II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1252 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 11, 2009 Mr. Rockefeller (for himself, Mr. Inouye, and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To promote ocean and human health and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2009.

2.

Interagency oceans and human health research program

(a)

Coordination

Subsection (a) of section 902 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended by striking in human health. and inserting , coasts, and Great Lakes in human health and deliver information, products, and services to assist the Nation in reducing public health risks, including those related to climate change, and enhancing health benefits from the ocean.. (b)

Implementation plan

Subsection (b) of section 902 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended— (1)by amending the matter preceding paragraph (1) to read as follows: (b)

Implementation plan

Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2009, an Interagency Oceans and Human Health Task Force or working group established by the National Science and Technology Council, through the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall revise and update the 2007 Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research Implementation Plan and submit to the Congress the updated Plan. Nothing in this subsection is intended to duplicate or supersede the activities of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia established under section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383; 16 U.S.C. 1451 note). The updated plan shall— ; (2)in paragraph (1)— (A)by inserting , surveillance, and forecasting after prediction; (B)by inserting , including problems related to climate change, after health problems; (C)by inserting and chemical after biological; and (D)by inserting products for the prevention and after new; (3)in paragraph (2), by striking and participation; and all that follows through the end and inserting participation in national and international research and outreach efforts, and outreach to the medical community and the public;; (4)in paragraph (3), by inserting , including joint efforts, after departments; (5)in paragraph (4), by striking preventive and inserting preventing; (6)in paragraph (5), by inserting Resources after the Ocean; (7)in paragraph (6), by striking and at the end; (8)by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows: (7)estimate funding needed for research, surveillance, education, and outreach activities to be conducted within or supported by Federal agencies and departments under the program. ; and (9)by at the end the following: (8)build on, and complement, the research, surveillance, and outreach activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and other departments and agencies. . (c)

Program scope

Subsection (c) of section 902 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended— (1)by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1)Interdisciplinary research among the ocean, atmospheric, and medical sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve understanding of processes within the ocean that may affect human and marine animal health and to explore the potential contribution of marine organisms to medicine and research, including— (A)vector-, water-, and food-borne diseases of humans and marine organisms, including marine mammals, corals, and fish; (B)health effects for both humans and marine animals associated with harmful algal blooms and hypoxia (in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia); (C)health effects for humans and marine organisms associated with climate change impacts in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters; (D)marine-derived pharmaceuticals and other natural products; (E)marine organisms and habitats as models for biomedical research and as indicators of human health and well being and marine environmental health; (F)marine environmental microbiology; (G)legacy and emerging chemicals of concern, including bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical contaminants; (H)predictive models based on indicators of marine environmental health or public health threats; and (I)social, economic, and behavioral studies of relationships between the condition of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and human health and well-being. ; (2)by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2)Coordination with any appropriate interagency working group of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology, or its successor body, through the National Science and Technology Council, to ensure that any integrated ocean and coastal observing system provides information necessary to monitor and reduce marine public health problems, including climate change information, health-related data on biological populations, and detection of toxins and contaminants in marine waters and seafood. ; and (3)in paragraph (3)— (A)in subparagraph (A), by striking genomics and proteomics and inserting genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other related sciences; (B)by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows: (C)in situ, laboratory, and remote sensors— (i)to detect, quantify, and predict the presence, distribution, concentration, toxicity, or virulence of infectious microbes, harmful algae, toxins, and chemical contaminants in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters, sediments, organisms, and seafood; and (ii)to identify new genetic resources for biomedical purposes; ; and (C)in subparagraph (E), by striking equipment and technologies and inserting equipment, technologies, and methodologies. (d)

Biennial report

Subsection (d) of section 902 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended— (1)in the heading, by striking Annual and inserting Biennial; (2)in the material preceding paragraph (1)— (A)by striking 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act and inserting 12 months after the date of the enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2009; (B)by striking each year an annual and inserting alternate years a biennial; and (C)by striking year, and inserting years,; (3)in paragraph (1), by striking year; and inserting years;; (4)in paragraph (4), by striking that preceding fiscal year; and inserting the preceding two fiscal years; and (5)in paragraph (5), by inserting , funding needs, after action.

3.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceans and Human Health Initiative

(a)

Establishment

Subsection (a) of section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended— (1)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence, and inserting In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies and departments conducting integrated oceans and human health research and disease surveillance activities and research in related areas, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and other agencies and departments.; and (2)in paragraph (2), by inserting external after an. (b)

Advisory panel

Subsection (b) of section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended— (1)by striking is authorized to and inserting shall; and (2)by striking sciences. and inserting sciences, including public health practitioners.. (c)

National Centers

Subsection (c) of section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by striking for; and (2)by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2)The centers shall focus on— (A)areas related to agency missions, including use of marine organisms and habitats as indicators for marine environmental health, impacts of climate change on ocean health threats, ocean pollutants, marine toxins and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, seafood safety and quality, identification of potential marine products, and biology and pathobiology of marine mammals, corals, and other marine organisms; and (B)supporting disciplines including marine genomics, marine environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry, and conservation medicine. . (d)

Extramural research grants

Subsection (d) of section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3)Grants under this subsection shall support research to improve understanding of processes within the ocean that may affect human and marine animal health and to explore the potential contribution of marine organisms to medicine and research, including— (A)vector-, water-, and food-borne diseases of humans and marine organisms, including marine mammals, corals, and fish; (B)health effects for humans and marine organisms associated with climate change impacts in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters; (C)marine-derived pharmaceuticals and other natural products; (D)marine organisms and habitats as models for biomedical research and as indicators of human health and well being and marine environmental health; (E)marine environmental microbiology; (F)legacy and emerging chemicals of concern, including bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical contaminants; (G)predictive models based on indicators of marine environmental health or public health threats; (H)cataloging and interpreting microbes and understanding microbial functions in ecosystems and impacts on human and marine health; and (I)social, economic, and behavioral studies of relationships between the condition of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, and human health and well-being. . (e)

Distinguished scholars; cooperative agreements

Section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Distinguished scholars

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to establish a competitive program to recognize highly distinguished external scientists in any area of oceans and human health research and to involve those scientists in collaborative work with the Oceans and Human Health Initiative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (g)

Cooperative agreements

The Secretary of Commerce may execute and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out this section. .

4.

Public information and outreach

(a)

In general

Subsection (a) of section 904 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by striking program, and inserting and institutions of higher education,. (b)

Report

Subsection (b) of section 904 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3103) is amended to read as follows: (b)

Report

(1)

Requirement

The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a biennial report reviewing the results of the research, assessments, and findings developed under the Oceans and Human Health Initiative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Each such report shall— (A)describe the projects, products, and programs funded under the Initiative; (B)describe the work of the Advisory Committee and the manner in which the program is meeting development and implementation recommendations for the program; and (C)include recommendations for improving or expanding the program. (2)

Combined reports

Each report required by paragraph (1) may be combined with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's input to the biennial interagency report required by section 902(d). .

5.

Authorization of appropriations

Subsection (a) of section 905 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3104) is amended— (1)by striking 2005 through 2008 and inserting 2010 through 2014; and (2)by inserting , distinguished scholar, after grant.