[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1252 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 573
111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1252

                          [Report No. 111-296]

       To promote ocean and human health and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   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

                           September 20, 2010

             Reported by Mr. Rockefeller, with an amendment
 [Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in 
                                italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To promote ocean and human health and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Oceans and Human Health 
Reauthorization Act of 2009''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Implementation Plan.--Subsection (b) of section 902 of 
the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
        to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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--
'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by inserting ``, surveillance, and 
                forecasting'' after ``prediction'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, including problems 
                related to climate change,'' after ``health 
                problems'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by inserting ``and chemical'' after 
                ``biological''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) by inserting ``products for the 
                prevention and'' after ``new'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
        joint efforts,'' after ``departments'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) in paragraph (4), by striking ``preventive'' 
        and inserting ``preventing'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``Resources'' 
        after ``the Ocean'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) by amending paragraph (7) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) by at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Program Scope.--Subsection (c) of section 902 of the 
Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) vector-, water-, and food-borne 
                diseases of humans and marine organisms, including 
                marine mammals, corals, and fish;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) health effects for humans and marine 
                organisms associated with climate change impacts in 
                ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) marine-derived pharmaceuticals and 
                other natural products;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) marine organisms and habitats as 
                models for biomedical research and as indicators of 
                human health and well being and marine environmental 
                health;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) marine environmental 
                microbiology;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) legacy and emerging chemicals of 
                concern, including bioaccumulative and endocrine-
                disrupting chemical contaminants;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) predictive models based on 
                indicators of marine environmental health or public 
                health threats; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) social, economic, and behavioral 
                studies of relationships between the condition of 
                oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and human health and 
                well-being.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``genomics and proteomics'' and inserting ``genomics, 
                proteomics, metabolomics, and other related 
                sciences'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
                as follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) in situ, laboratory, and remote 
                sensors--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) to identify new genetic 
                        resources for biomedical purposes;''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                ``equipment and technologies'' and inserting 
                ``equipment, technologies, and 
                methodologies''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Biennial Report.--Subsection (d) of section 902 of the 
Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the heading, by striking ``Annual'' and 
        inserting ``Biennial'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in the material preceding paragraph (1)--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking ``each year an annual'' 
                and inserting ``alternate years a biennial''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by striking ``year,'' and inserting 
                ``years,'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``year;'' and 
        inserting ``years;'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``that preceding 
        fiscal year;'' and inserting ``the preceding two fiscal 
        years;'' and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, funding 
        needs,'' after ``action''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OCEANS 
              AND HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--Subsection (a) of section 903 of the 
Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``external'' 
        after ``an''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Advisory Panel.--Subsection (b) of section 903 of the 
Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting 
        ``shall''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking ``sciences.'' and inserting 
        ``sciences, including public health practitioners.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) National Centers.--Subsection (c) of section 903 of 
the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``for''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) The centers shall focus on--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) supporting disciplines including 
                marine genomics, marine environmental microbiology, 
                ecological chemistry, and conservation 
                medicine.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) vector-, water-, and food-borne 
                diseases of humans and marine organisms, including 
                marine mammals, corals, and fish;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) health effects for humans and marine 
                organisms associated with climate change impacts in 
                ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) marine-derived pharmaceuticals and 
                other natural products;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) marine organisms and habitats as 
                models for biomedical research and as indicators of 
                human health and well being and marine environmental 
                health;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) marine environmental 
                microbiology;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) legacy and emerging chemicals of 
                concern, including bioaccumulative and endocrine-
                disrupting chemical contaminants;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) predictive models based on 
                indicators of marine environmental health or public 
                health threats;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) cataloging and interpreting microbes 
                and understanding microbial functions in ecosystems and 
                impacts on human and marine health; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) social, economic, and behavioral 
                studies of relationships between the condition of 
                oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, and human health and 
                well-being.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(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.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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,''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Report.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) describe the projects, products, and 
                programs funded under the Initiative;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) include recommendations for 
                improving or expanding the program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(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).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Oceans and Human 
Health Reauthorization Act of 2010''.
    (b) Amendment of Oceans and Human Health Act.--
    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 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 Oceans and Human Health 
Act (33 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Coordination.--Section 902(a) (33 U.S.C. 3101(a)) is amended by 
striking ``oceans in human health.'' and inserting ``oceans, coasts, 
and Great Lakes in human health and deliver information, products, and 
services to assist the Nation in reducing public health risks, and 
enhancing health benefits, from the ocean.''.
    (b) Implementation Plan.--Section 902(b) (33 U.S.C. 3101(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking the matter preceding paragraph (1) and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(b) Implementation Plan.--Within 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2010, 
and every 5 years thereafter, 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 the updated plan to the 
Congress. The updated Plan shall define the roles of Federal agencies 
and departments in order to avoid duplication of activities and 
coordinate efforts in support of the research program. 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 (16 U.S.C. 1451 note). The updated Plan shall build 
on and complement the ongoing research, surveillance, and outreach 
activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health 
(including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, and other Federal departments and agencies, and 
shall--'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``prediction'' and inserting 
                ``prediction, surveillance, forecasting, and 
                mitigation'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and chemical'' after 
                ``biological''; and
                    (C) by striking ``treatments'' and inserting 
                ``products for the prevention and treatment'';
            (3) by striking ``training'' and all that follows in 
        paragraph (2) and inserting ``Federal research centers, 
        training, and support for scientists, and participation in 
        national and international research and outreach efforts, 
        including outreach to the medical community and the public;'';
            (4) by striking ``preventive'' in paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``preventing'';
            (5) by inserting ``Resources'' in paragraph (5) after ``the 
        Ocean'' ; and
            (6) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) estimate funding needed for research, surveillance, 
        education, and outreach activities to be conducted within and 
        supported by Federal agencies under the program.''.
    (c) Program Scope.--Section 902(c) (33 U.S.C. 3101(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(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 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, fish, and shellfish;
                    ``(B) human health effects associated with harmful 
                algal blooms and hypoxia (in collaboration with the 
                Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and 
                Hypoxia);
                    ``(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 linked to 
                human health;
                    ``(F) human health effects associated with 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; 
                and
                    ``(H) social, economic, and behavioral studies of 
                relationships between the condition of oceans, coasts, 
                and the Great Lakes and human health and well-being.
            ``(2) Coordination with appropriate interagency working 
        groups 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
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``genomics and proteomics'' in 
                subparagraph (A) and inserting ``genomics, proteomics, 
                metabolomics, and other related sciences'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(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) by striking ``equipment and technologies'' in 
                subparagraph (E) and inserting ``equipment, 
                technologies, and methodologies''.
    (d) Biennial Report.--Section 902(d) (33 U.S.C. 3101(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Annual'' in the heading and inserting 
        ``Biennial'';
            (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Beginning with the first year 
                occurring more than 24 months after the date of 
                enactment of the Act, the'' and inserting ``The'';
                    (B) by striking ``each year an annual'' and 
                inserting ``alternate years a biennial''; and
                    (C) by striking ``year,'' and inserting ``years,'';
            (3) by striking ``fiscal year;'' in paragraph (1) and 
        inserting ``2 fiscal years;'';
            (4) by striking ``that preceding fiscal year;'' in 
        paragraph (4) and inserting ``the preceding 2 fiscal years;'' 
        and
            (5) by striking ``action'' in paragraph (5) and inserting 
        ``action, funding needs,''.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OCEANS AND 
              HUMAN HEALTH PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 903(a) (33 U.S.C. 3102(a)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--As part of the interagency oceans and 
        human health research program, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
        establish an Oceans and Human Health Program to coordinate and 
        implement research and activities of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration related to the role of the oceans, 
        the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. The program 
        shall include linking research programs with operational 
        activities focused on--
                    ``(A) forecasting to provide early warning and 
                prediction of long-term health impacts;
                    ``(B) surveillance to recognize emerging threats to 
                public health;
                    ``(C) assessment of risk perception, management, 
                and response; and
                    ``(D) developing ocean health products and 
                services.
            ``(2) Coordination with other agencies' efforts.--The 
        Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies 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 (including the National Institute of 
        Environmental Health Sciences), the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention, the National Institute of Environmental Health 
        Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other 
        agencies and departments. NOAA shall develop a strategic 
        implementation plan with defined goals and benchmarks for the 
        program, including--
                    ``(A) performance measurements to evaluate the 
                effectiveness of the program;
                    ``(B) plans to transition research into program 
                operations;
                    ``(C) ocean and human health indices to quantify 
                and track their changes over time;
                    ``(D) coordination of oceans and human health 
                related programs across NOAA and with partner 
                organizations; and
                    ``(E) prioritization of research.
            ``(3) Support function.--The Oceans and Human Health 
        Program shall provide support for--
                    ``(1) centralized program and research 
                coordination;
                    ``(2) an external advisory panel;
                    ``(3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration national centers of excellence;
                    ``(4) one or more diagnostic laboratories to 
                provide processing of marine organism samples;
                    ``(5) transitioning scientific discoveries from 
                research activities into applications;
                    ``(6) research grants; and
                    ``(7) distinguished scholars and training.''.
    (b) Advisory Panel.--Section 903(b) (33 U.S.C. 3102(b)) is amended 
by striking ``sciences.'' and inserting ``sciences, including public 
health professionals, veterinarians, and other health professionals.''.
    (c) National Centers.--Section 903(c) (33 U.S.C. 3102(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``for'' in paragraph (1); and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) The centers shall focus on areas related to agency 
        missions and the program scope (as defined in section 
        902(c)).''.
    (d) Extramural Research Grants.--Section 903(d) (33 U.S.C. 3102(d)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Grants under this subsection shall support research 
        and activities within the program scope (as defined in section 
        902(c)).''.
    (e) Training Program.--Section 903(e) (33 U.S.C. 3102(e)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking the heading and inserting ``(e) Training 
        Program.--'';
            (2) by striking ``program to provide traineeships, 
        training,'' and inserting ``competitive program to provide 
        training, exposure,'';
            (3) by striking ``initiative.'' and inserting ``Ocean and 
        Human Health Program.''.
    (f) Distinguished Scholars; Cooperative Agreements; Coordination; 
Etc.--Section 903 (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 NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program.
    ``(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.
    ``(h) Coordination.--
            ``(1) Integrated ocean observing system.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the Oceans and Human Health Program and the 
        Integrated Ocean Observing System work together to develop and 
        deploy instruments for sensing and predicting ocean changes 
        linked to health, develop an early warning system that detect 
        biological and chemical indicators, and to support the data 
        management and analysis functions to develop forecasts for 
        ocean conditions that threaten health.
            ``(2) Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the Oceans and Human Health Program and 
        Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Program work together to avoid 
        duplication of activities and coordinate activities.
            ``(3) Other programs.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        Program also coordinates its efforts across NOAA to support 
        ocean and human health research and programs.
    ``(i) Report to Congress.--Within 6 months after the date of 
enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2010, 
the Secretary shall report to the Congress on how NOAA plans to 
implement the recommendations of its Science Advisory Board Working 
Group on Oceans and Health.
    ``(j) Operational Parameters.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall operate 
        the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program as an 
        interdisciplinary research, development, and application 
        program spanning the agency and in partnership with the 
        external scientific and health communities.
            ``(2) Resources.--To achieve this vision and maximize 
        potential for leveraging appropriations, NOAA may--
                    ``(A) apply for, accept, use, and spend Federal, 
                State, and private funds and in-kind contributions as 
                necessary to further the mission of the program without 
                regard to section 3302(b) of title 31, United States 
                Code, and without regard to the source or of the period 
                of availability of these funds;
                    ``(B) apply for and hold patents either solely or 
                in partnership with others and receive royalties from 
                patents or licenses; and
                    ``(C) share personnel and facilities with public 
                and private partners as well as provide and accept 
                reimbursement for the sharing of such personnel and 
                facilities.''.

SEC. 4. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.

    (a) In General.--Section 904(a) (33 U.S.C. 3103(a)) is amended by 
striking ``program,'' and inserting ``program, relevant National Ocean 
Service and National Marine Fisheries Service programs, and 
institutions of higher education,''.
    (b) Report.--Section 904(b) of section 904 (33 U.S.C. 3103(b)) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--As part of this program, the Secretary 
        of Commerce shall submit to Congress a biennial report 
        describing--
                    ``(A) projects, products, and programs funded under 
                the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program;
                    ``(B) the work of the Advisory Panel;
                    ``(C) how the Program is meeting the goals and 
                objectives of its strategic plan; and
                    ``(D) any recommendations the Secretary may have 
                for improving or expanding the program.
            ``(2) Combined reports.--The report required by paragraph 
        (1) may be the same as the NOAA input for the interagency 
        report required by section 902(d).''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 905 (33 U.S.C. 3104) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Initiative,'', ``initiative'', and 
        ``Initiative.'', and inserting ``Program,'', ``Program'', and 
        ``Program.'', respectively;
            (2) by striking ``2005 through 2008'' and inserting ``2010 
        through 2014''; and
            (2) by striking ``grant and traineeship'' and inserting 
        ``grant, distinguished scholars, and training''.

SEC. 6. OCEANS DEFINED TO INCLUDE THE GREAT LAKES.

    The Act is amended by adding after section 905 the following:

``SEC. 906. OCEANS DEFINED.

    ``In this title, the term `oceans' includes the oceans, the Great 
Lakes, and the coastal areas appertainent thereto.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 573

111th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1252

                          [Report No. 111-296]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

       To promote ocean and human health and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 20, 2010

                       Reported with an amendment