Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Act

Official: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025

IntroducedN/A

AnimalsSeashores and lakeshoresAnimal protection and human-animal relationshipsEndangered and threatened speciesReptiles

Why This Matters

This bill establishes a grant program for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts. It aims to provide funding and support for organizations involved in the care of stranded sea turtles.

If you care about protecting endangered sea turtles, this bill supports efforts to rescue and rehabilitate them.

Affects: Organizations and agencies involved in sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation will be most affected by this legislation.

Summary

Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and expands the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program to include separate grants to rescue sea turtles. The grants must be used for the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled sea turtles; responses to rescue stranded sea turtles; the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded sea turtles for scientific research or health assessments; facility operating costs that are directly related to activities to assist sea turtles; or development of stranding network capacity where facilities do not exist or are sparse. In addition, the bill establishes the Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund.

What changes is this bill making?

1. The bill creates a dedicated Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund with an authorization of $5 million annually for six years. 2. Organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria, including compliance with the Endangered Species Act and proper care standards for sea turtles. 3. The Secretary of Commerce will oversee the grant program and ensure funds are used exclusively for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation. 4. Emergency assistance will be available through the established funds for immediate response to sea turtle strandings. 5. The bill also mandates data reporting requirements to track the effectiveness of rescue efforts.