Title I: National Ocean Exploration Program - National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 102) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program in NOAA that promotes collaboration with other federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs.
(Sec. 103) Sets forth program authorities, including authorizing the Administrator to accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans.
(Sec. 104) Requires the NOAA Administrator to appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board.
(Sec. 105) Declares that nothing in this Act supersedes or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
(Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations.
Title II: Undersea Research Program - National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to conduct an undersea research, exploration, education, and technology development program to increase scientific knowledge regarding management, use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. Requires the program's director to cooperate with institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science organizations and to make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support those organizations' undersea research. Authorizes the director to enter into partnerships with the private sector to achieve program goals and to promote marine industry technological advancement.
(Sec. 204) Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
(Sec. 205) Specifies the research, exploration, education, and technology programs to be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
(Sec. 206) Allows not more than ten percent of the program's budget to be used for administration and for priority undersea research projects not covered by funding available from centers. Requires a competition every five years to select the regional centers that will participate in the program. Requires projects supported by the regional centers to be awarded using an open and competitive process.
(Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations.
Title III: Interagency Planning and Coordination - (Sec. 301) Requires the NOAA Administrator, and relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, to convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force. Requires that the task force coordinate the development of agency budgets.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1834 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1834
To authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national
undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 29, 2007
Mr. Saxton (for himself, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. McIntyre, Mr.
Pallone, Mr. Farr, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Abercrombie) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and
Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources and
Armed Services, 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 authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national
undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Ocean Exploration Program
Act''.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION.
The Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall, in consultation
with the National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal
agencies, conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that
promotes collaboration with existing programs of the Administration,
including those authorized in title II.
SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES.
In carrying out the program authorized under section 102, the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(in this title referred to as the ``Administrator'') shall--
(1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific
activities of discovery in conjunction with other Federal
agencies or academic or educational institutions, to explore
and survey little known areas of the marine environment,
inventory, observe, and assess living and nonliving marine
resources, and report such findings;
(2) give priority attention to deep ocean regions, with a
focus on deep water marine systems that hold potential for
important scientific discoveries, such as hydrothermal vent
communities and seamounts;
(3) conduct scientific voyages to locate, define, and
document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites, and other ocean
exploration activities that combine archaeology and
oceanographic sciences;
(4) develop and implement, in consultation with the
National Science Foundation, a transparent process for merit-
based peer-review and approval of proposals for activities to
be conducted under this program;
(5) enhance the technical capability of the United States
marine science community by promoting the development of
improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation, and
data collection systems, as well as underwater platforms and
sensors and autonomous vehicles;
(6) accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be
applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing
knowledge of the oceans; and
(7) establish an ocean exploration forum to encourage
partnerships and promote communication among experts and other
stakeholders in order to enhance the scientific and technical
expertise and relevance of the national program.
SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall appoint an Ocean
Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant fields to--
(1) advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey
and discovery;
(2) assist the program in the development of a five-year
strategic plan for exploration and discovery;
(3) annually review the quality and effectiveness of the
proposal review process established under section 103(4); and
(4) provide other assistance and advice as requested by the
Administrator.
(b) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
(1) In general.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Ocean Exploration Advisory
Board.
(2) Compliance.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Ocean
Exploration Advisory Board shall be appointed and operate in a
manner consistent with all provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act with respect to--
(A) the balance of membership;
(B) provisions of public notice regarding
activities of the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board;
(C) open meetings; and
(D) public access to documents created by the Ocean
Exploration Advisory Board.
SEC. 105. OCEAN EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
coordination with the National Science Foundation, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological
Survey, the Department of the Navy, the Mineral Management Service, and
relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other
experts, shall convene an ocean exploration technology and
infrastructure task force to develop and implement a strategy--
(1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration technology to
the program authorized under section 102;
(2) to improve availability of communications
infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to the
program;
(3) to develop an integrated, workable, and comprehensive
data management information processing system that will make
information on unique and significant features obtained by the
program available for research and management purposes;
(4) to conduct public outreach activities that improve the
public understanding of ocean science, resources, and
processes, in conjunction with relevant programs of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, and other agencies; and
(5) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with
governmental and non-governmental entities that will assist in
transferring exploration technology and technical expertise to
the program.
SEC. 106. APPLICATION WITH OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT.
Nothing in this title or title II supersedes, or limits the
authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).
SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title--
(1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(4) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(5) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(6) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013;
(7) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014;
(8) $59,436,000 for fiscal year 2015;
(9) $65,379,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
(10) $71,917,000 for fiscal year 2017.
TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Undersea Research Program
Act of 2007''.
SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall conduct an undersea research program and shall
designate a Director of that program.
SEC. 203. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the program authorized under section 202 is to
increase scientific knowledge essential for the informed management,
use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and large lake resources
through undersea research, exploration, education, and technology
development. The program shall be part of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's undersea research, education, and
technology development efforts, and shall make available the
infrastructure and expertise to service the undersea science and
technology needs of the academic community and marine industry.
SEC. 204. PROGRAM.
The program authorized under section 202 shall be conducted through
a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea
research centers that represent all relevant National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration regions, and a national technology
institute. Overall direction of the program will be provided by the
program director in coordination with a Council of Center Directors
comprised of the directors of the extramural regional centers and the
National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
SEC. 205. REGIONAL CENTERS AND INSTITUTE.
(a) Programs.--The following research, exploration, education, and
technology programs shall be conducted through the network of
extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea
Science and Technology:
(1) Core research and exploration based on national and
regional undersea research priorities.
(2) Advanced undersea technology development to support the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research
mission and programs.
(3) Development, testing, and transition of advanced
undersea technology associated with ocean observatories,
submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated
vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and
sensing technologies such as LEO-15, Pisces, and the Aquarius
habitat.
(4) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs
to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the
oceans and Great Lakes.
(5) Discovery, study, and development of natural products
from ocean and aquatic systems.
(b) Operations.--Operation of the extramural regional centers and
the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology shall
leverage partnerships and cooperative research with academia and
private industry.
SEC. 206. COMPETITIVENESS.
Except for a small discretionary fund for rapid response
activities, for which no more than 10 percent of the program budget
shall be set aside, and for National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration-related service projects, the external projects
supported by the regional centers shall be managed using an open and
competitive process to evaluate scientific merit, relevance to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, regional and national
research priorities, and technical feasibility.
SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title--
(1) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $21,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(4) $23,500,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(5) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(6) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2013;
(7) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2014;
(8) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2015;
(9) $33,500,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
(10) $35,500,000 for fiscal year 2017.
TITLE III--INTERAGENCY FINANCING
SEC. 301. INTERAGENCY FINANCING.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, the Department of the Navy, and other Federal
agencies involved in the programs authorized under title I and II, are
authorized to participate in interagency financing and share, transfer,
receive, and spend funds appropriated to any Federal participant in the
program for the purposes of carrying out any administrative or
programmatic project or activity under the program. Funds may be
transferred among such departments and agencies through an appropriate
instrument that specifies the goods, services, or space being acquired
from another Federal participant and the costs thereof.
<all>
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-311, Part I.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-311, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-311, Part II.
Committee on Armed Services discharged.
Committee on Armed Services discharged.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 304.
Mr. Lipinski moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H896-900; text of measure as reported in House: CR H896-898)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1834.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
By unanimous consent, the text of H.R. 1834, as proposed to be adopted under suspension of the rules, was modified by an amendment placed at the desk.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H963-965)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 49 (Roll no. 62).(text: CR H963-964)
Roll Call #62 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 49 (Roll no. 62). (text: CR H963-964)
Roll Call #62 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 581.