Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 843
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-24: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-25T11:32:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025," aims to expand federal support for protecting and aiding sea turtles by creating a dedicated grant program for their rescue, rehabilitation, and emergency response. It builds on existing wildlife protection laws to address strandings and injuries of these endangered animals, promoting their conservation through targeted funding.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: Amends Section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) to include sea turtles in the existing grant program for rescue and response activities. Grants will be awarded separately for sea turtles, focusing on rescue, rehabilitation (restoring health to injured or stranded turtles), and rapid response to emergencies.
- Grant Conditions and Administration: Grants must follow similar rules as those for marine mammals (e.g., application processes, reporting requirements) but are tailored for sea turtles. They require consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) instead of the Marine Mammal Commission. Additional considerations include the rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles.
- Eligibility for Grants: Applicant entities must:
- Submit applications to the Secretary of Commerce (who oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA).
- Hold proper authorizations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, such as permits for handling sea turtles or cooperative agreements with federal agencies.
- Follow standards for caring for captive sea turtles set by the Secretary of the Interior (who oversees USFWS).
- Comply with data reporting, including requirements from the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (a system for tracking and reporting turtle incidents).
- Dedicated Funds: Creates two interest-bearing funds in the U.S. Treasury:
- Retains the existing "Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund."
- Establishes a new "Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund" for emergency assistance related to sea turtles.
- Funding Authorizations:
- $5 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 for the sea turtle grant program, available until spent.
- $500,000 annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 for the Sea Turtle Fund (separate from marine mammal funding).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expansion of MMPA Scope: Previously, the MMPA's Section 408 focused solely on marine mammals (e.g., whales, seals). This bill adds sea turtles as a new category, making them eligible for grants and emergency funds without altering core marine mammal protections.
- New Funding Mechanisms: Introduces a dedicated sea turtle fund parallel to the marine mammal fund, with specific appropriations for sea turtles. It also redesignates and clarifies funding paragraphs in the MMPA to accommodate this addition.
- Integration with ESA: Ties grant eligibility to ESA requirements (e.g., permits for handling endangered species), ensuring sea turtle efforts align with broader federal protections under that law, which lists most sea turtle species as endangered or threatened.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: NOAA and USFWS will gain resources to manage sea turtle programs, potentially improving coordination on strandings and rehab. This could increase administrative workload for grant processing but enhance federal wildlife response capabilities.
- On Citizens and Environment: Supports faster rescue and rehab of stranded sea turtles, benefiting coastal communities by protecting biodiversity and ecosystems (e.g., turtles help maintain healthy coral reefs and seagrass beds). It may reduce long-term costs from environmental damage if strandings are addressed promptly.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but as sea turtles migrate across borders, stronger U.S. programs could aid global conservation efforts under international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Secretary of Commerce (NOAA) for grant administration; USFWS for consultations, standards, and ESA compliance.
- Non-Profit and Research Entities: Wildlife rehabilitation centers, aquariums, and conservation groups authorized under the ESA to handle sea turtles, who can now apply for dedicated funding.
- Coastal Communities and Volunteers: Participants in networks like the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, who report and respond to incidents.
- Sea Turtle Populations: Direct beneficiaries through improved rescue and rehab, potentially aiding recovery of endangered species.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens enforcement of the ESA by linking it to MMPA funding, ensuring activities comply with federal standards for handling protected species. No conflicts with existing laws, but it emphasizes data reporting to support scientific monitoring.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill falls under Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and protect natural resources (e.g., via the Commerce Clause). It does not infringe on states' rights, as grants can involve state or local partners.
- Political Implications: Promotes bipartisan environmental conservation, highlighting federal investment in endangered species amid climate change pressures (e.g., rising strandings from warmer oceans). It sets a precedent for expanding wildlife aid programs to non-mammal species, potentially influencing future appropriations debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-24: Held at the desk.
- 2026-03-24: Received in the House.
- 2026-03-24: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-03-22: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1503-1504; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S1504)
- 2026-03-22: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-07-16: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 118.
- 2025-07-16: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment. With written report No. 119-41.
- 2025-07-16: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment. With written report No. 119-41.
- 2025-03-12: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-03-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-03-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 — issued 2026-03-22 — PDF (8 pages)
- Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-04 — PDF (6 pages)
- Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (8 pages)