Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 347
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T08:08:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 aims to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response to sea turtles by establishing a dedicated grant program and emergency fund. It extends certain protections and funding mechanisms originally designed for marine mammals to sea turtles, which are often protected under endangered species laws.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program for Sea Turtles: Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to create eligibility for grants specifically for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response activities. These grants follow similar rules as those for marine mammals but are tailored for sea turtles, including considerations for rehabilitating stranded individuals.
- Eligibility Requirements: Organizations applying for grants must submit applications to the Secretary of Commerce, hold proper authorizations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (e.g., permits for handling endangered species or cooperative agreements with wildlife services), follow care standards for captive sea turtles set by the Secretary of the Interior, and report data through networks like the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.
- Administration and Consultation: Grants are awarded by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), rather than the Marine Mammal Commission. The program is subject to available appropriations and will end 7 years after enactment (sunset provision).
- Emergency Funds: Establishes two interest-bearing funds in the U.S. Treasury:
- The existing Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund.
- A new Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund.
These funds can only be used by the Secretary of Commerce for emergency assistance related to rescue and response efforts.
- Clarification on Existing Funds: Updates language in the Act to specify that certain appropriations support "marine mammal rescue and response."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands Section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (which previously focused on marine mammals) to include sea turtles, creating parallel grant and funding structures without altering core marine mammal provisions.
- Introduces a dedicated sea turtle fund alongside the marine mammal fund, ensuring separate but similar emergency resources.
- Replaces the previous subsection (c) on funds to incorporate the new sea turtle fund, while refining wording in subsection (d) for clarity on fund usage.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Secretary of Commerce (via NOAA) and USFWS will gain new responsibilities for administering grants and funds, potentially increasing coordination on endangered species efforts. This could strain budgets without dedicated appropriations but enhance rapid response capabilities.
- Citizens and Conservation: Improves support for sea turtle conservation, benefiting coastal communities, volunteers, and environmental groups involved in strandings or rescues. It may lead to better outcomes for stranded sea turtles, indirectly aiding ecosystems and tourism in turtle habitats.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could strengthen U.S. commitments to international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), as sea turtles migrate across borders.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Government Entities: Department of Commerce (NOAA), Department of the Interior (USFWS), and congressional committees overseeing natural resources.
- Non-Profit and Rescue Organizations: Entities authorized under the Endangered Species Act, such as aquariums, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and stranding networks, which can now access targeted grants and emergency funds.
- Environmental and Scientific Communities: Researchers and conservationists focused on sea turtles, who benefit from standardized data reporting and rehabilitation support.
- Sea Turtles and Ecosystems: The legislation directly targets protected sea turtle species, potentially reducing mortality from strandings.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing frameworks like the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, ensuring compliance with federal permitting for handling protected species. The 7-year sunset clause provides a temporary measure, allowing Congress to evaluate and extend if effective, without permanent expansion of authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated powers under the Commerce Clause (regulating interstate and foreign commerce, including marine resources) and treaty obligations for wildlife protection; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as it involves national agencies and voluntary grants to states or organizations.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan push for wildlife conservation (introduced by Rep. Keating and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources), potentially appealing to environmental advocates. Funding reliance on appropriations could spark debates over federal spending priorities, especially for non-mammal species in a mammal-focused Act.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Cosponsors (27)
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-13 — PDF (5 pages)