Climate Adaptation Science Centers Act or the CASC Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of the Interior's National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The centers must provide scientific expertise to managers of natural resources, cultural resources, and ecosystem services to inform decisions that aid adaptation to a changing climate and extreme weather events. The program shall include a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
Among its activities, the National Center shall
Regional centers shall develop research, education, training, and advisory service priorities regarding the impacts of climate trends and variability on natural and cultural resource management.
Interior shall establish an Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences to advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers on specified matters, including (1) the contents of a national strategy identifying key climate adaptation science priorities to advance the management of natural and cultural resources in the face of climate change; and (2) the integration of equity, particularly for historically underserved communities, in the operation of the National Center and regional centers.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6654 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6654
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate
Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science
Centers to respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate
trends, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2022
Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Huffman, Mr.
Blumenauer, Mr. Casten, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Levin
of California, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Case, Ms. Castor of
Florida, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Scanlon, and Ms. Matsui)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate
Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science
Centers to respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate
trends, 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 ``Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Act'' or the ``CASC Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Adaptation.--The term ``adaptation'' means--
(A) the process of adjustment to actual or expected
climate and the effects of extreme weather, climate
trends, and climate variability; and
(B) protection, management, and conservation
efforts designed to maintain or enhance the ability of
people, fish, wildlife, plants, land, ecosystems, and
water of the United States to withstand, adjust to, or
recover from the effects of extreme weather, climate
trends, and climate variability.
(2) Cultural resources.--The term ``cultural resources''--
(A) means those features and values related to
cultural heritage; and
(B) includes biological species with cultural
heritage or ceremonial importance, and historic and
prehistoric sites, trails, structures, inscriptions,
art, and artifacts on Federal lands or representative
of the culture of Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and
Native American Pacific Islanders.
(3) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Advisory
Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences established
under section 6.
(4) Consortium institution.--The term ``consortium
institution'' means college, university, State cooperative
institution, State agency, Indian Tribe, Tribal College or
University, Historically Black College or University, Tribal
organization, Native Hawaiian organization, minority-serving
institution, or other educational institution or organization,
Federal agency, public or private organization, individual, or
any other party within each Regional Center other than the
United States Geological Survey and the host institution.
(5) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of the Interior.
(6) Ecosystem services.--The term ``ecosystem services''
means those benefits that ecosystems provide humans and human
society, including clean air, clean water, and other
economically important services.
(7) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term
``Historically Black Colleges and Universities'' has the same
meaning given to the term ``part B institutions'' in section
322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(8) Host institution.--The term ``host institution'' means
the non-Federal lead organization within each Regional Center.
(9) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).
(10) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means a Hispanic-serving institution, an
Alaska Native-serving institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving
institution, a Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving
institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution
as described in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(11) National center.--The term ``National Center'' means
the National Climate Adaptation Science Center established
under section 3(a).
(12) Native american pacific islanders.--The term ``Native
American Pacific Islanders'' means any descendent of the
aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is a
territory of the United States.
(13) Native hawaiian.--The term ``Native Hawaiian'' means
any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people
who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the
area that now constitutes the State of Hawaii.
(14) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' means any organization which--
(A) serves and represents the interests of Native
Hawaiians;
(B) has as a primary and stated purpose the
provision of services to Native Hawaiians; and
(C) has expertise in Native Hawaiian Affairs, and
shall include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui
Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei.
(15) Natural resources.--The term ``natural resources'' has
the meaning given the term in section 11.14 of title 43, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(16) Regional center.--The term ``Regional Center'' means
one of the Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers
established under section 3(a) that provide support for
specific geographic locations in the United States.
(17) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(18) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) a State of the United States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) American Samoa;
(D) Guam;
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
(F) Puerto Rico; and
(G) the Virgin Islands of the United States.
(19) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal
College or University'' means an institution that--
(A) qualifies for funding under the Tribally
Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the Navajo Community
College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a note); or
(B) is cited in section 532 of the Equity in
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301
note).
(20) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization''
means--
(A) the recognized governing body of any Indian
Tribe; or
(B) any legally established organization of Indians
that is--
(i) controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by
the recognized governing body of an Indian
Tribe; or
(ii)(I) democratically elected by the adult
members of the Indian community to be served by
such organization; and
(II) includes the maximum participation of
Indians in all phases of its activities.
(21) University.--The term ``university'' has the meaning
given to ``institution of higher education'' as that term is
defined by section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration with
States, Indian Tribes, and other partner organizations, shall
establish a program to be known as the ``National and Regional
Climate Adaptation Science Centers'' to provide scientific
expertise to managers of natural resources, cultural resources,
and ecosystem services for the purpose of informing decisions
that aid adaptation to a changing climate and extreme weather
events. The program shall include a National Climate Adaptation
Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers,
which shall be administered by the United States Geological
Survey.
(2) Chief; directors.--The Chief of the National Center
shall be a United States Geological Survey employee. Each
Regional Center shall have a Federal Director and a Host
Institution Director who shall work cooperatively to further
the mission of the Regional Center. Federal Directors of the
Regional Centers shall be United States Geological Survey
employees who report directly to the Chief of the National
Center.
(b) Duties of the National Center.--In collaboration with Federal
agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native
Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific
Islanders, and other partner organizations, the National Center shall--
(1) serve as the national office for the Regional Centers;
(2) provide leadership and guidance on administration,
partnerships, information management, and communications;
(3) develop and facilitate coordination among the Regional
Centers;
(4) coordinate with other Federal agencies working on
similar research and activities;
(5) conduct research on cross-regional and national science
priorities;
(6) support Regional Centers that--
(A) are hosted at a university, or a consortium of
universities or other research institutions, within the
region of each Regional Center;
(B) are collaborations between the Federal Director
and the Host Institution Director and their staffs to
address the broad scientific mission and goals as
defined by the National Center in a manner that is
relevant to its specific geographic region and in
cooperation with State and local governments, Indian
Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native
Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific
Islanders, and other entities within that region;
(C) promote research, education, training, and
advisory service activities and broad and prompt
dissemination of knowledge and techniques; and
(D) receive funding at the host institution through
cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants under
section 4; and
(7) acting through the Chief of the National Center, with
respect to the Regional Centers--
(A) evaluate and assess the performance of the
programs of Regional Centers every five years, using
the priorities, guidelines, and qualifications
established by the Secretary under this section, and
determine if the programs are well managed and carry
out high-quality research, education, training, and
advisory service activities; and
(B) subject to the availability of appropriations,
allocate funding among Regional Centers so as to--
(i) conduct regionally relevant research,
education, training, and advisory service
activities in each of the regions;
(ii) encourage collaborations among
Regional Centers to address regional and
national priorities established under this
section;
(iii) ensure successful implementation and
operation of Regional Centers;
(iv) to the maximum extent consistent with
other provisions of this Act, provide a stable
base of funding in support of the Regional
Centers; and
(v) encourage and promote coordination and
cooperation between the research, education,
training, and advisory service activities of
the Department and those of the host and
consortium institutions.
(c) Authorities of the National Center.--The National Center may--
(1) procure the services of appropriate public and private
agencies and institutions and other qualified persons to
conduct its work; and
(2) operate and fund a network of not fewer than nine
Regional Centers that shall address the impacts of climate
trends and variability, including extreme weather events, on
natural and cultural resources and ecosystem services.
(d) Designation of the Regional Centers.--
(1) Existing regional center designations.--Any institution
or consortium of institutions designated as the host
institution of a Regional Center before the date of the
enactment of this Act, shall not have to reapply for
designation as a Regional Center if the Chief of the National
Center determines that the institution or consortium of
institutions meets the guidelines established in paragraph (2).
(2) Reviews of the regional centers.--The Chief of the
National Center, in consultation with the Committee, shall
establish guidelines related to the activities and
responsibilities of the Regional Centers. Such guidelines shall
include--
(A) requirements for the merit review of the
Regional Centers;
(B) the circumstances by which a host institution
may not be continued as a host institution;
(C) the schedule for reviews according to the
criteria in the schedule for reviews; and
(D) the process to select a new host institution.
(3) Changes to consortium institutions.--The Chief of the
National Center, in consultation with the Federal Director and
Host Institution Director of a Regional Center, may add or
remove consortium institutions at any time to address regional
and national priorities established under this section.
(4) FACA.--Committees, subcommittees, and working groups
appointed by Federal Directors of the Regional Centers pursuant
to this subsection shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(e) Duties of the Regional Centers.--In collaboration with Federal
and State natural resources agencies and departments, Indian Tribes,
Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations,
Native American Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges or Universities,
Historically Black Colleges or Universities, minority-serving
institutions, universities, other research or educational institutions,
and other partner organizations, Regional Centers shall develop
research, education, training, and advisory service priorities
regarding the impacts of climate trends and variability on natural and
cultural resource management in their regions for the purpose of
climate adaptation.
SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, GRANTS, COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS, AND INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.
(a) Authority.--The Director of the United States Geological Survey
is authorized to enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements,
and interagency agreements with a host institution or consortium
institution to further the research, education, training, and advisory
service activities of the Department or its partners relating to
impacts of climate trends and variability. This authority supplements
all other laws relating to the Department and is not to be construed as
limiting or repealing any existing authorities.
(b) Legal Instruments.--The Director of the United States
Geological Survey may use a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or
interagency agreement as the legal instrument reflecting a relationship
between the Secretary and a host institution or consortium institution,
to further the duties under section 3 without regard to--
(1) any requirements for competition;
(2) section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; or
(3) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31,
United States Code.
(c) Participation of Federal Agencies.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, any Federal agency may participate in any such
cooperative agreement under this section by contributing funds through
the National Center or otherwise if it is mutually agreed that the
objectives of the agreement shall further the authorized programs of
the contributing agency.
(d) Title to Assets.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the United States Geological Survey, may vest title to expendable and
nonexpendable assets, including equipment, supplies, and other tangible
personal property in the contractor or recipient when the contractor or
recipient purchases such assets with contract, grant, cooperative
agreement, or interagency agreement funds and the Secretary deems such
vesting of title a furtherance of the research, education, training,
and advisory service objectives of the Department.
(e) Approval Required.--In any case where a contract is let or
grant made to an organization to perform services benefitting more than
one Indian Tribe, the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a
prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.
Each department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Federal
Government, that is engaged in or concerned with, or that has authority
over, matters relating to natural and cultural resources, ecosystem
services, or climate variability or change, including all member
agencies of the United States Global Change Research Program--
(1) may make available, on a reimbursable basis or
otherwise, any personnel (with their consent and without
prejudice to their position and rating), service, or facility
which the Chief of the National Center deems necessary to carry
out any provision of section 3;
(2) shall, upon a written request from the Secretary,
furnish any available data or other information that the
Secretary deems necessary to carry out any provision of section
3;
(3) shall cooperate with the National Center, Regional
Centers, and duly authorized officials thereof; and
(4) may transfer budgetary resources or otherwise enter
into interagency agreements, including funding, facilities,
computational resources, data, or other tangible or intangible
resources, between the National Center or Regional Centers to
aid collaborative work among Federal agencies, when approved by
the Chief of the National Center and their counterpart in the
other Federal agency.
SEC. 6. COMMITTEES.
(a) Authority To Establish Committees.--The Chief of the National
Center may establish committees or working groups and procedures to
facilitate public participation in the advisory process, such as a
national advisory committee for the National Center, stakeholder
advisory committees and science implementation panels for the Regional
Centers, and working groups for review of competitive or noncompetitive
proposals.
(b) Advisory Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Secretary shall
establish an Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resource
Sciences.
(2) Members.--The Committee shall have not fewer than 15
members, each of whom is an employee of--
(A) an Indian Tribe;
(B) a Tribal organization;
(C) a Native Hawaiian organization;
(D) a State or local government;
(E) a host institution of a Regional Center;
(F) a nongovernmental organization;
(G) an academic institution; or
(H) an organization of the private sector.
(3) Chair.--The Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall appoint a Committee Chair from among the members
of the Committee.
(4) Duties.--The Committee shall identify and recommend
priorities for ongoing research needs on the issues described
in section 3(e) to inform the research priorities of the
National Center.
(5) Term of office.--(A) The term of office of a voting
member of the Committee shall be not more than 3 years.
(B) No person may serve more than two consecutive terms as
a voting member of the Committee.
(C) The Chair may extend the term of office of a voting
member of the Committee by up to 1 year.
(D) Any individual appointed to a partial or full term may
be reappointed for one additional full term.
(E) Not less than once each year, the Secretary shall
publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting nominations
for membership on the Board.
(F) The Committee shall select one voting member to serve
as the Vice Chair, who shall act as Chair in the absence or
incapacity of the Chair.
(c) Committees; Working Groups.--
(1) In general.--At the direction of the Secretary, the
Chief of the National Center may establish committees or
working groups to provide input on the science priorities,
implementation of science programs, review of competitive and
noncompetitive proposals, and evaluation of processes,
procedures, and outcomes of the National Center and the
Regional Centers.
(2) Members.--The committees or working groups shall, to
the extent practicable, include members from Federal and State
government, universities, private sector, nongovernmental
organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native
Hawaiian organizations.
(3) Public participation.--The Secretary may establish
procedures to facilitate public participation in the advisory
process, including providing advance notice of meetings,
providing adequate opportunity for public input and comment,
maintaining appropriate records, and making a record of the
proceedings of meetings available for public inspection.
(4) Implementation; availability of records.--The Secretary
shall ensure that the procedures described in paragraph (3) are
adopted and implemented and that the records described in
paragraph (3) are accurately maintained and available for
public inspection.
(5) FACA.--(A) The committees or working groups shall not
be considered advisory committees under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(B) Seeking advice and input under subparagraph (A) shall
not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.).
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this Act not less than--
(1) $97,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
(2) $109,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(3) $121,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(4) $133,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
(5) $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 18.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-602.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-602.
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 435.