To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to promote charitable donations of qualified vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, today I have reintroducted a bill to enhance and reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. In the 111th Congress, I sponsored this legislation as H.R. 860, the ``Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2009'', which the House of Representatives passed by voice vote on September 22, 2009. The bill I have introduced today, with 12 of my colleagues, strengthens H.R. 860 without changing its original intent.

The conservation of coral reef ecosystems is essential to protect public health, ensure environmental sustainability, support thousands of American jobs, and guarantee the long-term economic progress of coastal regions across the nation. United States waters contain some of the world's greatest coral reef biodiversity. From the waters off the coast of Guam and islands in the Pacific, to Florida and the U.S. Territories in the Caribbean, our reefs provide habitat and shelter for fisheries and food and recreation for our residents. These ecosystems also protect us from storm waves and are the basis for marine tourism industries.

Today, however, our coral reefs, and the numerous ecosystem services that they provide, are under threat from pollution, climate change, and overharvesting, among others stressors. Unless the United States acts in conjunction with the global community to support focused, long-term action on coral reef education, research, and management, the state of our coral reefs will continue to deteriorate.

Since its enactment, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 has sparked a greater commitment to protect, conserve, and restore coral reef resources within our waters. We now have improved our understanding of the condition of our coral reefs, and have better focused our management capabilities. The Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2011 would further strengthen the original legislation by improving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's, NOAA, ability to respond to emergency or disaster-related situations and minimize the likelihood of vessel impacts on coral reefs. Specifically, the legislation would establish community-based planning grants for states and territories to support projects that address emerging threats to corals. In addition, the legislation would promote international cooperation by authorizing NOAA to engage with international partners to protect coral reef ecosystems.

This bill would also codify the United States Coral Reef Task Force established in 1998 by President Clinton through Executive Order 13089. The work of the Task Force, and its mission to coordinate the efforts of the United States in promoting conservation and the sustainable use of coral reefs internationally, is vital to our interests and coastal economies.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation, enhance and conserve our coral reef ecosystems, and protect coastal jobs.