[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5618 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. R. 5618
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 15, 2008
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program
Amendments Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1)(D) to read as follows:
``(D) encourage the development of preparation,
forecast, analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery
systems for coastal hazards;'';
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``program of research,
education,'' and inserting ``program of integrated research,
education, extension,''; and
(3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
``(6) The National Ocean Research Priorities Plan and
Implementation Strategy issued by the National Science and
Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology on January 26, 2007, identifies research priorities
for compelling areas of interaction between society and the
ocean, and calls for the engagement of a broad array of ocean
science sectors (government, academia, industry, and non-
government entities) to address the areas of greatest research
need and opportunity.
``(7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
through the national sea grant college program, offers the most
suitable locus and means for such commitment and engagement
through the promotion of activities that will result in greater
such understanding, assessment, development, utilization, and
conservation. The most cost-effective way to promote such
activities is through continued and increased Federal support
of the establishment, development, and operation of programs
and projects by sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, and
other institutions, including strong collaborations between
Administration scientists and research and outreach personnel
at academic institutions.''.
(b) Purpose.--Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended by
striking ``to promote research, education, training, and advisory
service activities'' and inserting ``to promote integrated research,
education, training, and extension activities''.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Amendments.--Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (11) by striking ``advisory services'' and
inserting ``extension services'';
(2) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ``(33
U.S.C. 1126)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(17) The term `regional research and information plan'
means a plan developed by one or more sea grant colleges or sea
grant institutes that identifies regional priorities to
implement the National Ocean Research Priorities Plan and
Implementation Strategy.
``(18) The term `National Ocean Research Priorities Plan
and Implementation Strategy' means such plan and strategy
issued by the National Science and Technology Council's Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology on January 26,
2007.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 307 of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide
for the designation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine
Sanctuary'' (Public Law 102-251; 106 Stat. 66) is repealed.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM, GENERALLY.
(a) Program Elements.--Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is
amended--
(1) by amending in paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant
college program network, including international projects
conducted within such programs and regional and national
projects conducted among such programs;'';
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) administration of the national sea grant college
program and this title by the national sea grant office and the
Administration;''; and
(3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) any regional or national strategic investments in
fields relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources
developed in consultation with the board and with the approval
of the sea grant colleges and the sea grant institutes.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(2))
is amended by striking ``Within 6 months of the date of enactment of
the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998,
the'' and inserting ``The''.
(c) Functions of Director of National Sea Grant College Program.--
Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``long-range'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) by striking ``(A)(i) evaluate'' and inserting
``(A) evaluate and assess'';
(B) by striking ``activities; and'' and inserting
``activities;''; and
(C) by striking clause (ii); and
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as
clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively, and by
inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) encourage collaborations among sea
grant colleges and sea grant institutes to
address regional and national priorities
established under subsection (c)(1);
``(iii) encourage cooperation with Minority
Serving Institutions--
``(I) to enhance collaborative
research opportunities for faculty and
students in the areas of atmospheric,
oceanic, and environmental sciences,
and remote sensing;
``(II) to improve opportunities
for, and retention of, students and
faculty from Minority Serving
Institutions in the NOAA related
sciences; and
``(III) to increase the number of
such students graduating in NOAA
science areas;''; and
(B) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by striking
``encourage'' and inserting ``ensuring''.
SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
(a) Exemption From Limitation on Cost Share.--Section 205(a) (33
U.S.C. 1124(a)) is amended in the matter following paragraph (2), by
inserting ``or that are appropriated under section 208(b)'' before the
period at the end.
(b) Special Grants; Maximum Amount.--Section 205(b) (33 U.S.C.
1124(b)) is amended by striking the matter following paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:
``The total amount that may be provided for grants under this
subsection during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 5
percent of the total funds appropriated for such year under section
212.''.
SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT
INSTITUTES.
Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs
(2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ``advisory services'' and inserting
``extension services''.
SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS.
(a) Restriction on Use of Funds Available for Fellowships.--Section
208 (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Restriction on Use of Funds.--Amounts available for
fellowships under this section, including amounts accepted under
section 204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated under section 212 to implement
this section, shall be used only for award of such fellowships and
administrative costs of implementing this section.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127(a)) is
amended by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of
2002, and every 2 years thereafter,'' and inserting ``Every 2 years,''.
SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Redesignation of Sea Grant Review Panel as Board.--
(1) Redesignation.--The sea grant review panel established
by section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act
(33 U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the enactment
of this Act, is redesignated as the National Sea Grant Advisory
Board.
(2) Membership not affected.--An individual serving as a
member of the sea grant review panel immediately before the
enactment of this Act may continue to serve as a member of the
National Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of such
member's term under section 209(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C.
1128(c).
(3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to such
sea grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the
National Sea Grant Advisory Board.
(4) Conforming amendments.--
(A) In general.--Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is
amended by striking so much as precedes subsection (b)
and inserting the following:
``SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.
``(a) Establishment.--There shall be an independent committee to be
known as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.''.
(B) Definition.--Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9))
is amended to read as follows:
``(9) The term `Board' means the National Sea Grant
Advisory Board established under section 209.'';
(C) Other provisions.--The following provisions are
each amended by striking ``panel'' each place it
appears and inserting ``Board'':
(i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123).
(ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126).
(iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128).
(b) Duties.--Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(b) Duties.--
``(1) In general.--The Board shall advise the Secretary and
the Director concerning--
``(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant
college program to address the Nation's highest
priorities regarding the understanding, assessment,
development, utilization, and conservation of ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
``(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea
grant institutes; and
``(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to
the Board for review and advice.
``(2) Biennial report.--The Board shall report to the
Congress every two years on the state of the national sea grant
college program. The Board shall indicate in each such report
the progress made toward meeting the priorities identified in
the strategic plan in effect under section 204(c). The
Secretary shall make available to the Board such information,
personnel, and administrative services and assistance as it may
reasonably require to carry out its duties under this title.''.
(c) Extension of Term.--Section 209(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is
amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
``The Director may extend the term of office of a voting member of the
Board once by up to 1 year.''.
(d) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 204(c) (33 U.S.C.
1123(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are reasonably
necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (b). Such
subcommittees may include individuals who are not Board members.''.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary to carry out this title--
``(1) $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(2) $72,800,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(3) $79,600,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(4) $86,400,000 for fiscal year 2012;
``(5) $93,200,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
``(6) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.''.
(b) Repeal of Distribution Requirement.--Section 212 (33 U.S.C.
1131) is amended by striking subsection (c), and by redesignating
subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
Passed the House of Representatives July 14, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
By Robert F. Reeves,
Deputy Clerk.