---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6453"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6453"
heading: "Membership"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6453"
units:
  - "Chapter 83A — Coral Reef Conservation, Management, and Assistance"
  - "Subchapter I — United States Coral Reef Task Force"
---

# §6453. Membership

- (a) **Voting membership—** The voting members of the Task Force shall be—
  - (1) the Under [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Interior, who shall be co-chairpersons of the Task Force;
  - (2) such representatives from other Federal agencies as the President, in consultation with the Under [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), determines appropriate; and
  - (3) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor, of each [covered State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2).
- (b) **Nonvoting members—** The Task Force shall have the following nonvoting members:
  - (1) A member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under [section 1852(b)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1852.md?p=b-1).
  - (2) A member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council who is designated by the Governor of Florida under such section.
  - (3) A member of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council who is designated under such section and selected as follows:
    - (A) For the period beginning on December 23, 2022, and ending on December 31 of the calendar year during which such date occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the Governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    - (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the Governors of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall, on a rotating basis, [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) turns selecting the member.
  - (4) A member of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council who is designated under such section and selected as follows:
    - (A) For the period beginning on December 23, 2022, and ending on December 31 of the calendar year during which such date occurs, the member shall be selected jointly by the Governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
    - (B) For each calendar year thereafter, the Governors of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands shall, on an alternating basis, [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) turns selecting the member.
  - (5) A member appointed by the President of the Federated [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Micronesia.
  - (6) A member appointed by the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  - (7) A member appointed by the President of the Republic of Palau.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10013, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3952.)