Bill > HR5487

This bill, the "Help Our Kelp Act," would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish and carry out a grant program to conserve, restore, and manage kelp forest ecosystems. The bill specifies that the grants can be awarded to eligible entities such as members of the fishing industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, Indian Tribes, state agencies, and local governments. Eligible projects under the grant program include those that address regional declines in kelp forests, focus on long-term ecosystem and socioeconomic resilience, and integrate Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. The bill authorizes $5 million per year through fiscal year 2028 for the grant program, with at least $750,000 per year reserved for grants to Indian Tribes specifically.