Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023

The program name and all references now include 'Rehabilitation,' and purpose (c)(1) was expanded to cover 'short- or long-term care, transportation, and treatment' in addition to recovery. This broadens what grantees can do with funds beyond initial rescue and release.

Purpose (c)(3) on scientific research was narrowed: the phrase 'or assessments regarding marine turtle health, including tagging information' was removed, leaving only 'scientific research related to marine turtle health.'

The entire authorization of appropriations subsection (h) was deleted. The Introduced version authorized $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2024 through 2029 (with a 3 percent administrative cap). Without this, the bill no longer sets a funding level and would rely on annual appropriations or other mechanisms.

Stakeholder engagement in rulemaking now explicitly includes 'representatives of State governments' alongside public and private organizations. The list of prioritized activities for grant criteria also adds 'coordination' to the existing list of rescuing, rehabilitation, scientific research, and forensic science.

'Stranding region' is renamed 'stranding and rehabilitation region' throughout, and the equitable distribution formula now counts 'stranding and rehabilitation events' rather than just 'stranding events' over the preceding 5 years.