Home > 105th Congressional Bills > H.R. 95 (ih) To ensure that Federal agencies establish the appropriate procedures ...H.R. 95 (ih) To ensure that Federal agencies establish the appropriate procedures ...
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 959
To improve the conservation and management of coastal and ocean
resources by authorizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration oceanographic programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2003
Mr. Saxton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the conservation and management of coastal and ocean
resources by authorizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration oceanographic programs.
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 Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Oceanography Amendments Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.
Section 201 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4280) is amended by--
(1) striking the matter preceding ``living marine
resources'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 201. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (in this title referred to as the
`Administration') a coastal ocean program.
``(b) Program Elements.--The coastal ocean program shall augment
and integrate existing research capabilities of the Administration with
other Federal and non-Federal research capabilities. Research shall be
conducted under this program to improve predictions of trends in Great
Lakes, estuarine, and coastal ocean resources, to improve the
conservation and management of''; and
(2) striking subsections (d), (e), and (f).
SEC. 3. LABORATORIES.
Section 202 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 202. LABORATORIES.
``There shall be in the Administration a Great Lakes Environmental
Research Laboratory, a Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, and an
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. These
laboratories shall support the Administration in carrying out its
primary missions specified in section 3(b). The Great Lakes
Environmental Laboratory may support, in partnership with the
University of Michigan, a Cooperative Institute for Limnology and
Ecosystems Research.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 203 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 203. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration a national
undersea research program.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to increase
scientific knowledge by--
``(1) conducting undersea research related to the
Administration's coastal and ocean resource management
missions; and
``(2) maintaining operational assets and expertise, and
developing technology necessary to support undersea research.
``(c) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint as the Director of the
National Undersea Research Program a qualified individual who has
appropriate administrative experience and knowledge or expertise in
fields related to undersea research.
``(d) Program.--The program shall be conducted through a national
headquarters and a network of regional undersea research centers.
``(e) Competitiveness.--All research, education, and technology
activities under the program shall be managed using an open and
competitive process to evaluate scientific merit, relevance to the
Administration's coastal and ocean resource management missions, and
technical feasibility.''.
SEC. 5. OCEANOGRAPHY PROGRAMS.
Title II of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 206. OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Administration an ocean
exploration program.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are the following:
``(1) To explore the physical, biological, chemical,
geological, archaeological, temporal, and other related
characteristics of the ocean.
``(2) To maximize efficiency by integrating the multiple
scientific disciplines and by employing the diverse resources
of the ocean science community.
``(3) To create missions and scientific activities of
discovery and exploration for the purpose of discovering and
documenting knowledge regarding the ocean.
``(4) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean Program and the
National Undersea Research Program, to promote the development
and application of new technologies for the exploration of the
ocean.
``(5) To achieve a heightened scientific literacy and
public appreciation of the oceans.
``(6) To facilitate ocean exploration data and information
availability in a timely and consistent manner.
``(c) Authorities.--In carrying out the program under this section
the Secretary may perform the following:
``(1) Conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages or
other activities in conjunction with other Federal agencies or
academic or educational institutions, to survey little known
areas of the marine environment, and inventory, monitor, and
assess living and nonliving marine resources.
``(2) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean Program and the
National Undersea Research Program, enhance the domestic
technical capability of the marine science community by
promoting the development of improved oceanographic research,
communication, navigation, and data management and
dissemination platforms, equipment, instruments, and
techniques.
``(3) In conjunction with the National Sea Grant College
Program and the National Science Foundation Centers for Ocean
Science Education Excellence, conduct public education and
outreach activities that improve the public understanding of
ocean science, resources, and processes.
``(4) Accept donations of property, data, and equipment to
be applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or
increasing knowledge of the oceans.
``SEC. 207. COASTAL OBSERVATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM.
``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `coastal observation
technology system' means a system of marine sensors and other devices,
personnel, and products, that--
``(1) collects remotely sensed and in situ observations in
the coastal waters of a given region or subregion in a routine
manner, including continuous observations;
``(2) transmits the data to users including, as
appropriate, in real time or near real time;
``(3) produces forecasts and other appropriate products
representing ocean conditions for users; and
``(4) manages the collected data to best practices for
archiving and future use.
``(b) Designation of Units.--Before designating a regional coastal
observation technology system as a unit of the national coastal
observation technology system under subsection (c), the Secretary
shall--
``(1) establish, in consultation with the National Ocean
Research Leadership Council, standards and protocols for the
collection and distribution of data by regional coastal
observation technology systems;
``(2) establish management, quality control, and assessment
systems for data collected and distributed by regional coastal
observation technology systems; and
``(3) determine that the regional coastal observation
technology system has adequate technical expertise to collect
and distribute data in accordance with standards and protocols
established under paragraph (1).
``(c) Data Collection.--The Secretary may designate units of and
coordinate a coastal observation technology system to collect data
necessary to carry out the primary missions of the Administration.
``(d) Data Use.--The Secretary shall, in conjunction with Federal,
State, and local agencies and academic institutions, use data collected
under subsection (b) to develop forecast models to support coastal and
fishery management, safe and efficient marine navigation, weather and
climate prediction, and other appropriate activities.
``(e) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into contracts
or cooperative agreements or make grants to units designated
under subsection (c) to carry out coastal observation
technology activities.
``(2) Cost share.--The Federal share of any assistance
provided under paragraph (1) may not exceed 50 percent of the
costs of those activities.
``SEC. 208. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``For operations, research, and facilities of the Administration
relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the following:
``(1) For ARGO floats, $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2004 through 2008.
``(2) For ocean and coastal research activities of
laboratories and joint institutes, other than activities
related to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory,
$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, of
which up to $3,000,000 may be expended each fiscal year for
VENTS.
``(3) For activities related to the Great Lakes
Environmental Research Laboratory and associated cooperative
institutes, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through
2008.
``(4) For activities related to the coastal ocean program,
$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
``(5) For activities related to the national undersea
research program--
``(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
``(B) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
``(C) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
``(D) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
``(E) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``(6) For activities related to the ocean exploration
program, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through
2008.
``(7) For tsunami hazard mitigation activities, $3,500,000
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
``(8) For Arctic research partnership programs, $4,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, of which up to
$2,000,000 may used for the Study of Environmental Arctic
Change.
``(9) For activities related to coastal environmental
health and biomolecular research, $11,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
``(10) For coastal observing technologies--
``(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
``(B) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;
``(C) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
``(D) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
``(E) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``SEC. 209. SHORT TITLE.
``This title may be cited as the `National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Oceanography Act of 2003'.''.
SEC. 6. OCEAN EXPLORATION REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
section, the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (established by
section 7902 of title 10, United States Code) shall provide to the
Committee on Resources, the Committee on Science, and the Committee on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed
Services of the Senate, a plan for implementing the report of the
President's Panel on Ocean Exploration transmitted on October 10, 2000,
including a recommendation for a dedicated multiyear, multidisciplinary
voyage of discovery.
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