HR2971-119

2. Youth biodiversity monitoring grant program The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal agencies, including the Director of the United States Geological Survey and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall establish a grant program to award amounts and provide technical assistance to covered entities to carry out youth biodiversity monitoring projects that use and educate students about advanced technologies. To be eligible for a grant under this section, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. A covered entity that is awarded a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out the following activities as part of a youth biodiversity monitoring project: The purchase of supplies. Transportation of participants to and from a youth biodiveristy monitoring project. Outreach with respect to a youth biodiversity monitoring project to promote participation in such project. The purchase of scientific collection licenses and permits. Other expenses related to carrying out a youth biodiversity monitoring project the Secretary determines appropriate. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to applications from covered entities that include a proposal for a youth biodiversity monitoring project focused on an underserved community. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the grant program, including the following information: Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section. The amount awarded to each such eligible entity. How each such eligible entity used such grant. The number of participants in youth biodiversity monitoring projects carried out using grants awarded under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032. In this section: The term advanced technologies means— environmental DNA collection and analysis procedures; remote sensing; drones; camera traps; acoustic monitoring; advanced sensors and sensor networks; AI, machine learning, or advanced modeling; or any other technology or method the Secretary determines appropriate. The term covered entity means— a nonprofit organization; an elementary school or secondary school (as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); an institution of higher education (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); or a State, local, or Tribal government. The term grant program means the grant program established pursuant to subsection (a). The term nonprofit organization means an organization that is— described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. The term State means— each of the several States; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; American Samoa; Guam; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Virgin Islands of the United States; and any other territory or possession of the United States. The term Tribal government means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). The term underserved community means a population of individuals sharing a particular characteristic, or a geographic community, that has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, or civic life, such as— racial and ethnic minorities; individuals with access and functional needs; or individuals otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. The term youth biodiversity monitoring project means a project that provides youth with— hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, or interpreting biological data about wildlife populations and the ecosystems associated with such populations; and education regarding— wildlife science; marine science; conservation; or biodiversity.