---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7504"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7504"
heading: "Eligible uses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7504"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — National Oceans and Coastal Security"
---

# §7504. Eligible uses

- (a) **In general—** Amounts in the [Fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) may be allocated by the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) to support programs and activities intended to better understand and utilize ocean and coastal resources, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem services provided by natural systems such as coral reefs, including baseline scientific research, ocean observing, and other programs and activities carried out in coordination with Federal and State departments or agencies.
- (b) **Prohibition on use of funds for litigation or other purposes—** No [funds](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) made available under this chapter may be used to—
  - (1) [fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) litigation against the Federal Government; or
  - (2) [fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) the creation of national marine monuments and marine protected [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), marine spatial planning, or the National Ocean Policy.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title IX, § 905, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3032; Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3951.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem services provided by natural systems such as coral reefs” for “and coastal infrastructure”.