S. 46

Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021

This bill addresses the conservation and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.

Among other things, the bill

• reauthorizes through FY2026 and revises various activities under the Coral Reef Conservation Program;
• requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish standards for identifying individual coral reefs and ecologically significant units of coral reefs;
• directs NOAA to provide block grants to states to support state coral reef management and restoration;
• directs NOAA to designate two reef research coordination institutes to advance and sustain essential capabilities in coral reef research;
• provides statutory authority for the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to lead, coordinate, and strengthen federal government actions to preserve, conserve, and restore coral reef ecosystems;
• authorizes the Department of the Interior to provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, and financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs; and
• establishes a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program.