H.R. 360

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 360 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 360

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef 
Restoration and Conservation Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2025

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez (for herself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef 
Restoration and Conservation 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 ``Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. OYSTER REEF RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

(a) Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a 
program for the conservation of oyster reefs, to be known as 
the ``Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program''.
(2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the 
Administrator shall provide technical and financial assistance 
to covered entities to--
(A) identify priorities for oyster reef 
restoration, including existing oyster reef sites and 
locations of historically significant oyster reefs with 
the potential for restoration;
(B) evaluate the health of and threats to oyster 
reefs, including through mapping and water quality 
monitoring, and identify conservation actions to 
address such threats;
(C) conduct voluntary planning, construction, 
assessment, protection, monitoring, restoration, and 
enhancement projects with respect to oyster reefs;
(D) work to ensure the health and resilience of 
existing and restored oyster reefs through adaptive 
management procedures based on the best available 
science;
(E) build partnerships and capacity to carry out 
environmental conservation and stewardship measures 
with respect to oyster reefs;
(F) develop and implement monitoring protocols to 
ensure the success of conservation, restoration, and 
enhancement measures with respect to oyster reefs;
(G) collaborate and share information with other 
covered entities and the public with respect to best 
management practices for the conservation, restoration, 
and enhancement of oyster reefs; and
(H) support workforce training focused on coastal 
resilience and restoration concepts, principles, 
techniques, and implementation, especially to benefit 
underserved communities.
(3) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
a competitive grant program to award amounts to persons 
that submit an application under subparagraph (B) for 
the purposes of conducting research, planning, 
construction, assessments, management, building 
capacity, monitoring, collaborating and sharing 
information, or workforce training with respect to the 
conservation, restoration, enhancement, or management 
of oyster reefs.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under 
this paragraph, a person shall submit to the 
Administrator an application in such form, at such 
time, and containing such information, including a 
sufficient demonstration that the project will not 
reasonably interfere with commercial or recreational 
fishing or other water-related uses of the relevant 
area, as the Administrator determines appropriate.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to preempt or limit the authority of a State or an Indian Tribe to 
manage oyster reefs or species of oysters.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $15,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a unit of the Federal or a State, local, or 
Tribal government;
(B) a nongovernmental institution;
(C) a nonprofit organization;
(D) an institution of higher education;
(E) the shellfish industry; and
(F) a private individual or entity.
(3) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
organization'' means an organization--
(A) described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986; and
(B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such 
Code.
(4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Oyster Reef 
Restoration and Conservation Program established under 
subsection (a)(1).
(5) Shellfish industry.--The term ``shellfish industry'' 
means shellfish growers and shellfish harvesters.
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