Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007

To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other purposes.

10/22/2007--Passed House amended. Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007 -
(Sec. 2) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds, in addition to projects addressing emerging priorities or threats, to other appropriate projects, including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support. Revises the criteria for project approval.
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to undertake or authorize actions to minimize injury to a coral reef from vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, vessel anchors and anchor chains, and unforeseen or disaster-related circumstances and to stabilize, repair, or restore the reef, including vessel removal and emergency restabilization of the vessel or reef. Authorizes any other federal agency to assist, using the other agency's funds. Allows the Administrator to reimburse the other agency. Deems specified terms (such as "sanctuary resources" and "national marine sanctuary"), for purposes of specified provisions of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, to include any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or (subject to state consent) any state, without regard to whether the reef is located in a national marine sanctuary.
(Sec. 4) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to modify the Act's purposes and to modify the goals and objectives of the national coral reef action strategy. Includes cooperative research and activities designed to minimize the likelihood of physical reef damage in the activities that may be taken under an existing program to conserve coral reefs and reef ecosystems.
(Sec. 5) Requires reports to specified congressional committees on all activities to implement the national coral reef action strategy.
(Sec. 6) Allows the Coral Reef Conservation Fund to be used to address emergency response actions. Authorizes the Administrator to:
(1) make community-based planning grants to certain entities that are eligible to receive a coral reef conservation grant to work with local communities and federal and state entities to implement plans for increased protection of high priority coral reefs;
(2) maintain an inventory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs; and
(3) identify all coral reefs with a high incidence of vessel impacts and identify measures to reduce such impacts. Establishes the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal actions to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with agencies and organizations to carry out the activities of the national coral reef action strategy and to implement regional strategies.
(Sec. 7) Amends the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to including coral reef ecosystems in the definition of "wildlife" and "wildlife resources." Requires, regarding authorities under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, that references to "wildlife" and "fish and wildlife" be construed to include coral reef ecosystems. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical assistance and, subject to appropriations, financial assistance to coastal states (as that term is defined in the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000).
(Sec. 8) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to revise various definitions.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations, through FY2012, for the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, including for community-based planning grants.
(Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct activities to improve and promote the resilience of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems.
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations:
(1) for a research facility for coral reef research and protection, and coastal ecology and development, at the American Samoa Community College; and
(2) to provide funds to the University of Guam for coral reef research and protection. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into, renegotiate, or extend a cooperative agreement with any university or local academic institution or other research center with established programs that support coral reef conservation.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D, AS-0]
• and 7 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
  • Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
  • Rep. Donna Christensen [D, VI-0]
  • Luis Fortuño
  • Wayne Gilchrest
  • Rep. Ron Klein [D, FL-22]
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18]
  close

Committees

• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• 4 more
  • House Science and Technology
  • House Science and Technology
  • House Natural Resources
  • House Natural Resources
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.1205

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
February 27, 2007		October 22, 2007

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• Oct 23, 2007: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Oct 22, 2007. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Oct 22, 2007: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1205.
• Oct 22, 2007: Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Oct 22, 2007: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Added to calendar on Oct 22, 2007: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 248..
• Oct 22, 2007: Committee on Science and Technology discharged.
• Oct 22, 2007: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-394, Part I.
• Jun 28, 2007: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Added to calendar on Jun 28, 2007: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote..
• Mar 22, 2007: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Mar 22, 2007: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
• Mar 06, 2007: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
• Mar 05, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
• Mar 05, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
• Feb 27, 2007: Referred to House Science and Technology
• Introduced on Feb 27, 2007.
• Feb 27, 2007: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• Feb 27, 2007: Referred to House Natural Resources

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Related Bills:

• S.1580

Related Issue Areas:

• Marine resources
• Authorization
• Budgets
• Coastal zone
• 41 more
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Coral reefs
• Ecosystem management
• Environmental education
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmental protection
• Executive reorganization
• Federal advisory bodies
• Federal aid to education
• Federal aid to research
• Federal-local relations
• Federal-state relations
• Fishing boats
• Foreign policy
• Fund raising
• Government information
• Government paperwork
• Government trust funds
• Grants-in-aid
• Guam
• Hawaii
• International affairs
• International environmental cooperation
• Marine accidents
• Marine ecology
• Marine pollution
• Marine resources conservation
• Navigational aids
• Nongovernmental organizations
• Nonprofit organizations
• Oceanography
• Salvage
• Science policy
• Ships
• Social services
• State and local government
• Trade
• Transportation
• Water pollution
• Water pollution control
• Marine safety

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

September 17, 2008 Dr OZ - The Oprah Winfrey Show » The Real Reason why Bill S1738 ...

Related Bills: H.R.1205, S.1583. Latest Major Action: 3/13/2008 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 620. Senate Reports: 3/13/2008: Senate history: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. ...

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May 18, 2008 comments on three bills in the house

massachusetts’ democrat william delahunt’s hr 1205 recognizes that iraq will bring in $32 billion in oil surplus this year and directs asks the government of iraq to give $1 billion of that to refugees and displaced persons and that the ...

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May 18, 2008 comments on three bills in the house

massachusetts’ democrat william delahunt’s hr 1205 recognizes that iraq will bring in $32 billion in oil surplus this year and directs asks the government of iraq to give $1 billion of that to refugees and displaced persons and that the ...

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Source: The Flow of Consciousness

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