HR1124-119

2. Grants to conserve, restore, and manage kelp forest ecosystems It is the sense of Congress that the purposes of this section and the grants authorized by this section are to support native wild kelp forest ecosystems and restore native wild kelp to enable long term recovery of naturally functioning kelp forest ecosystems that do not involve commercial or mechanized harvesting. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish and carry out a grant program under which the Administrator shall award grants to eligible entities described in subsection (c) to carry out projects described in subsection (d) relating to the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp forest ecosystems. To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall— be— a member of the fishing industry; an institution of higher education; a nonprofit organization; an Indian Tribe; a State agency; or a local government; consult or collaborate with any of the other entities described in paragraph (1) throughout the development or implementation of a project relating to the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp forest ecosystems; and submit to the Administrator an application describing such project at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including information regarding what criteria will be used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the project and the qualifications of the applicant to conduct, monitor, and evaluate the project. The Administrator shall award grants to eligible entities for projects that— address greatest relative regional declines in kelp forest ecosystems; focus on elements such as— long term ecosystem resilience of kelp forest ecosystems; long term socioeconomic resilience related to kelp forest ecosystems; kelp forest seeding and connectivity; re-establishing or recovering natural trophic relationships and structure to support resilience of kelp forest ecosystems through actions such as predator control through targeted urchin removal and recovery of sunflower sea stars; monitoring and assessment of kelp forest ecosystems; integration of Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices into restoration and monitoring of kelp forest ecosystems through consultation with Indian Tribes or promotion of Federal or State co-management with Indian Tribes; or other efforts to restore kelp forest ecosystems and prevent large scale losses of kelp forests; or are identified by Indian Tribes or Federal or State restoration or management plans as focal areas for recovery of kelp forests and associated species. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amount of Federal funding received as a grant under this section by an eligible entity may not exceed 85 percent of the total cost of the project for which a grant is awarded. For the purposes of this paragraph, the non-Federal share of project costs may be provided by in-kind contributions and other noncash support. The Administrator may waive all or part of the requirement in paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that— no reasonable means are available through which an eligible entity applying for a grant under this section can meet such requirement; the probable benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such requirement; and the project undertaken is established on lands owned by or held in trust for an Indian Tribe. The Administrator shall— issue guidelines regarding the implementation of the grant program established under subsection (b); and establish criteria based on best practices, the best available science, and community engagement to rank eligible projects under subsection (d). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, subject to appropriations, not less than $750,000 shall be made available to award grants under this section to eligible entities that are Indian Tribes. If no Indian Tribe is awarded a grant under this section in a fiscal year— for that fiscal year, the amount described in subparagraph (A) shall be made available to award grants under this section to other eligible entities; and the Administrator shall conduct outreach to inform Indian Tribes and organizations that work with Indian Tribes of the grant program established under subsection (b). In this section: The term Administrator means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term fishing industry means— processors; commercial fishermen; and recreational fishermen. The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). The term kelp forest ecosystem means a naturally occurring, biotic system dominated by canopy-forming, stipitate, or prostrate benthic macroalgae and associated taxa. The term nonprofit organization means an organization— described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.