Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.660 | Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. (D-VI)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a grant program for states, tribal and local governments, and other entities to implement projects that restore a marine, estuarine, coastal, or Great Lakes habitat, or that provide adaptation to climate change.
NOAA must prioritize projects that (1) stimulate the economy; (2) begin within 90 days after an entity is awarded a grant; (3) employ fishermen who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic or pay fishermen for the use of a fishing vessel; (4) demonstrate any required studies or permits have been completed or can be completed shortly after an award is made; or (5) include communities that may not have adequate resources, including communities of color, and low-income, tribal, indigenous, and rural communities.

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to 
 benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and the economy, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants for 
Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SHOVEL-READY RESTORATION AND RESILIENCY GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
to provide funding and technical assistance to eligible entities for 
purposes of carrying out a project described in subsection (d).
    (b) Project Proposal.--To be considered for a grant under this 
section, an eligible entity shall submit a grant proposal to the 
Secretary in a time, place, and manner determined by the Secretary. 
Such proposal shall include monitoring, data collection, and measurable 
performance criteria with respect to the project.
    (c) Development of Criteria.--The Secretary shall select eligible 
entities to receive grants under this section based on criteria 
developed by the Secretary, in consultation with relevant offices of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as the Office 
of Habitat Conservation and the Office for Coastal Management.
    (d) Eligible Projects.--A project is described in this subsection 
if--
            (1) the purpose of the project is to restore a marine, 
        estuarine, coastal, or Great Lake habitat, including--
                    (A) restoration of habitat to protect or recover a 
                species that is threatened, endangered, or a species of 
                concern under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
                U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
                    (B) through the removal or remediation of marine 
                debris, including derelict vessels and fishing gear, in 
                coastal and marine habitats; and
                    (C) for the benefit of--
                            (i) shellfish;
                            (ii) fish, including diadromous fish; or
                            (iii) coral reef; or
            (2) the project provides adaptation to climate change, 
        including--
                    (A) by constructing or protecting ecological 
                features or nature-based infrastructure that protects 
                coastal communities from sea level rise, coastal 
                storms, or flooding; and
                    (B) blue carbon projects.
    (e) Priority.--In determining which projects to fund under this 
section, the Secretary shall give priority to a proposed project--
            (1) that would stimulate the economy;
            (2) for which the applicant can demonstrate that the grant 
        will fund work that will begin not more than 90 days after the 
        date of the award;
            (3) for which the applicant can demonstrate that the grant 
        will fund work that will employ fishermen who have been 
        negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or pay a fisherman 
        for the use of a fishing vessel;
            (4) for which the applicant can demonstrate that any 
        preliminary study or permit required before the project can 
        begin has been completed or can be completed shortly after an 
        award is made; or
            (5) that includes communities that may not have adequate 
        resources, including low-income communities, communities of 
        color, Tribal communities, Indigenous communities, and rural 
        communities.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $3,000,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2021, to remain available until expended, to carry out this 
section.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        nonprofit, a for-profit business, an institution of higher 
        education (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), or a State, 
        local, Tribal, or Territorial government.
            (2) Fisherman.--The term ``fisherman'' means a commercial 
        or for-hire fisherman or an oyster farmer.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
                                 <all>