Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act

HR 4949, the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act, establishes a Department of Commerce grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that train or employ veterans for underwater marine and coastal conservation work. The program, authorized for $1 million in fiscal year 2024 and increasing to $1.8 million by 2028, supports specific activities like coral restoration, invasive species removal, marine debris cleanup, and hurricane recovery. Nonprofits must be 501(c)(3) organizations and use funds to employ veterans in these conservation roles, with coordination required with the Department of the Interior. This directly affects veterans seeking meaningful employment and conservation-focused nonprofits receiving federal grants.