HR 4160 — Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019

Summary

Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019 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; and authorizes Interior to provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, and financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html August 02, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, updating its purposes and establishing new requirements for coral reef resilience strategies and management plans.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to conserve and restore the condition of United States coral reef ecosystems challenged by natural and human-accelerated changes, including increasing ocean temperatures, changing ocean chemistry, coral bleaching, coral diseases, water quality degradation, invasive species, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; → to preserve, sustain, and restore the condition of United States coral reef ecosystems challenged by natural and human-accelerated changes, including increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coral diseases, and invasive species;

  This change refines and broadens the focus on coral reef ecosystem conservation, including ocean acidification.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to promote the science-based management and sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local communities and the Nation, including through improved integration and cooperation among Federal and non-Federal stakeholders responsible for managing coral reef resources; → to promote the science-based management and sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems to benefit local communities and the Nation, including through improved integration and cooperation among Federal, State, and locally managed jurisdictions with coral reef equities;

  This change emphasizes cooperation among more specific management jurisdictions, incorporating state and local governments.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to develop sound scientific information on the condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and emerging threats to such ecosystems, and the efficacy of innovative tools, technologies, and strategies to mitigate stressors and restore such ecosystems, including evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness of management interventions, and accurate mapping for coral reef restoration; → to develop sound scientific information on the condition of coral reef ecosystems, continuing and emerging threats to such ecosystems, and the efficacy of innovative tools, technologies, and strategies to restore such ecosystems;

  This change simplifies the original purpose related to mitigation strategies and evaluation criteria.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to assist in the preservation of coral reefs by supporting science-based, consensus-driven, and community-based coral reef management by covered States and covered Native entities, including monitoring, conservation, and restoration projects that empower local communities, small businesses, and nongovernmental organizations; → to assist in the preservation of coral reefs by supporting consensus-driven State and community-based coral reef management, including conservation and restoration projects that empower local communities, small businesses, and nongovernmental organizations;

  This change offers a narrower focus on state and community-based management without specifying 'covered States and covered Native entities'.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to provide financial resources, technical assistance, and scientific expertise to supplement, complement, and strengthen community-based management programs and conservation and restoration projects of non-Federal reefs; → to provide financial resources, technical assistance, and scientific expertise to supplement and strengthen State and community-based management programs and conservation and restoration projects;

  This change simplifies the language and shifts focus to state and community-based initiatives.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to support rapid, effective, and science-based assessment and response to exigent circumstances that pose immediate and long-term threats to coral reefs, including—(A) coral disease outbreaks; (B) invasive or nuisance species; (C) coral bleaching; (D) natural disasters; and (E) industrial or mechanical disasters, including vessel groundings, hazardous spills, and coastal construction accidents; → to support the rapid and effective, science-based response to emergencies that imminently threaten coral reefs, such as coral disease outbreaks, invasive species, coral bleaching, natural disasters, vessel groundings or chemical spills, and other exigent circumstances;

  This change updates the language to focus on imminent threats rather than all potential threats.

• 16 U.S.C. § 6401

  to serve as a model for advancing similar international efforts to monitor, conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems; → to serve as a model for advancing similar international efforts to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems in the jurisdictions of United States allies and trading partners.

  This change clarifies the international focus to allies and trading partners specifically.

Action History

1. August 02, 2019

   Introduced in House

2. August 02, 2019

   Introduced in House

3. August 02, 2019

   Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

4. August 15, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Sponsors

• Darren Soto · Primary

Subjects