113 S2030 RS: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2014 U.S. Senate 2014-02-12 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IICalendar No. 607113th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 2030[Report No. 113–279]IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 12, 2014Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Wicker, and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationDecember 1, 2014Reported by Mr. Rockefeller, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicA BILLTo reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2014.

2.

References to the National Sea Grant College Program Act

Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

3.

Sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes; annual report on progress

Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended by striking subsection (e).

4.

Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by striking may and inserting shall.

5.

Report on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities

Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed.

6.

National Sea Grant Advisory Board report

Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:(2)

Report

The Board shall report to the Congress every 3 years on the state of the national sea grant college program. The Board shall indicate in each such report the progress made toward meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan in effect under section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available to the Board such information, personnel, and administrative services and assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out its duties under this title..

7.

Technical amendment

Section 205(c) (33 U.S.C. 1124(c)) is amended by striking Elegibility in the heading and inserting Eligibility.

8.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1)—(A)by striking and at the end of subparagraph (E);(B)by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting a semicolon; and(C)by adding at the end the following:(G)$72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;(H)$75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016;(I)$79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017;(J)$83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018;(K)$87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; and(L)$91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020.;(2)in paragraph (2), by striking activities in the heading and inserting activities through fiscal year 2014; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(3)

Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 2020

In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 $18,000,000 for competitive grants for the following:(A)University research on the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species.(B)University research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks.(C)University research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.(D)University research, education, training, and extension services and activities focused on regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1).(E)Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program funding..(b)

Limitations

Section 212(b)(1) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows:(1)

Administration

(A)

In general

There may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of—(i)the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year; or(ii)the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year.(B)

Critical staffing requirements

The Director shall use the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement while implementing the activities authorized in this title. The costs associated with that exercise of authority shall not be counted toward the cap under subparagraph (A)..(c)

Distribution of funds

Section 212(c) (33 U.S.C. 1131(c)) is amended by inserting , the year in which base funding was set, after 2003.(d)

Conforming amendment

Section 212(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)(2)) is amended by inserting or (a)(3) after (a)(2).

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2014.

2.

References to the National Sea Grant College Program Act

Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

3.

Sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes; annual report on progress

Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended by striking subsection (e).

4.

Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

(a)

In general

Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by striking may and inserting shall.(b)

Placements in Congress

Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended—(1)in the first sentence, by striking The Secretary and inserting the following:(1)

In general

The Secretary; and(2)in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1), in the second sentence, by striking A fellowship and inserting the following:(2)

Placement priorities

(A)

In general

In each year in which the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this subsection, when considering the placement of fellows, the Secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in the following:(i)Positions in offices of, or with members on, committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(ii)Positions in offices of members of Congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.(B)

Equitable distribution

In placing fellows in offices described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure, to the degree practicable, that placements are equitably distributed among the political parties.(3)

Duration

A fellowship.(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.(d)

Sense of Congress; encouragement of career development

It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the exceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their fellowship for workforce positions appropriate for their education and experience.

5.

Donations

(a)

In general

Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows:(E)accept donations of money and, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated services;.(b)

Priorities

The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship's placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance with the recommendations under subsection (c) of this section.(c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Sea Grant Office, in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Association, shall—(1)recommend the optimal use of any donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and(2)report the recommendations under paragraph (1) to Congress.(d)

Construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F) or appropriated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1131).

6.

Report on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities

Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed.

7.

National Sea Grant Advisory Board report

Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:(2)

Report

The Board shall report to the Congress every 3 years on the state of the national sea grant college program. The Board shall indicate in each such report the progress made toward meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan in effect under section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available to the Board such information, personnel, and administrative services and assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out its duties under this title..

8.

Program elements

Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended by inserting for research, education, extension, training, technology transfer, and public service after financial assistance.

9.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting the following:(A)$72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;(B)$75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016;(C)$79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017;(D)$83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018;(E)$87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; and(F)$91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020.; and(2)by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:(2)

Priority activities

In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 $6,000,000 for competitive grants for the following:(A)University research on the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species.(B)University research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks.(C)University research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.(D)University research, education, training, and extension services and activities focused on coastal resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1).(E)University research on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies.(F)Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program funding..(b)

Limitations

Section 212(b)(1) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows:(1)

Administration

(A)

In general

There may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of—(i)the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year; or(ii)the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year.(B)

Critical staffing requirements

The Director shall use the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement while implementing the activities authorized in this title. The costs associated with that exercise of authority shall not be counted toward the cap under subparagraph (A)..(c)

Allocation of funding

(1)

In general

Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3) is amended—(A)by striking With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes and inserting With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects; and(B)in subparagraph (B), by striking funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes and inserting funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects.(2)

Excess amounts

Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended—(A)by striking subsection (c); and(B)by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.

December 1, 2014Reported with an amendment