To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to support the restoration of coral reefs in South Florida.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7973 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7973 To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to support the restoration of coral reefs in South Florida. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 12, 2024 Mr. Gimenez (for himself and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to support the restoration of coral reefs in South Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SOUTH FLORIDA CORAL REEF RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program to award amounts to eligible entities-- (1) to carry out coral reef restoration activities in South Florida; or (2) to reimburse such eligible entities for amounts spent by such eligible entities to carry out coral reef restoration activities in South Florida within the 5 years preceding the date on which such eligible entities are awarded a grant under this section. (b) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Grant Amount Limitation.--The Secretary may not award any single eligible entity more than $1,000,000 under this section in a single fiscal year. (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (e) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Coral reef restoration activity.--The term ``co