[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 927 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 927
To reauthorize the Sea Grant Program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 17, 1997
Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Breaux,
Mr. Reed, and Mr. Glenn) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Sea Grant Program.
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 ``Ocean and Coastal Research
Revitalization Act of 1997''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM ACT.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment or repeal 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.).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
(a) Section 202(a)(1) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as
subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) encourage the development of forecast and
analysis systems for coastal hazards;''.
(b) Section 202(a)(6) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(6)) is amended by striking
the second sentence and inserting the following: ``The most cost-
effective way to promote such activities is through continued and
increased Federal support of the establishment, development, and
operation of programs and projects by sea grant colleges, sea grant
institutes, and other institutions.''.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``their university or'' and
inserting ``his or her''; and
(B) by striking ``college, programs, or regional
consortium'' and inserting ``college or sea grant
institute'';
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) The term `field related to ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes resources' means any discipline or field, including
marine affairs, resource management, technology, education, or
science, which is concerned with or likely to improve the
understanding, assessment, development, utilization, or
conservation of ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.'';
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (15) as
paragraphs (7) through (16), respectively, and inserting after
paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) The term `institution' means any public or private
institution of higher education, institute, laboratory, or
State or local agency.'';
(4) by striking ``regional consortium, institution of
higher education, institute, or laboratory'' in paragraph (10)
(as redesignated) and inserting ``institute or other
institution'';
(5) by striking paragraphs (11) through (16) (as
redesignated) and inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
``(11) The term `project' means any individually described
activity in a field related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources involving research, education, training, or advisory
services administered by a person with expertise in such a
field.
``(12) The term `sea grant college' means any institution,
or any association or alliance of two or more such
institutions, designated as such by the Secretary under section
207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) of this Act.
``(13) The term `sea grant institute' means any
institution, or any association or alliance of two or more such
institutions, designated as such by the Secretary under section
207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) of this Act.
``(14) The term `sea grant program' means a program of
research and outreach which is administered by one or more sea
grant colleges or sea grant institutes.
``(15) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere.
``(16) The term `State' means any State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, or any other territory or
possession of the United States.''.
(b) The Act is amended--
(1) in section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)), as amended by
this Act, by striking ``, the Under Secretary,''; and
(2) by striking ``Under Secretary'' every other place it
appears and inserting ``Secretary''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.
Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 204. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Maintenance.--The Secretary shall maintain within the
Administration, a program to be known as the national sea grant college
program. The national sea grant college program shall be administered
by a national sea grant office within the Administration.
``(b) Program Elements.--The national sea grant college program
shall consist of the financial assistance and other activities
authorized in this subchapter, and shall provide support for the
following elements--
``(1) sea grant programs which comprise a national sea
grant college program network, including international projects
conducted within such programs;
``(2) administration of the national sea grant college
program and this Act by the national sea grant office, the
Administration, and the panel;
``(3) the fellowship program under section 208; and
``(4) any national strategic investments developed with the
approval of the panel, the sea grant colleges, and the sea
grant institutes.
``(c) Responsibilities of the Secretary.--
``(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea
grant colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall develop a long-
range strategic plan which establishes priorities for the
national sea grant college program and which provides an
appropriately balanced response to local, regional, and
national needs.
``(2) Within 6 months of the date of enactment of the Ocean
and Coastal Research Revitalization Act of 1997, the Secretary,
in consultation with the panel, sea grant colleges, and sea
grant institutes, shall establish guidelines related to the
activities and responsibilities of sea grant colleges and sea
grant institutes. Such guidelines shall include requirements
for the conduct of merit review by the sea grant colleges and
sea grant institutes of proposals for grants and contracts to
be awarded under section 205, providing, at a minimum, for
standardized documentation of such proposals and peer review of
all research projects.
``(3) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the
qualifications required for designation of sea grant colleges
and sea grant institutes under section 207.
``(4) To carry out the provisions of this subchapter, the
Secretary may--
``(A) appoint, assign the duties, transfer, and fix
the compensation of such personnel as may be necessary,
in accordance with civil service laws; except that one
position in addition to the Director may be established
without regard to the provisions of Title 5 governing
appointments to the competitive service, at a rate
payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States
Code;
``(B) make appointments with respect to temporary
and intermittent services to the extent authorized by
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code;
``(C) publish or arrange for the publication of,
and otherwise disseminate, in cooperation with other
offices and programs in the Administration and without
regard to section 501 of title 44, any information of
research, educational, training or other value in
fields related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes
resources;
``(D) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements,
and other transactions without regard to section 5 of
title 41, United States Code;
``(E) notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, accept donations and voluntary and
uncompensated services;
``(F) accept funds from other Federal departments
and agencies, including agencies within the
Administration, to pay for and add to grants made and
contracts entered into by the Secretary;
``(G) promulgate such rules and regulations as may
be necessary and appropriate.
``(d) Director of the National Sea Grant College Program.--
``(1) The Secretary shall appoint, as the Director of the
National Sea Grant College Program, a qualified individual who
has appropriate administrative experience and knowledge or
expertise in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources. The Director shall be appointed and compensated,
without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing
appointments in the competitive service, at a rate payable
under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
``(2) Subject to the supervision of the Secretary, the
Director shall administer the national sea grant college
program and oversee the operation of the national sea grant
office. In addition to any other duty prescribed by law or
assigned by the Secretary, the Director shall--
``(A) facilitate and coordinate the development of
a long-range strategic plan under subsection (c)(1);
``(B) advise the Secretary with respect to the
expertise and capabilities which are available within
or through the national sea grant college program and
encourage the use of such expertise and capabilities,
on a cooperative or other basis, by other offices and
activities within the Administration, and other Federal
departments and agencies;
``(C) advise the Secretary on the designation of
sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes, and, if
appropriate, on the termination or suspension of any
such designation; and
``(D) encourage the establishment and growth of sea
grant programs, and cooperation and coordination with
other Federal activities in fields related to ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
``(3) With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant
institutes, the Director shall--
``(A) evaluate the programs of sea grant colleges
and sea grant institutes, using the priorities,
guidelines, and qualifications established by the
Secretary;
``(B) subject to the availability of
appropriations, allocate funding among sea grant
colleges and sea grant institutes so as to--
``(i) promote healthy competition among sea
grant colleges and institutes;
``(ii) encourage successful implementation
of sea grant programs; and
``(iii) to the maximum extent consistent
with other provisions of this Act, provide a
stable base of funding for sea grant colleges
and institutes; and
``(C) ensure compliance with the guidelines for
merit review under subsection (c)(2).''.
SEC. 6. REPEAL OF SEA GRANT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
Section 3 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (33
U.S.C. 1124a) is repealed.
SEC. 7. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES.
Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 207. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES.
``(a) Designation.--
``(1) A sea grant college or sea grant institute shall meet
the following qualifications:
``(A) have an existing broad base of competence in
fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources;
``(B) make a long-term commitment to the objective
in section 202(b), as determined by the Secretary;
``(C) cooperate with other sea grant colleges and
institutes and other persons to solve problems or meet
needs relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources;
``(D) have received financial assistance under
section 205 of this title (33 U.S.C. 1124); and
``(E) meet such other qualifications as the
Secretary, in consultation with the panel, considers
necessary or appropriate.
``(2) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an
association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a
sea grant college if the institution, association, or alliance
--
``(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1);
and
``(B) maintains a program of research, advisory
services, training, and education in fields related to
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
`(3) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an
association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a
sea grant institute if the institution, association, or
alliance--
``(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1);
and ``(B) maintains a program which includes, at a
minimum, research and advisory services.
``(b) Existing Designees.--Any institution, or association or
alliance of two or more such institutions, designated as a sea grant
college or awarded institutional program status by the Director prior
to the date of enactment of this Act, shall not have to reapply for
designation as a sea grant college or sea grant institute,
respectively, after the date of enactment of this act, if the Director
determines that the institution, or assocation or alliance of
institutions, meets the qualifications in subsection (a).
``(c) Suspension or Termination of Designation.--The Secretary may,
for cause and after an opportunity for hearing, suspend or terminate
any designation under subsection (a).
``(d) Duties.--Subject to any regulations prescribed or guidelines
established by the Secretary, it shall be the responsibility of each
sea grant college and sea grant institute--
``(1) to develop and implement, in consultation with the
Secretary and the panel, a program that is consistent with the
guidelines and priorities established under section 204(c); and
``(2) to conduct a merit review of all proposals for grants
and contracts to be awarded under section 205.''.
SEC. 8. REPEAL OF POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 208(c) (33 U.S.C. 208(c)) is repealed.
SEC. 9. SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.
(a) Section 209(a) (33 U.S.C. 1128(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``; commencement date''; and
(2) by striking the second sentence.
(b) Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Panel'' and inserting ``The panel'';
(2) by striking ``and section 3 of the Sea Grant College
Program Improvement Act of 1976'' in paragraph (1); and
(3) by striking ``regional consortia'' in paragraph (3) and
inserting ``institutes''.
(c) Section 209(c) (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``college, sea grant
regional consortium, or sea grant program'' and inserting
``college or sea grant institute'';
(2) by striking paragraph (5)(A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) receive compensation at a rate established by
the Secretary, not to exceed the maximum daily rate
payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States
Code, when actually engaged in the performance of
duties for such panel; and''.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Grants, Contracts, and Fellowships.--Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C.
1131(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this Act--
(1) $55,400,000 for fiscal year 1998;
``(2) $56,500,000 for fiscal year 1999;
``(3) $57,600,000 for fiscal year 2000;
``(4) $58,800,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
``(5) $59,900,000 for fiscal year 2002.''.
(b) Limitation on Certain Funding.--Section 212(b)(1) (33 U.S.C.
1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Program Elements.--
``(1) Limitation.--Of the amount appropriated for each
fiscal year under subsection (a), no more than 6 percent may be
used to fund both the program element contained in section
204(b)(2) and any small business innovation research.''.
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