[House Report 107-514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 107-514
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PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3389, NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE
PROGRAM ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2002
_______
June 18, 2002.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Diaz-Balart, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 446]
The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration
House Resolution 446, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be
adopted.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION
The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3389, the
National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002,
under an open rule. The rule provides one hour of general
debate, with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Resources and 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the
Science.
The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments
recommended by the Committee on Resources and the Committee on
Science now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to
consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in this report.
The rule waives all points of order against the amendment
in the nature of a substitute. The rule further provides that
the amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be open for
amendment by section.
The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
to accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-
printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. Finally,
the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions.
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT MADE IN ORDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE
OF AMENDMENT
Gilchrest: Manager's amendment in the nature of a
substitute. Reflects a bipartisan consensus between the
Resources and Science Committees, which have each reported out
their own versions of H.R. 3389. Reauthorizes the National Sea
Grant College Program for 5 years and keeps it in the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Reauthorizes
NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program, but does not consolidate the two
programs.
TEXT OF AMENDMENT MADE IN ORDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF
AMENDMENT
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College
Program Act Amendments of 2002''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO FINDINGS.
Section 202(a)(6) of the National Sea Grant College Program
Act (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(6)) is amended by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``, including strong collaborations
between Administration scientists and scientists at academic
institutions.''.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.
(a) Quadrennial Strategic Plan.--Section 204 (c)(1) of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123 (c)(1))
is amended to read as follows:
``(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the panel,
sea grant colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall
develop at least every 4 years a strategic plan that
establishes priorities for the national sea grant
college program, provides an appropriately balanced
response to local, regional, and national needs, and is
reflective of integration with the relevant portions of
the strategic plans of the Department of Commerce and
of the Administration.''.
(b) Ranking of Programs.--Section 204(d)(3)(A) of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C.
1123(d)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and competitively
rank'' after ``evaluate''.
(c) Functions of Director.--Section 204(d)(3)(B) of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C.
1123(d)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end of clause (ii) and by adding at the end
the following:
``(iv) encourage and promote
coordination and cooperation between
the research, education, and outreach
programs of the Administration and
those of academic institutions; and''.
SEC. 4. COST SHARE.
Section 205(a) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act
(33 U.S.C. 1124(a)) is amended by striking ``section
204(d)(6)'' and inserting ``section 204(c)(4)(F)''.
SEC. 5. FELLOWSHIPS.
(a) Access.--Section 208(a) of the National Sea Grant College
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(a)) is amended by adding at the end
the following: ``The Secretary shall strive to ensure equal
access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to
the program carried out under this subsection.''.
(b) Postdoctoral Fellows.--Section 208(c) of the National Sea
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(c)) is repealed.
SEC. 6. TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.
Section 209(c)(2) of the National Sea Grant College Program
Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is amended by striking the first
sentence and inserting the following: ``The term of office of a
voting member of the panel shall be 3 years for a member
appointed before the date of enactment of the National Sea
Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002, and 4 years for a
member appointed or reappointed after the date of enactment of
the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002.
The Director may extend the term of office of a voting member
of the panel appointed before the date of enactment of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 by up
to 1 year.''.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 212 of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1131) are amended to
read as follows:
``(a) Authorization.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title--
``(A) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
``(B) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
``(C) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;
``(D) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
``(E) $82,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
``(F) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``(2) Priority activities.--In addition to the amount
authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to
be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2003 through
2008--
``(A) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for
university research on the biology and control
of zebra mussels and other important aquatic
nonnative species;
``(B) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for
university research on oyster diseases, oyster
restoration, and oyster-related human health
risks;
``(C) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for
university research on the biology, prevention,
and forecasting of harmful algal blooms,
including Pfiesteria piscicida; and
``(D) $3,000,000 for competitive grants for
fishery extension activities conducted by sea
grant colleges or sea grant institutes.
``(b) Program Elements.--
``(1) Limitation.--No more than 5 percent of the
lesser of--
``(A) the amount authorized to be
appropriated; or
``(B) the amount appropriated,
for each fiscal year under subsection (a)(1) may be
used to fund the program element contained in section
204(b)(2).
``(2) Use for other offices or programs.--Sums
appropriated under the authority of subsection (a)(2)
shall not be available for administration of this title
by the National Sea Grant Office, for any other
Administration or department program, or for any other
administrative expenses.
``(c) Distribution of Funds.--In any fiscal year in which the
appropriations made under subsection (a)(1) exceed the amounts
appropriated for fiscal year 2002 for the purposes described in
such subsection, the Secretary shall distribute any excess
amounts (except amounts used for the administration of the sea
grant program) to--
``(1) sea grant programs that, based on the
evaluation and competitive ranking required under
section 204(d)(3)(A), are determined to be the best
managed and to carry out the highest quality research,
education, extension, and training activities;
``(2) national strategic investments authorized under
section 204(b)(4);
``(3) a college, university, institution,
association, or alliance for activities that are
necessary for it to be designated as a sea grant
college or sea grant institute; or
``(4) a sea grant college or sea grant institute
designated after the date of enactment of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002.''.
SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS IN BECOMING DESIGNATED AS SEA GRANT
COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES.
Section 207 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (16
U.S.C. 1126) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Annual Report on Progress.--
``(1) Report requirement.--The Secretary shall report
annually to the Committee on Resources and the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives,
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, on efforts and progress
made by colleges, universities, institutions,
associations, and alliances to become designated under
this section as sea grant colleges or sea grant
institutes, including efforts and progress made by sea
grant institutes in being designated as sea grant
colleges.
``(2) Territories and freely associated states.--The
report shall include description of--
``(A) efforts made by colleges, universities,
associations, institutions, and alliances in
United States territories and freely associated
States to develop the expertise necessary to be
designated as a sea grant institute or sea
grant college;
``(B) the administrative, technical, and
financial assistance provided by the Secretary
to those entities seeking to be designated; and
``(C) the additional actions or activities
necessary for those entities to meet the
qualifications for such designation under
subsection (a)(1).''.
SEC. 9. COORDINATION.
Not later than February 15 of each year, the Under Secretary
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall jointly submit to the
Committees on Resources and Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report on how the oceans and
coastal research activities of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, including the Coastal Ocean Program
and the National Sea Grant College Program, and of the National
Science Foundation will be coordinated during the fiscal year
following the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. The
report shall describe in detail any overlapping ocean and
coastal research interests between the agencies and specify how
such research interests will be pursued by the programs in a
complementary manner.
SEC. 10. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.
Section 201(c) of Public Law 102-567 is amended by--
(1) striking ``Of the sums authorized under
subsection (b)(1), $17,352,000 for each of the fiscal
years 1992 and 1993 are authorized to be appropriated''
and inserting ``There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Commerce $35,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2003 to 2008''; and
(2) striking ``to promote development of ocean
technology,''.