HR 347119th CongressIn Committee

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 13, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 would create a new, sea turtle–specific grant program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. With funding provided by appropriations dedicated to sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response, the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would offer grants for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation using criteria and administration standards aligned with existing marine mammal grant programs, but developed for sea turtles and overseen in consultation with USFWS (instead of the Marine Mammal Commission). The bill sets eligibility rules tied to Endangered Species Act authorizations for sea turtles, requires compliance with captive-care standards when relevant, and mandates data reporting (including Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network requirements). The program would run for seven years from enactment and would establish a dedicated Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund in the Treasury to finance emergency assistance, alongside the existing Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund. Funding would be strictly contingent on appropriations.

Key Points

1Creates a dedicated Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund in the Treasury to provide emergency assistance for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, in addition to the existing marine mammal fund.
2Establishes a sea turtle–specific grant program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with eligibility and grant administration aligned to existing marine mammal programs but developed for sea turtles and in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) rather than the Marine Mammal Commission.
3Eligibility criteria require: (a) a grant application specific to sea turtles; (b) authorization under the Endangered Species Act for sea turtles or a compatible cooperative ESA agreement; (c) compliance with relevant captive-care standards when facilities will house sea turtles; and (d) adherence to data reporting requirements (e.g., Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network).
4Grants may, in addition to standard grant considerations, explicitly prioritize rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles.
5Sunset provision: the sea turtle rescue and rapid response authorities expire seven years after enactment.
6Funding is contingent on specific appropriations for sea turtle rescue activities.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Sea turtles and organizations involved in their rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response (including rescue networks, facilities, and researchers), plus federal agencies (Department of Commerce and USFWS) implementing the program.Secondary group/area affected: Nonprofit rescue groups, state and local wildlife agencies, and facilities that hold or rehabilitate sea turtles; data/reporting organizations (e.g., Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network); ESA-licensed entities.Additional impacts: Enhanced standards and reporting for sea turtle care when captive facilities are used; potential shift in grant administration from the Marine Mammal Commission to USFWS coordination; creation of new dedicated funding streams for emergency response, subject to annual appropriations and a seven-year sunset on the authority to provide sea turtle-specific grants.

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