H.R. 347

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 347 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 347

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Sea Turtle Rescue 
Assistance Grant Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2025

Mr. Keating introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Sea Turtle Rescue 
Assistance Grant Program.

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 ``Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and 
Rehabilitation Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. SEA TURTLE RESCUE, REHABILITATION, AND RESPONSE.

Section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
1421f-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations specific to address sea turtle rescue, 
rehabilitation, and response, the Secretary of Commerce 
and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service shall include separate eligibility for grants 
under this subsection to address the purposes described 
in paragraph (2) with respect to sea turtles.
``(B) Conditions of grant.--A grant awarded under 
this subsection to address sea turtle rescue, 
rehabilitation, and response shall--
``(i) include the equivalent grant criteria 
and administration authorities and requirements 
described under paragraph (3), subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) of paragraph (4), and paragraphs 
(5) through (9), developed, as appropriate, and 
awarded separately for sea turtles and in 
consultation with the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service in lieu of the Marine Mammal 
Commission; and
``(ii) in addition to the considerations 
under paragraph (4)(B), also consider 
rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles.
``(C) Eligibility criteria.--In order to apply for 
a grant awarded under this subsection to address sea 
turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, an entity 
shall--
``(i) submit an application described in 
paragraph (5) to the Secretary of Commerce with 
respect to sea turtles;
``(ii) be authorized by and in compliance 
with--
``(I) an authorization issued under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1539(a)(1)(A)) with respect to sea 
turtles; or
``(II) a cooperative agreement 
entered into under section 6 of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1535) with respect to sea 
turtles;
``(iii) comply with the standard conditions 
for care and maintenance of captive sea turtles 
prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior 
when relevant facilities will be utilized for 
such purposes; and
``(iv) comply with all relevant data 
reporting requirements, such as the Sea Turtle 
Stranding and Salvage Network data collection 
requirements.
``(D) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary of 
Commerce and the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service to carry out this paragraph shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this paragraph.'';
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Rescue and Rapid Response Funds.--
``(1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
the United States--
``(A) an interest-bearing fund to known as the 
`Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid 
Response Fund'; and
``(B) an interest-bearing fund to be known as the 
`Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response 
Fund'.
``(2) Use of funds.--Amounts in the funds established under 
paragraph (1) shall be available only for use by the Secretary 
to provide emergency assistance.''; and
(3) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by inserting ``marine mammal 
rescue and response'' after ``to carry out the''.
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