---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3955"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3955"
heading: "Distribution of appropriations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3955"
units:
  - "Chapter 59A — Wetlands"
---

# §3955. Distribution of appropriations

- (a) **Priority project and conservation planning expenditures—** Of the total amount appropriated during a given fiscal year to carry out this chapter, 70 percent shall be available, and shall remain available until expended, for the purposes of making expenditures—
  - (1) not to exceed the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 annually to assist the [Task Force](/usc/16/3951.md?p=9) in the preparation of the list required under this chapter and the plan required under this chapter, including preparation of—
    - (A) preliminary assessments;
    - (B) general or site-specific inventories;
    - (C) reconnaissance, engineering or other studies;
    - (D) preliminary design work; and
    - (E) such other studies as may be necessary to identify and evaluate the feasibility of coastal wetland restoration [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (2) to carry out [coastal wetlands restoration projects](/usc/16/3951.md?p=6) in accordance with the priorities set forth on the list prepared under this chapter;
  - (3) to carry out wetlands restoration [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in accordance with the priorities set forth in the restoration plan prepared under this chapter;
  - (4) to make grants not to exceed $2,500,000 annually or $10,000,000 in total, to assist the agency designated by the [State](/usc/16/3951.md?p=4) in development of the Coastal Wetlands Conservation Plan pursuant to this chapter.
- (b) **Coastal wetlands conservation grants—** Of the total amount appropriated during a given fiscal year to carry out this chapter, 15 percent shall be available, and shall remain available to the [Director](/usc/16/3951.md?p=10), for purposes of making grants—
  - (1) to any [coastal State](/usc/16/3951.md?p=5), except [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) eligible to receive funding under [subsection (a)](#a), to carry out [coastal wetlands conservation projects](/usc/16/3951.md?p=7) in accordance with [section 3954 of this title](/usc/16/3954.md); and
  - (2) in the amount of $2,500,000 in total for an assessment of the status, condition, and trends of wetlands in the [State](/usc/16/3951.md?p=4) of Texas.
- (c) **North American wetlands conservation—** Of the total amount appropriated during a given fiscal year to carry out this chapter, 15 percent shall be available to, and shall remain available until expended by, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3951.md?p=1) of the Interior for allocation to carry out wetlands conservation [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in coastal wetlands ecosystems in any [coastal State](/usc/16/3951.md?p=5) under [section 4407 of this title](/usc/16/4407.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–646, title III, § 306, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4786; Pub. L. 103–375, § 5, Oct. 19, 1994, 108 Stat. 3495; Pub. L. 108–447, div. C, title I, § 114(a), Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2944.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–447, § 114(a)(1), struck out “, not to exceed $70,000,000,” before “shall be available” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–447, § 114(a)(2), struck out “, not to exceed $15,000,000” before “shall be available” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–447, § 114(a)(3), struck out “, not to exceed $15,000,000,” before “shall be available”.

1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–375 inserted “in coastal wetlands ecosystems” after “wetlands conservation projects”.