Sec. 104. Blue Carbon Partnership Grant Program
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The Administrator shall establish a competitive grant program entitled the Blue Carbon Partnership Grant Program to, beginning not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, provide funds to eligible entities for projects that— protect and restore blue carbon stocks, oceanic blue carbon, and coastal blue carbon ecosystems and increase the long-term carbon storage; and contribute to priorities identified in the most recent strategic plan developed by the interagency working group.
A person or entity is eligible to receive a grant under the grant program if such person is— a voluntary private landowner or group of landowners; a State agency responsible for managing natural resources or wildlife; an Indian Tribe; a unit of local government; a nonprofit organization or land trust; an institution of higher education and research; or any group of entities described in paragraphs
(1)through (6). In administering the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall use the criteria, guidelines, contracts, reporting requirements, and evaluation metrics developed by the interagency working group. In evaluating applications for the program from eligible entities, the Administrator shall give priority to proposed eligible restoration activities that— would result in long-term protection and sequestration of carbon stored in coastal and marine environments; and would protect key habitats for fish, wildlife, and the maintenance of biodiversity; would provide coastal protection from development, storms, flooding, and land-based pollution; would protect coastal resources of national, historical, and cultural significance; would benefit communities of color, low-income communities, Tribal or Indigenous communities, or rural communities; or would capitalize on existing established public/private partnerships. The Administrator shall submit annually to Congress a report containing a State-by-State analysis of— the total number of acres of land or water protected or restored through fee title acquisition, easement, restoration or other activities under the program; the status of restoration projects under this program; and the amount of blue carbon captured or protected over a 100-year time period as a result of this program. The Administrator shall make available to the public each report required by paragraph (1). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $200,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 to 2025 to carry out this section.