Sponsors (8)
The bill provides targeted federal funding and a dedicated emergency response fund to strengthen sea turtle rescue and set standards for rehabilitation, but it creates modest new federal costs and eligibility rules that may exclude smaller rehab providers and limit support for longer-term recovery work.
Nonprofits, state governments, and local governments will receive dedicated federal grants (about $5M/year) to support sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response, increasing capacity to handle stranding events.
State and local governments and permitted facilities gain a dedicated interest-bearing Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund to provide emergency assistance and speed responses to stranding events.
Permitted facilities and partner organizations will be required to meet ESA permit or cooperative-agreement–linked standards, making rehabilitation an explicit program consideration and promoting standards-based care and conservation outcomes.
Smaller nonprofit rescue organizations and local rehabilitators may be excluded or disadvantaged because grant eligibility is tied to ESA permits or cooperative agreements and facility-care standards.
Limiting the fund's authorized use to emergency assistance may restrict funding for longer-term rehabilitation, follow-up care, or preventive conservation activities, potentially undermining broader recovery efforts.
Taxpayers fund new appropriations totaling at least about $36 million over FY2025–2030 (roughly $30M in grants plus $6M in response funds), increasing federal spending.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a dedicated grant program and Treasury fund for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response and authorizes funding for FY2025–2030.
Introduced March 4, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress March 24, 2026
Creates a dedicated federal grant program and a Treasury fund to support sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response. It directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to include separate sea turtle grant eligibility tied to ESA permits or cooperative agreements and to follow Interior standards and Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network reporting. Establishes an interest-bearing "Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund," limits use of the fund to emergency assistance by the Secretary, and authorizes funding through FY2025–FY2030: $5,000,000 per year for the sea turtle grant program and $500,000 per year for each of two rapid response funds, with amounts to remain available until expended.