[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2428 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2428

          To amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 30, 2002

   Mr. Kerry (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
   Breaux, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Feingold) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act.

    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 ``National Sea Grant College Program 
Act Amendments of 2002''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO FINDINGS.

    Findings.--Section 202(a)(6) of the National Sea Grant College 
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(6)) is amended by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ``, including strong collaborations between 
Administration scientists and scientists at academic institutions.''.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

    (a) Quadrennial Strategic Plan.--Section 204 (c)(1) of the National 
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123 (c)(1)) is amended to 
read as follows: ``The Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea 
grant colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall develop at least every 
4 years a strategic plan which establishes priorities for the national 
sea grant college program, provides an appropriately balanced response 
to local, regional, and national needs, and is reflective of 
integration with the strategic plans of the Department of Commerce and 
of NOAA.''.
    (b) Allocation of Funding.--Section 204(d)(3)(B) of the National 
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)) is amended.--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
        clause (ii);
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) encourage and promote coordination 
                        and cooperation between the research, 
                        education, and outreach programs of the 
                        Administration and those of academic 
                        institutions; and''.
    (c) Ensuring Equal Access.--Section 208(a) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 
1127(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary 
shall strive to ensure equal access for minority and economically 
disadvantaged students to the program carried out under this 
subsection.''.

SEC. 4. TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.

    Section 209(c)(2) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is amended by striking the first sentence and 
inserting the following: ``The term of office of a voting member of the 
panel shall be 3 years for a member appointed before the date of 
enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 
2002, and 4 years for a member appointed or reappointed after the date 
of enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments 
of 2002. The Director may extend the term of office of a voting member 
of the panel appointed before the date of enactment of the National Sea 
Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 by up to 1 year.''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 212 of the 
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1131) are amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(a) Authorization.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Secretary to carry out this title--
                    ``(A) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(B) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    ``(C) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    ``(D) $82,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    ``(E) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            ``(2) Priority research.--In addition to the amount 
        authorized under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be 
        appropriated for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008--
                    ``(A) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for 
                university research on biology and control of zebra 
                mussels and other important non-native species as 
                identified in section 1301(b)(4)(A) of the 
                Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 
                Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4171(b)(4)(A));
                    ``(B) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for 
                university research on oyster diseases, oyster 
                restoration, and oyster-related human health risks;
                    ``(C) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for 
                university research on the biology, prevention, and 
                forecasting of harmful algal blooms, including 
                Pfiesteria piscicida; and
                    ``(D) $3,000,000 for competitive grants for 
                research contributing to the fisheries extension 
                program to enhance, not supplant, existing core program 
                funding.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Administration.--There may not be used for 
        administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year 
        more than 5 percent of the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the amount authorized to be appropriated 
                under this title for the fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) the amount appropriated under this title for 
                the fiscal year.
            ``(2) Use for other offices or programs.--Sums appropriated 
        under the authority of subsection (a)(2) shall not be available 
        for administration of this title by the National Sea Grant 
        Office, for any other Administration or department program, or 
        for any other administrative expenses.''.
    (b) Distribution of Funds.--Such section is further amended by 
striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Distribution of Funds.--In any fiscal year in which the 
appropriations made pursuant to subsection (a)(1) exceed the amounts 
appropriated for fiscal year 2003 for the purposes described in such 
subsection, the Secretary shall distribute the excess amounts (except 
amounts used for the administration of programs) solely to--
            ``(1) State sea grant programs on a merit reviewed, 
        competitive basis to support, enhance, and reward programs that 
        are best managed and carry out the highest quality research, 
        education, extension, and training programs; and
            ``(2) national strategic initiatives.''.
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