# Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022

This bill creates a new federal grant program to help organizations rescue and care for sea turtles that wash up on U.S. shores or get stranded in American waters. When sea turtles become sick, injured, or unable to return to the ocean on their own, rescue centers and wildlife organizations step in to help them recover. This bill provides federal funding to support that work.

The program will distribute up to $5 million per year (from 2023 through 2028) to rescue and rehabilitation centers across different coastal regions of the United States. Organizations can use these grants to pay for rescuing stranded turtles, providing medical care and treatment, collecting scientific data about turtle health, and covering the operating costs of their facilities. The grants are capped at $150,000 per organization per year, and organizations receiving grants must contribute at least 25 percent of the project costs themselves through their own funding or donated services.

To receive funding, organizations must have a proven track record of actually rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles. The program will prioritize distributing money fairly across different regions based on how many stranding events happen in each area, the size of turtle populations there, and whether the turtles are endangered species that need extra protection. The bill also requires the government to publish all grant proposals and awards so the public can see where the money is going.

For everyday people, this bill means that sea turtles in distress will have better access to professional rescue and medical care, and scientists will have better data about turtle health problems. The funding helps ensure that these rescue efforts continue consistently rather than depending solely on donations and volunteer work.

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022

Keating, William R.

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program.