Coastal Fellowships Act

The Coastal Fellowships Act creates two new fellowship programs - the Coastal Management Fellowship and the Digital Coast Fellowship - to train and support individuals pursuing careers in coastal science, policy, management, and law. Each fellowship provides up to two years of on-the-job training, mentoring, and a stipend of at least $47,000 annually (adjusted for inflation and locality pay), with selection based on academic qualifications, leadership potential, and commitment to public service. Successful fellows may be directly hired by federal agencies within two years of completing their fellowship, bypassing standard hiring rules. The bill authorizes $1.91 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to fund these programs, including stipends, professional development, and administrative costs.