Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 360 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 360 To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2025 Ms. Ocasio-Cortez (for herself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Oyster Reef Recovery Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. OYSTER REEF RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM. (a) Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a program for the conservation of oyster reefs, to be known as the ``Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program''. (2) Program duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Administrator shall provide technical and financial assistance to covered entities to-- (A) identify priorities for oyster reef restoration, including existing oyster reef sites and locations of historically significant oyster reefs with the potential for restoration; (B) evaluate the health of and threats to oyster reefs, including through mapping and water quality monitoring, and identify conservation actions to address such threats; (C) conduct voluntary planning, construction, assessment, protection, monitoring, restoration, and enhancement projects with respect to oyster reefs; (D) work to ensure the health and resilience of existing and restored oyster reefs through adaptive management procedures based on the best available s