H.R. 347 – Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:38 AM UTC

The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Commerce, together with the Fish and Wildlife Service, to set up a grant program focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and responding to sea turtle emergencies. It adds sea turtles as a distinct category under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, outlines grant criteria and eligibility, and creates a dedicated Treasury fund for rapid response. The program operates for seven years after enactment.

Key Provisions

Adds sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response as a new category eligible for grants under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with the Secretary of Commerce and the Fish and Wildlife Service overseeing the program.
Specifies grant conditions, including criteria similar to existing marine‑mammal grants and additional requirements for stranded sea turtle rehabilitation.
Sets eligibility rules for applicants, requiring an Endangered Species Act authorization or cooperative agreement, compliance with captive‑care standards, and data‑reporting to the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.
Creates a new interest‑bearing “Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund” in the Treasury to provide emergency assistance for sea turtle incidents.
Establishes a seven‑year sunset for the authority granted to the Secretary of Commerce and the Fish and Wildlife Service to run the program.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 13, 2025

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 13, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 13, 2025

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued January 13, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 347

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2025

Mr. Keating introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025.

2.

Sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response

Section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1421f–1) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:

(10)

Sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response

(A)

In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations specific to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall include separate eligibility for grants under this subsection to address the purposes described in paragraph (2) with respect to sea turtles.

(B)

Conditions of grant

A grant awarded under this subsection to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response shall—

(i)

include the equivalent grant criteria and administration authorities and requirements described under paragraph (3), subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4), and paragraphs (5) through (9), developed, as appropriate, and awarded separately for sea turtles and in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in lieu of the Marine Mammal Commission; and

(ii)

in addition to the considerations under paragraph (4)(B), also consider rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles.

(C)

Eligibility criteria

In order to apply for a grant awarded under this subsection to address sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, an entity shall—

(i)

submit an application described in paragraph (5) to the Secretary of Commerce with respect to sea turtles;

(ii)

be authorized by and in compliance with—

(I)

an authorization issued under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(A)) with respect to sea turtles; or

(II)

a cooperative agreement entered into under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535) with respect to sea turtles;

(iii)

comply with the standard conditions for care and maintenance of captive sea turtles prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior when relevant facilities will be utilized for such purposes; and

(iv)

comply with all relevant data reporting requirements, such as the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network data collection requirements.

(D)

Sunset

The authority of the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out this paragraph shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph.

;

(2)

by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

(c)

Rescue and rapid response funds

(1)

In general

There is established in the Treasury of the United States—

(A)

an interest-bearing fund to known as the Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund; and

(B)

an interest-bearing fund to be known as the Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund.

(2)

Use of funds

Amounts in the funds established under paragraph (1) shall be available only for use by the Secretary to provide emergency assistance.

; and

(3)

in subsection (d)(1)(A), by inserting marine mammal rescue and response after to carry out the.