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Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2013

Introduced: January 3, 2013 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 31, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
Jan 3, 2013
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E8-9)
Jan 3, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2013 - Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds to appropriate projects, including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support.

Authorizes actions to: (1) minimize injury to a coral reef or loss of an ecosystem function resulting from human activities; and (2) stabilize, repair, or restore the reef.

Deems specified terms (such as "sanctuary resources" and "national marine sanctuary") to include any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or (subject to state consent) any state, regardless of whether the reef is in a national marine sanctuary.

Makes the destruction, loss, or injury of a coral reef not unlawful in certain circumstances, including if it was: (1) from permitted usage of fishing gear; (2) caused by an authorized activity; (3) subject to exception, the necessary result of marine scientific research; (4) caused by a federal agency in certain circumstances; or (5) unavoidable.

Modifies the Act's purposes, the goals and objectives of the national coral reef action strategy, and the Act's authorized activities.

Allows the Coral Reef Conservation Fund to be used to address emergency response actions.

Authorizes the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to: (1) make community-based planning grants for increased protection of high priority coral reefs, (2) maintain an inventory of all coral reef vessel groundings, (3) identify all coral reefs with a high incidence of vessel impacts, and (4) identify measures to reduce such impacts.

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit an international coral reef ecosystem strategy to Congress and authorizes the Secretary to establish an international coral reef ecosystem partnership program.

Establishes the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal actions.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, subject to appropriations, to provide financial assistance for coral reef conservation.

What's happening now January 31, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2