No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10340 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10340
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
December 10, 2024
Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Casten, Mr. Mullin, Mr.
Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Case, Mr. Levin, Mr. Soto, Mr. Neguse, Ms.
McCollum, Ms. Norton, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Garcia
of Texas, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr.
Espaillat, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Magaziner, and
Ms. Brownley) 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) Advisory service activities.--The term ``advisory
service activities'' means activities including--
(A) sharing climate science and climate adaptation
knowledge between National and Regional Climate
Adaptation Science Center researchers, stakeholders,
and other partners;
(B) building collaborations between National and
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center researchers,
stakeholders, and other partners; and
(C) integrating climate adaptation science into
natural and cultural resource management, decision-
making and planning.
(3) Cultural resources.--The term ``cultural resources''--
(A) means those features and values related to
cultural heritage; and
(B) includes--
(i) biological species with cultural
heritage or ceremonial importance, and historic
and precontact sites, cultural landscapes,
trails, structures, inscriptions, art, and
artifacts on Federal lands or representative of
the culture of Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians,
and Native American Pacific Islanders; and
(ii) resources considered to be cultural
resources according to the traditional
knowledge of Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians,
and Native American Pacific Islanders.
(4) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Advisory
Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences established
under section 6.
(5) 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, or any other
party within each regional center other than the United States
Geological Survey and the host institution.
(6) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of the Interior.
(7) 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.
(8) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term
``Historically Black Colleges and Universities'' has the same
meaning given the term ``part B institutions'' in section 322
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(9) Host institution.--The term ``host institution'' means
the non-Federal lead organization within each regional center.
(10) 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).
(11) 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(a) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))).
(12) National center.--The term ``National Center'' means
the National Climate Adaptation Science Center established
under section 3(a).
(13) 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.
(14) 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.
(15) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' means--
(A) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
(B) Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei; and
(C) any other organization that--
(i) serves and represents the interests of
Native Hawaiians;
(ii) has as a primary and stated purpose
the provision of services to Native Hawaiians;
and
(iii) has expertise in Native Hawaiian
Affairs.
(16) Natural resources.--The term ``natural resources'' has
the meaning given that term in section 11.14 of title 43, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(17) 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.
(18) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(19) 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.
(20) 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).
(21) 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.
(22) University.--The term ``university'' has the meaning
given to the term ``institution of higher education'' in
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'', which shall--
(A) provide scientific expertise to agencies,
organizations, individuals, Indian Tribes, tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations
engaged in the management 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; and
(B) include a National Climate Adaptation Science
Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
(2) Chief; directors.--
(A) Chief.--The Chief of the National Center shall
be a United States Geological Survey employee and shall
be responsible for national-scale and network-wide
strategic initiatives, science direction, and
partnerships.
(B) Directors.--Each regional center shall have--
(i) a Federal Director who shall--
(I) be a United States Geological
Survey employee;
(II) report directly to the Chief
of the National Center; and
(III) be responsible for region-
specific and cross-regional strategic
initiatives and implementation of
climate science research agendas; and
(ii) a Host Institution Director who
shall--
(I) carry out the terms and
conditions of the financial assistance
award;
(II) lead the institutional
consortium in each region; and
(III) oversee training and capacity
building at the host and consortium
institutions.
(C) Cooperative work.--Each Regional Federal
Director and each Host Institution Director shall work
cooperatively to further the mission of the relevant
regional center.
(D) Administration.--The National Center and all
regional centers shall be administered by the United
States Geological Survey.
(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 and collaborate with other Federal agencies
working on similar research and activities to--
(A) minimize, as much as possible, the duplication
of research and effort; and
(B) use, as much as possible, existing data in the
development of new or ongoing research;
(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 to stakeholders, Tribal
governments, and the public via informational
publications, trainings, and other outreach methods;
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 on 5-year terms, with additional funds
available annually subject to the availability
of appropriations;
(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; and
(vi) pay the official Federal Government
negotiated overhead rate to the host
institution and partners on the basic agreement
establishing the location of the regional
center.
(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.--
(A) In general.--Any institution or consortium of
institutions designated as a regional center before the
date of enactment of this Act shall participate in one
final competition for its status as a regional center
upon the conclusion of its existing 5-year term to
assure that the host institutions and association
consortium institutions update proposals recognizing
the long-term commitment as a host.
(B) Recompetes.--After the next competition for
regional center after the date of enactment of this
Act, a designated regional center shall not have to
recompete on 5-year terms, but shall be subject to
review on 5-year terms as described in paragraph (2).
After competed, the final agreements shall only be
recompeted in the event of a failed review.
(2) Reviews of the regional centers.--
(A) The Chief of the National Center, in
consultation with the Committee, shall establish
guidelines for 5-year merit reviews of each regional
center, which shall include guidelines for--
(i) the establishment of a statement of
objectives, agreed upon by the National Center
and regional host institutions at the beginning
of the 5-year term, that outline the
expectations of activities or measures of
success to be completed during the agreed upon
period; and
(ii) an independent merit review, conducted
by the National Center, of the host
institution's activities as related to the
statement of objectives.
(B) If a regional center does not meet the
requirements included in the statement of objective as
determined by the independent merit review referred to
in subparagraph (A)(ii), the host institution or
consortium of institutions may not continue as a host
of a regional center.
(C) If a host institution or consortium of
institution fails a merit review referred to in
subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chief of the National Center
may give the host institution or consortium of
institutions a probationary period of one year. After
the one-year probationary period, the Chief of the
National Center shall undertake an additional review
referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) to determine if the
host institution or consortium of institutions shall--
(i) continue as a host of a regional
center; or
(ii) not continue as a host of a regional
center, in which case the Chief of the National
Center shall initiate a competitive process to
select a new host institution.
(D) The Chief of the National Center shall ensure
that reviews completed pursuant to this paragraph are
publicly available.
(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.
(f) Project Solicitation.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, each regional center shall undergo a project
solicitation process annually that shall--
(1) include regionally identified science priority topics;
(2) work with science partners in the region to develop a
scientific review process to assure the highest quality of
proposals are selected; and
(3) final decisions on annual project selections shall be
made by the Federal Directors of the regional centers.
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, and cooperative
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) 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) 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;
(2) shall cooperate with the National Center, regional
centers, and duly authorized officials thereof;
(3) 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; 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.
(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 to advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation
Science Centers on the following:
(A) 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.
(B) The nature, extent, and quality of relations
with and facilitating engagement of key partners at the
regional center level.
(C) The nature and effectiveness of mechanisms to
effectively deliver science information and tools, and
build capacity, to aid the natural and cultural
resource management community and decision-makers in
adapting to a changing climate.
(D) Mechanisms that may be employed by the National
Center to ensure high standards of scientific quality
and integrity in its products.
(E) The integration of equity, particularly for
historically underserved communities, in the operation
of the National Center and regional centers.
(2) Voting members.--The Committee shall have not fewer
than 15 voting members who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
Each voting member shall be an employee of--
(A) an Indian Tribe;
(B) a Tribal organization;
(C) a Native Hawaiian organization;
(D) a State or local government;
(E) nongovernmental organization whose primary
mission is conservation and related scientific and
advocacy activities;
(F) an academic institution; or
(G) other sectors, environmental justice
organizations, or private industry.
(3) Non-voting members.--A Host Institution Director who is
elected by the various Host Institution Directors shall serve
as a non-voting member of the Committee. No individual is
eligible to be a voting member of the Committee if the
individual is--
(A) a Host Institution Director;
(B) a full-time officer or employee of the United
States; or
(C) a voting member of the Committee who is an
applicant for or beneficiary of any grant or contract
under this Act shall abstain from voting when there is
a conflict of interest.
(4) Chair.--The Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall appoint a Committee Chair from among the members
of the Committee.
(5) Vice chair.--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.
(6) Nominations.--Not less than once each year, the
Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register
soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.
(7) Term of office.--(A) The term of office of a voting
member of the Committee shall be not more than 3 years.
(B) No individual 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.
(8) 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.
(9) Estimated number and frequency of meetings.--The
Committee shall meet approximately one to two times annually,
and at such other times as designated by the Director of the
United States Geological Survey.
(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
proposals, and evaluation 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.).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line