Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-46
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accidents
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
American Samoa
Animal and plant health
Aquatic ecology
Caribbean area
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Employment and training programs
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental education
Genetics
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Guam
Hunting and fishing
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Northern Mariana Islands
Performance measurement
Pest management
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Puerto Rico
Research administration and funding
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Travel and tourism
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-26
text: 

Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses the conservation and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.
 
Among other things, the bill
 
 
reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Coral Reef Conservation Program;
 
directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide block grants to states to support state coral reef management and restoration;
 
requires NOAA to establish standards for the formation of partnerships among government and community members for the stewardship of coral reefs;
 
provides statutory authority for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to lead, coordinate, and strengthen federal government actions to preserve, conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems; 
 
requires the Department of the Interior to provide grants upon the declaration of a coral reef emergency to implement emergency plans;
 
authorizes Interior to provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, and financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs; and
 
establishes a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program.
 

action_date: 2021-12-17
text: 

Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses the conservation and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.
 
Among other things, the bill
 
 
reauthorizes through FY2026 and revises various activities under the Coral Reef Conservation Program;
 
requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish standards for identifying individual coral reefs and ecologically significant units of coral reefs;
 
directs NOAA to provide block grants to states to support state coral reef management and restoration;
 
directs NOAA to designate two reef research coordination institutes to advance and sustain essential capabilities in coral reef research;
 
provides statutory authority for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to lead, coordinate, and strengthen federal government actions to preserve, conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems; 
 
authorizes the Department of the Interior to provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, and financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs; and
 
establishes a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 223.
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate