Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act
Bill: H.R.7431 | Sponsor: Rep. Soto, Darren (D-FL)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the Veterans Advancing Conservation Grant Program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to facilitate the training and employment of veterans for marine and coastal conservation activities (e.g., coral restoration and rehabilitation). NOAA must coordinate with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement the program.

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to 
    facilitate the training and employment of veterans for certain 
            conservation activities, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Don Young Veterans Advancing 
Conservation Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Veterans are among the greatest assets of the United 
        States.
            (2) Veterans are highly skilled and trained individuals 
        whose mission is to protect their communities.
            (3) Studies show that community-focused growth and 
        engagement assists veterans with mental health and combat-
        related trauma.
            (4) SCUBA diving has been found to help improve mental, 
        physical, and emotional health and has been specifically linked 
        to improvement in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress 
        disorder.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VETERANS ADVANCING CONSERVATION GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be 
known as the Veterans Advancing Conservation Grant Program, to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to facilitate the training and 
employment of veterans for marine and coastal conservation activities.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant under this 
        section to a non-profit organization that conducts marine and 
        coastal conservation activities in partnership with Federal, 
        State, or scientific organizations.
            (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section, an organization shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application in such form, at such time, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
    (c) Use of Funds.--An organization awarded grant funds under this 
section may use such funds to train or employ veterans to conduct 
marine and coastal conservation activities, which may include--
            (1) coral disease response;
            (2) coral restoration and rehabilitation;
            (3) invasive species eradication;
            (4) marine debris removal;
            (5) marine mammal and reptile rescue;
            (6) scientific research and development;
            (7) shark tagging;
            (8) shipwreck mapping; and
            (9) underwater survey work.
    (d) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall coordinate with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
            (2) $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            (3) $1,400,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (4) $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
            (5) $1,800,000 for fiscal year 2026.
    (f) Secretary.--In this section, the term ``Secretary'' means the 
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
                                 <all>