAINING
MEMBERS.—Not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the representatives of the initial Board 
under subparagraph (A) shall appoint the re-
maining members of the Board described in 
subparagraphs (H) through (O) of subsection 
(a)(2). 
(C) TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES.—Not later 
than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall provide to the Board a rec-
ommendation of not fewer than three Tribal 
representatives, from which the Board shall ap-
point one representative pursuant to subpara-
graph (G) of subsection (a)(2).
(3) STAGGERED TERMS.—Of the members de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2)(J) initially appointed to 
the Board— 
(A) two shall be appointed for a term of 1 
year; 
(B) two shall be appointed for a term of 2 
years; and 
(C) three shall be appointed for a term of 
3 years. 
(4) VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy of a member 
of the Board described in subparagraph (H), 
(I), (J), (K), (L), (M), (N), or (O) of sub-
section (a)(2) shall be filled by an appointment 
made by the remaining members of the Board. 
(B) 
TRIBAL
REPRESENTATIVES.—Fol-
lowing a vacancy of a member of the Board de-
scribed in subparagraph (G) of subsection 
(a)(2), the Secretary shall recommend to the 
Board a list of not fewer than three Tribal rep-
resentatives, from which the remaining mem-
bers of the Board shall appoint a representative 
to fill the vacancy. 
(5) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—An individual 
whose term of service as a member of the Board ex-
pires may continue to serve on the Board until a 
successor is appointed. 
(6) REMOVAL.—If a member of the Board de-
scribed in any of subparagraphs (H) through (O) of 
subparagraph (a)(2) misses three consecutive regu-
larly scheduled Board meetings, the members of the 
Board may— 
(A) vote to remove that member; and 
(B) appoint another individual in accord-
ance with paragraph (4). 
(c) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The representative of the 
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies appointed 
under subsection (a)(2)(E) shall serve as Chair-
person of the Board. 
(2) TERM.—The Chairperson of the Board shall 
serve for a term of 3 years. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet— 
(A) at the call of the Chairperson; but 
(B) not less frequently than twice each cal-
endar year. 
(2) PUBLIC
ACCESS.—All meetings of the 
Board shall be open to the public. 
(e) PROCEDURES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall establish 
procedures to carry out the business of the Board, 
including— 
(A) a requirement that a quorum of the 
members of the Board be present to transact 
business; 
(B) a requirement that no recommenda-
tions may be adopted by the Board, except by 
the vote of two-thirds of all members; 
(C) procedures for establishing national 
goals and priorities for fish habitat conservation 
for the purposes of this subtitle; 
(D) procedures for designating Partner-
ships under section 204; and 
(E) procedures for reviewing, evaluating, 
and making recommendations regarding fish 
habitat conservation projects. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Board shall constitute a quorum. 
SEC. 204. FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND.—The Board may 
recommend to Congress the designation of Fish Habitat 
Partnerships in accordance with this section. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of a Partnership shall 
be—
(1) to work with other regional habitat con-
servation programs to promote cooperation and co-
ordination to enhance fish populations and fish habi-
tats; 
(2) to engage local and regional communities to 
build support for fish habitat conservation; 
(3) to involve diverse groups of public and pri-
vate partners; 
(4) to develop collaboratively a strategic vision 
and achievable implementation plan that is scientif-
ically sound; 
(5) to leverage funding from sources that sup-
port local and regional partnerships; 
(6) to use adaptive management principles, in-
cluding 
evaluation 
of 
project 
success 
and 
functionality; 
(7) to develop appropriate local or regional 
habitat evaluation and assessment measures and cri-
teria that are compatible with national habitat con-
dition measures; and 
(8) to implement local and regional priority 
projects that improve conditions for fish and fish 
habitat. 
(c) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.—An entity seeking 
to be designated by Congress as a Partnership shall—
(1) submit to the Board an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Board may reasonably require; and 
(2) demonstrate to the Board that the entity 
has— 
(A) a focus on promoting the health of im-
portant fish and fish habitats; 
(B) an ability to coordinate the implemen-
tation of priority projects that support the goals 
and national priorities set by the Board that 
are within the Partnership boundary; 
(C) a self-governance structure that sup-
ports the implementation of strategic priorities 
for fish habitat; 
(D) the ability to develop local and re-
gional relationships with a broad range of enti-
ties to further strategic priorities for fish and 
fish habitat; 
(E) a strategic plan that details required 
investments for fish habitat conservation that 
addresses the strategic fish habitat priorities of 
the Partnership and supports and meets the 
strategic priorities of the Board; 
(F) the ability to develop and implement 
fish habitat conservation projects that address
strategic priorities of the Partnership and the 
Board; and 
(G) the ability to develop fish habitat con-
servation priorities based on sound science and 
data, the ability to measure the effectiveness of 
fish habitat projects of the Partnership, and a 
clear plan as to how Partnership science and 
data components will be integrated with the 
overall Board science and data effort. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO CON-
GRESS.—The Board may recommend to Congress for des-
ignation an application for a Partnership submitted under 
subsection (c) if the Board determines that the appli-
cant— 
(1) meets the criteria described in subsection 
(c)(2); 
(2) identifies representatives to provide support 
and technical assistance to the Partnership from a 
diverse group of public and private partners, which 
may include State or local governments, nonprofit 
entities, Indian Tribes, and private individuals, that 
are focused on conservation of fish habitats to 
achieve results across jurisdictional boundaries on 
public and private land;
(3) is organized to promote the health of impor-
tant fish species and important fish habitats, includ-
ing reservoirs, natural lakes, coastal and marine en-
vironments, coral reefs, and estuaries; 
(4) identifies strategic fish and fish habitat pri-
orities for the Partnership area in the form of geo-
graphical focus areas or key stressors or impair-
ments to facilitate strategic planning and decision 
making; 
(5) is able to address issues and priorities on a 
nationally significant scale; 
(6) includes a governance structure that— 
(A) reflects the range of all partners; and 
(B) promotes joint strategic planning and 
decision making by the applicant; 
(7) demonstrates completion of, or significant 
progress toward the development of, a strategic plan 
to address declines in fish populations, rather than 
simply treating symptoms, in accordance with the 
goals and national priorities established by the 
Board; and 
(8) promotes collaboration in developing a stra-
tegic vision and implementation program that is sci-
entifically sound and achievable. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1 
of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of en-
actment of this Act and each February 1 thereafter, 
the Board shall develop and submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees an annual report, to 
be entitled ‘‘Report to Congress on Future Fish 
Habitat Partnerships and Modifications’’, that— 
(A) identifies each entity that— 
(i) meets the requirements described 
in subsection (d); and 
(ii) the Board recommends to Con-
gress for designation as a Partnership; 
(B) describes any proposed modifications 
to a Partnership previously designated by Con-
gress under subsection (f); 
(C) with respect to each entity rec-
ommended for designation as a Partnership, de-
scribes, to the maximum extent practicable— 
(i) the purpose of the recommended 
Partnership; and 
(ii) how the recommended Partnership 
fulfills the requirements described in sub-
section (d). 
(2) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY; NOTIFICATION.— 
The Board shall—
(A) make the report publicly available, in-
cluding on the internet; and 
(B) provide to the appropriate congres-
sional committees and the State agency of any 
State included in a recommended Partnership 
area written notification of the public avail-
ability of the report. 
(f) DESIGNATION OR MODIFICATION OF PARTNER-
SHIP.—Congress shall have the exclusive authority to des-
ignate or modify a Partnership. 
(g) EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) DESIGNATION REVIEW.—Not later than 5 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, any 
partnership receiving Federal funds as of the date of 
enactment of this Act shall be subject to a designa-
tion review by Congress in which Congress shall 
have the opportunity to designate the partnership 
under subsection (f). 
(2) INELIGIBILITY
FOR
FEDERAL
FUNDS.—A 
partnership referred to in paragraph (1) that Con-
gress does not designate as described in that para-
graph shall be ineligible to receive Federal funds 
under this subtitle.
SEC. 205. FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS. 
(a) SUBMISSION TO BOARD.—Not later than March 
31 of each year, each Partnership shall submit to the 
Board a list of priority fish habitat conservation projects 
recommended by the Partnership for annual funding 
under this subtitle. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS BY BOARD.—Not later than 
July 1 of each year, the Board shall submit to the Sec-
retary a priority list of fish habitat conservation projects 
that includes a description, including estimated costs, of 
each project that the Board recommends that the Sec-
retary approve and fund under this subtitle for the fol-
lowing fiscal year. 
(c) CRITERIA
FOR
PROJECT
SELECTION.—The 
Board shall select each fish habitat conservation project 
recommended to the Secretary under subsection (b) after 
taking into consideration, at a minimum, the following in-
formation: 
(1) A recommendation of the Partnership that 
is, or will be, participating actively in implementing 
the fish habitat conservation project. 
(2) The capabilities and experience of project 
proponents to implement successfully the proposed 
project. 
(3) The extent to which the fish habitat con-
servation project—
(A) fulfills a local or regional priority that 
is directly linked to the strategic plan of the 
Partnership and is consistent with the purpose 
of this subtitle; 
(B) addresses the national priorities estab-
lished by the Board; 
(C) is supported by the findings of the 
habitat assessment of the Partnership or the 
Board, and aligns or is compatible with other 
conservation plans; 
(D) identifies appropriate monitoring and 
evaluation measures and criteria that are com-
patible with national measures; 
(E) provides a well-defined budget linked 
to deliverables and outcomes; 
(F) leverages other funds to implement the 
project; 
(G) addresses the causes and processes be-
hind the decline of fish or fish habitats; and 
(H) includes an outreach or education 
component that includes the local or regional 
community. 
(4) The availability of sufficient non-Federal 
funds to match Federal contributions for the fish
habitat conservation project, as required by sub-
section (e). 
(5) The extent to which the fish habitat con-
servation project— 
(A) will increase fish populations in a man-
ner that leads to recreational fishing opportuni-
ties for the public; 
(B) will be carried out through a coopera-
tive agreement among Federal, State, and local 
governments, Indian Tribes, and private enti-
ties; 
(C) increases public access to land or 
water for fish and wildlife-dependent rec-
reational opportunities; 
(D) advances the conservation of fish and 
wildlife species that have been identified by a 
State agency as species of greatest conservation 
need; 
(E) where appropriate, advances the con-
servation of fish and fish habitats under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and 
other relevant Federal law and State wildlife 
action plans; and
local community of the fish habitat conservation 
project; and 
(D) to require the submission to the Board 
of a report describing the findings of the assess-
ment. 
(2) ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A State, local govern-
ment, or other non-Federal entity is eligible to 
receive funds for the acquisition of real prop-
erty from willing sellers under this subtitle if 
the acquisition ensures— 
(i) public access for fish and wildlife- 
dependent recreation; or 
(ii) a scientifically based, direct en-
hancement to the health of fish and fish 
populations, as determined by the Board. 
(B) STATE AGENCY APPROVAL.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—All real property 
interest acquisition projects funded under 
this subtitle must be approved by the State 
agency in the State in which the project is 
occurring. 
(ii) PROHIBITION.—The Board may 
not recommend, and the Secretary may not 
provide any funding for, any real property
interest acquisition that has not been ap-
proved by the State agency. 
(C) ASSESSMENT
OF
OTHER
AUTHORI-
TIES.—The Board may not recommend, and the 
Secretary may not provide any funding under 
this subtitle for, any real property interest ac-
quisition unless the Partnership that rec-
ommended the project has conducted a project 
assessment, submitted with the funding request 
and approved by the Board, to demonstrate all 
other Federal, State, and local authorities for 
the acquisition of real property have been ex-
hausted. 
(D) RESTRICTIONS.—A real property in-
terest may not be acquired pursuant to a fish 
habitat conservation project by a State, local 
government, or other non-Federal entity con-
ducted with funds provided under this subtitle, 
unless— 
(i) the owner of the real property au-
thorizes the State, local government, or 
other non-Federal entity to acquire the 
real property; and 
(ii) the Secretary and the Board de-
termine that the State, local government,
or other non-Federal entity would benefit 
from undertaking the management of the 
real property being acquired because that 
is in accordance with the goals of a Part-
nership. 
(e) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graphs (2) and (4), no fish habitat conservation 
project may be recommended by the Board under 
subsection (b) or provided financial assistance under 
this subtitle unless at least 50 percent of the cost of 
the fish habitat conservation project will be funded 
with non-Federal funds. 
(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Such non-Federal 
share of the cost of a fish habitat conservation 
project— 
(A) may not be derived from another Fed-
eral grant program; and 
(B) may include in-kind contributions and 
cash. 
(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—Not-
withstanding paragraph (1) or any other provision of 
law, any funds made available to an Indian Tribe 
pursuant to this subtitle may be considered to be 
non-Federal funds for the purpose of paragraph (1).
(4) WAIVER
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce with 
respect to marine or estuarine projects, may waive 
the application of paragraph (2)(A) with respect to 
a State or an Indian Tribe, or otherwise reduce the 
portion of the non-Federal share of the cost of an 
activity required to be paid by a State or an Indian 
Tribe under paragraph (1), if the Secretary deter-
mines that the State or Indian Tribe does not have 
sufficient funds not derived from another Federal 
grant program to pay such non-Federal share, or 
portion of the non-Federal share, without the use of 
loans. 
(f) APPROVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of receipt of the recommended priority list 
of fish habitat conservation projects under sub-
section (b), and subject to subsection (d) and based, 
to the maximum extent practicable, on the criteria 
described in subsection (c), the Secretary, after con-
sulting with the Secretary of Commerce on marine 
or estuarine projects, shall approve or reject any fish 
habitat conservation project recommended by the 
Board.
(2) FUNDING.—If the Secretary approves a fish 
habitat conservation project under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall use amounts made available to 
carry out this subtitle to provide funds to carry out 
the fish habitat conservation project. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.—If the Secretary rejects 
under paragraph (1) any fish habitat conservation 
project recommended by the Board, not later than 
90 days after the date of receipt of the recommenda-
tion, the Secretary shall provide to the Board, the 
appropriate Partnership, and the appropriate con-
gressional committees a written statement of the 
reasons that the Secretary rejected the fish habitat 
conservation project. 
SEC. 206. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration Assistant Adminis-
trator, the Environmental Protection Agency Assistant 
Administrator, and the Director of the United States Geo-
logical Survey, in coordination with the Forest Service and 
other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, may 
provide scientific and technical assistance to Partnerships, 
participants in fish habitat conservation projects, and the 
Board.
(b) INCLUSIONS.—Scientific and technical assistance 
provided under subsection (a) may include— 
(1) providing technical and scientific assistance 
to States, Indian Tribes, regions, local communities, 
and nongovernmental organizations in the develop-
ment and implementation of Partnerships; 
(2) providing technical and scientific assistance 
to Partnerships for habitat assessment, strategic 
planning, and prioritization; 
(3) supporting the development and implemen-
tation of fish habitat conservation projects that are 
identified as high priorities by Partnerships and the 
Board; 
(4) supporting and providing recommendations 
regarding the development of science-based moni-
toring and assessment approaches for implementa-
tion through Partnerships; 
(5) supporting and providing recommendations 
for a national fish habitat assessment; 
(6) ensuring the availability of experts to assist 
in conducting scientifically based evaluation and re-
porting of the results of fish habitat conservation 
projects; and 
(7) providing resources to secure State agency 
scientific and technical assistance to support Part-
nerships, participants in fish habitat conservation 
projects, and the Board. 
SEC. 207. COORDINATION WITH STATES AND INDIAN 
TRIBES. 
The Secretary shall provide a notice to, and cooperate 
with, the appropriate State agency or Tribal agency, as 
applicable, of each State and Indian Tribe within the 
boundaries of which an activity is planned to be carried 
out pursuant to this subtitle, including notification, by not 
later than 30 days before the date on which the activity 
is implemented. 
SEC. 208. INTERAGENCY OPERATIONAL PLAN. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Director, in 
cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Assistant Administrator, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator, the 
Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the 
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agen-
cies (including, at a minimum, those agencies represented 
on the Board) shall develop an interagency operational 
plan that describes— 
(1) the functional, operational, technical, sci-
entific, and general staff, administrative, and mate-
rial needs for the implementation of this subtitle; 
and 
(2) any interagency agreements between or 
among Federal departments and agencies to address 
those needs. 
SEC. 209. ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING. 
(a) REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Board shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report describing the 
progress of this subtitle. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an estimate of the number of acres, 
stream miles, or acre-feet, or other suitable 
measures of fish habitat, that was maintained 
or improved by Partnerships under this subtitle 
during the 5-year period ending on the date of 
submission of the report; 
(B) a description of the public access to 
fish habitats established or improved under this 
subtitle during that 5-year period;
(C) a description of the improved opportu-
nities for public recreational fishing achieved 
under this subtitle; and 
(D) an assessment of the status of fish 
habitat conservation projects carried out with 
funds provided under this subtitle during that 
period, disaggregated by year, including— 
(i) a description of the fish habitat 
conservation projects recommended by the 
Board under section 205(b); 
(ii) a description of each fish habitat 
conservation project approved by the Sec-
retary under section 205(f), in order of 
priority for funding; 
(iii) a justification for— 
(I) the approval of each fish 
habitat conservation project; and 
(II) the order of priority for 
funding of each fish habitat conserva-
tion project; 
(iv) a justification for any rejection of 
a fish habitat conservation project rec-
ommended by the Board under section 
205(b) that was based on a factor other
than the criteria described in section 
205(c); and 
(v) an accounting of expenditures by 
Federal, State, or local governments, In-
dian Tribes, or other entities to carry out 
fish habitat conservation projects under 
this subtitle. 
(b) STATUS AND TRENDS REPORT.—Not later than 
December 31, 2020, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Board shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report that includes— 
(1) a status of all Partnerships designated 
under this subtitle; 
(2) a description of the status of fish habitats 
in the United States as identified by designated 
Partnerships; and 
(3) enhancements or reductions in public access 
as a result of— 
(A) the activities of the Partnerships; or 
(B) any other activities carried out pursu-
ant to this subtitle. 
SEC. 210. EFFECT OF THIS SUBTITLE. 
(a) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this subtitle— 
(1) establishes any express or implied reserved 
water right in the United States for any purpose;
(2) affects any water right in existence on the 
date of enactment of this Act; 
(3) preempts or affects any State water law or 
interstate compact governing water; or 
(4) affects any Federal or State law in exist-
ence on the date of enactment of the Act regarding 
water quality or water quantity. 
(b) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE WATER RIGHTS OR 
RIGHTS TO PROPERTY.—Only a State, local government, 
or other non-Federal entity may acquire, under State law, 
water rights or rights to property with funds made avail-
able through section 212. 
(c) STATE AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this subtitle— 
(1) affects the authority, jurisdiction, or respon-
sibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate 
fish and wildlife under the laws and regulations of 
the State; or 
(2) authorizes the Secretary to control or regu-
late within a State the fishing or hunting of fish and 
wildlife. 
(d) EFFECT ON INDIAN TRIBES.—Nothing in this 
subtitle abrogates, abridges, affects, modifies, supersedes, 
or alters any right of an Indian Tribe recognized by treaty 
or any other means, including—
(1) an agreement between the Indian Tribe and 
the United States; 
(2) Federal law (including regulations); 
(3) an Executive order; or 
(4) a judicial decree. 
(e) ADJUDICATION OF WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in 
this subtitle diminishes or affects the ability of the Sec-
retary to join an adjudication of rights to the use of water 
pursuant to subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 208 of 
the Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and The 
Judiciary Appropriation Act, 1953 (43 U.S.C. 666). 
(f) DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE
AUTHORITY.— 
Nothing in this subtitle affects the authority, jurisdiction, 
or responsibility of the Department of Commerce to man-
age, control, or regulate fish or fish habitats under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Manage-
ment Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). 
(g) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.—Nothing 
in this subtitle permits the use of funds made avail-
able to carry out this subtitle to acquire real prop-
erty or a real property interest without the written 
consent of each owner of the real property or real 
property interest, respectively.
(2) MITIGATION.—Nothing in this subtitle au-
thorizes the use of funds made available to carry out 
this subtitle for fish and wildlife mitigation purposes 
under— 
(A) the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); 
(B) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
(16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.); 
(C) the Water Resources Development Act 
of 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4082); 
or 
(D) any other Federal law or court settle-
ment. 
(3) CLEAN WATER ACT.—Nothing in this sub-
title affects any provision of the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), includ-
ing any definition in that Act. 
SEC. 211. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT. 
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to— 
(1) the Board; or 
(2) any Partnership. 
SEC. 212. FUNDING. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary $7,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023 to provide funds for fish habitat con-
servation projects approved under section 205(f), of 
which 5 percent is authorized only for projects car-
ried out by Indian Tribes. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
AND
PLANNING
EX-
PENSES.—There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023 an amount equal to 5 percent of the amount 
appropriated for the applicable fiscal year pursuant 
to paragraph (1)— 
(A) for administrative and planning ex-
penses under this subtitle; and 
(B) to carry out section 209. 
(3) TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated for each of 
fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out, and 
provide technical and scientific assistance under, sec-
tion 206— 
(A) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
(B) $400,000 to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Assistant Adminis-
trator for use by the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration; 
(C) $400,000 to the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency Assistant Administrator for use 
by the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(D) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by 
the United States Geological Survey; and 
(E) $400,000 to the Chief of the Forest 
Service for use by the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture Forest Service. 
(b) AGREEMENTS
AND
GRANTS.—The Secretary 
may— 
(1) on the recommendation of the Board, and 
notwithstanding sections 6304 and 6305 of title 31, 
United States Code, and the Federal Financial As-
sistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (31 
U.S.C. 6101 note; Public Law 106–107), enter into 
a grant agreement, cooperative agreement, or con-
tract with a Partnership or other entity to provide 
funds authorized by this subtitle for a fish habitat 
conservation project or restoration or enhancement 
project; 
(2) apply for, accept, and, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, use a grant from any indi-
vidual or entity to carry out the purposes of this 
subtitle; and 
(3) subject to the availability of appropriations, 
make funds authorized by this Act available to any 
Federal department or agency for use by that de-
partment or agency to provide grants for any fish 
habitat protection project, restoration project, or en-
hancement project that the Secretary determines to 
be consistent with this subtitle. 
(c) DONATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may— 
(A) enter into an agreement with any orga-
nization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt 
from taxation under section 501(a) of that 
Code to solicit private donations to carry out 
the purposes of this subtitle; and 
(B) accept donations of funds, property, 
and services to carry out the purposes of this 
subtitle. 
(2) TREATMENT.—A donation accepted under 
this subtitle— 
(A) shall be considered to be a gift or be-
quest to, or otherwise for the use of, the United 
States; and
(B) may be— 
(i) used directly by the Secretary; or 
(ii) provided to another Federal de-
partment or agency through an inter-
agency agreement. 
SEC. 213. PROHIBITION AGAINST IMPLEMENTATION OF 
REGULATORY 
AUTHORITY 
BY 
FEDERAL 
AGENCIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. 
Any Partnership designated under this subtitle— 
(1) shall be for the sole purpose of promoting 
fish conservation; and 
(2) shall not be used to implement any regu-
latory authority of any Federal agency. 
Subtitle B—Great Lakes Fishery 
Research Authorization 
SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the United States Geological Survey. 
(2) GREAT
LAKES
BASIN.—The term ‘‘Great 
Lakes Basin’’ means the air, land, water, and living 
organisms in the United States within the drainage 
basin of the Saint Lawrence River at and upstream 
from the point at which such river and the Great
Lakes become the international boundary between 
Canada and the United States. 
SEC. 222. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Great Lakes support a diverse eco-
system, on which the vibrant and economically valu-
able Great Lakes fisheries depend. 
(2) To continue successful fisheries manage-
ment and coordination, as has occurred since signing 
of the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries between 
the United States and Canada on September 10, 
1954, management of the ecosystem and its fisheries 
require sound, reliable science, and the use of mod-
ern scientific technologies. 
(3) Fisheries research is necessary to support 
multi-jurisdictional fishery management decisions 
and actions regarding recreational and sport fishing, 
commercial fisheries, tribal harvest, allocation deci-
sions, and fish stocking activities. 
(4) President Richard Nixon submitted, and the 
Congress approved, Reorganization Plan No. 4 (84 
Stat. 2090), conferring science activities and man-
agement of marine fisheries to the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration.
(5) Reorganization Plan No. 4 expressly ex-
cluded fishery research activities within the Great 
Lakes from the transfer, retaining management and 
scientific research duties within the already estab-
lished jurisdictions under the 1954 Convention on 
Great Lakes Fisheries, including those of the Great 
Lakes Fishery Commission and the Department of 
the Interior. 
SEC. 
223. 
GREAT 
LAKES 
MONITORING, 
ASSESSMENT, 
SCIENCE, AND RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director may conduct moni-
toring, assessment, science, and research, in support of 
the binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin. 
(b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.—The Director shall, 
under subsection (a)— 
(1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, fresh-
water fisheries science program; 
(2) coordinate with and work cooperatively with 
regional, State, tribal, and local governments; and 
(3) consult with other interested entities 
groups, including academia and relevant Canadian 
agencies. 
(c) INCLUDED RESEARCH.—To properly serve the 
needs of fisheries managers, monitoring, assessment, 
science, and research under this section may include—
(1) deepwater ecosystem sciences; 
(2) biological and food-web components; 
(3) fish movement and behavior investigations; 
(4) fish population structures; 
(5) fish habitat investigations; 
(6) invasive species science; 
(7) harmful algal bloom development research; 
(8) research on the impacts of harmful algal 
blooms, nutrient pollution, and dead zones on Great 
Lakes fisheries; 
(9) research into the effects of per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances, mercury, and other con-
taminants on fisheries and fishery ecosystems; 
(10) use of existing, new, and experimental bio-
logical assessment tools, equipment, vessels, other 
scientific instrumentation and laboratory capabilities 
necessary to support fishery management decisions; 
and 
(11) studies to assess impacts on Great Lakes 
fishery resources. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this subtitle is in-
tended or shall be construed to impede, supersede, or alter 
the authority of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, 
States, and Indian tribes under the Convention on Great 
Lakes Fisheries between the United States of America and
100 
Canada on September 10, 1954, and the Great Lakes 
Fishery Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 931 et seq.). 
SEC. 224. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
For each of fiscal years 2020 through 2029, there 
is authorized to be appropriated $17,500,000 to carry out 
this subtitle. 
Subtitle C—Chesapeake Bay Oyster 
Research 
SEC. 231. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Chesapeake Bay 
Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration shall be the primary representative of the Adminis-
tration in the Chesapeake Bay. 
SEC. 232. GRANTS FOR RESEARCHING OYSTERS IN THE 
CHESAPEAKE BAY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Com-
merce, acting through the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish 
a grant program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’) under which the Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities for the purpose of conducting research on 
the conservation, restoration, or management of oysters 
in the Chesapeake Bay. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the
101 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
(c) ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award a 
grant under the Program to eligible entities that 
submit an application under subsection (b). 
(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the total amount of Federal 
funding received under the Program by an eligi-
ble entity may not exceed 85 percent of the 
total cost of the research project for which the 
funding was awarded. For the purposes of this 
subparagraph, the non-Federal share of project 
costs may be provided by in-kind contributions 
and other noncash support. 
(B) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive 
all or part of the requirement in subparagraph 
(A) if the Secretary determines that no reason-
able means are available through which an eligi-
ble entity applying for a grant under this sec-
tion can meet such requirement and the prob-
able benefit of such research project outweighs 
the public interest in such requirement.
102 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ACADEMIC
COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘aca-
demic community’’ means faculty, researchers, pro-
fessors, and representatives of State-accredited col-
leges and universities. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a member of the academic community, 
the seafood industry, a relevant nonprofit organiza-
tion, or a relevant State agency, that is proposing or 
conducting a research project on the conservation, 
restoration, or management of oysters in the Chesa-
peake Bay developed through consultation with a 
member of the academic community, a member of 
the seafood industry, a relevant nonprofit organiza-
tion, or a relevant State agency. 
(3) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization de-
scribed in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 
501(a) of such Code. 
(4) SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.—The term ‘‘seafood 
industry’’ means shellfish growers, shellfish har-
vesters, commercial fishermen, and recreational fish-
ermen.
103 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Commerce, acting through the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $2,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2025 to carry 
out this section. 
TITLE III—MEETING 21ST CEN-
TURY OCEAN AND COASTAL 
DATA NEEDS 
Subtitle A—Digital Coast 
SEC. 301. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Digital Coast is a model approach for 
effective Federal partnerships with State and local 
government, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
private sector. 
(2) Access to current, accurate, uniform, and 
standards-based geospatial information, tools, and 
training to characterize the United States coastal re-
gion is critical for public safety and for the environ-
ment, infrastructure, and economy of the United 
States.
104 
(3) Collaborations and partnerships between in-
stitutions of higher education and Federal agencies 
help ensure digital data focused on coastal manage-
ment issues are communicated effectively between 
such entities. 
(4) More than half of all people of the United 
States (153,000,000) currently live on or near a 
coast and an additional 12,000,000 are expected in 
the next decade. 
(5) Coastal counties in the United States aver-
age 300 persons per square mile, compared with the 
national average of 98. 
(6) On a typical day, more than 1,540 permits 
for construction of single-family homes are issued in 
coastal counties, combined with other commercial, 
retail, and institutional construction to support this 
population. 
(7) Over half of the economic productivity of 
the United States is located within coastal regions. 
(8) Highly accurate, high-resolution remote 
sensing and other geospatial data play an increas-
ingly important role in decision making and manage-
ment of the coastal zone and economy, including 
for—
105 
(A) flood and coastal storm surge pre-
diction; 
(B) hazard risk and vulnerability assess-
ment; 
(C) emergency response and recovery plan-
ning; 
(D) community resilience to longer range 
coastal change; 
(E) local planning and permitting; 
(F) habitat and ecosystem health assess-
ments; and 
(G) landscape change detection. 
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) COASTAL REGION.—The term ‘‘coastal re-
gion’’ means the area of United States waters ex-
tending inland from the shoreline to include coastal 
watersheds and seaward to the territorial sea. 
(2) 
COASTAL
STATE.—The 
term 
‘‘coastal 
State’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘coastal 
state’’ in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453). 
(3) 
FEDERAL
GEOGRAPHIC
DATA
COM-
MITTEE.—The term ‘‘Federal Geographic Data 
Committee’’ means the interagency committee that
106 
promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, 
and dissemination of geospatial data on a national 
basis. 
(4) 
REMOTE
SENSING
AND
OTHER 
GEOSPATIAL.—The term ‘‘remote sensing and other 
geospatial’’ means collecting, storing, retrieving, or 
disseminating graphical or digital data depicting 
natural or manmade physical features, phenomena, 
or boundaries of the Earth and any information re-
lated thereto, including surveys, maps, charts, sat-
ellite and airborne remote sensing data, images, 
LiDAR, and services performed by professionals 
such as surveyors, photogrammetrists, hydrog-
raphers, geodesists, cartographers, and other such 
services. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIGITAL COAST. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program for the provision of an enabling platform 
that integrates geospatial data, decision-support 
tools, training, and best practices to address coastal
107 
management issues and needs. Under the program, 
the Secretary shall strive to enhance resilient com-
munities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic 
growth and development by helping communities ad-
dress their issues, needs, and challenges through 
cost-effective and participatory solutions. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The program established 
under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘Digital 
Coast’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘pro-
gram’’). 
(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the 
program, the Secretary shall ensure that the program pro-
vides data integration, tool development, training, docu-
mentation, dissemination, and archiving by— 
(1) making data and resulting integrated prod-
ucts developed under this section readily accessible 
via the Digital Coast Internet website of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
GeoPlatform.gov and data.gov Internet websites, and 
such other information distribution technologies as 
the Secretary considers appropriate; 
(2) developing decision-support tools that use 
and display resulting integrated data and provide 
training on use of such tools;
108 
(3) documenting such data to Federal Geo-
graphic Data Committee standards; and 
(4) archiving all raw data acquired under this 
title at the appropriate National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration data center or such other 
Federal data center as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate. 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall coordinate 
the activities carried out under the program to optimize 
data collection, sharing and integration, and to minimize 
duplication by— 
(1) consulting with coastal managers and deci-
sion makers concerning coastal issues, and sharing 
information and best practices, as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate, with— 
(A) coastal States; 
(B) local governments; and 
(C) representatives of academia, the pri-
vate sector, and nongovernmental organizations; 
(2) consulting with other Federal agencies, in-
cluding interagency committees, on relevant Federal 
activities, including activities carried out under the 
Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), the Integrated
109 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 
(33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), and the Hydrographic 
Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 
et seq.); 
(3) participating, pursuant to section 216 of the 
E-Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–347; 
44 U.S.C. 3501 note), in the establishment of such 
standards and common protocols as the Secretary 
considers necessary to assure the interoperability of 
remote sensing and other geospatial data with all 
users of such information within— 
(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; 
(B) other Federal agencies; 
(C) State and local government; and 
(D) the private sector; 
(4) coordinating with, seeking assistance and 
cooperation of, and providing liaison to the Federal 
Geographic Data Committee pursuant to Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A–16 and Execu-
tive Order No. 12906 of April 11, 1994 (59 Fed. 
Reg. 17671), as amended by Executive Order No. 
13286 of February 28, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 10619); 
and
110 
(5) developing and maintaining a best practices 
document that sets out the best practices used by 
the Secretary in carrying out the program and pro-
viding such document to the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, the Corps of Engineers, and other rel-
evant Federal agencies. 
(d) FILLING NEEDS AND GAPS.—In carrying out the 
program, the Secretary shall— 
(1) maximize the use of remote sensing and 
other geospatial data collection activities conducted 
for other purposes and under other authorities; 
(2) focus on filling data needs and gaps for 
coastal management issues, including with respect to 
areas that, as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, were underserved by coastal data and the areas 
of the Arctic that are under the jurisdiction of the 
United States; 
(3) pursuant to the Ocean and Coastal Map-
ping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), sup-
port continue improvement in existing efforts to co-
ordinate the acquisition and integration of key data 
sets needed for coastal management and other pur-
poses, including— 
(A) coastal elevation data; 
(B) land use and land cover data;
111 
(C) socioeconomic and human use data; 
(D) critical infrastructure data; 
(E) structures data; 
(F) living resources and habitat data; 
(G) cadastral data; and 
(H) aerial imagery; and 
(4) integrate the priority supporting data set 
forth under paragraph (3) with other available data 
for the benefit of the broadest measure of coastal re-
source management constituents and applications. 
(e) FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program, 
the Secretary— 
(A) may enter into financial agreements to 
carry out the program, including— 
(i) support to non-Federal entities 
that participate in implementing the pro-
gram; and 
(ii) grants, cooperative agreements, 
interagency agreements, contracts, or any 
other agreement on a reimbursable or non- 
reimbursable basis, with other Federal, 
tribal, State, and local governmental and 
nongovernmental entities; and
112 
(B) may, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, enter into such contracts with private 
sector entities for such products and services as 
the Secretary determines may be necessary to 
collect, process, and provide remote sensing and 
other geospatial data and products for purposes 
of the program. 
(2) FEES.— 
(A) ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION.—The 
Secretary may assess and collect fees to conduct 
any planned training, workshop, or conference 
that advances the purposes of the program. 
(B) AMOUNTS.—The amount of a fee 
under this paragraph may not exceed the sum 
of costs incurred, or expected to be incurred, by 
the Secretary as a direct result of the conduct 
of the training, workshop, or conference, includ-
ing for subsistence expenses incidental to the 
training, workshop, or conference, as applicable. 
(C) USE OF FEES.—Amounts collected by 
the Secretary in the form of fees under this 
paragraph may be used to pay for— 
(i) the costs incurred for conducting 
an activity described in subparagraph (A); 
or
113 
(ii) the expenses described in subpara-
graph (B). 
(3) SURVEY AND MAPPING.—Contracts entered 
into under paragraph (1)(B) shall be considered 
‘‘surveying and mapping’’ services as such term is 
used in and as such contracts are awarded by the 
Secretary in accordance with the selection proce-
dures in chapter 11 of title 40, United States Code. 
(f) OCEAN ECONOMY.—The Secretary may establish 
publically available tools that track ocean and Great Lakes 
economy data for each coastal State. 
Subtitle B—Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System 
SEC. 311. STAGGERED TERMS FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATED 
COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 12304(d)(3)(B) of the Integrated Coastal 
and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3603(d)(3)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Members’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), members’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following:
114 
‘‘(ii) STAGGERED
TERMS.—The Ad-
ministrator may appoint or reappoint a 
member for a partial term of 1 or 2 years 
in order to establish a system of staggered 
terms. The Administrator may appoint or 
reappoint a member under this clause only 
once. A member appointed or reappointed 
to a partial term under this clause may not 
serve more than one full term.’’. 
SEC. 312. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVA-
TION SYSTEM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3604(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘disburse appropriated 
funds to,’’ after ‘‘agreements, with,’’. 
SEC. 313. REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL 
AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 
2009. 
Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is 
amended by striking ‘‘for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 
such sums as are necessary’’ and inserting ‘‘$47,500,000 
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’.
115 
SEC. 314. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY– 
OCEANS. 
(a) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 45 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct the comprehensive assess-
ment under subsection (b). 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under an agreement be-
tween the Administrator and the National Academy 
of Sciences under this section, the National Acad-
emy of Sciences shall conduct a comprehensive as-
sessment of the need for and feasibility of estab-
lishing an Advanced Research Projects Agency– 
Oceans (ARPA–O). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The comprehensive assess-
ment carried out pursuant to paragraph (1) shall in-
clude— 
(A) an assessment of how an ARPA–O 
could help overcome the long-term and high-risk 
technological barriers in the development of 
ocean technologies, with the goal of enhancing 
the economic, ecological, and national security 
of the United States through the rapid develop-
ment of technologies that result in—
116 
(i) improved data collection, moni-
toring, and prediction of the ocean environ-
ment, including sea ice conditions; 
(ii) overcoming barriers to the appli-
cation of new and improved technologies, 
such as high costs and scale of operational 
missions; 
(iii) improved management practices 
for protecting ecological sustainability; 
(iv) improved national security capac-
ity; 
(v) improved technology for fishery 
population assessments; 
(vi) expedited processes between and 
among Federal agencies to successfully 
identify, transition, and coordinate re-
search and development output to oper-
ations, applications, commercialization, and 
other uses; and 
(vii) ensuring that the United States 
maintains a technological lead in devel-
oping and deploying advanced ocean tech-
nologies;
117 
(B) an evaluation of the organizational 
structures under which an ARPA–O could be 
organized, which takes into account— 
(i) best practices for new research 
programs; 
(ii) metrics and approaches for peri-
odic program evaluation; 
(iii) capacity to fund and manage ex-
ternal research awards; and 
(iv) options for oversight of the activ-
ity through a Federal agency, an inter-
agency organization, nongovernmental or-
ganization, or other institutional arrange-
ment; and 
(C) an estimation of the scale of invest-
ment necessary to pursue high priority ocean 
technology projects. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report on the comprehensive 
assessment conducted under subsection (b). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘Admin-
istrator’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere in the Under Secretary’s capacity
118 
as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
TITLE IV—NATIONAL SEA GRANT 
COLLEGE PROGRAM AMEND-
MENTS 
SEC. 401. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL-
LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 
this title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the National Sea Grant Col-
lege Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 
SEC. 402. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MA-
RINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’. 
(b) PLACEMENTS
IN CONGRESS.—Such section is 
further amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and
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(2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para-
graph (1) of this section, in the second sentence, by 
striking ‘‘A fellowship’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each year in which 
the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 
under this subsection, when considering the 
placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 
prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 
‘‘(i) Positions in offices of committees 
of Congress that have jurisdiction over the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration. 
‘‘(ii) Positions in offices of Members 
of Congress who are on such committees. 
‘‘(iii) Positions in offices of Members 
of Congress that have a demonstrated in-
terest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes re-
sources. 
‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(i) FINDING
AND
RECOGNITION.— 
Congress— 
‘‘(I) finds that both host offices 
and fellows benefit when fellows have 
the opportunity to choose from a
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range of host offices from different 
States and regions, both chambers of 
Congress, and both political parties; 
and 
‘‘(II) recognizes the steps taken 
by the National Sea Grant College 
Program to facilitate an equitable dis-
tribution of fellows among the political 
parties. 
‘‘(ii) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, that fellows have the opportunity 
to choose from offices that are described in 
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph 
(A) and that are equitably distributed 
among— 
‘‘(I) the political parties; and 
‘‘(II) the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
‘‘(iii) POLITICAL
AND
CAMERAL
EQ-
UITY.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
placements are equitably distributed be-
tween— 
‘‘(I) the political parties; and
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‘‘(II) the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar 
year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and each fiscal year thereafter. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL 
HIRING OF FORMER FELLOWS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the 
fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant 
College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the ex-
ceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees— 
(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal 
agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship 
awardees at the conclusion of their fellowships for 
workforce positions appropriate for their education 
and experience; and 
(2) Members and committees of Congress 
should consider opportunities for such awardees for 
such positions.
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SEC. 403. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 
COMMERCE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 
1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not-
withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 
services;’’. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona-
tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 
Sea 
Grant 
College 
Program 
Act 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities 
the possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Ma-
rine Policy Fellowship’s placement of additional fellows in 
relevant legislative offices under section 208(b) of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance with the rec-
ommendations under subsection (c) of this section. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the Na-
tional Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Asso-
ciation, shall—
123 
(1) develop recommendations for the optimal 
use of any donations accepted under section 
204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Pro-
gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and 
(2) submit to Congress a report on the rec-
ommendations developed under paragraph (1). 
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 
available for marine policy fellowships under section 
208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts— 
(1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or 
(2) appropriated under section 212 of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1131). 
SEC. 404. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON CO-
ORDINATION OF OCEANS AND COASTAL RE-
SEARCH ACTIVITIES. 
Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 
Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 
SEC. 405. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD RE-
PORT. 
Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend-
ed—
124 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘BIENNIAL’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; and 
(2) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The 
Board shall report to the Congress every two years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Not less frequently than once every 
4 years, the Board shall submit to Congress a re-
port’’. 
SEC. 406. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA 
GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘for research, education, extension, training, 
technology transfer, public service,’’ after ‘‘financial as-
sistance’’. 
SEC. 407. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS 
MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2019 and any 
fiscal year thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may 
appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 
of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than 
sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, a qualified candidate 
described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the 
Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of 
Personnel Management qualification standards. 
(b) QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.—Subsection (a) applies 
with respect to a former recipient of a Dean John A.
125 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of 
the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) who— 
(1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree 
in a field related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes 
resources or policy from an institution of higher edu-
cation accredited by an agency or association recog-
nized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to sec-
tion 496(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)); 
(2) received a Dean John A. Knauss Marine 
Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of the Na-
tional Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) within 5 years before the date the indi-
vidual is appointed under this section; and 
(3) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 
fellowship within the executive or legislative branch 
of the United States Government. 
SEC. 408. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 
1131(a)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows:
126 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
title— 
‘‘(A) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(B) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(C) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(E) $106,380,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
and 
‘‘(F) $111,710,813 for fiscal year 2025.’’; 
and 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 
2020 THROUGH 2025.—In addition to the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), 
there are authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025 for com-
petitive grants for the following: 
‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 
prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative 
species. 
‘‘(B) University research on oyster dis-
eases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related 
human health risks.
127 
‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 
prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 
blooms. 
‘‘(D) University research, education, train-
ing, and extension services and activities fo-
cused on coastal resilience and United States 
working waterfronts and other regional or na-
tional priority issues identified in the strategic 
plan under section 204(c)(1). 
‘‘(E) University research and extension on 
sustainable aquaculture techniques and tech-
nologies. 
‘‘(F) Fishery research and extension activi-
ties conducted by sea grant colleges or sea 
grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, 
existing core program funding.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS 
FOR ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) 
(33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—There may not be 
used for administration of programs under this 
title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of 
the lesser of—
128 
‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap-
propriated under this title for the fiscal 
year; or 
‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 
this title for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) 
CRITICAL
STAFFING
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall 
use the authority under subchapter VI of 
chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 
to meet any critical staffing requirement 
while carrying out the activities authorized 
under this title. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION
FROM
CAP.—For 
purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs 
incurred as a result of an exercise of au-
thority described in clause (i) shall not be 
considered an amount used for administra-
tion of programs under this title in a fiscal 
year.’’. 
(c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 
204(d)(3) 
(33 
U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant 
colleges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting
129 
‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant 
institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 
projects’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘funding among sea grant colleges and sea 
grant institutes’’ and inserting ‘‘funding among 
sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea 
grant programs, and sea grant projects’’. 
(2) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 
(33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); and 
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) and 
(e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
SEC. 409. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) Section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)) 
is amended by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the right. 
(b) Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)), as amended 
by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary shall’’ and all that follows; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following:
130 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART-
MENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 729 
AN ACT 
To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972 to authorize grants to Indian Tribes to fur-
ther achievement of Tribal coastal zone objec-
tives, and for other purposes.