# 119-hr-347: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025

119-hr-347, Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-347
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-347
- Congress: 119
- Title: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 27
- Policy area: Animals
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Creates a dedicated sea turtle rescue grant program and a separate emergency rescue fund.** The bill would model grant rules on the marine mammal framework but award funding specifically for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and rapid response. It requires consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and sea turtle-specific permits and reporting. - Rescue organizations and rehabilitation centers could apply for grants to support strandings and rehab, but they must hold Endangered Species Act permits or a cooperative section 6 agreement and meet captive care and reporting requirements. - The Secretary of Commerce would administer sea turtle awards in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Two Treasury funds are created, including a named sea turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund for emergency assistance. - The sea turtle grant authority is temporary and ends seven years after enactment.

## Cosponsors (27)

- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1] (R-SC), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2] (R-NY), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5] (R-OK), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7] (R-SC), 2025-05-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8] (R-FL), 2026-01-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4] (R-SC), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5] (R-SC), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Emergency funds for turtle and marine rescues: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would set up two Treasury funds that earn interest. They would be named the Joseph R. Geraci Marine Mammal Rescue and Rapid Response Fund and the Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund. The Secretary could use money from these funds only for emergency assist…
- Grants for sea turtle rescue groups: benefit, low. If enacted, this would create a grant program just for sea turtle rescue and rehab. The Commerce Department, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would set separate grant rules for turtles. Awards would have to consider care for stranded sea turtles. Applicants would need an ESA…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-347 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/347)

## Related
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-979)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-347 (as of 2026-09-21).