Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1205
Sponsor: Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-02-27 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Authorization
Coastal zone
Congressional reporting requirements
Coral reefs
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental monitoring
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fishing boats
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fund raising
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Guam
Hawaii
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine ecology
Marine pollution
Marine resources conservation
Marine safety
Navigational aids
Nongovernmental organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Oceanography
Salvage
Science, Technology, Communications
Ships
Social Welfare
Transportation and Public Works
Water pollution control

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: 
Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds, in addition to projects addressing emerging priorities or threats, to other appropriate projects, including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support. 
 
Authorizes the Administrator to undertake or authorize actions to prevent or minimize injury to coral reefs or coral ecosystems from vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, vessel anchors and anchor chains, or unforeseen or disaster-related circumstances. 
 
Includes activities designed to minimize the likelihood of physical reef damage in the activities that may be taken under an existing program to conserve coral reefs and reef ecosystems.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) make community-based planning grants to certain entities that have received a coral reef conservation grant to work with local communities and federal and state entities to implement plans for increased protection of high priority coral reefs; (2) maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs; (3) identify coral reefs outside National Marine Sanctuaries with many vessel impacts; (4) identify measures to reduce impacts; and (5) make multiyear cooperative agreements to carry out the national coral reef action strategy.
 
Establishes the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal actions to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems.
 
Authorizes appropriations to provide funds to administer a marine science facility at the American Samoa Community College and to the University of Guam for coral reef research and protection.
 
Reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and authorizes appropriations through FY2010 for: (1) the coral reef conservation program; and (2) community-based planning grants.

action_date: 2007-10-22
text: 
Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds, in addition to projects addressing emerging priorities or threats, to other appropriate projects, including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support. Revises the criteria for project approval.
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to undertake or authorize actions to minimize injury to a coral reef from vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, vessel anchors and anchor chains, and unforeseen or disaster-related circumstances and to stabilize, repair, or restore the reef, including vessel removal and emergency restabilization of the vessel or reef. Authorizes any other federal agency to assist, using the other agency's funds. Allows the Administrator to reimburse the other agency.
 
Deems specified terms (such as &quot;sanctuary resources&quot; and &quot;national marine sanctuary&quot;), for purposes of specified provisions of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, to include any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or (subject to state consent) any state, without regard to whether the reef is located in a national marine sanctuary.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to modify the Act's purposes and to modify the goals and objectives of the national coral reef action strategy.
 
Includes cooperative research and activities designed to minimize the likelihood of physical reef damage in the activities that may be taken under an existing program to conserve coral reefs and reef ecosystems.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires reports to specified congressional committees on all activities to implement the national coral reef action strategy.
 
(Sec. 6) Allows the Coral Reef Conservation Fund to be used to address emergency response actions.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) make community-based planning grants to certain entities that are eligible to receive a coral reef conservation grant to work with local communities and federal and state entities to implement plans for increased protection of high priority coral reefs; (2) maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs; and (3) identify all coral reefs with a high incidence of vessel impacts and identify measures to reduce such impacts.
 
Establishes the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal actions to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with agencies and organizations to carry out the activities of the national coral reef action strategy and to implement regional strategies.
 
(Sec. 7) Amends the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to including coral reef ecosystems in the definition of &quot;wildlife&quot; and &quot;wildlife resources.&quot;
 
Requires, regarding authorities under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, that references to &quot;wildlife&quot; and &quot;fish and wildlife&quot; be construed to include coral reef ecosystems.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical assistance and, subject to appropriations, financial assistance to coastal states (as that term is defined in the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000).
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to revise various definitions.
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations, through FY2012, for the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, including for community-based planning grants.
 
(Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct activities to improve and promote the resilience of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems.
 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations: (1) for a research facility for coral reef research and protection, and coastal ecology and development, at the American Samoa Community College; and (2) to provide funds to the University of Guam for coral reef research and protection.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to enter into, renegotiate, or extend a cooperative agreement with any university or local academic institution or other research center with established programs that support coral reef conservation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H11795-11798)
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H11795-11798)
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1205.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11795-11800)
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 248.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Committee on Science and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Committee on Science and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-394, Part I.
action_date: 2007-10-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-394, Part I.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-22
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-03-22
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-03-06
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2007-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-27
text: Introduced in House