119-hr2786

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2786 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2786

To allow the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine 
 Resilience and Restoration Program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 9, 2025

 Mr. Levin (for himself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. 
 Mast, Mr. Larsen of Washington, and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
 Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To allow the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine 
 Resilience and Restoration Program, and for other purposes.

 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 ``Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. COASTAL AND ESTUARINE RESILIENCE AND RESTORATION PROGRAM.

 

Section 307A of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
1456-1) is amended--

    (1) by striking the heading and inserting ``coastal and 
 estuarine resilience and restoration program'';

    (2) by amending subsection

    (a) to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may conduct a Coastal and 
Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program in cooperation with State, 
regional, and other units of government, the National Estuarine 
Research Reserves, and non-governmental organizations for the purposes 
of--
 ``

    (1) protecting important coastal and estuarine areas 
 that--
 ``
        (A) have significant conservation, recreational, 
 coastal access, ecological, historical, community 
 protection, or aesthetic value;
 ``
        (B) are threatened by conversion from their 
 natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other 
 uses; or
 ``
            (C) could be managed or restored to effectively 
 conserve, enhance, or restore ecological function or 
 mitigate climate change; and
 ``

    (2) restoring developed or degraded property in 
 vulnerable coastal and estuarine areas to a natural state to 
 restore ecological function, allow for shoreline migration, and 
 protect coastal communities.'';

    (3) in subsection

    (b) , by striking ``or National Estuarine 
 Research Reserve units'' and inserting ``, National Estuarine 
 Research Reserves, or non-governmental organizations that meet 
 the requirements of subsection

    (k) '';

    (4) in subsection
            (c) --
        (A) by striking ``or National Estuarine Research 
 Reserves'' and inserting ``, National Estuarine 
 Research Reserves, or non-governmental organizations 
 that meet the requirements of subsection

    (k) '';
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) by striking ``after consultation'' and 
 inserting ``in coordination''; and
            (ii) by striking ``shall identify'' and 
 inserting ``may identify'';
            (C) by amending paragraph

    (7) to read as follows:
 ``

    (7)
        (A) Priority shall be given to lands that--
 ``
            (i) can be effectively managed and protected and 
 are described in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) ;
 ``
            (ii) to the maximum extent practicable, benefit 
 communities that may not have adequate resources to 
 prepare for or respond to coastal hazards or to access 
 coastline, including low-income communities;
 ``
            (iii) are under an imminent threat of conversion 
 to a use that will degrade or otherwise diminish their 
 natural, undeveloped, or recreational state;
 ``
            (iv) serve to mitigate the adverse impacts caused 
 by coastal population growth on the coastal 
 environment;
 ``
            (v) benefit a National Estuarine Research Reserve 
 or a national estuarine reserve proposed to be 
 designated under 

section 315;
 ``
            (vi) are within or adjacent to a national estuary 
 program or other such protected area;
 ``
            (vii) are under threat due to climate change; or
 ``
            (viii) may serve to mitigate the adverse effects 
 of climate change, including through long-term carbon 
 storage or facilitating inland migration of coastal 
 ecosystems in response to sea level rise.
 ``
        (B) Of the lands that are given priority under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , priority shall be given to lands that reflect 
 conservation priorities identified pursuant to paragraphs

    (1) through

    (4) .''; and
            (D) in paragraph

    (10) , by striking ``triennially'' 
 and inserting ``every 5 years'';

    (5) in subsection

    (f) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (2)
        (B) , by inserting ``for any 
 territory of the United States that is unable to 
 provide such match,'' after ``community,''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (4) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (i) , by striking 
 ``the land meets the criteria set forth in 
 

section 2

    (b) and'' and inserting ``such use 
 will further the goals described in subsection

    (b) and such interest in land'';
            (ii) by striking subparagraph
        (B) and 
 redesignating subparagraph
            (C) as subparagraph
        (B) ;
            (iii) in subparagraph
        (B) (as so 
 redesignated), by striking ``described in
        (A) '' 
 and inserting ``described in subparagraph
        (A) ''; and
            (iv) by inserting at the end the following 
 new subparagraph:
 ``
            (C) The value of ecosystem services that such 
 interest in land provides, including as a buffer for 
 storm surge, as a habitat for economically valuable 
 species, and as a long-term carbon store.'';

    (6) in subsection

    (g) --
        (A) by striking ``15'' and inserting ``20''; and
        (B) by inserting ``unless no such acquisition is 
 available, in which case all such funds may be used for 
 other acquisitions that do not benefit a National 
 Estuarine Research Reserve'' before the period at the 
 end;

    (7) in subsection
            (i) (1)
        (A) , by inserting ``unless approved 
 to be held by a qualified non-governmental organization that 
 meets the requirements of subsection

    (k) '' after ``in 
 perpetuity'';

    (8) by redesignating subsections

    (k) and
            (l) as subsections
            (l) and
            (m) , respectively;

    (9) by inserting after subsection

    (j) the following:
 ``

    (k) Non-Governmental Organizations.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A non-governmental organization that 
 applies for a grant under this section may only be awarded a 
 grant under subsection

    (b) to acquire property or an interest 
 in property if such organization, with respect to the property 
 or interest in property--
 ``
        (A) provides such documentation as the Secretary 
 determines appropriate to demonstrate that the agency 
 that is primarily responsible for managing the Coastal 
 and Estuarine Resilience and Restoration Program of the 
 State in which the property or interest in property is 
 located has provided written support of such agency for 
 the grant application of such organization;
 ``
        (B) either--
 ``
            (i) ensures that the property or interest 
 in property is, or will be made, accessible to 
 the public; or
 ``
            (ii) provides documentation showing that 
 public access to the property or interest in 
 property is required to be restricted to 
 maintain the biological integrity, biological 
 diversity, or environmental health of the 
 property or interest in property; and
 ``
            (C) includes in the deed for the property or 
 interest in property a clear statement regarding how 
 the property or interest in property will be 
 transferred to another entity described in subsection

    (b) if such organization becomes nonviable after the 
 date on which such organization acquires such property 
 or interest in property.
 ``

    (2) Compliance.--The Secretary shall develop objective 
 measures that each non-governmental organization that applies 
 for a grant under this section shall use to demonstrate the 
 compliance of such organization with the requirements of 
 paragraph

    (1) .''; and

    (10) in subsection
            (m) , as so redesignated, by striking 
 ``fiscal years 2009 through 2013'' and inserting ``fiscal years 
 2025 through 2029''.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM.

    (a) Designation of Additional National Estuarine Research 
Reserves.--

    (1) In general.--
        (A) Initiation.--Not later than 5 years after the 
 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
 shall have initiated the designation process for not 
 less than 5 new National Estuarine Research Reserves in 
 the System.
        (B) Designation.--Not later than 8 years after the 
 date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
 shall designate not less than 5 new National Estuarine 
 Research Reserves in the System.

    (2) Prioritization.--In making each designation under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary shall prioritize nominated 
 estuarine areas that will promote the following with respect to 
 the System:
        (A) The presence of a National Estuarine Research 
 Reserve in each coastal State.
        (B) Full representation of biogeographic regions to 
 ensure research in areas with distinct biodiversity or 
 estuarine geography.

    (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
 enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the 
 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the 
 status of ongoing efforts to achieve the requirements under 
 this subsection.

    (b) Guidelines for Tracking and Modeling Impacts of Climate 
Change.--

Section 315
            (c) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1461
            (c) ) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraphs

    (3) through

    (5) as 
 paragraphs

    (4) through

    (6) , respectively; and

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (2) the following:
 ``

    (3) the establishment of coordinated long-term data 
 monitoring and methods throughout the System for tracking the 
 impacts of climate change and other stressors on estuarine 
 systems, including impacts on lake levels and sea levels;''.
            (c) Financial Assistance.--

Section 315

    (e)

    (1) of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1461

    (f)

    (1) ) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A) --
        (A) in clause
            (ii) , by inserting ``and 
 maintaining'' after ``constructing''; and
        (B) in clause
            (iii) , by inserting ``research, 
 monitoring, stewardship, training, and'' after 
 ``conducting''; and

    (2) in subparagraph
        (B) --
        (A) by striking ``research and'' and inserting 
 ``research,''; and
        (B) by inserting ``, stewardship, education, and 
 training'' after ``monitoring''.
            (d) Program Elements.--

Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1461) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
 ``

    (h) System-Wide Elements of National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System.--The Secretary shall coordinate System-wide programs and 
activities in the System, including--
 ``

    (1) the centralized management and dissemination of data 
 from System observation and monitoring networks;
 ``

    (2) employment, through a grant program, of the 
 collaborative research model on coastal research and management 
 priorities to be conducted at National Estuarine Research 
 Reserves, focused on the priorities determined by the 
 Secretary;
 ``

    (3) use of National Estuarine Research Reserves as living 
 laboratories and as preferred locations for placements for 
 fellowship and research positions for the National Oceanic and 
 Atmospheric Administration; and
 ``

    (4) establishing the Margaret A. Davidson Graduate 
 Research Fellowship Program to address key coastal management 
 questions and the coastal research and management priorities of 
 the System and its place-based sites to help scientists and 
 communities understand the coastal challenges that may 
 influence future policy and management strategies.
 ``
            (i) Place-Based Program Elements of National Estuarine Research 
Reserve System.--Each National Estuarine Research Reserve shall 
establish and maintain place-based program elements commensurate with 
available funding that include--
 ``

    (1) a research, monitoring, and observation network that 
 detects environmental change and informs suitable adaptation 
 and mitigation strategies to address coastal hazards and 
 environmental change;
 ``

    (2) living laboratories and preferred places for research 
 on environmental change detection and development of adaptation 
 strategies to the impacts of such change;
 ``

    (3) education, outreach, training, and interpretive 
 programs that communicate the value and changing dynamics of 
 coastal systems;
 ``

    (4) stewardship programs that provide science-based 
 tools, habitat management, and restoration and that provide 
 resources and information to inform coastal management;
 ``

    (5) coastal training programs that provide technical 
 assistance to coastal communities, resource managers, and 
 coastal decisionmakers;
 ``

    (6) identifying priority land for acquisition to enhance 
 ecosystem and community resilience to the negative effects of 
 climate change;
 ``

    (7) the lands and facilities that support such accessible 
 research, monitoring, stewardship, education, and coastal 
 training activities; and
 ``

    (8) the engagement of a wide variety of community 
 members, including Tribal nations, Indigenous communities, and 
 Historic Heritage communities to inform the programs above.
 ``

    (j) Existing Uses.--Except as otherwise explicitly provided in a 
management plan of a National Estuarine Research Reserve, any activity 
allowed at the time the National Estuarine Research Reserve is 
designated may be allowed to continue, including, as applicable--
 ``

    (1) commercial and recreational fishing;
 ``

    (2) hunting; and
 ``

    (3) cultural uses.''.

    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--

Section 318

    (a)

    (2) of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1464

    (a)

    (2) ) is amended 
to read as follows:
 ``

    (2) for grants under 

section 315, $47,000,000 for each of 
 fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.

    (f) Conforming Amendments.--The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 304 (16 U.S.C. 1453)--
        (A) by redesignating paragraphs

    (13) through

    (18) as paragraphs

    (14) through

    (19) , respectively; and
        (B) by inserting after paragraph

    (12) the 
 following:
 ``

    (13) The term `National Estuarine Research Reserve' means a 
national estuarine reserve designated under 

section 315.'';

    (2) in 

section 312
            (c) (1) (16 U.S.C. 1458
            (c) (1) ), by 
 striking ``national estuarine reserve established under 

section 315 of this title'' and inserting ``National Estuarine Research 
 Reserve''; and

    (3) in 

section 315 (16 U.S.C. 1461)--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) , by striking ``a national 
 estuarine reserve'' each place it appears and inserting 
 ``a National Estuarine Research Reserve'';
        (B) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) in the heading, by striking ``National 
 Estuarine Reserves'' and inserting ``National 
 Estuarine Research Reserves''; and
            (ii) by striking ``a national estuarine 
 reserve'' and inserting ``a National Estuarine 
 Research Reserve'';
            (C) in subsection

    (e) , by striking ``national 
 estuarine reserve'' each place it appears and inserting 
 ``National Estuarine Research Reserve'';
            (D) in subsection

    (f) , by striking ``national 
 estuarine reserve'' each place it appears and inserting 
 ``National Estuarine Research Reserve''; and
        (E) in subsection

    (g) , by striking ``national 
 estuarine reserves'' each place it appears and 
 inserting ``National Estuarine Research Reserves''.

    (g) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal State'' has the 
 meaning given the term ``coastal state'' in 

section 304 of 
 title III of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
 1453), as applicable to such title.

    (2) National estuarine research reserve.--The term 
 ``National Estuarine Research Reserve'' means a national 
 estuarine reserve designated under 

section 315 of the Coastal 
 Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1461).

    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management 
 Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453).

    (4) System.--The term ``System'' means the National 
 Estuarine Research Reserve System established by 

section 315 of 
 the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1461).
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