text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Coral Reef Resource Conservation and 
  Management Act of 1999''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
              (1) coral reefs have great commercial, recreational, 
          cultural, environmental, and aesthetic value;
              (2) coral reefs--
                      (A) provide habitat to \1/3\ of all marine fish 
                  species;
                      (B) are essential building blocks for biodiversity;
                      (C) are instrumental in forming tropical islands;
                      (D) protect coasts from waves and storms;
                      (E) contain an array of potential pharmaceuticals; 
                  and
                      (F) support tourism and fishing industries in the 
                  United States worth billions of dollars;
              (3) studies indicate that coral reefs in the United States 
          and around the world are being degraded and severely threatened 
          by human and environmental impacts, including land-based 
          pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, vessel 
          groundings, and climate change;
              (4) the Department of the Interior--
                      (A) manages extensive acreage that contains 
                  sensitive coral reef habitat and adjacent submerged 
                  land at 20 national wildlife refuges and 9 units of the 
                  National Park System--
                              (i) in the States of Hawaii and Florida; 
                          and
                              (ii) in the territories of Guam, American 
                          Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands; 
                          and
                      (B) maintains oversight responsibility for 
                  additional significant coral reef resources under 
                  Federal jurisdiction in insular areas, territories, and 
                  surrounding territorial waters in the Pacific Ocean and 
                  Caribbean Sea;
              (5) few of the 4,200,000 acres of coral reefs of the United 
          States have been mapped or have had their conditions assessed 
          or characterized;
              (6) the Department of the Interior conducts scientific 
          research and monitoring to determine the structure, function, 
          status, and condition of the coral reefs of the United States; 
          and
              (7) the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with 
          public and private partners, provides technical assistance and 
          engages in management and conservation activities for coral 
          reef habitats.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
              (1) to conserve, protect, and restore the health of coral 
          reef ecosystems and the species of fish, plants, and animals 
          that depend on those ecosystems;
              (2) to support the monitoring, assessment, management, and 
          protection of coral reef ecosystems over which the United 
          States has jurisdiction (including coral reef ecosystems 
          located in national wildlife refuges and units of the National 
          Park System);
              (3) to augment and support the efforts of the Department of 
          the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
          Administration, and other members of the Coral Reef Task Force;
              (4) to support research efforts that contribute to coral 
          reef conservation;
              (5) to support education, outreach, and enforcement for 
          coral reef conservation;
              (6) to provide financial resources and matching funds for 
          partnership efforts to accomplish the purposes described in 
          paragraphs (1) through (4); and
              (7) to coordinate with the Coral Reef Task Force and other 
          agencies to address priorities identified by the Coral Reef 
          Task Force.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Coral.--The term ``coral'' means any species of the 
          phylum Cnidaria, including--
                      (A) any species of the order Antipatharia (black 
                  corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Gorgonacea (horny 
                  corals), Stolonifera (organpipe corals and others), 
                  Alcyanacea (soft corals), or Coenothecalia (blue 
                  corals), of the class Anthozoa; and
                      (B) any species of the order Hydrocorallina (fire 
                  corals and hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
              (2) Coral reef.--The term ``coral reef'' means the species 
          (including reef plants and coralline algae), habitats, and 
          other natural resources associated with any reef or shoal 
          composed primarily of corals within all maritime areas and 
          zones subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, 
          including Federal, State, territorial, or commonwealth waters 
          in the south Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and 
          the Pacific Ocean.
              (3) Coral reef conservation project.--The term ``coral reef 
          conservation project'' means an activity that contributes to or 
          results in preserving, sustaining, or enhancing any coral reef 
          ecosystem as a healthy, diverse, and viable ecosystem, 
          including--
                      (A) any action to enhance or improve resource 
                  management of a coral reef, such as assessment, 
                  scientific research, protection, restoration and 
                  mapping;
                      (B) habitat monitoring and any species survey or 
                  monitoring of a species;
                      (C) any activity necessary for planning and 
                  development of a strategy for coral reef management;
                      (D) community outreach and education on the 
                  importance and conservation of coral reefs; and
                      (E) any activity in support of the enforcement of 
                  laws relating to coral reefs.
              (4) Coral reef task force.--The term ``Coral Reef Task 
          Force'' means the task force established under Executive Order 
          No. 13089 (June 11, 1998).
              (5) Foundation.--The term ``foundation'' means a foundation 
          that is a registered nonprofit organization under section 
          501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
              (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
              (7) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
          United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
          Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
          Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, or any other territory or 
          possession of the United States.
  
  SEC. 4. CORAL REEF RESOURCE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide grants for coral reef 
  conservation projects in accordance with this section.
      (b) Eligibility.--The Secretary may award a grant under this 
  section to--
              (1) any appropriate natural resource management authority 
          of a State--
                      (A) that has jurisdiction over coral reefs; or
                      (B) the activities of which affect coral reefs; or
              (2) any educational or nongovernmental institution or 
          organization with demonstrated expertise in marine science or 
          coral reef conservation.
      (c) Matching Requirements.--
              (1) Federal share.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
          the Federal share of the cost of a coral reef conservation 
          project that receives a grant under this section shall not 
          exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project.
              (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
          of a coral reef conservation project that receives a grant 
          under this section may be provided in cash or in kind.
              (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the 
          matching requirement under paragraph (1) if--
                      (A) the cost of the project is $25,000 or less; or
                      (B) the project is necessary to undertake, 
                  complete, or enhance planning and monitoring 
                  requirements for coral reef areas under--
                              (i) the National Wildlife Refuge System 
                          Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et 
                          seq.); or
                              (ii) the Act entitled ``An Act to establish 
                          a National Park Service, and for other 
                          purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 
                          1 et seq.).
      (d) Allocation.--The Secretary shall award grants under this 
  section so that--
              (1) not less than 40 percent of the grant funds available 
          are awarded for coral reef conservation projects in the Pacific 
          Ocean;
              (2) not less than 40 percent of the grant funds available 
          are awarded for coral reef conservation projects in the 
          Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea; and
              (3) the remaining grant funds are awarded for coral reef 
          conservation projects that address emergency priorities or 
          threats identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the 
          Coral Reef Task Force.
      (e) Annual Funding Priorities.--After consultation with the Coral 
  Reef Task Force, States, regional and local entities, and 
  nongovernmental organizations involved in coral and marine 
  conservation, the Secretary shall identify site-specific and 
  comprehensive threats and constraints that--
              (1) are known to affect coral reef ecosystems (including 
          coral reef ecosystems in national wildlife refuges and units of 
          the National Park System); and
              (2) shall be considered in establishing annual funding 
          priorities for grants awarded under this subsection.
      (f) Project Review and Approval.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and rank coral 
          reef conservation project proposals according to the criteria 
          described in subsection (g).
              (2) Peer review.--
                      (A) In general.--For projects that have a cost of 
                  $25,000 or more, the Secretary shall--
                              (i) provide for merit-based peer review of 
                          the proposal; and
                              (ii) require standardized documentation of 
                          the peer review.
                      (B) Expedited process.--For projects that have a 
                  cost of less than $25,000, the Secretary shall provide 
                  an expedited peer review process.
                      (C) Individual grants.--As part of the peer review 
                  process for individual grants, the Secretary shall 
                  request written comments from the appropriate bureaus 
                  or departments of the State or other government having 
                  jurisdiction over the area where the project is 
                  proposed to be conducted.
              (3) List.--At the beginning of each fiscal year, the 
          Secretary shall make available a list describing projects 
          selected during the previous fiscal year for funding under 
          subsection (g).
      (g) Project Approval Criteria.--The Secretary shall evaluate and 
  select project proposals for funding based on the degree to which each 
  proposed project--
              (1) is consistent with the purposes of this Act; and
              (2) would--
                      (A) promote the long-term protection, conservation, 
                  restoration, or enhancement of coral reef ecosystems in 
                  or adjoining areas under the jurisdiction of the 
                  Department of the Interior;
                      (B) promote cooperative conservation projects with 
                  local communities, nongovernmental organizations, 
                  educational or private institutions, affected local 
                  governments, territories, or insular areas;
                      (C) enhance public knowledge and awareness of coral 
                  reef resources and sustainable use through education 
                  and outreach;
                      (D) develop sound scientific information on the 
                  condition of and threats to coral reef ecosystems 
                  through mapping, monitoring, research and analysis; and
                      (E) increase compliance with laws relating to coral 
                  reefs.
      (h) Regulations.--
              (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
          later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
          Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this Act.
              (2) Project approval.--Not later than 180 days after the 
          date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate 
          regulations to implement subsection (f), including requirements 
          for project proposals.
              (3) Consultation.--In developing regulations under this 
          subsection, the Secretary shall identify priorities for coral 
          reef resource protection and conservation in consultation with 
          agencies and organizations involved in coral and marine 
          conservation, including--
                      (A) the Coral Reef Task Force;
                      (B) interested States;
                      (C) regional and local entities; and
                      (D) nongovernmental organizations.
      (i) Administration.--
              (1) Foundation involvement.--
                      (A) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into an 
                  agreement with 1 or more foundations to accept, 
                  receive, hold, transfer, solicit, and administer funds 
                  received or made available for a grant program under 
                  this Act (including funds received in the form of a 
                  gift or donation).
                      (B) Funds.--A foundation that enters into an 
                  agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall--
                              (i) invest, reinvest, and otherwise 
                          administer funds described in subparagraph (A); 
                          and
                              (ii) maintain the funds and any interest or 
                          revenues earned in a separate interest-bearing 
                          account that is--
                                      (I)(aa) an insured depository 
                                  institution, as the term is defined in 
                                  section 3 of the Federal Deposit 
                                  Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); or
                                      (bb) an insured credit union, as 
                                  the term is defined in section 101 of 
                                  the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 
                                  1752); and
                                      (II) established by the foundation 
                                  solely to support partnerships between 
                                  the public and private sectors that 
                                  further the purposes of this Act.
              (2) Review of performance.--
                      (A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2000, and 
                  biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a 
                  review of each grant program administered by a 
                  foundation under this subsection.
                      (B) Assessment.--Each review under subparagraph (A) 
                  shall include a written assessment describing the 
                  extent to which the foundation has implemented the 
                  goals and requirements of this section.
      (j) Transfers.--
              (1) In general.--Under an agreement entered into under 
          subsection (i)(1)(A), the Secretary may transfer funds 
          appropriated under section 5(b) to a foundation.
              (2) Use of transferred funds.--Amounts received by a 
          foundation under this subsection may be used for matching, in 
          whole or in part, contributions (whether in currency, services, 
          or property) made to the foundation by private persons and 
          State and local government agencies.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
  out this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004, to 
  remain available until expended.
      (b) Limitation on Administrative Funds.--Not more than 6 percent of 
  the amounts appropriated under this section may be used for program 
  management and administration under this Act.
target: Limits the Federal share of project costs to 75 percent. Waives the matching requirement if the cost of the project is $25,000 or less or the project is necessary to undertake planning and monitoring requirements for coral reef areas under specified Federal laws. Allocates 40 percent of grant awards for projects in the Pacific Ocean, 40 percent for projects in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, and the remainder for projects that address emergency priorities or threats.
  Sets forth procedures for project review and approval.
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Coral Reef Resource Conservation and Management Act of 1999