Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021
Bill: S.46 | Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021
This bill addresses the conservation and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.
Among other things, the bill

To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and to establish 
    the United States Coral Reef Task Force, and for other purposes.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring 
Resilient Reefs Act of 2021''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
  <DELETED>TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 
                                  2000

<DELETED>Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
                            2000.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Modification to section 204 of the Coral Reef 
                            Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403).
         <DELETED>TITLE II--UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE

<DELETED>Sec. 201. Establishment.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Duties.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Membership.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Responsibilities of Federal agency members.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Working groups.
<DELETED>Sec. 206. Definitions.
 <DELETED>TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF AUTHORITIES

<DELETED>Sec. 301. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance.
  <DELETED>TITLE IV--SUSAN L. WILLIAMS NATIONAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT 
                               FELLOWSHIP

<DELETED>Sec. 401. Short title.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Definitions.
<DELETED>Sec. 403. Establishment of fellowship program.
<DELETED>Sec. 404. Fellowship awards.
<DELETED>Sec. 405. Matching requirement.

  <DELETED>TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 
                             2000</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 
              2000.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Purposes; Federal Coral Reef Management and 
Restoration Activities.--The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 202 and 203 and 
inserting the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 202. PURPOSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``The purposes of this title are--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) to preserve, sustain, and restore the 
        condition of United States coral reef ecosystems challenged by 
        natural and human-accelerated changes, including increasing 
        ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coral 
        diseases, water quality degradation, invasive species, and 
        illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) to promote the science-based management and 
        sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local 
        communities and the Nation, including through improved 
        integration and cooperation among Federal, State, and locally 
        managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) to develop sound scientific information on 
        the condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and emerging 
        threats to such ecosystems, and the efficacy of innovative 
        tools, technologies, and strategies to mitigate stressors and 
        restore such ecosystems, including evaluation criteria to 
        determine the effectiveness of management interventions, and 
        accurate mapping for coral reef restoration;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) to assist in the preservation of coral reefs 
        by supporting science-based, consensus-driven State, Tribal, 
        and community-based coral reef management, including 
        conservation and restoration projects that empower local 
        communities, small businesses, and nongovernmental 
        organizations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) to provide financial resources, technical 
        assistance, and scientific expertise to supplement and 
        strengthen State and community-based management programs and 
        conservation and restoration projects;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) to establish a formal mechanism for 
        collecting and allocating monetary donations from the private 
        sector to be used for coral reef conservation and restoration 
        projects;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) to support the rapid and effective, science-
        based assessment and response to emergencies that imminently 
        threaten coral reefs, such as coral disease outbreaks, invasive 
        species, hurricanes, marine heat waves, coral bleaching, and 
        other natural disasters, vessel groundings or chemical spills, 
        and other exigent circumstances; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) to serve as a model for advancing similar 
        international efforts to preserve, sustain, and restore coral 
        reef ecosystems in the jurisdictions of United States allies 
        and trading partners.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 203. FEDERAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION 
              ACTIVITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator or the Secretary of 
the Interior may conduct activities described in subsection (b) to 
conserve and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems that are 
consistent with--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) all applicable laws governing resource 
        management in Federal and State waters, including this 
        Act;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
        in effect under section 204A;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) coral reef action plans in effect under 
        section 205, as applicable; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) coral reef emergency plans in effect under 
        section 209, as applicable.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Activities Described.--Activities described in this 
subsection are activities to conserve, research, monitor, assess, and 
restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under 
the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in subsection (c) or in 
coordination with a State in waters managed under the jurisdiction of 
such State, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) developing, including through the collection 
        of requisite data, high-quality and digitized maps reflecting--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) current and historical live coral 
                cover data;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) coral reef habitat quality 
                data;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) priority areas for coral reef 
                conservation to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem 
                structure and function that benefit coastal communities 
                and living marine resources;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) priority areas for coral reef 
                restoration to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem 
                structure and function to benefit coastal communities 
                and living marine resources; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) areas of concern that may require 
                enhanced monitoring of coral health and 
                cover;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) enhancing compliance with Federal laws that 
        prohibit or regulate--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the taking of coral products or 
                species associated with coral reefs; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the use and management of coral reef 
                ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) long-term ecological monitoring of coral 
        reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) implementing species-specific recovery plans 
        for listed coral species consistent with the Endangered Species 
        Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) restoring degraded coral reef 
        ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) promoting ecologically sound navigation and 
        anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to promote enhanced 
        recreational access, near coral reefs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) monitoring and responding to severe 
        bleaching or mortality events, disease outbreaks, invasive 
        species outbreaks, and significant maritime accidents, 
        including chemical spill cleanup and the removal of grounded 
        vessels;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) conducting scientific research that 
        contributes to the understanding, sustainable use, and long-
        term conservation of coral reefs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) enhancing public awareness, understanding, 
        and appreciation of coral reefs and coral reef 
        ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) preventing or minimizing the likelihood of 
        vessel impacts or other physical damage to coral reefs through 
        navigational aids and expansion of reef-safe anchorages; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) centrally archiving, managing, and 
        distributing data sets and coral reef ecosystem assessments and 
        publishing such information on publicly available internet 
        websites of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the Coral Reef Conservation Program 
                of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Federal Agencies Specified.--A Federal agency 
specified in this subsection is one of the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) The National Park Service.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) The United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) The Office of Insular Affairs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Cooperative Agreements.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations and at the discretion of the Secretary of 
        Commerce, the Administrator may enter into cooperative 
        agreements with States to fund coral reef conservation and 
        restoration activities in waters managed under the jurisdiction 
        of such States that are consistent with the national coral reef 
        resilience strategy in effect under section 204A.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Limitation.--The Administrator may not 
        provide more than $500,000 in total funding under paragraph (1) 
        to any one State in any fiscal year.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Additional Provisions.--The Coral Reef Conservation 
Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 
205 through 210 and inserting the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 204A. NATIONAL CORAL REEF RESILIENCE 
              STRATEGY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) develop a national coral reef resilience 
        strategy; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) periodically, but not less frequently than 
        every 15 years, review and revise the strategy.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) 
shall include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) A discussion addressing--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) continuing and emerging threats to 
                the resilience of United States coral reef 
                ecosystems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) remaining gaps in coral reef 
                ecosystem research, monitoring, and 
                assessment;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the status of management cooperation 
                and integration among Federal, State, Tribal, and 
                locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef 
                equities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) the status of efforts to manage and 
                disseminate critical information, and enhance 
                interjurisdictional data sharing, related to research, 
                reports, datasets, and maps;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) areas of special focus, which may 
                include--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) improving natural coral 
                        recruitment;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) preventing avoidable losses 
                        of corals and their habitat;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) enhancing the resilience 
                        of coral populations;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) supporting a resilience-
                        based management approach;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) developing, coordinating, 
                        and implementing watershed management 
                        plans;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) building and sustaining 
                        watershed management capacity at the local 
                        level;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) providing data essential 
                        for coral reef fisheries management;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) building capacity for 
                        coral reef fisheries management;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) increasing understanding of 
                        coral reef ecosystem services;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(x) educating the public on the 
                        importance of coral reefs, threats and 
                        solutions; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(xi) evaluating intervention 
                        efficacy;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) the status of conservation efforts, 
                including the use of marine protected areas to serve as 
                replenishment zones developed consistent with local 
                practices and traditions and in cooperation with, and 
                with respect for the scientific, technical, and 
                management expertise and responsibilities of, State 
                fish and wildlife management agencies; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) science-based adaptive management 
                and restoration efforts.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) A statement of national goals and objectives 
        designed to guide--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) future Federal coral reef management 
                and restoration activities authorized under section 
                203;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) conservation and restoration 
                priorities for grants awarded under section 213; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) research priorities for the 
                cooperative institutes established under section 
                215(c).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) General templates for use by covered reef 
        managers to guide the development of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) coral reef action plans under 
                section 205; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) coral reef emergency plans under 
                section 209.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Consultations.--In developing all elements of the 
strategy required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) consult with the Secretary of the Interior, 
        the Task Force, covered States, and Tribal 
        organizations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) engage stakeholders, including coral reef 
        stewardship partnerships, coral reef institutes and research 
        centers described in section 215(c), and coral reef 
        conservation grant awardees; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) solicit public review and comment regarding 
        scoping and the draft strategy.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Submission to Congress; Publication.--The 
Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) submit the strategy required by subsection 
        (a) and any revisions to the strategy to the appropriate 
        congressional committees; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) publish the strategy and any such revisions 
        on publicly available internet websites of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the Coral Reef Conservation Program 
                of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Transition Rule.--On and after the date of the 
enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, the 2018 Coral 
Reef Conservation Program Strategic Plan of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall be considered to be the national coral 
reef resilience strategy in effect under this section until the earlier 
of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) September 30, 2033; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the date on which the Administrator develops 
        a national coral reef resilience strategy under this 
        section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 205. CORAL REEF ACTION PLANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Coral Reef Action Plans.--Except as provided in 
subsection (h), not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment 
of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, and not later than 2 
years after the publication of a revised national coral reef resilience 
strategy under section 204A, each covered reef manager shall prepare 
and submit to the Task Force a coral reef action plan to guide 
management and restoration activities to be undertaken within the 
responsibilities and jurisdiction of the manager.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Requirements.--A covered reef manager preparing a 
coral reef action plan under subsection (a) shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) ensure that the plan is consistent with all 
        elements of the national coral reef resilience strategy in 
        effect; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) revise the plan not less frequently than 
        once every 5 years.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Plan Elements.--A coral reef action plan under 
subsection (a) shall include a discussion of the following 
elements:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Short- and mid-term coral reef conservation 
        and restoration objectives within the applicable 
        jurisdiction.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) An updated adaptive management framework to 
        inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) The status of any coral reef emergency plans 
        in effect under section 209 covering coral reef ecosystems 
        within the applicable jurisdiction.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Tools, strategies, and partnerships 
        necessary to identify, monitor, and redress pollution and water 
        quality impacts to coral reef ecosystems within the applicable 
        jurisdiction.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) The status of efforts to improve coral reef 
        ecosystem management cooperation and integration among 
        neighboring Federal, State, Tribal, or locally managed 
        jurisdictions, including the identification of existing 
        research and monitoring activities that can be leveraged for 
        coral reef status and trends assessments within the applicable 
        jurisdiction.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) An accounting of annual expenditures on 
        coral reef management and restoration activities within the 
        applicable jurisdiction while the preceding action plan, if 
        any, was in effect.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Estimated budgetary and resource 
        considerations necessary to carry out the proposed action 
        plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator and the 
Task Force shall make all reasonable efforts to provide technical 
assistance upon request by a covered reef manager developing a coral 
reef action plan under subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Adoption of Coral Reef Action Plans.--A covered reef 
manager may adopt a coral reef action plan developed by another covered 
reef manager, in full or in part, as relevant to the adopting manager's 
applicable jurisdiction.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Public Review.--The development of a coral reef 
action plan by a covered reef manager under subsection (a), and the 
adoption of a plan under subsection (e), shall be subject to public 
review and comment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Publication.--The Administrator shall publish each 
coral reef action plan prepared and submitted to the Task Force under 
this section on publicly available internet websites of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Applicability to Covered States and Coral Reef 
Stewardship Partnerships.--A covered State or non-Federal coral reef 
stewardship partnership is not required to develop a coral reef action 
plan under subsection (a), but may do so in its own discretion. In 
developing a coral reef action plan, a covered State or non-Federal 
coral reef stewardship partnership is encouraged, but not mandated, to 
comply with the requirements of this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Plan in Effect.--A coral reef action plan shall be 
deemed to be in effect if the plan was submitted to the Task Force 
under this section during the preceding 6 years.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 206. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Coral Reef Stewardship Partnerships.--The 
Administrator shall establish standards for the formation of 
partnerships among government and community members for the stewardship 
of coral reefs (in this title referred to as `coral reef stewardship 
partnerships') in accordance with this section, including guidance for 
preparation and submission of coral reef action plans under section 
205.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Identification of Reefs.--Each coral reef 
stewardship partnership shall identify with particularity the coral 
reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef that will be 
the subject of its stewardship activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Membership for Federal Reefs.--A coral reef 
stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its 
stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant 
component of a coral reef that is fully or partially under the 
management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 
203(c) shall, at a minimum, include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) That Federal agency, a representative of 
        which shall serve as chair of the coral reef stewardship 
        partnership.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) A State, county, or Tribal organization's 
        resource management agency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) A coral reef research center described in 
        section 215(c)(4) or another institution of higher 
        education.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) A nongovernmental organization.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Such other members as the partnership 
        considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder 
        groups.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Membership for Non-Federal Reefs.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--A coral reef stewardship 
        partnership that has identified, as the subject of its 
        stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically 
        significant component of a coral reef that is not under the 
        management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in 
        section 203(c) shall, at a minimum, include the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) A State, county, or Tribal 
                organization's resource management agency, a 
                representative of which shall serve as the chair of the 
                coral reef stewardship partnership.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) A coral reef research center 
                described in section 215(c)(4) or another institution 
                of higher education.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) A nongovernmental 
                organization.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Such other members as the 
                partnership considers appropriate, such as interested 
                stakeholder groups.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Additional members.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (B), a coral reef stewardship partnership described in 
                paragraph (1) may also include representatives of one 
                or more Federal agencies that have management 
                responsibility in the reef that is the subject of the 
                partnership's stewardship activities.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Requests; approval.--A 
                representative of a Federal agency described in 
                subparagraph (A) may become a member of a coral reef 
                stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) if--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the representative submits a 
                        request to become a member to the chair of the 
                        partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the chair consents to the 
                        request.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee 
Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply to coral reef stewardship partnerships.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 207. STATE BLOCK GRANTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall provide block 
grants of financial assistance to covered States to support management 
and restoration activities and further the implementation of coral reef 
action plans in effect under section 205 by covered States and non-
Federal coral reef stewardship partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Eligibility for Additional Amounts.--A covered State 
shall qualify for and receive additional grant amounts beyond the base 
award specified in subsection (c)(1) if there is at least one coral 
reef action plan in effect within the jurisdiction of the covered State 
developed by that covered State or a non-Federal coral reef stewardship 
partnership.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Funding Formula.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the amount of each block grant awarded to a covered 
State under this section shall be the sum of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a base award of $100,000; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) if the State is eligible under subsection 
        (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) an amount that is equal to non-
                Federal expenditures of up to $3,000,000 on coral reef 
                management and restoration activities within the 
                jurisdiction of the State, as reported within the 
                previous fiscal year; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) an additional amount, from any funds 
                appropriated for block grants under this section that 
                remain after distribution under subparagraph (A) and 
                paragraph (1), based on the proportion of the State's 
                share of total non-Federal expenditures on coral reef 
                management and restoration activities, as reported 
                within the previous fiscal year, in excess of 
                $3,000,000, relative to other covered States.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Exclusions.--For the purposes of calculating block 
grant amounts under subsection (c), Federal funds provided to a covered 
State or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership shall not be 
considered as qualifying non-Federal expenditures, but non-Federal 
matching funds used to leverage Federal awards may be considered as 
qualifying non-Federal expenditures.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Responsibilities of the Administrator.--The 
Administrator is responsible for--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) providing guidance on qualifying non-Federal 
        expenditures and the proper documentation of such 
        expenditures;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) issuing annual solicitations to covered 
        States for additional awards under this section; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) determining the appropriate allocation of 
        additional amounts among covered States in accordance with this 
        section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Responsibilities of Covered States.--Each covered 
State is responsible for documenting non-Federal expenditures within 
the jurisdiction of the State and formally reporting those expenditures 
for review in response to annual solicitations by the Administrator 
under subsection (e).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Unexpended Amounts.--Any amounts available for block 
grants under this section that are not expended shall be transferred to 
the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund under section 208(b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Waivers of Certain Requirements.--The Administrator 
may waive the eligibility requirements under subsection (b) through 
fiscal year 2023.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 208. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP FUND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Authority To Enter Into Agreements.--The 
Administrator may enter into an agreement with the National Fish and 
Wildlife Foundation (in this section referred to as the `Foundation'), 
authorizing the Foundation to receive, hold, and administer funds 
received under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Fund.--The Foundation shall invest, reinvest, and 
otherwise administer the funds received under this section and maintain 
such funds and any interest or revenues earned in a separate interest-
bearing account, to be known as the `Coral Reef Stewardship Fund' (in 
this section referred to as the `Fund', and known before the date of 
the enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 as the Coral 
Reef Conservation Fund administered through a public-private 
partnership with the Foundation), established by the Foundation solely 
to support coral reef stewardship partnership activities that--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) further the purposes of this title; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) are consistent with--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the national coral reef resilience 
                strategy in effect under section 204A; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) coral reef action plans in effect, 
                if any, under section 205 covering a coral reef or 
                ecologically significant component of a coral reef to 
                be impacted by such activities, if 
                applicable.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Authorization To Solicit Donations.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Pursuant to an agreement 
        entered into under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, 
        receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift 
        (including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
        States Code, donations of services) to further the purposes of 
        this title.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Deposits in fund.--Notwithstanding section 
        3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a 
        gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Notification required.--Not later than 30 
        days after funds are deposited in the Fund under paragraph (2), 
        the Foundation shall notify the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives of the source and amount of such 
        funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Review of Performance.--The Administrator shall 
conduct a continuing review of all deposits into, and disbursements 
from, the Fund. Each review shall include a written assessment 
concerning the extent to which the Foundation has implemented the goals 
and requirements of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) this section; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
        in effect under section 204A.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Administration.--Under an agreement entered into 
pursuant to subsection (a), and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Administrator may transfer funds appropriated to 
carry out this title to the Foundation. Amounts received by the 
Foundation under this subsection may be used for matching, in whole or 
in part, contributions (whether in money, services, or property) made 
to the Foundation by private persons, State or local government 
agencies, or Tribal organizations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 209. CORAL REEF EMERGENCY PLANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--A covered reef manager may develop and 
periodically update a plan (in this title referred to as a `coral reef 
emergency plan') consistent with the template described in section 
204A(b)(3) to guide the rapid and effective response to circumstances 
that pose an urgent and immediate threat to the coral reef ecosystems 
within the manager's responsibilities and jurisdictions, and consistent 
with any applicable coral reef action plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Coral Reef Emergencies.--The Administrator shall 
develop a list of, and criteria for, circumstances that pose an urgent 
and immediate threat to coral reefs (in this title referred to as 
`coral reef emergencies'), including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) new and ongoing outbreaks of 
        disease;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or 
        nuisance species;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) new and ongoing coral bleaching 
        events;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) natural disasters;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) man-made disasters, including vessel 
        groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction 
        accidents; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) other exigent circumstances.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Best Response Practices.--The Administrator shall 
develop guidance on best practices to respond to coral reef emergencies 
that can be adopted within coral reef emergency plans. Such best 
practices shall be--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) based on the best available science and 
        integrated with evolving innovative technologies; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) revised not less frequently than once every 
        5 years.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Plan Elements.--A coral reef emergency plan shall 
include the following elements:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) A description of particular threats, and the 
        proposed responses, consistent with the best practices 
        developed under subsection (d).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) A delineation of roles and responsibilities 
        for executing the plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Evidence of engagement with interested 
        stakeholder groups, as applicable, in the development of the 
        plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Any other information the Administrator 
        considers to be necessary for the plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator and the 
Task Force shall make all reasonable efforts to provide technical 
assistance upon request by a covered reef manager developing a coral 
reef emergency plan under subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Adoption of Coral Reef Emergency Plans.--A covered 
reef manager may adopt a coral reef emergency plan developed by another 
covered reef manager, in full or in part, as relevant to the adopting 
manager's applicable jurisdiction.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Public Review.--The development of a coral reef 
action plan by a covered reef manager under subsection (a), and the 
adoption of a plan under subsection (f), shall be subject to public 
review and comment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Publication.--The Administrator shall publish each 
coral reef emergency plan prepared and submitted to the Task Force 
under this section on publicly available internet websites of--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Plan in Effect.--A coral reef emergency plan shall 
be deemed to be in effect if the plan was submitted to the Task Force 
under this section during the preceding 6 years.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 210. CORAL REEF EMERGENCY FUND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established in the 
Treasury an interest-bearing fund to be known as the `Coral Reef 
Emergency Fund', which shall consist of amounts deposited into the Fund 
under subsection (c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Uses.--Amounts in the Fund--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) shall be available only for use by the 
        Secretary to compensate covered coral reef mangers to implement 
        a coral reef emergency plan in effect under sections 210 and 
        212; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) shall remain available until 
        expended.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Deposits Into the Fund.--Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, there shall be deposited into the Fund--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) amounts appropriated for the Fund; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) other amounts appropriated to the Secretary 
        for use with respect to coral reef emergencies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Acceptance of Donations.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out 
        this title, the Secretary may accept, receive, solicit, hold, 
        administer, and use any gift (including, notwithstanding 
        section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, donations of 
        services).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Deposits in fund.--Notwithstanding section 
        3302 of title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a 
        gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 211. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Coral Reef Emergency Declarations.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Sua sponte declaration.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may 
                determine and declare a coral reef emergency, including 
                at the recommendation of the Secretary of the 
                Interior.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Requirements.--In declaring a coral 
                reef emergency under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) certify that an emergency 
                        has occurred that is ecologically significant 
                        and harmful to coral reefs; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) submit to the appropriate 
                        congressional committees findings and analysis 
                        to justify the declaration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Petitions.--If a covered State or non-
        Federal coral reef stewardship partnership believes that a 
        coral reef emergency has occurred, and is impacting coral reefs 
        or ecologically significant components of coral reefs subject 
        to the responsibilities or jurisdiction of the State or 
        partnership, the State or partnership may petition the 
        Secretary for a declaration of a coral reef 
        emergency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Evaluation and action.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days 
                after receiving a petition under paragraph (2) (except 
                as provided in subparagraph (B)), the Secretary shall--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) evaluate the petition to 
                        determine whether a coral reef emergency has 
                        occurred; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) declare a coral reef 
                        emergency or deny the petition.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Extension.--The Secretary may extend 
                the deadline provided for under subparagraph (A) by not 
                more than 15 days.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Appeal.--If the Secretary denies a petition 
        for an emergency declaration submitted under paragraph (2), the 
        State or partnership that submitted the petition may, not later 
        than 15 days after receiving notice of the denial, appeal the 
        denial to the Secretary. Not later than 15 days after receiving 
        an appeal under this paragraph, the Secretary shall grant or 
        deny the appeal.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Revocation.--The Secretary may revoke any 
        declaration of a coral reef emergency in whole or in part after 
        determining that circumstances no longer require an emergency 
        response.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Recovery of emergency funding.--The 
        Administrator may seek compensation from negligent parties to 
        recover emergency funds expended in excess of $500,000 under 
        this section as a result of an emergency declaration arising 
        from direct impacts to coral reefs from man-made disasters or 
        accidents.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Grant Authority.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, upon the declaration of a coral reef emergency 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide grants to 
        carry out proposals that meet the requirements of paragraph (2) 
        to implement coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 
        209.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirements.--A proposal for a grant under 
        this subsection to implement a coral reef emergency plan in 
        effect under section 209 shall include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the name of the entity submitting 
                the proposal;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a copy of the coral reef emergency 
                plan;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) a description of the qualifications 
                of the individuals and entities who will implement the 
                plan;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) an estimate of the funds and time 
                required to complete the implementation of the plan; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) any other information the Secretary 
                considers to be necessary for evaluating the 
                eligibility of the proposal for a grant under this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Review.--Not later than 30 days after 
        receiving a proposal for a grant under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall review the proposal and determine if the 
        proposal meets the requirements of paragraph (2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Concurrent review.--An entity seeking a 
        grant under this subsection may submit a proposal under 
        paragraph (2) to the Secretary at any time following the 
        submission of a petition for an emergency declaration under 
        subsection (a)(2) that is applicable to coral reefs or 
        ecologically significant components of coral reefs subject to 
        the responsibilities or jurisdiction of the entity.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 212. VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of 
other Federal agencies, shall establish and maintain an inventory of 
all vessel grounding incidents involving United States coral reefs, 
including a description of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the impacts of each such incident to coral 
        reefs and related natural resources;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) vessel and ownership information relating to 
        each such incident, if available;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the estimated cost of removal of the vessel, 
        mitigation, or restoration relating to each such 
        incident;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the response actions taken by the owner of 
        the vessel, the Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast 
        Guard, or representatives of other Federal or State 
        agencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the status of the response actions, 
        including the dates of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) vessel removal;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) mitigation or restoration 
                activities, including whether a coral reef emergency 
                plan was implemented; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) any actions taken to prevent future 
                grounding incidents; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) recommendations for additional navigational 
        aids or other mechanisms for preventing future grounding 
        incidents.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 213. RUTH D. GATES CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANT 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Administrator shall establish a program (to be 
known as the `Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program') to 
provide grants for projects for the conservation and restoration of 
coral reef ecosystems (in this section referred to as `coral reef 
projects') pursuant to proposals approved by the Administrator in 
accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Eligibility.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--An entity described in 
        paragraph (2) may submit to the Administrator a proposal for a 
        coral reef project.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Entities described.--An entity described in 
        this paragraph is--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a natural resource management 
                authority of a State or local government or Tribal 
                organization--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) with responsibility for 
                        coral reef management; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the activities of which 
                        directly or indirectly affect coral reefs or 
                        coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a regional fishery management 
                council established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
                Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
                seq.);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) a coral reef stewardship partnership 
                seeking to implement a coral reef action plan in effect 
                under section 205;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) a coral reef research center 
                designated under section 215(c)(4); or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) another nongovernmental organization 
                or research institution with demonstrated expertise in 
                the conservation or restoration of coral reefs in 
                practice or through significant contributions to the 
                body of existing scientific research on coral 
                reefs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Project Proposals.--Each proposal for a grant under 
this section for a coral reef project shall include the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The name of the individual or entity 
        responsible for conducting the project.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) A description of the qualifications of the 
        individual or entity.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) A succinct statement of the purposes of the 
        project.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) An estimate of the funds and time required 
        to complete the project.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Evidence of support for the project by 
        appropriate representatives of States or other government 
        jurisdictions in which the project will be conducted.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Information regarding the source and amount 
        of matching funding available to the applicant.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) A description of how the project meets one 
        or more of the criteria under subsection (e)(2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) In the case of a proposal submitted by a 
        coral reef stewardship partnership, a description of how the 
        project aligns with the applicable coral reef action plan in 
        effect under section 205.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) Any other information the Administrator 
        considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the 
        project for a grant under this subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Project Review and Approval.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall review 
        each coral reef project proposal submitted under this section 
        to determine if the project meets the criteria set forth in 
        subsection (e).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Prioritization of conservation projects.--
        The Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of grants for 
        projects that meet the criteria for approval under 
        subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (e)(2) that are 
        proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for 
        coral reef conservation by the Administrator and consistent 
        with the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect 
        under section 204A.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Prioritization of restoration projects.--The 
        Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of grants for 
        projects that meet the criteria for approval under 
        subparagraphs (E) through (L) of subsection (e)(2) that are 
        proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for 
        coral reef restoration by the Administrator and consistent with 
        the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under 
        section 204A.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Review; approval or disapproval.--Not later 
        than 180 days after receiving a proposal for a coral reef 
        project under this section, the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) request and consider written 
                comments on the proposal from each Federal agency, 
                State government, Tribal organization, or other 
                government jurisdiction, including the relevant 
                regional fishery management councils established under 
                the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
                Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or any 
                National Marine Sanctuary or Marine National Monument, 
                with jurisdiction or management authority over coral 
                reef ecosystems in the area where the project is to be 
                conducted, including the extent to which the project is 
                consistent with locally established priorities, unless 
                such entities were directly involved in the development 
                of the project proposal;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) provide for the merit-based peer 
                review of the proposal and require standardized 
                documentation of that peer review;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) after considering any written 
                comments and recommendations based on the reviews under 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), approve or disapprove the 
                proposal; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) provide written notification of that 
                approval or disapproval, with summaries of all written 
                comments, recommendations, and peer-reviews, to the 
                entity that submitted the proposal, and each of those 
                States, Tribal organizations, and other government 
                jurisdictions that provided comments under subparagraph 
                (A).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Criteria for Approval.--The Administrator may not 
approve a proposal for a coral reef project under this section unless 
the project--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) is consistent with--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the national coral reef resilience 
                strategy in effect under section 204A; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) any Federal or non-Federal coral 
                reef action plans in effect under section 205 covering 
                a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a 
                coral reef to be affected by the project; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) will enhance the conservation and 
        restoration of coral reefs by--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) addressing conflicts arising from 
                the use of environments near coral reefs or from the 
                use of corals, species associated with coral reefs, and 
                coral products, including supporting consensus-driven, 
                community-based planning and management initiatives for 
                the protection of coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) improving compliance with laws that 
                prohibit or regulate the taking of coral products or 
                species associated with coral reefs or regulate the use 
                and management of coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) designing and implementing networks 
                of real-time water quality monitoring along coral 
                reefs, including data collection related to turbidity, 
                nutrient availability, harmful algal blooms, and 
                plankton assemblages, with an emphasis on coral reefs 
                impacted by agriculture and urban 
                development;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) promoting ecologically sound 
                navigation and anchorages, including mooring buoy 
                systems to promote enhanced recreational access, near 
                coral reefs;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) furthering the goals and objectives 
                of coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 
                and coral reef emergency plans in effect under section 
                209;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) mapping the location and 
                distribution of coral reefs and potential coral reef 
                habitat;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) stimulating innovation to advance 
                the ability of the United States to understand, 
                research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to 
                develop management or adaptation options to preserve, 
                sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) implementing research to ensure the 
                population viability of listed coral species in United 
                States waters as detailed in the population-based 
                recovery criteria included in species-specific recovery 
                plans consistent with the Endangered Species Act of 
                1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) developing and implementing cost-
                effective methods to restore degraded coral reef 
                ecosystems or to create geographically appropriate 
                coral reef ecosystems in suitable waters, including by 
                improving habitat or promoting success of keystone 
                species, with an emphasis on novel restoration 
                strategies and techniques to advance coral reef 
                recovery and growth near population centers threatened 
                by rising sea levels and storm surge;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) translating and applying coral 
                genetics research to coral reef ecosystem restoration, 
                including research related to traits that promote 
                resilience to increasing ocean temperatures, ocean 
                acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and 
                invasive species;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(K) developing and maintaining in situ 
                native coral propagation sites; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(L) developing and maintaining ex situ 
                coral propagation nurseries and land-based coral gene 
                banks to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) conserve or augment genetic 
                        diversity of native coral 
                        populations;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) support captive breeding of 
                        rare coral species; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) enhance resilience of 
                        native coral populations to increasing ocean 
                        temperatures, ocean acidification, coral 
                        bleaching, and coral diseases through selective 
                        breeding, conditioning, or other approaches 
                        that target genes, gene expression, phenotypic 
                        traits, or phenotypic plasticity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Funding Requirements.--To the extent practicable 
based upon proposals for coral reef projects submitted to the 
Administrator, the Administrator shall ensure that funding for grants 
awarded under this section during a fiscal year is distributed as 
follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Not less than 40 percent of funds available 
        shall be awarded for projects in the Pacific Ocean within the 
        maritime areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control 
        of the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Not less than 40 percent of the funds 
        available shall be awarded for projects in the Atlantic Ocean, 
        the Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea within the maritime 
        areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the 
        United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Not more than 67 percent of funds 
        distributed in each region in accordance with paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) shall be made exclusively available to projects that 
        are--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) submitted by a coral reef 
                stewardship partnership; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) consistent with the coral reef 
                action plan in effect under section 205 by such a 
                partnership.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Of the funds distributed to support projects 
        in accordance with paragraph (3), not less than 20 percent and 
        not more than 33 percent shall be awarded for projects 
        submitted by a Federal coral reef stewardship 
        partnership.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Project Reporting.--Each entity receiving a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Administrator such reports at 
such times and containing such information for evaluating project 
performance as the Administrator may require.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Task Force.--The Administrator may consult with the 
Secretary of the Interior and the Task Force to obtain guidance in 
establishing priorities and evaluating proposals for coral reef 
projects under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Unexpended Amounts.--Any amounts available for 
grants under this section that are not expended shall be transferred to 
the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund under section 208(b).</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 214. REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
committees specified in subsection (b) a report on the administration 
of this title during the 2-year period preceding submission of the 
report, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a description of all activities undertaken 
        to implement the most recent national coral reef resilience 
        strategy under section 204A;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) a statement of all funds obligated under the 
        authorities of this title; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) a summary, disaggregated by State, of 
        Federal and non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each 
        project or activity funded, in full or in part, under the 
        authorities of this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Committees Specified.--The committees specified in 
this subsection are--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 215. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator may enter into and 
perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Funding.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Under an agreement entered into 
        under subsection (a), the Administrator may reimburse or 
        provide funds authorized to be appropriated by section 216 to, 
        and may receive funds or reimbursements from, individuals and 
        entities described in paragraph (2) to carry out activities 
        authorized by this title.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Individuals and entities described.--
        Individuals and entities described in this paragraph are the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Federal agencies, instrumentalities, 
                and laboratories.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) State and local 
                governments.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Indian Tribes and Tribal 
                organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) International 
                organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Foreign governments not subject to 
                economic sanctions imposed by the United 
                States.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) Institutions of higher education, 
                research centers, and other educational 
                institutions.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) Nonprofit organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) Commercial organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) Other public or private individuals 
                or entities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Cooperative Institutes.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall 
        establish 2 cooperative institutes for the purpose of advancing 
        and sustaining essential capabilities in coral reef research, 
        to be known as the `Atlantic Coral Reef Institute' and the 
        `Pacific Coral Reef Institute'.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Membership.--Each institute established 
        under paragraph (1) shall be housed within a single coral reef 
        research center designated by the Administrator under paragraph 
        (4) in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, respectively, and may 
        contract with other coral reef research centers within the same 
        basin to support each institute's capacity and reach.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Functions.--The institutes established under 
        paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) conduct federally directed research 
                to fill national and regional coral reef ecosystem 
                research gaps and improve understanding of, and 
                responses to, continuing and emerging threats to the 
                resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems 
                consistent with the national coral reef resilience 
                strategy in effect under section 204A;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) support ecological research and 
                monitoring to study the effects of conservation and 
                restoration activities funded by this title on 
                promoting more effective coral reef management and 
                restoration; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) through agreements--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) collaborate directly with 
                        governmental resource management agencies, 
                        coral reef stewardship partnerships, nonprofit 
                        organizations, and other coral reef research 
                        centers designated under paragraph 
                        (4);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) assist in the development 
                        and implementation of--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) the national coral 
                                reef resilience strategy under section 
                                204A;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) coral reef action 
                                plans under section 205; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) coral reef 
                                emergency plans under section 
                                209;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) build capacity within 
                        governmental resource management agencies to 
                        establish research priorities and translate and 
                        apply research findings to management and 
                        restoration practices; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) conduct public education 
                        and awareness programs for policymakers, 
                        resource managers, and the general public on--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) coral reefs and 
                                coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) best practices for 
                                coral reef ecosystem management and 
                                restoration;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) the value of coral 
                                reefs; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) the threats to the 
                                sustainability of coral reef 
                                ecosystems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Coral reef research centers.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                periodically solicit applications and designate all 
                qualifying institutions in a covered State as coral 
                reef research centers.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Criteria.--An institution qualifies 
                for designation as a coral reef research center under 
                subparagraph (A) if the Administrator determines that 
                the institution--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) is operated by an 
                        institution of higher education or nonprofit 
                        marine research organization;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) has established management-
                        driven national or regional coral reef research 
                        or restoration programs;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) has demonstrated abilities 
                        to coordinate closely with appropriate Federal 
                        and State agencies, as well as other academic 
                        and nonprofit organizations; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) maintains significant local 
                        community engagement and outreach programs 
                        related to coral reef ecosystems.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Multiyear Cooperative Agreements.--The Administrator 
may enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with the heads of other 
Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, local 
governments, the coral reef cooperative institutes established under 
subsection (c), and other institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
research organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to carry out 
activities authorized under this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Use of Resources of Other Agencies.--The 
Administrator may use, with consent and with or without reimbursement, 
the land, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of any agency 
or instrumentality of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the United States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) any State or local government;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) any Indian Tribe; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) any foreign government not subject to 
        economic sanctions imposed by the United States.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 216. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The head of any Federal agency with a 
representative serving on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force established by 
Executive Order 13089 (16 U.S.C. 6401 note; relating to coral reef 
protection), may, individually or in cooperation with one or more 
agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competitively under 
section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3719).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Purposes.--Any program carried out under this 
section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innovation to advance 
the ability of the United States to understand, research, or monitor 
coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation options 
to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Priority Programs.--Priority shall be given to 
establishing programs under this section that address communities, 
environments, or industries that are in distress as a result of the 
decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) scientific research and monitoring that 
        furthers the understanding of causes behind coral reef decline 
        and degradation and the generally slow recovery following 
        disturbances, including ocean acidification and its impacts on 
        coral reproduction;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the development of monitoring or management 
        options for communities or industries that are experiencing 
        significant financial hardship;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the development of adaptation options to 
        alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral 
        reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the development of measures to help 
        vulnerable communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural 
        communities and businesses; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the development of adaptation and management 
        options for impacted tourism industries.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 217. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to carry out this title the following amounts, which 
shall remain available until expended:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) $35,500,000 for fiscal year 2024.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Administration.--Of the amounts appropriated 
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a), 
not more than the lesser of $1,500,000 or 10 percent may be used for 
program administration or for overhead costs incurred by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce 
and assessed as an administrative charge.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Coral Reef Management and Restoration Activities.--
From the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a), 
there shall be made available to the Secretary not less than the 
following amounts for authorized activities under sections 203 and 
207:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which 
        not less than $8,000,000 shall be made available to the 
        Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 
        207.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) $24,500,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which 
        not less than $8,500,000 shall be made available to the 
        Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 
        207.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which 
        not less than $9,000,000 shall be made available to the 
        Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 
        207.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which 
        not less than $10,000,000 shall be made available to the 
        Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 
        207.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which 
        not less than $11,000,000 shall be made available to the 
        Secretary for the provision State block grants under section 
        207.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Federally Directed Research and Coral Reef 
Conservation Program Grants.--From the amounts authorized to be 
appropriated under subsection (a), there shall be made available to the 
Secretary not less than $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025 to support purposes consistent with this title, of which--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) not less than $3,500,000 shall be made 
        available for each such fiscal year for authorized activities 
        under section 213; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) not less than $4,500,000 shall be made 
        available for each such fiscal year through cooperative 
        agreements with the cooperative institutes established under 
        section 215(c).</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 218. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``In this title:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' 
        means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The 
        term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee 
        on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Conservation.--The term `conservation' means 
        the use of methods and procedures necessary to preserve or 
        sustain native corals and associated species as diverse, 
        viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems with 
        minimal impacts from invasive species, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) all activities associated with 
                resource management, such as monitoring, assessment, 
                protection, restoration, sustainable use, management of 
                habitat, and maintenance or augmentation of genetic 
                diversity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) mapping;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) scientific expertise and technical 
                assistance in the development and implementation of 
                management strategies for marine protected areas and 
                marine resources consistent with the National Marine 
                Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and the 
                Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
                Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) law enforcement;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) conflict resolution 
                initiatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) community outreach and education; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) promotion of safe and ecologically 
                sound navigation and anchoring.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Coral.--The term `coral' means species of 
        the phylum Cnidaria, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) all species of the orders 
                Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony 
                corals), Alcyonacea (soft corals, organ pipe corals, 
                gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the 
                class Anthozoa; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) all species of the order 
                Anthoathecata (fire corals and other hydrocorals) of 
                the class Hydrozoa.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Coral reef.--The term `coral reef' means 
        limestone structures in the form of a reef or shoal, composed 
        in whole or in part by living coral, skeletal remains of coral, 
        crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine 
        plants and animals.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Coral reef ecosystem.--The term `coral reef 
        ecosystem' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) corals and other geographically and 
                ecologically associated marine communities of other 
                reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) 
                associated with coral reef habitat; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the biotic and abiotic factors and 
                processes that control coral calcification rates, 
                tissue growth, reproduction, recruitment, abundance, 
                coral-algal symbiosis, and biodiversity in such 
                habitat.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Coral products.--The term `coral products' 
        means any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or 
        any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives, of any 
        species referred to in paragraph (4).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Covered reef manager.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `covered reef 
                manager' means a management unit of a Federal agency 
                specified in subparagraph (B) with jurisdiction over a 
                coral reef ecosystem, covered State, or coral reef 
                stewardship partnership.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Federal agencies specified.--A 
                Federal agency specified in this subparagraph is one of 
                the following:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) The National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) The National Park 
                        Service.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) The United States Fish and 
                        Wildlife Service.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) The Office of Insular 
                        Affairs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) Covered state.--The term `covered State' 
        means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, 
        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto 
        Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
        5304).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(12) Interested stakeholder groups.--The term 
        `interested stakeholder groups' includes community members such 
        as businesses, commercial and recreational fishermen, other 
        recreationalists, Federal, State, Tribal, and local government 
        units with related jurisdiction, institutions of higher 
        education, and nongovernmental organizations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(13) Nonprofit organization.--The term 
        `nonprofit organization' means an organization that is 
        described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such 
        Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(14) Restoration.--The term `restoration' means 
        the use of methods and procedures necessary to enhance, 
        rehabilitate, recreate, or create a functioning coral reef or 
        coral reef ecosystem, in whole or in part, within suitable 
        waters of the historical geographic range of such ecosystems, 
        to provide ecological, economic, cultural, or coastal 
        resiliency services associated with healthy coral reefs and 
        benefit native populations of coral reef organisms.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(15) Resilience.--The term `resilience' means 
        the capacity for corals within their native range, coral reefs, 
        or coral reef ecosystems to recover from natural and human 
        disturbances as determined by clearly identifiable, measurable, 
        and science-based standards.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(16) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
        Secretary of Commerce.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(17) State.--The term `State' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) any State of the United States that 
                contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward 
                boundaries;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 
                the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the 
                United States Virgin Islands; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) any other territory or possession of 
                the United States or separate sovereign in free 
                association with the United States that contains a 
                coral reef ecosystem within its seaward 
                boundaries.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(18) Stewardship.--The term `stewardship', with 
        respect to a coral reef, includes conservation, restoration, 
        and public outreach and education.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(19) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means 
        the United States Coral Reef Task Force established under 
        section 201 of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 
        2021.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(20) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal 
        organization' has the meaning given the term `tribal 
        organization' in section 3765 of title 38, United States 
        Code.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Conforming Amendment to National Oceans and Coastal 
Security Act.--Section 905(a) of the National Oceans and Coastal 
Security Act (16 U.S.C. 7504(a)) is amended by striking ``and coastal 
infrastructure'' and inserting ``, coastal infrastructure, and 
ecosystem services provided by natural systems such as coral 
reefs''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 102. MODIFICATION TO SECTION 204 OF THE CORAL REEF 
              CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403).</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 6403) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``this 
        section'' and inserting ``section 213'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the 
        following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Special rule.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), block grant funds awarded to the territories of American 
        Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
        Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands under section 
        207 shall qualify as the non-Federal share of project costs.''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by striking subsections (c) through 
        (j).</DELETED>

    <DELETED>TITLE II--UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There is established a task force to lead, coordinate, and 
strengthen Federal Government actions to better preserve, conserve, and 
restore coral reef ecosystems, to be known as the ``United States Coral 
Reef Task Force'' (in this title referred to as the ``Task 
Force'').</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 202. DUTIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The duties of the Task Force shall be--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to coordinate, in cooperation with State, 
        Tribal, and local government partners, coral reef research 
        centers designated under section 215(c) of the Coral Reef 
        Conservation Act of 2000 (as amended by section 101), and other 
        nongovernmental and academic partners as appropriate, 
        activities regarding the mapping, monitoring, research, 
        conservation, mitigation, and restoration of coral reefs and 
        coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to monitor and advise regarding implementation 
        of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set forth 
        in--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 
                32701; relating to coral reef protection); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the national coral reef resilience 
                strategy developed under section 204A of the Coral Reef 
                Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 
                101;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to work with the Secretary of State and the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development, and in coordination with the other members of the 
        Task Force--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) to assess the United States role in 
                international trade and protection of coral 
                species;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to encourage implementation of 
                appropriate strategies and actions to promote 
                conservation and sustainable use of coral reef 
                resources worldwide; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) to collaborate with international 
                communities successful in managing coral 
                reefs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) to provide technical assistance for the 
        development and implementation, as appropriate, of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the national coral reef resilience 
                strategy under section 204A of the Coral Reef 
                Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 
                101;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) coral reef action plans under section 
                205 of that Act; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) coral reef emergency plans under 
                section 209 of that Act; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) to produce a report each year, for submission 
        to the appropriate congressional committees and publication on 
        a publicly available internet website of the Task Force, 
        highlighting the status of the coral reef equities of a covered 
        State on a rotating basis, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) a summary of recent coral reef 
                management and restoration activities undertaken in 
                that State; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) updated estimates of the direct and 
                indirect economic activity supported by, and other 
                benefits associated with, those coral reef 
                equities.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 203. MEMBERSHIP.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Voting Membership.--The Task Force shall have the 
following voting members:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, and the Secretary of the Interior, who shall be 
        co-chairs of the Task Force.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The Administrator of the United States Agency 
        for International Development.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) The Secretary of Agriculture.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) The Secretary of Defense.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) The Secretary of the Army, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
        through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) The Attorney General.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) The Secretary of State.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) The Secretary of Transportation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) The Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) The Governor, or a representative of the 
        Governor, of each covered State.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Nonvoting Members.--The Task Force shall have the 
following nonvoting members:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) A member of the South Atlantic Fishery 
        Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida 
        under section 302(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
        Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
        1852(b)(1)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) A member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
        Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida 
        under such section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) A member of the Western Pacific Fishery 
        Management Council who is designated under such section and 
        selected as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) For the period beginning on the date 
                of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 
                of the calendar year during which such date of 
                enactment occurs, the member shall be selected jointly 
                by the governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and 
                the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
                Islands.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the 
                governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall, on 
                a rotating basis, take turns selecting the 
                member.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) A member of the Caribbean Fishery Management 
        Council who is designated under such section and selected as 
        follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) For the period beginning on the date 
                of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 
                of the calendar year during which such date of 
                enactment occurs, the member shall be selected jointly 
                by the governors of Puerto Rico and the United States 
                Virgin Islands.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the 
                governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
                Islands shall, on an alternating basis, take turns 
                selecting the member.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) A member appointed by the President of the 
        Federated States of Micronesia.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) A member appointed by the President of the 
        Republic of the Marshall Islands.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) A member appointed by the President of the 
        Republic of Palau.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 204. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCY 
              MEMBERS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--A member of the Task Force specified in 
paragraphs (1) through (14) of section 203(a) shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) identify the actions of the agency that member 
        represents that may affect coral reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) utilize the programs and authorities of that 
        agency to protect and enhance the conditions of such 
        ecosystems, including through the promotion of basic and 
        applied scientific research;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) collaborate with the Task Force to 
        appropriately reflect budgetary needs for coral reef 
        conservation and restoration activities in all agency budget 
        planning and justification documents and processes; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) engage in any other coordinated efforts 
        approved by the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Co-Chairs.--In addition to their responsibilities 
under subsection (a), the co-chairs of the Task Force shall administer 
performance of the functions of the Task Force and facilitate the 
coordination of the members of the Task Force specified in paragraphs 
(1) through (14) of section 203(a).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 205. WORKING GROUPS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The co-chairs of the Task Force may 
establish working groups as necessary to meet the goals and carry out 
the duties of the Task Force.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Requests From Members.--The members of the Task Force 
may request that the co-chairs establish a working group under 
subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Participation by Nongovernmental Organizations.--The 
co-chairs may allow nongovernmental organizations as appropriate, 
including academic institutions, conservation groups, and commercial 
and recreational fishing associations, to participate in a working 
group established under subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
working groups established under this section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 206. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this title:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The 
        term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Conservation, coral, coral reef, etc.--The 
        terms ``conservation'', ``coral'', ``coral reef'', ``coral reef 
        ecosystem'', ``covered State'', ``restoration'', 
        ``resilience'', and ``State'' have the meaning given those 
        terms in section 218 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
        2000, as amended by section 101.</DELETED>

       <DELETED>TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF 
                         AUTHORITIES</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 301. CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 
              ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior may provide 
scientific expertise and technical assistance, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations, financial assistance for the 
conservation and restoration of coral reefs consistent with all 
applicable laws governing resource management in Federal, State, and 
Tribal waters, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the national coral reef resilience strategy in 
        effect under section 204A of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
        2000, as amended by section 101;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) coral reef action plans in effect under 
        section 205 of that Act, as applicable; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) coral reef emergency plans in effect under 
        section 209 of that Act, as applicable.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Office of Insular Affairs Coral Reef Initiative.--The 
Secretary may establish within the Office of Insular Affairs a Coral 
Reef Initiative Program--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to provide grant funding to support local 
        management, conservation, and protection of coral reef 
        ecosystems in--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) insular areas of covered States; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Freely Associated States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to complement the other conservation and 
        assistance activities conducted under this Act; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to provide other technical, scientific, and 
        financial assistance and conduct conservation activities that 
        advance the purpose of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Consultation With the Department of Commerce.--The 
Secretary of the Interior may consult with the Secretary of Commerce 
regarding the conduct of any activities to conserve and restore coral 
reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under the 
jurisdiction of the Federal agencies specified in paragraphs (2) and 
(3) of section 203(c) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as 
amended by section 101.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into 
cooperative agreements with covered reef managers to fund coral reef 
conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the 
jurisdiction of such managers that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) are consistent with the national coral reef 
        resilience strategy in effect under section 204A of the Coral 
        Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) support and enhance the success of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) coral reef action plans in effect 
                under section 205 of that Act; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) coral reef emergency plans in effect 
                under section 209 of that Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Definitions.--In this section, the terms 
``conservation'', ``coral reef'', ``covered reef manager'', ``covered 
State'', ``restoration'', and ``State'' have the meaning given those 
terms in section 218 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as 
amended by section 101.</DELETED>

  <DELETED>TITLE IV--SUSAN L. WILLIAMS NATIONAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT 
                          FELLOWSHIP</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This title may be cited as the ``Susan L. Williams 
National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Act of 2021''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this title:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Fellow.--The term ``fellow'' means a National 
        Coral Reef Management Fellow.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Fellowship.--The term ``fellowship'' means the 
        National Coral Reef Management Fellowship established in 
        section 403.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms 
        ``Indian Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization'' have the meanings 
        given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
        and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of Commerce.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 403. ESTABLISHMENT OF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--There is established a National Coral 
Reef Management Fellowship Program.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the fellowship are--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to encourage future leaders of the United 
        States to develop additional coral reef management capacity in 
        States and local communities with coral reefs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to provide management agencies of States, 
        Tribal organizations, and Freely Associated States with highly 
        qualified candidates whose education and work experience meet 
        the specific needs of each State, Indian Tribe, and Freely 
        Associated State; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to provide fellows with professional 
        experience in management of coastal and coral reef 
        resources.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 404. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award the fellowship 
in accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Term of Fellowship.--A fellowship awarded under this 
section shall be for a term of not more than 24 months.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Qualifications.--The Secretary shall award the 
fellowship to individuals who have demonstrated--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) an intent to pursue a career in marine 
        services and outstanding potential for such a career;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) leadership potential, actual leadership 
        experience, or both;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) a college or graduate degree in biological 
        science, experience that correlates with aptitude and interest 
        for marine management, or both;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) proficient writing and speaking skills; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) such other attributes as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 405. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
non-Federal share of the costs of a fellowship under this section shall 
be 25 percent of such costs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Waiver of Requirements.--The Secretary may waive the 
application of subsection (a) if the Secretary finds that such waiver 
is necessary to support a project that the Secretary has identified as 
a high priority.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring 
Resilient Reefs Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

    TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000

Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

             TITLE II--UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE

Sec. 201. Establishment.
Sec. 202. Duties.
Sec. 203. Membership.
Sec. 204. Responsibilities of Federal agency members.
Sec. 205. Working groups.
Sec. 206. Definitions.

      TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF AUTHORITIES

Sec. 301. Coral reef conservation and restoration assistance.

 TITLE IV--SUSAN L. WILLIAMS NATIONAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Definitions.
Sec. 403. Establishment of fellowship program.
Sec. 404. Fellowship awards.
Sec. 405. Matching requirement.

    TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000

SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000.

    (a) In General.--The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
6401 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 209 and 210 as sections 217 
        and 218, respectively;
            (2) by striking sections 202 through 208 and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 202. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this title are--
            ``(1) to conserve and restore the condition of United 
        States coral reef ecosystems challenged by natural and human-
        accelerated changes, including increasing ocean temperatures, 
        ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, water 
        quality degradation, invasive species, and illegal, unreported, 
        and unregulated fishing;
            ``(2) to promote the science-based management and 
        sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local 
        communities and the Nation, including through improved 
        integration and cooperation among Federal and non-Federal 
        stakeholders with coral reef equities;
            ``(3) to develop sound scientific information on the 
        condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and emerging 
        threats to such ecosystems, and the efficacy of innovative 
        tools, technologies, and strategies to mitigate stressors and 
        restore such ecosystems, including evaluation criteria to 
        determine the effectiveness of management interventions, and 
        accurate mapping for coral reef restoration;
            ``(4) to assist in the preservation of coral reefs by 
        supporting science-based, consensus-driven, and community-based 
        coral reef management by covered States and covered Native 
        entities, including monitoring, conservation, and restoration 
        projects that empower local communities, small businesses, and 
        nongovernmental organizations;
            ``(5) to provide financial resources, technical assistance, 
        and scientific expertise to supplement, complement, and 
        strengthen community-based management programs and conservation 
        and restoration projects of non-Federal reefs;
            ``(6) to establish a formal mechanism for collecting and 
        allocating monetary donations from the private sector to be 
        used for coral reef conservation and restoration projects;
            ``(7) to support the rapid and effective, science-based 
        assessment and response to exigent circumstances that pose 
        immediate and long-term threats to coral reefs, such as coral 
        disease, invasive or nuisance species, coral bleaching, natural 
        disasters, and industrial or mechanical disasters, such as 
        vessel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction 
        accidents; and
            ``(8) to serve as a model for advancing similar 
        international efforts to monitor, conserve, and restore coral 
        reef ecosystems.

``SEC. 203. FEDERAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator or the Secretary of the 
Interior may conduct activities described in subsection (b) to conserve 
and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems that are consistent 
with--
            ``(1) all applicable laws governing resource management in 
        Federal and State waters, including this Act;
            ``(2) the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect 
        under section 204; and
            ``(3) coral reef action plans in effect under section 205, 
        as applicable.
    ``(b) Activities Described.--Activities described in this 
subsection are activities to conserve, research, monitor, assess, and 
restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters managed under 
the jurisdiction of a Federal agency specified in subsection (c) or in 
coordination with a State in waters managed under the jurisdiction of 
such State, including--
            ``(1) developing, including through the collection of 
        requisite in situ and remotely sensed data, high-quality and 
        digitized maps reflecting--
                    ``(A) current and historical live coral cover data;
                    ``(B) coral reef habitat quality data;
                    ``(C) priority areas for coral reef conservation to 
                maintain biodiversity and ecosystem structure and 
                function, including the reef matrix, that benefit 
                coastal communities and living marine resources;
                    ``(D) priority areas for coral reef restoration to 
                enhance biodiversity and ecosystem structure and 
                function, including the reef matrix, to benefit coastal 
                communities and living marine resources; and
                    ``(E) areas of concern that may require enhanced 
                monitoring of coral health and cover;
            ``(2) enhancing compliance with Federal laws that prohibit 
        or regulate--
                    ``(A) the taking of coral products or species 
                associated with coral reefs; or
                    ``(B) the use and management of coral reef 
                ecosystems;
            ``(3) long-term ecological monitoring of coral reef 
        ecosystems;
            ``(4) implementing species-specific recovery plans for 
        listed coral species consistent with the Endangered Species Act 
        of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
            ``(5) restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems;
            ``(6) promoting ecologically sound navigation and 
        anchorages, including through navigational aids and expansion 
        of reef-safe anchorages and mooring buoy systems, to enhance 
        recreational access while preventing or minimizing the 
        likelihood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to coral 
        reefs;
            ``(7) monitoring and responding to severe bleaching or 
        mortality events, disease outbreaks, invasive species 
        outbreaks, and significant maritime accidents, including 
        chemical spill cleanup and the removal of grounded vessels;
            ``(8) conducting scientific research that contributes to 
        the understanding, sustainable use, and long-term conservation 
        of coral reefs;
            ``(9) enhancing public awareness, understanding, and 
        appreciation of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; and
            ``(10) centrally archiving, managing, and distributing data 
        sets and coral reef ecosystem assessments and publishing such 
        information on publicly available internet websites, by means 
        such as leveraging and partnering with existing data 
        repositories, of--
                    ``(A) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
                    ``(B) the Task Force.
    ``(c) Federal Agencies Specified.--A Federal agency specified in 
this subsection is one of the following:
            ``(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            ``(2) The National Park Service.
            ``(3) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
            ``(4) The Office of Insular Affairs.

``SEC. 204. NATIONAL CORAL REEF RESILIENCE STRATEGY.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
            ``(1) not later than 2 years after the date of the 
        enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, develop 
        a national coral reef resilience strategy; and
            ``(2) periodically thereafter, but not less frequently than 
        once every 15 years (and not less frequently than once every 5 
        years, in the case of guidance on best practices under 
        subsection (b)(4)), review and revise the strategy as 
        appropriate.
    ``(b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) A discussion addressing--
                    ``(A) continuing and emerging threats to the 
                resilience of United States coral reef ecosystems;
                    ``(B) remaining gaps in coral reef ecosystem 
                research, monitoring, and assessment;
                    ``(C) the status of management cooperation and 
                integration among Federal reef managers and covered 
                reef managers;
                    ``(D) the status of efforts to manage and 
                disseminate critical information, and enhance 
                interjurisdictional data sharing, related to research, 
                reports, datasets, and maps;
                    ``(E) areas of special focus, which may include--
                            ``(i) improving natural coral recruitment;
                            ``(ii) preventing avoidable losses of 
                        corals and their habitat;
                            ``(iii) enhancing the resilience of coral 
                        populations;
                            ``(iv) supporting a resilience-based 
                        management approach;
                            ``(v) developing, coordinating, and 
                        implementing watershed management plans;
                            ``(vi) building and sustaining watershed 
                        management capacity at the local level;
                            ``(vii) providing data essential for coral 
                        reef fisheries management;
                            ``(viii) building capacity for coral reef 
                        fisheries management;
                            ``(ix) increasing understanding of coral 
                        reef ecosystem services;
                            ``(x) educating the public on the 
                        importance of coral reefs, threats and 
                        solutions; and
                            ``(xi) evaluating intervention efficacy;
                    ``(F) the status of conservation efforts, including 
                the use of marine protected areas to serve as 
                replenishment zones developed consistent with local 
                practices and traditions and in cooperation with, and 
                with respect for the scientific, technical, and 
                management expertise and responsibilities of, covered 
                reef managers;
                    ``(G) science-based adaptive management and 
                restoration efforts; and
                    ``(H) management of coral reef emergencies and 
                disasters.
            ``(2) A statement of national goals and objectives designed 
        to guide--
                    ``(A) future Federal coral reef management and 
                restoration activities authorized under section 203;
                    ``(B) conservation and restoration priorities for 
                grants awarded under section 213 and cooperative 
                agreements under section 208; and
                    ``(C) research priorities for the reef research 
                coordination institutes designated under section 214.
            ``(3) A designation of priority areas for conservation, and 
        priority areas for restoration, to support the review and 
        approval of grants under section 213(e).
            ``(4) General templates for use by covered reef managers 
        and Federal reef managers to guide the development of coral 
        reef action plans under section 205, including guidance on the 
        best science-based practices to respond to coral reef 
        emergencies that can be included in coral reef action plans.
    ``(c) Consultations.--In developing all elements of the strategy 
required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
            ``(1) consult with the Secretary of the Interior, the Task 
        Force, covered States, and covered Native entities;
            ``(2) engage stakeholders, including covered States, coral 
        reef stewardship partnerships, reef research coordination 
        institutes and research centers designated under section 214, 
        and recipients of grants under section 213; and
            ``(3) solicit public review and comment regarding scoping 
        and the draft strategy.
    ``(d) Submission to Congress; Publication.--The Administrator 
shall--
            ``(1) submit the strategy required by subsection (a) and 
        any revisions to the strategy to the appropriate congressional 
        committees; and
            ``(2) publish the strategy and any such revisions on 
        publicly available internet websites of--
                    ``(A) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
                    ``(B) the Task Force.

``SEC. 205. CORAL REEF ACTION PLANS.

    ``(a) Plans Prepared by Federal Reef Managers.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        the enactment of the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, 
        each Federal reef manager shall--
                    ``(A) prepare a coral reef action plan to guide 
                management and restoration activities to be undertaken 
                within the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the 
                manager; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a reef under the jurisdiction 
                of a Federal reef manager for which there is a 
                management plan in effect as of such date of enactment, 
                update that plan to comply with the requirements of 
                this subsection.
            ``(2) Elements.--A plan prepared under paragraph (1) by a 
        Federal reef manager shall include a discussion of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Short- and mid-term coral reef conservation 
                and restoration objectives within the jurisdiction of 
                the manager.
                    ``(B) A current adaptive management framework to 
                inform research, monitoring, and assessment needs.
                    ``(C) Tools, strategies, and partnerships necessary 
                to identify, monitor, and address pollution and water 
                quality impacts to coral reef ecosystems within the 
                jurisdiction of the manager.
                    ``(D) The status of efforts to improve coral reef 
                ecosystem management cooperation and integration 
                between Federal reef managers and covered reef 
                managers, including the identification of existing 
                research and monitoring activities that can be 
                leveraged for coral reef status and trends assessments 
                within the jurisdiction of the manager.
                    ``(E) Estimated budgetary and resource 
                considerations necessary to carry out the plan.
                    ``(F) Contingencies for response to and recovery 
                from emergencies and disasters.
                    ``(G) In the case of an updated plan, annual 
                records of significant management and restoration 
                actions taken under the previous plan, cash and non-
                cash resources used to undertake the actions, and the 
                source of such resources.
                    ``(H) Documentation by the Federal reef manager 
                that the plan is consistent with the national coral 
                reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204.
                    ``(I) A data management plan to ensure data, 
                assessments, and accompanying information are 
                appropriately preserved, curated, publicly accessible, 
                and broadly reusable.
            ``(3) Submission to task force.--Each Federal reef manager 
        shall submit a plan prepared under paragraph (1) to the Task 
        Force.
            ``(4) Application of administrative procedure act.--Each 
        plan prepared under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the 
        requirements of subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of 
        title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the 
        `Administrative Procedure Act').
    ``(b) Plans Prepared by Covered Reef Managers.--
            ``(1) In general.--A covered reef manager may elect to 
        prepare, submit to the Task Force, and maintain a coral reef 
        action plan to guide management and restoration activities to 
        be undertaken within the responsibilities and jurisdiction of 
        the manager.
            ``(2) Effective period.--A plan prepared under this 
        subsection shall remain in effect for 5 years, or until an 
        updated plan is submitted to the Task Force, whichever occurs 
        first.
            ``(3) Elements.--A plan prepared under paragraph (1) by a 
        covered reef manager--
                    ``(A) shall contain a discussion of--
                            ``(i) short- and mid-term coral reef 
                        conservation and restoration objectives within 
                        the jurisdiction of the manager;
                            ``(ii) estimated budgetary and resource 
                        considerations necessary to carry out the plan;
                            ``(iii) in the case of an updated plan, 
                        annual records of significant management and 
                        restoration actions taken under the previous 
                        plan, cash and non-cash resources used to 
                        undertake the actions, and the source of such 
                        resources; and
                            ``(iv) contingencies for response to and 
                        recovery from emergencies and disasters; and
                    ``(B) may contain a discussion of--
                            ``(i) the status of efforts to improve 
                        coral reef ecosystem management cooperation and 
                        integration between Federal reef managers and 
                        covered reef managers, including the 
                        identification of existing research and 
                        monitoring activities that can be leveraged for 
                        coral reef status and trends assessments within 
                        the jurisdiction of the manager;
                            ``(ii) a current adaptive management 
                        framework to inform research, monitoring, and 
                        assessment needs;
                            ``(iii) tools, strategies, and partnerships 
                        necessary to identify, monitor, and address 
                        pollution and water quality impacts to coral 
                        reef ecosystems within the jurisdiction of the 
                        manager; and
                            ``(iv) a data management plan to ensure 
                        data, assessments, and accompanying information 
                        are appropriately preserved, curated, publicly 
                        accessible, and broadly reusable..
    ``(c) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator and the Task Force 
shall make all reasonable efforts to provide technical assistance upon 
request by a Federal reef manager or covered reef manager developing a 
coral reef action plan under this section.
    ``(d) Publication.--The Administrator shall publish each coral reef 
action plan prepared and submitted to the Task Force under this section 
on publicly available internet websites of--
            ``(1) the Coral Reef Conservation Program of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
            ``(2) the Task Force.

``SEC. 206. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) In General.--To further the community-based stewardship of 
coral reefs, coral reef stewardship partnerships for Federal and non-
Federal coral reefs may be established in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Standards and Procedures.--The Administrator shall develop 
and adopt--
            ``(1) standards for identifying individual coral reefs and 
        ecologically significant units of coral reefs; and
            ``(2) processes for adjudicating multiple applicants for 
        stewardship of the same coral reef or ecologically significant 
        unit of a reef to ensure no geographic overlap in 
        representation among stewardship partnerships authorized by 
        this section.
    ``(c) Membership for Federal Coral Reefs.--A coral reef stewardship 
partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship 
activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral 
reef that is fully or partially under the management jurisdiction of 
any Federal agency specified in section 203(c) shall, at a minimum, 
include the following:
            ``(1) That Federal agency, a representative of which shall 
        serve as chairperson of the coral reef stewardship partnership.
            ``(2) A State or county's resource management agency.
            ``(3) A coral reef research center designated under section 
        214(b).
            ``(4) A nongovernmental organization.
            ``(5) Such other members as the partnership considers 
        appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups and covered 
        Native entities.
    ``(d) Membership for Non-Federal Coral Reefs.--
            ``(1) In general.--A coral reef stewardship partnership 
        that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship 
        activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant component 
        of a coral reef that is not under the management jurisdiction 
        of any Federal agency specified in section 203(c) shall, at a 
        minimum, include the following:
                    ``(A) A State or county's resource management 
                agency or a covered Native entity, a representative of 
                which shall serve as the chairperson of the coral reef 
                stewardship partnership.
                    ``(B) A coral reef research center designated under 
                section 214(b).
                    ``(C) A nongovernmental organization.
                    ``(D) Such other members as the partnership 
                considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder 
                groups.
            ``(2) Additional members.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a 
                coral reef stewardship partnership described in 
                paragraph (1) may also include representatives of one 
                or more Federal agencies.
                    ``(B) Requests; approval.--A representative of a 
                Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) may become 
                a member of a coral reef stewardship partnership 
                described in paragraph (1) if--
                            ``(i) the representative submits a request 
                        to become a member to the chairperson of the 
                        partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the chairperson consents to the 
                        request.
    ``(e) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to coral 
reef stewardship partnerships under this section.

``SEC. 207. BLOCK GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall provide block grants of 
financial assistance to covered States to support management and 
restoration activities and further the implementation of coral reef 
action plans in effect under section 205 by covered States and non-
Federal coral reef stewardship partnerships in accordance with this 
section. The Administrator shall review each covered State's 
application for block grant funding to ensure that applications are 
consistent with applicable action plans and the national coral reef 
resilience strategy in effect under section 204.
    ``(b) Eligibility for Additional Amounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--A covered State shall qualify for and 
        receive additional grant amounts beyond the base award 
        specified in subsection (c)(1) if there is at least one coral 
        reef action plan in effect within the jurisdiction of the 
        covered State developed by that covered State or a non-Federal 
        coral reef stewardship partnership.
            ``(2) Waiver for certain fiscal years.--The Administrator 
        may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) during fiscal 
        years 2022 and 2023.
    ``(c) Funding Formula.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the amount of each block grant awarded to a covered 
State under this section shall be the sum of--
            ``(1) a base award of $100,000; and
            ``(2) if the State is eligible under subsection (b)--
                    ``(A) an amount that is equal to non-Federal 
                expenditures of up to $3,000,000 on coral reef 
                management and restoration activities within the 
                jurisdiction of the State, as reported within the 
                previous fiscal year; and
                    ``(B) an additional amount, from any funds 
                appropriated for block grants under this section that 
                remain after distribution under subparagraph (A) and 
                paragraph (1), based on the proportion of the State's 
                share of total non-Federal expenditures on coral reef 
                management and restoration activities, as reported 
                within the previous fiscal year, in excess of 
                $3,000,000, relative to other covered States.
    ``(d) Exclusions.--For the purposes of calculating block grant 
amounts under subsection (c), Federal funds provided to a covered State 
or non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnership shall not be 
considered as qualifying non-Federal expenditures, but non-Federal 
matching funds used to leverage Federal awards may be considered as 
qualifying non-Federal expenditures.
    ``(e) Responsibilities of the Administrator.--The Administrator is 
responsible for--
            ``(1) providing guidance on qualifying non-Federal 
        expenditures and the proper documentation of such expenditures;
            ``(2) issuing annual solicitations to covered States for 
        awards under this section; and
            ``(3) determining the appropriate allocation of additional 
        amounts among covered States in accordance with this section.
    ``(f) Responsibilities of Covered States.--Each covered State is 
responsible for documenting non-Federal expenditures within the 
jurisdiction of the State and formally reporting those expenditures for 
review in response to annual solicitations by the Administrator under 
subsection (e).
    ``(g) Unobligated Amounts.--Any amounts available for block grants 
under this section that are not obligated by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall be transferred to the Coral Reef 
Stewardship Fund established under section 209.

``SEC. 208. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall seek to enter into 
cooperative agreements with covered States to fund coral reef 
conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the 
jurisdiction of those covered States that are consistent with the 
national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204 and 
any applicable action plans under section 205.
    ``(b) All Islands Committee.--The Administrator may enter into a 
cooperative agreement with the All Islands Committee of the Task Force 
to provide support for its activities.
    ``(c) Funding.--Cooperative agreements under subsection (a) shall 
provide not less than $500,000 to each covered State and are not 
subject to any matching requirement.
    ``(d) Unobligated Amounts.--Any amounts available for cooperative 
agreements under this section that are not obligated by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be transferred to the 
Coral Reef Stewardship Fund established under section 209.

``SEC. 209. CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP FUND.

    ``(a) Agreement.--The Administrator shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this 
section referred to as the `Foundation'), authorizing the Foundation to 
receive, hold, and administer funds received under this section.
    ``(b) Fund.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Foundation shall establish an 
        account, which shall--
                    ``(A) be known as the `Coral Reef Stewardship Fund' 
                (in this section referred to as the `Fund'); and
                    ``(B) serve as the successor to the account known 
                before the date of the enactment of the Restoring 
                Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 as the Coral Reef 
                Conservation Fund and administered through a public-
                private partnership with the Foundation.
            ``(2) Deposits.--The Foundation shall deposit funds 
        received under this section into the Fund.
            ``(3) Purposes.--The Fund shall be available solely to 
        support coral reef stewardship activities that--
                    ``(A) further the purposes of this title; and
                    ``(B) are consistent with--
                            ``(i) the national coral reef resilience 
                        strategy in effect under section 204; and
                            ``(ii) coral reef action plans in effect, 
                        if any, under section 205 covering a coral reef 
                        or ecologically significant component of a 
                        coral reef to be impacted by such activities, 
                        if applicable.
            ``(4) Investment of amounts.--
                    ``(A) Investment of amounts.--The Foundation shall 
                invest such portion of the Fund as is not required to 
                meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing 
                obligations of the United States or in obligations 
                guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the 
                United States.
                    ``(B) Interest and proceeds.--The interest on, and 
                the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any 
                obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and 
                form a part of the Fund.
            ``(5) Review of performance.--The Administrator shall 
        conduct a continuing review of all deposits into, and 
        disbursements from, the Fund. Each review shall include a 
        written assessment concerning the extent to which the 
        Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of--
                    ``(A) this section; and
                    ``(B) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
                in effect under section 204.
    ``(c) Authorization to Solicit Donations.--
            ``(1) In general.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into 
        under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, receive, 
        solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, 
        notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 
        donations of services) to further the purposes of this title.
            ``(2) Deposits in fund.--Notwithstanding section 3302 of 
        title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a gift 
        shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.
    ``(d) Administration.--Under an agreement entered into pursuant to 
subsection (a), and subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Administrator shall transfer funds described in sections 207(g), 
208(d), 213(i), and 214(c) that are not obligated by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and may transfer funds 
appropriated to carry out this title, to the Foundation. Amounts 
received by the Foundation under this subsection may be used for 
matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in money, 
services, or property) made to the Foundation by private persons, State 
or local government agencies, or covered Native entities.

``SEC. 210. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from 
funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
under section 217, the Administrator may provide emergency assistance 
to any covered State or coral reef stewardship partnership to respond 
to immediate harm to coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems arising from 
any of the exigent circumstances described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Coral Reef Exigent Circumstances.--The Administrator shall 
develop a list of, and criteria for, circumstances that pose an exigent 
threat to coral reefs, including--
            ``(1) new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;
            ``(2) new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or nuisance 
        species;
            ``(3) new and ongoing coral bleaching events;
            ``(4) natural disasters;
            ``(5) industrial or mechanical incidents, such as vessel 
        groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction 
        accidents; and
            ``(6) other circumstances that pose an urgent threat to 
        coral reefs.
    ``(c) Annual Report on Exigent Circumstances.--On February 1 of 
each year, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives a report that--
            ``(1) describes locations with exigent circumstances 
        described in subsection (b) that were considered but declined 
        for emergency assistance, and the rationale for the decision; 
        and
            ``(2) with respect to each instance in which emergency 
        assistance under this section was provided--
                    ``(A) the location and a description of the exigent 
                circumstances that prompted the emergency assistance, 
                the entity that received the assistance, and the 
                current and expected outcomes from the assistance;
                    ``(B) a description of activities of the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that were 
                curtailed as a result of providing the emergency 
                assistance;
                    ``(C) in the case of an incident described in 
                subsection (b)(5), a statement of whether legal action 
                was commenced under subsection (c), and the rationale 
                for the decision; and
                    ``(D) an assessment of whether further action is 
                needed to restore the affected coral reef, 
                recommendations for such restoration, and a cost 
                estimate to implement such recommendations.

``SEC. 211. CORAL REEF DISASTER FUND.

    ``(a) Agreements.--The Administrator shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this 
section referred to as the `Foundation'), authorizing the Foundation to 
receive, hold, and administer funds received under this section.
    ``(b) Fund.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Foundation shall establish an 
        account, to be known as the `Coral Reef Disaster Fund' (in this 
        section referred to as the `Fund').
            ``(2) Deposits.--The Foundation shall deposit funds 
        received under this section into the Fund.
            ``(3) Purposes.--The Fund shall be available solely to 
        support the long-term recovery of coral reefs from exigent 
        circumstances described in section 210--
                    ``(A) in partnership with non-Federal stakeholders; 
                and
                    ``(B) in a manner that is consistent with--
                            ``(i) the national coral reef resilience 
                        strategy in effect under section 204; and
                            ``(ii) coral reef action plans in effect, 
                        if any, under section 205.
            ``(4) Investment of amounts.--
                    ``(A) Investment of amounts.--The Foundation shall 
                invest such portion of the Fund as is not required to 
                meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing 
                obligations of the United States or in obligations 
                guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the 
                United States.
                    ``(B) Interest and proceeds.--The interest on, and 
                the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any 
                obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and 
                form a part of the Fund.
            ``(5) Review of performance.--The Administrator shall 
        conduct continuing reviews of all deposits into, and 
        disbursements from, the Fund. Each such review shall include a 
        written assessment concerning the extent to which the 
        Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of this 
        section.
    ``(c) Authorization to Solicit Donations.--
            ``(1) In general.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into 
        under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, receive, 
        solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, 
        notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 
        donations of services) to further the purposes of this title.
            ``(2) Deposits in fund.--Notwithstanding section 3302 of 
        title 31, United States Code, any funds received as a gift 
        shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.
    ``(d) Administration.--Under an agreement entered into under 
subsection (a), and subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Administrator may transfer funds appropriated to carry out this title 
to the Foundation. Amounts received by the Foundation under this 
subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, contributions 
(whether in money, services, or property) made to the Foundation by 
private persons, State or local government agencies, or covered Native 
entities.

``SEC. 212. VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY.

    ``The Administrator, in coordination with the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard, the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, and the 
heads of other Federal and State agencies as appropriate, shall 
establish and maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents 
involving United States coral reefs, including a description of--
            ``(1) the location of each such incident;
            ``(2) vessel and ownership information relating to each 
        such incident, if available;
            ``(3) the impacts of each such incident to coral reefs, 
        coral reef ecosystems, and related natural resources;
            ``(4) the estimated cost of removal of the vessel, 
        remediation, or restoration arising from each such incident;
            ``(5) any response actions taken by the owner of the 
        vessel, the Administrator, the Commandant, or representatives 
        of other Federal or State agencies;
            ``(6) the status of such response actions, including--
                    ``(A) when the grounded vessel was removed, the 
                costs of removal, and the how the removal was 
                resourced;
                    ``(B) a narrative and timeline of remediation or 
                restoration activities undertaken by a Federal agency 
                or agencies;
                    ``(C) any emergency or disaster assistance provided 
                under section 210 or 211;
                    ``(D) any actions taken to prevent future grounding 
                incidents; and
            ``(7) recommendations for additional navigational aids or 
        other mechanisms for preventing future grounding incidents.

``SEC. 213. RUTH D. GATES CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Administrator shall establish a program (to be known as the `Ruth 
D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program') to provide grants for 
projects for the conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems 
(in this section referred to as `coral reef projects') pursuant to 
proposals approved by the Administrator in accordance with this 
section.
    ``(b) Matching Requirements for Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
        Federal funds for any coral reef project for which a grant is 
        provided under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent of the 
        total cost of the project.
            ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
        of a coral reef project may be provided by in-kind 
        contributions and other noncash support.
            ``(3) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive all or part of 
        the matching requirement under paragraph (1) if the 
        Administrator determines that no reasonable means are available 
        through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement 
        with respect to a coral reef project and the probable benefit 
        of the project outweighs the public interest in the matching 
        requirement.
    ``(c) Eligibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--An entity described in paragraph (2) may 
        submit to the Administrator a proposal for a coral reef 
        project.
            ``(2) Entities described.--An entity described in this 
        paragraph is--
                    ``(A) a covered reef manager or a covered Native 
                entity--
                            ``(i) with responsibility for coral reef 
                        management; or
                            ``(ii) the activities of which directly or 
                        indirectly affect coral reefs or coral reef 
                        ecosystems;
                    ``(B) a regional fishery management council 
                established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
                Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
                seq.);
                    ``(C) a coral reef stewardship partnership seeking 
                to implement a coral reef action plan in effect under 
                section 205;
                    ``(D) a coral reef research center designated under 
                section 214(b); or
                    ``(E) another nongovernmental organization or 
                research institution with demonstrated expertise in the 
                conservation or restoration of coral reefs in practice 
                or through significant contributions to the body of 
                existing scientific research on coral reefs.
    ``(d) Project Proposals.--Each proposal for a grant under this 
section for a coral reef project shall include the following:
            ``(1) The name of the individual or entity responsible for 
        conducting the project.
            ``(2) A description of the qualifications of the individual 
        or entity.
            ``(3) A succinct statement of the purposes of the project.
            ``(4) An estimate of the funds and time required to 
        complete the project.
            ``(5) Evidence of support for the project by appropriate 
        representatives of States or other government jurisdictions in 
        which the project will be conducted.
            ``(6) Information regarding the source and amount of 
        matching funding available to the applicant.
            ``(7) A description of how the project meets one or more of 
        the criteria under subsection (f)(2).
            ``(8) In the case of a proposal submitted by a coral reef 
        stewardship partnership, a description of how the project 
        aligns with the applicable coral reef action plan in effect 
        under section 205.
            ``(9) Any other information the Administrator considers to 
        be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for 
        a grant under this subsection.
    ``(e) Project Review and Approval.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall review each 
        coral reef project proposal submitted under this section to 
        determine if the project meets the criteria set forth in 
        subsection (f).
            ``(2) Prioritization of conservation projects.--The 
        Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of funding for 
        projects that meet the criteria for approval under 
        subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (f)(2) that are 
        proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for 
        coral reef conservation by the Administrator under the national 
        coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204.
            ``(3) Prioritization of restoration projects.--The 
        Administrator shall prioritize the awarding of funding for 
        projects that meet the criteria for approval under 
        subparagraphs (E) through (L) of subsection (f)(2) that are 
        proposed to be conducted within priority areas identified for 
        coral reef restoration by the Administrator under the national 
        coral reef resilience strategy in effect under section 204.
            ``(4) Review; approval or disapproval.--Not later than 180 
        days after receiving a proposal for a coral reef project under 
        this section, the Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) request and consider written comments on the 
                proposal from each Federal agency, State government, 
                covered Native entity, or other government 
                jurisdiction, including the relevant regional fishery 
                management councils established under the Magnuson-
                Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
                U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or any National Marine Sanctuary 
                or Marine National Monument, with jurisdiction or 
                management authority over coral reef ecosystems in the 
                area where the project is to be conducted, including 
                the extent to which the project is consistent with 
                locally established priorities, unless such entities 
                were directly involved in the development of the 
                project proposal;
                    ``(B) provide for the merit-based peer review of 
                the proposal and require standardized documentation of 
                that peer review;
                    ``(C) after considering any written comments and 
                recommendations based on the reviews under 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), approve or disapprove the 
                proposal; and
                    ``(D) provide written notification of that approval 
                or disapproval, with summaries of all written comments, 
                recommendations, and peer reviews, to the entity that 
                submitted the proposal, and each of those States, 
                covered Native entity, and other government 
                jurisdictions that provided comments under subparagraph 
                (A).
    ``(f) Criteria for Approval.--The Administrator may not approve a 
proposal for a coral reef project under this section unless the 
project--
            ``(1) is consistent with--
                    ``(A) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
                in effect under section 204; and
                    ``(B) any Federal or non-Federal coral reef action 
                plans in effect under section 205 covering a coral reef 
                or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef to be 
                affected by the project; and
            ``(2) will enhance the conservation and restoration of 
        coral reefs by--
                    ``(A) addressing conflicts arising from the use of 
                environments near coral reefs or from the use of 
                corals, species associated with coral reefs, and coral 
                products, including supporting consensus-driven, 
                community-based planning and management initiatives for 
                the protection of coral reef ecosystems;
                    ``(B) improving compliance with laws that prohibit 
                or regulate the taking of coral products or species 
                associated with coral reefs or regulate the use and 
                management of coral reef ecosystems;
                    ``(C) designing and implementing networks of real-
                time water quality monitoring along coral reefs, 
                including data collection related to turbidity, 
                nutrient availability, harmful algal blooms, and 
                plankton assemblages, with an emphasis on coral reefs 
                impacted by agriculture and urban development;
                    ``(D) promoting ecologically sound navigation and 
                anchorages, including mooring buoy systems to promote 
                enhanced recreational access, near coral reefs;
                    ``(E) furthering the goals and objectives of coral 
                reef action plans in effect under section 205;
                    ``(F) mapping the location and distribution of 
                coral reefs and potential coral reef habitat;
                    ``(G) stimulating innovation to advance the ability 
                of the United States to understand, research, or 
                monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management 
                or adaptation options to conserve and restore coral 
                reef ecosystems;
                    ``(H) implementing research to ensure the 
                population viability of listed coral species in United 
                States waters as detailed in the population-based 
                recovery criteria included in species-specific recovery 
                plans consistent with the Endangered Species Act of 
                1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
                    ``(I) developing and implementing cost-effective 
                methods to restore degraded coral reef ecosystems or to 
                create geographically appropriate coral reef ecosystems 
                in suitable waters, including by improving habitat or 
                promoting success of keystone species, with an emphasis 
                on novel restoration strategies and techniques to 
                advance coral reef recovery and growth near population 
                centers threatened by rising sea levels and storm 
                surge;
                    ``(J) translating and applying coral genetics 
                research to coral reef ecosystem restoration, including 
                research related to traits that promote resilience to 
                increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, 
                coral bleaching, coral diseases, and invasive species;
                    ``(K) developing and maintaining in situ native 
                coral propagation sites; or
                    ``(L) developing and maintaining ex situ coral 
                propagation nurseries and land-based coral gene banks 
                to--
                            ``(i) conserve or augment genetic diversity 
                        of native coral populations;
                            ``(ii) support captive breeding of rare 
                        coral species; or
                            ``(iii) enhance resilience of native coral 
                        populations to increasing ocean temperatures, 
                        ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and coral 
                        diseases through selective breeding, 
                        conditioning, or other approaches that target 
                        genes, gene expression, phenotypic traits, or 
                        phenotypic plasticity.
    ``(g) Funding Requirements.--To the extent practicable based upon 
proposals for coral reef projects submitted to the Administrator, the 
Administrator shall ensure that funding for grants awarded under this 
section during a fiscal year is distributed as follows:
            ``(1) Not less than 40 percent of funds available shall be 
        awarded for projects in the Pacific Ocean within the maritime 
        areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the 
        United States.
            ``(2) Not less than 40 percent of the funds available shall 
        be awarded for projects in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of 
        Mexico, or the Caribbean Sea within the maritime areas and 
        zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United 
        States.
            ``(3) Not more than 67 percent of funds distributed in each 
        region in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made 
        exclusively available to projects that are--
                    ``(A) submitted by a coral reef stewardship 
                partnership; and
                    ``(B) consistent with the coral reef action plan in 
                effect under section 205 by such a partnership.
            ``(4) Of the funds distributed to support projects in 
        accordance with paragraph (3), not less than 20 percent and not 
        more than 33 percent shall be awarded for projects submitted by 
        a Federal coral reef stewardship partnership.
    ``(h) Task Force.--The Administrator may consult with the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Task Force to obtain guidance in establishing 
priorities and evaluating proposals for coral reef projects under this 
section.
    ``(i) Unobligated Amounts.--Any amounts available for grants under 
this section that are not obligated by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall be transferred to the Coral Reef 
Stewardship Fund established under section 209.

``SEC. 214. NON-FEDERAL CORAL REEF RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Reef Research Coordination Institutes.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator shall designate 2 
        reef research coordination institutes for the purpose of 
        advancing and sustaining essential capabilities in coral reef 
        research, one each in the Atlantic and Pacific basins, to be 
        known as the `Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute' 
        and the `Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute', 
        respectively.
            ``(2) Membership.--Each institute designated under 
        paragraph (1) shall be housed within a single coral reef 
        research center designated by the Administrator under 
        subsection (b) and may enter into contracts with other coral 
        reef research centers designated under subsection (b) within 
        the same basin to support the institute's capacity and reach.
            ``(3) Functions.--The institutes designated under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    ``(A) conduct federally directed research to fill 
                national and regional coral reef ecosystem research 
                gaps and improve understanding of, and responses to, 
                continuing and emerging threats to the resilience of 
                United States coral reef ecosystems consistent with the 
                national coral reef resilience strategy in effect under 
                section 204;
                    ``(B) support ecological research and monitoring to 
                study the effects of conservation and restoration 
                activities funded by this title on promoting more 
                effective coral reef management and restoration; and
                    ``(C) through agreements--
                            ``(i) collaborate directly with 
                        governmental resource management agencies, 
                        coral reef stewardship partnerships, nonprofit 
                        organizations, and other coral reef research 
                        centers designated under subsection (b);
                            ``(ii) assist in the development and 
                        implementation of--
                                    ``(I) the national coral reef 
                                resilience strategy under section 204; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) coral reef action plans 
                                under section 205;
                            ``(iii) build capacity within non-Federal 
                        governmental resource management agencies to 
                        establish research priorities and translate and 
                        apply research findings to management and 
                        restoration practices; and
                            ``(iv) conduct public education and 
                        awareness programs for policymakers, resource 
                        managers, and the general public on--
                                    ``(I) coral reefs and coral reef 
                                ecosystems;
                                    ``(II) best practices for coral 
                                reef ecosystem management and 
                                restoration;
                                    ``(III) the value of coral reefs; 
                                and
                                    ``(IV) the threats to the 
                                sustainability of coral reef 
                                ecosystems.
    ``(b) Coral Reef Research Centers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) periodically solicit applications for 
                designation of qualifying institutions in covered 
                States as coral reef research centers; and
                    ``(B) designate all qualifying institutions in 
                covered States as coral reef research centers.
            ``(2) Qualifying institutions.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), an institution is a qualifying institution if the 
        Administrator determines that the institution--
                    ``(A) is operated by an institution of higher 
                education or nonprofit marine research organization;
                    ``(B) has established management-driven national or 
                regional coral reef research or restoration programs;
                    ``(C) has demonstrated abilities to coordinate 
                closely with appropriate Federal and State agencies, as 
                well as other academic and nonprofit organizations; and
                    ``(D) maintains significant local community 
                engagement and outreach programs related to coral reef 
                ecosystems.
    ``(c) Unobligated Amounts.--Any amounts available for reef research 
coordination institutes under this section that are not obligated by 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be 
transferred to the Coral Reef Stewardship Fund established under 
section 209.

``SEC. 215. REPORTS ON ADMINISTRATION.

    ``Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the 
Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021, and every 2 years thereafter, 
the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on 
the administration of this title during the 2-year period preceding 
submission of the report, including--
            ``(1) a description of all activities undertaken to 
        implement the most recent national coral reef resilience 
        strategy under section 204;
            ``(2) a statement of all funds obligated under the 
        authorities of this title; and
            ``(3) a summary, disaggregated by State, of Federal and 
        non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each project or 
        activity funded, in full or in part, under the authorities of 
        this title.

``SEC. 216. CORAL REEF PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The head of any Federal agency with a 
representative serving on the United States Coral Reef Task Force 
established by Executive Order 13089 (16 U.S.C. 6401 note; relating to 
coral reef protection), may, individually or in cooperation with one or 
more agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competitively under 
section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3719).
    ``(b) Purposes.--Any program carried out under this section shall 
be for the purpose of stimulating innovation to advance the ability of 
the United States to understand, research, or monitor coral reef 
ecosystems, or to develop management or adaptation options to preserve, 
sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems.
    ``(c) Priority Programs.--Priority shall be given to establishing 
programs under this section that address communities, environments, or 
industries that are in distress as a result of the decline or 
degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including--
            ``(1) scientific research and monitoring that furthers the 
        understanding of causes behind coral reef decline and 
        degradation and the generally slow recovery following 
        disturbances, including ocean acidification, temperature-
        related bleaching, disease, and their associated impacts on 
        coral physiology;
            ``(2) the development of monitoring or management options 
        for communities or industries that are experiencing significant 
        financial hardship;
            ``(3) the development of adaptation options to alleviate 
        economic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral reef 
        ecosystems;
            ``(4) the development of measures to help vulnerable 
        communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural 
        communities and businesses; and
            ``(5) the development of adaptation and management options 
        for impacted tourism industries.'';
            (3) in section 217, as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subsection (c), by striking ``section 204'' 
                and inserting ``section 213'';
                    (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``under section 
                207'' and inserting ``authorized under this title''; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Block Grants.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to 
carry out section 207.
    ``(f) Cooperative Agreements.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 to carry out section 208.
    ``(g) Non-Federal Coral Reef Research.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $4,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2022 through 2026 for agreements with the reef research coordination 
institutes designated under section 214.''; and
            (4) by amending section 218, as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1), to read as follows:

``SEC. 218. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            ``(2) Alaska native corporation.--The term `Alaska Native 
        Corporation' has the meaning given the term `Native 
        Corporation' in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims 
        Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
            ``(3) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
            ``(4) Conservation.--The term `conservation' means the use 
        of methods and procedures necessary to preserve or sustain 
        native corals and associated species as diverse, viable, and 
        self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems with minimal impacts 
        from invasive species, including--
                    ``(A) all activities associated with resource 
                management, such as monitoring, assessment, protection, 
                restoration, sustainable use, management of habitat, 
                and maintenance or augmentation of genetic diversity;
                    ``(B) mapping;
                    ``(C) scientific expertise and technical assistance 
                in the development and implementation of management 
                strategies for marine protected areas and marine 
                resources consistent with the National Marine 
                Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and the 
                Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
                Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.);
                    ``(D) law enforcement;
                    ``(E) conflict resolution initiatives;
                    ``(F) community outreach and education; and
                    ``(G) promotion of safe and ecologically sound 
                navigation and anchoring.
            ``(5) Coral.--The term `coral' means species of the phylum 
        Cnidaria, including--
                    ``(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia (black 
                corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Alcyonacea (soft 
                corals, organ pipe corals, gorgonians), and 
                Helioporacea (blue coral), of the class Anthozoa; and
                    ``(B) all species of the order Anthoathecata (fire 
                corals and other hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
            ``(6) Coral products.--The term `coral products' means any 
        living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product 
        containing specimens, parts, or derivatives, of any species 
        referred to in paragraph (5).
            ``(7) Coral reef.--The term `coral reef' means calcium 
        carbonate structures in the form of a reef or shoal, composed 
        in whole or in part by living coral, skeletal remains of coral, 
        crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine 
        plants and animals.
            ``(8) Coral reef ecosystem.--The term `coral reef 
        ecosystem' means--
                    ``(A) corals and other geographically and 
                ecologically associated marine communities of other 
                reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) 
                associated with coral reef habitat; and
                    ``(B) the biotic and abiotic factors and processes 
                that control or affect coral calcification rates, 
                tissue growth, reproduction, recruitment, abundance, 
                coral-algal symbiosis, and biodiversity in such 
                habitat.
            ``(9) Covered native entity.--The term `covered Native 
        entity' means a Native entity of a covered State with interests 
        in a coral reef ecosystem.
            ``(10) Covered reef manager.--The term `covered reef 
        manager' means--
                    ``(A) a management unit of a covered State with 
                jurisdiction over a coral reef ecosystem;
                    ``(B) a covered State; or
                    ``(C) a coral reef stewardship partnership under 
                section 206(d).
            ``(11) Covered state.--The term `covered State' means 
        Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto 
        Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
            ``(12) Federal reef manager.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `Federal reef manager' 
                means--
                            ``(i) a management unit of a Federal agency 
                        specified in subparagraph (B) with lead 
                        management jurisdiction over a coral reef 
                        ecosystem; or
                            ``(ii) a coral reef stewardship partnership 
                        under section 206(c).
                    ``(B) Federal agencies specified.--A Federal agency 
                specified in this subparagraph is one of the following:
                            ``(i) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration.
                            ``(ii) The National Park Service.
                            ``(iii) The United States Fish and Wildlife 
                        Service.
                            ``(iv) The Office of Insular Affairs.
            ``(13) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            ``(14) Interested stakeholder groups.--The term `interested 
        stakeholder groups' includes community members such as 
        businesses, commercial and recreational fishermen, other 
        recreationalists, covered Native entities, Federal, State, and 
        local government units with related jurisdiction, institutions 
        of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations.
            ``(15) Native entity.--The term `Native entity' means any 
        of the following:
                    ``(A) An Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of 
                the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
                Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
                    ``(B) An Alaska Native Corporation.
                    ``(C) The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
                    ``(D) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
                    ``(E) A Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in 
                section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
            ``(16) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit 
        organization' means any corporation, trust, association, 
        cooperative, or other organization, not including an 
        institutions of higher education, that--
                    ``(A) is operated primarily for scientific, 
                educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes 
                in the public interest;
                    ``(B) is not organized primarily for profit; and
                    ``(C) uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or 
                expand the operations of the organization.
            ``(17) Restoration.--The term `restoration' means the use 
        of methods and procedures necessary to enhance, rehabilitate, 
        recreate, or create a functioning coral reef or coral reef 
        ecosystem, in whole or in part, within suitable waters of the 
        historical geographic range of such ecosystems, to provide 
        ecological, economic, cultural, or coastal resiliency services 
        associated with healthy coral reefs and benefit native 
        populations of coral reef organisms.
            ``(18) Resilience.--The term `resilience' means the 
        capacity for corals within their native range, coral reefs, or 
        coral reef ecosystems to resist and recover from natural and 
        human disturbances, and maintain structure and function to 
        provide ecosystem services, as determined by clearly 
        identifiable, measurable, and science-based standards.
            ``(19) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            ``(20) State.--The term `State' means--
                    ``(A) any State of the United States that contains 
                a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries;
                    ``(B) American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
                Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the 
                United States Virgin Islands; or
                    ``(C) any other territory or possession of the 
                United States or separate sovereign in free association 
                with the United States that contains a coral reef 
                ecosystem within its seaward boundaries.
            ``(21) Stewardship.--The term `stewardship', with respect 
        to a coral reef, includes conservation, restoration, and public 
        outreach and education.
            ``(22) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means the United 
        States Coral Reef Task Force established under section 201 of 
        the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment to National Oceans and Coastal Security 
Act.--Section 905(a) of the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act 
(16 U.S.C. 7504(a)) is amended by striking ``and coastal 
infrastructure'' and inserting ``, coastal infrastructure, and 
ecosystem services provided by natural systems such as coral reefs''.

             TITLE II--UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a task force to lead, coordinate, and 
strengthen Federal Government actions to better preserve, conserve, and 
restore coral reef ecosystems, to be known as the ``United States Coral 
Reef Task Force'' (in this title referred to as the ``Task Force'').

SEC. 202. DUTIES.

    The duties of the Task Force shall be--
            (1) to coordinate, in cooperation with covered States, 
        covered Native entities, Federal reef managers, covered reef 
        managers, coral reef research centers designated under section 
        214(b) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (as amended 
        by section 101), and other nongovernmental and academic 
        partners as appropriate, activities regarding the mapping, 
        monitoring, research, conservation, mitigation, and restoration 
        of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;
            (2) to monitor and advise regarding implementation of the 
        policy and Federal agency responsibilities set forth in--
                    (A) Executive Order 13089 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701; 
                relating to coral reef protection); and
                    (B) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
                developed under section 204 of the Coral Reef 
                Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101;
            (3) to work with the Secretary of State and the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development, and in coordination with the other members of the 
        Task Force--
                    (A) to assess the United States role in 
                international trade and protection of coral species;
                    (B) to encourage implementation of appropriate 
                strategies and actions to promote conservation and 
                sustainable use of coral reef resources worldwide; and
                    (C) to collaborate with international communities 
                successful in managing coral reefs;
            (4) to provide technical assistance for the development and 
        implementation, as appropriate, of--
                    (A) the national coral reef resilience strategy 
                under section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
                2000, as amended by section 101; and
                    (B) coral reef action plans under section 205 of 
                that Act; and
            (5) to produce a report each year, for submission to the 
        appropriate congressional committees and publication on a 
        publicly available internet website of the Task Force, 
        highlighting the status of the coral reef equities of a covered 
        State on a rotating basis, including--
                    (A) a summary of recent coral reef management and 
                restoration activities undertaken in that State; and
                    (B) updated estimates of the direct and indirect 
                economic activity supported by, and other benefits 
                associated with, those coral reef equities.

SEC. 203. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Voting Membership.--The Task Force shall have the following 
voting members:
            (1) The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, and the Secretary of the Interior, who shall be 
        co-chairpersons of the Task Force.
            (2) The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development.
            (3) The Secretary of Agriculture.
            (4) The Secretary of Defense.
            (5) The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant 
        Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
            (6) The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
            (7) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.
            (8) The Attorney General.
            (9) The Secretary of State.
            (10) The Secretary of Transportation.
            (11) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency.
            (12) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration.
            (13) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
            (14) The Governor, or a representative of the Governor, of 
        each covered State.
    (b) Nonvoting Members.--The Task Force shall have the following 
nonvoting members:
            (1) A member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
        Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under 
        section 302(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
        and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(b)(1)).
            (2) A member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
        Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under such 
        section.
            (3) A member of the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
        Council who is designated under such section and selected as 
        follows:
                    (A) For the period beginning on the date of the 
                enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 of the 
                calendar year during which such date of enactment 
                occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the 
                governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
                    (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the 
                governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall, on 
                a rotating basis, take turns selecting the member.
            (4) A member of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council 
        who is designated under such section and selected as follows:
                    (A) For the period beginning on the date of the 
                enactment of this Act and ending on December 31 of the 
                calendar year during which such date of enactment 
                occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the 
                governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
                Islands.
                    (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the 
                governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
                Islands shall, on an alternating basis, take turns 
                selecting the member.
            (5) A member appointed by the President of the Federated 
        States of Micronesia.
            (6) A member appointed by the President of the Republic of 
        the Marshall Islands.
            (7) A member appointed by the President of the Republic of 
        Palau.

SEC. 204. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCY MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--A member of the Task Force specified in paragraphs 
(1) through (14) of section 203(a) shall--
            (1) identify the actions of the agency that member 
        represents that may affect coral reef ecosystems;
            (2) utilize the programs and authorities of that agency to 
        protect and enhance the conditions of such ecosystems, 
        including through the promotion of basic and applied scientific 
        research;
            (3) collaborate with the Task Force to appropriately 
        reflect budgetary needs for coral reef conservation and 
        restoration activities in all agency budget planning and 
        justification documents and processes; and
            (4) engage in any other coordinated efforts approved by the 
        Task Force.
    (b) Co-chairpersons.--In addition to their responsibilities under 
subsection (a), the co-chairpersons of the Task Force shall administer 
performance of the functions of the Task Force and facilitate the 
coordination of the members of the Task Force specified in paragraphs 
(1) through (14) of section 203(a).

SEC. 205. WORKING GROUPS.

    (a) In General.--The co-chairpersons of the Task Force may 
establish working groups as necessary to meet the goals and carry out 
the duties of the Task Force.
    (b) Requests From Members.--The members of the Task Force may 
request that the co-chairpersons establish a working group under 
subsection (a).
    (c) Participation by Nongovernmental Organizations.--The co-
chairpersons may allow nongovernmental organizations as appropriate, 
including academic institutions, conservation groups, and commercial 
and recreational fishing associations, to participate in a working 
group established under subsection (a).
    (d) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
working groups established under this section.

SEC. 206. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Conservation, coral, coral reef, etc.--The terms 
        ``conservation'', ``coral'', ``coral reef'', ``coral reef 
        ecosystem'', ``covered Native entity'', ``covered reef 
        manager'', ``covered State'', ``Federal reef manager'', 
        ``Native entity'', ``restoration'', ``resilience'', and 
        ``State'' have the meanings given those terms in section 218 of 
        the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 
        101.

      TITLE III--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF AUTHORITIES

SEC. 301. CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior may provide 
scientific expertise and technical assistance, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations, financial assistance for the 
conservation and restoration of coral reefs consistent with all 
applicable laws governing resource management in Federal, State, and 
Tribal waters, including--
            (1) the national coral reef resilience strategy in effect 
        under section 204 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
        as amended by section 101; and
            (2) coral reef action plans in effect under section 205 of 
        that Act, as applicable.
    (b) Coral Reef Initiative.--The Secretary may establish a Coral 
Reef Initiative Program--
            (1) to provide grant funding to support local management, 
        conservation, and protection of coral reef ecosystems in--
                    (A) coastal areas of covered States; and
                    (B) Freely Associated States;
            (2) to enhance resource availability of National Park 
        Service and National Wildlife Refuge System management units to 
        implement coral reef conservation and restoration activities;
            (3) to complement the other conservation and assistance 
        activities conducted under this Act or the Coral Reef 
        Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101; and
            (4) to provide other technical, scientific, and financial 
        assistance and conduct conservation and restoration activities 
        that advance the purposes of this Act and the Coral Reef 
        Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.
    (c) Consultation With the Department of Commerce.--
            (1) Coral reef conservation and restoration activities.--
        The Secretary of the Interior may consult with the Secretary of 
        Commerce regarding the conduct of any activities to conserve 
        and restore coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems in waters 
        managed under the jurisdiction of the Federal agencies 
        specified in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 203(c) of the 
        Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.
            (2) Award of coral reef management fellowship.--The 
        Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the Secretary of 
        Commerce to award the Susan L. Williams Coral Reef Management 
        Fellowship under title IV.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into 
cooperative agreements with covered reef managers to fund coral reef 
conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the 
jurisdiction of such managers that--
            (1) are consistent with the national coral reef resilience 
        strategy in effect under section 204 of the Coral Reef 
        Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101; and
            (2) support and enhance the success of coral reef action 
        plans in effect under section 205 of that Act.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Conservation, coral, coral reef, etc.--The terms 
        ``conservation'', ``coral reef'', ``covered reef manager'', 
        ``covered State'', ``restoration'', and ``State'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 218 of the Coral Reef 
        Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by section 101.
            (2) Tribe; tribal.--The terms ``Tribe'' and ``Tribal'' 
        refer to Indian Tribes (as defined in section 102 of the 
        Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 
        5130)).

 TITLE IV--SUSAN L. WILLIAMS NATIONAL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Susan L. Williams National Coral 
Reef Management Fellowship Act of 2021''.

SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Alaska native corporation.--The term ``Alaska Native 
        Corporation'' has the meaning given the term ``Native 
        Corporation'' in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims 
        Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
            (2) Fellow.--The term ``fellow'' means a National Coral 
        Reef Management Fellow.
            (3) Fellowship.--The term ``fellowship'' means the National 
        Coral Reef Management Fellowship established in section 403.
            (4) Covered native entity.--The term ``covered Native 
        entity'' means a Native entity of a covered State with 
        interests in a coral reef ecosystem.
            (5) Covered state.--The term ``covered State'' means 
        Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto 
        Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
            (6) Native entity.--The term ``Native entity'' means any of 
        the following:
                    (A) An Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
                    (B) An Alaska Native Corporation.
                    (C) The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
                    (D) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
                    (E) A Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in 
                section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.

SEC. 403. ESTABLISHMENT OF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--There is established a National Coral Reef 
Management Fellowship Program.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the fellowship are--
            (1) to encourage future leaders of the United States to 
        develop additional coral reef management capacity in States and 
        local communities with coral reefs;
            (2) to provide management agencies of covered States or 
        covered Native entities with highly qualified candidates whose 
        education and work experience meet the specific needs of each 
        covered State or covered Native entity; and
            (3) to provide fellows with professional experience in 
        management of coastal and coral reef resources.

SEC. 404. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in partnership with the Secretary 
of the Interior, shall award the fellowship in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Term of Fellowship.--A fellowship awarded under this section 
shall be for a term of not more than 24 months.
    (c) Qualifications.--The Secretary shall award the fellowship to 
individuals who have demonstrated--
            (1) an intent to pursue a career in marine services and 
        outstanding potential for such a career;
            (2) leadership potential, actual leadership experience, or 
        both;
            (3) a college or graduate degree in biological science, a 
        resource management college or graduate degree with experience 
        that correlates with aptitude and interest for marine 
        management, or both;
            (4) proficient writing and speaking skills; and
            (5) such other attributes as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 405. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the non-
Federal share of the costs of a fellowship under this section shall be 
25 percent of such costs.
    (b) Waiver of Requirements.--The Secretary may waive the 
application of subsection (a) if the Secretary finds that such waiver 
is necessary to support a project that the Secretary has identified as 
a high priority.
                                                       Calendar No. 223

117th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 46

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