1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Living Shorelines Act of 2017 . 2. Living shoreline grant program (a) Establishment The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall make grants to eligible entities for purposes of— (1) carrying out large- and small-scale, climate-resilient living shoreline projects; and (2) encouraging innovation in the use of natural materials to protect coastal communities. (b) project and selection (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator a proposed living shoreline project, including monitoring and data collection with respect to the project. (2) Selection (A) In general The Administrator shall select recipients based on criteria to be prescribed by the Administrator in consultation with relevant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices, such as the Office of Habitat Conservation, the Office for Coastal Management, and the Restoration Center, and taking into account the potential of proposed projects submitted under this subsection to protect communities and maintain the viability of the environment in areas where such proposed projects are to be carried out. (B) Priority In selecting recipients the Administrator shall give priority consideration to a proposed project to be conducted in an area for which the President has declared, within the 10-year period preceding the submission of a proposed project, that a major disaster exists pursuant to section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 ) due to a hurricane, tropical storm, coastal storm, or flooding. (3) Minimum level of protection (A) In general The Administrator shall select proposed projects for grants under this section that— (i) are primarily focused on providing protection for a coastal community