H.R. 2971

119 HR 2971 IH: Youth Outdoors Using Nature’s Genetics Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-04-21
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2971  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 21, 2025   Ms. Ansari  (for herself,  Mr. Huffman , and  Ms. Matsui ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Natural Resources    A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a youth biodiversity monitoring grant program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Youth Outdoors Using Nature’s Genetics Act of 2025   or the   YOUNG Act of 2025  .
2.
Youth biodiversity monitoring grant program
(a)
In general
The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal agencies, including the Director of the United States Geological Survey and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall establish a grant program to award amounts and provide technical assistance to covered entities to carry out youth biodiversity monitoring projects that use and educate students about advanced technologies.
(b)
Applications
To be eligible for a grant under this section, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c)
Use of amounts
A covered entity that is awarded a grant under this section may use such grant to carry out the following activities as part of a youth biodiversity monitoring project:
(1)
The purchase of supplies.
(2)
Transportation of participants to and from a youth biodiveristy monitoring project.
(3)
Outreach with respect to a youth biodiversity monitoring project to promote participation in such project.
(4)
The purchase of scientific collection licenses and permits.
(5)
Other expenses related to carrying out a youth biodiversity monitoring project the Secretary determines appropriate.
(d)
Priority
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to applications from covered entities that include a proposal for a youth biodiversity monitoring project focused on an underserved community.
(e)
Report
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the grant program, including the following information:
(1)
Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section.
(2)
The amount awarded to each such eligible entity.
(3)
How each such eligible entity used such grant.
(4)
The number of participants in youth biodiversity monitoring projects carried out using grants awarded under this section.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032.
(g)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Advanced technologies
The term  advanced technologies  means—
(A)
environmental DNA collection and analysis procedures;
(B)
remote sensing;
(C)
drones;
(D)
camera traps;
(E)
acoustic monitoring;
(F)
advanced sensors and sensor networks;
(G)
AI, machine learning, or advanced modeling; or
(H)
any other technology or method the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2)
Covered entity
The term  covered entity  means—
(A)
a nonprofit organization;
(B)
an elementary school or secondary school (as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ));
(C)
an institution of higher education (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )); or
(D)
a State, local, or Tribal government.
(3)
Grant program
The term  grant program  means the grant program established pursuant to subsection (a).
(4)
Nonprofit organization
The term  nonprofit organization  means an organization that is—
(A)
described in  section 501(c)(3)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(B)
exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
(5)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
(6)
State
The term  State  means—
(A)
each of the several States;
(B)
the District of Columbia;
(C)
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D)
American Samoa;
(E)
Guam;
(F)
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(G)
the Virgin Islands of the United States; and
(H)
any other territory or possession of the United States.
(7)
Tribal government
The term  Tribal government  means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 ( 25 U.S.C. 5131 ).
(8)
Underserved community
The term  underserved community  means a population of individuals sharing a particular characteristic, or a geographic community, that has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, or civic life, such as—
(A)
racial and ethnic minorities;
(B)
individuals with access and functional needs; or
(C)
individuals otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
(9)
Youth biodiversity monitoring project
The term  youth biodiversity monitoring project  means a project that provides youth with—
(A)
hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, or interpreting biological data about wildlife populations and the ecosystems associated with such populations; and
(B)
education regarding—
(i)
wildlife science;
(ii)
marine science;
(iii)
conservation; or
(iv)
biodiversity.