[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3627 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3627

  To establish in the Executive Office of the President the Office of 
                       Oceans and Coastal Policy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2003

  Mr. Saxton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish in the Executive Office of the President the Office of 
                       Oceans and Coastal Policy.

    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 ``Office of Ocean and Coastal Policy 
Creation Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that there is a demonstrated need for there to 
be an Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy in the Executive Office of 
the President.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF OCEANS AND COASTAL POLICY.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Executive Office of 
the President the Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the office is to develop comprehensive 
oceans and coastal policy and to advise the President on scientific, 
environmental, economic, technological, and international 
considerations involved in areas of national concern to ocean and 
coastal policy, including the sustainable use of the Nation's ocean and 
coastal resources, in order to provide for a better understanding and 
knowledge of the world's oceans.

SEC. 4. DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS.

    (a) Director.--There shall be at the head of the Office a Director 
of the Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy, who shall--
            (1) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
        and consent of the Senate; and
            (2) be compensated at a rate consistent with the 
        compensation of the Directors of other Offices within the 
        Executive Office of the President.
    (b) Associate Directors.--The President may appoint not more than 2 
Associate Directors of the Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall each--
            (1) be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate 
        provided for other Associate Directors of Offices within the 
        Executive Office of the President; and
            (2) shall perform such functions as the Director may 
        prescribe.

SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR.

    (a) Primary Function.--The primary function of the Director is to 
provide, within the Executive Office of the President, advice on the 
scientific environmental, economic, technological, and international 
aspects of ocean and coastal issues that require the attention at the 
highest levels of the Government.
    (b) Other Functions.--The Director shall--
            (1) advise the President on scientific, environmental, 
        economic, technological, and international considerations 
        involved in areas of national concern relating to ocean and 
        coastal policy, including the sustainable use of the Nation's 
        ocean and coastal resources;
            (2) evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the 
        Federal effort in management and conservation of the Nation's 
        oceans and coastal resources, and advise the President on 
        appropriate actions to take with respect to such management and 
        conservation;
            (3) advise the President on scientific, environmental, 
        economic, technological, and international aspects of ocean and 
        coastal considerations with regard to Federal budgets, assist 
        the Office of Management and Budget with an annual review and 
        analysis of funding proposed for research and development in 
        budgets of all Federal agencies, and aid the Office of 
        Management and Budget and the agencies throughout the budget 
        development process;
            (4) assist the Office of Management and Budget with an 
        annual review and analysis of funding proposed for research and 
        development relating to such policy in budgets of all Federal 
        agencies, and aid the Office of Management and Budget and 
        Federal agencies regarding oceans and coastal policy throughout 
        the budget development process;
            (5) assist the President in providing general leadership 
        and coordination of the research and development programs of 
        the Federal Government relating to the oceans and coastal 
        concerns;
            (6) coordinate the scientific, environmental, economic, 
        technological, and international aspects of ocean and coastal 
        issues with the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of 
        Science and Technology, the Council of Economic Advisers, and 
        other offices within the Executive Office of the President; and
            (7) perform such other functions and activities relating to 
        the oceans and coastal policy as the President may prescribe.

SEC. 6. CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON OCEAN AND COASTAL POLICY.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish a Commission on 
Ocean and Coastal Policy. The purpose of the Commission shall be to 
advise and assist the Director of the Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Policy in identifying and fostering policies to conserve and manage the 
ocean and coastal environments and resources.
    (b) Membership.--(1) The Commission shall consist of no less than 
18 and no more than 36 members, who shall be appointed for three year 
terms.
    (2) The Commission shall be composed of the Director, the Chair of 
the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, at least eight members to represent the 
interests of the States, and representatives of various interested 
stakeholders.
    (3) The Director of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Policy shall 
serve as the Chairman of the Commission.
    (4) Each member of the Commission shall, while serving on business 
of the Commission, be entitled to receive compensation at a rate not to 
exceed a daily rate to be determined by the President consistent with 
other Federal advisory boards. Federal and State officials serving on 
the Commission and serving in their official capacity shall not receive 
compensation in addition to their Federal or State salaries for their 
time on the Commission. Members of the Commission may be compensated 
for reasonable travel expenses while performing their duties as members 
of the Commission.
    (5) The Commission shall meet at least twice per year, or as 
prescribed by the President.
                                 <all>