[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3161 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3161

  To amend title 10, United States Code, to reauthorize the National 
       Oceanographic Partnership Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 6, 2019

 Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, and 
Mr. Norcross) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 
Armed Services, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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 amend title 10, United States Code, to reauthorize the National 
       Oceanographic Partnership Program, and for other purposes.

    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 Oceanographic Partnership 
Program Reauthorization Act''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Additional Purpose.--Section 8931(b)(2) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new 
        subparagraph (B):
                    ``(B) soliciting, accepting, and executing 
                oceanographic research and education projects funded by 
                private grants or contracts that contribute to assuring 
                national security, advancing economic development, 
                protecting quality of life, and strengthening science 
                education and communication though improved knowledge 
                of the ocean; and''.
    (b) National Ocean Research Leadership Council Membership.--
Subsection (b) of section 8932 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (10);
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (14) as 
        paragraphs (12) through (15), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
        paragraphs (10) and (11):
            ``(10) The Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
        Management of the Department of the Interior.
            ``(11) The Director of the Bureau of Safety and 
        Environmental Enforcement of the Department of the Interior.''.
    (c) Annual Report.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``Congress'' and inserting ``the appropriate committees of 
        Congress'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``description of 
        activities of the program carried out during the fiscal year 
        before the fiscal year in which the report is prepared, 
        together with a'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) A description of activities of the program carried 
        out during the fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the 
        report is prepared, including the following--
                    ``(A) an analysis of the extent to which those 
                activities advanced the purpose of the National 
                Oceanographic Partnership Program as described in 
                section 8931(b) of this title;
                    ``(B) a report on the total budget requirement of 
                each project carried out as part of the project; and
                    ``(C) a report on the sources of funding of each 
                completed project.''; and
            (4) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``expected'' and inserting 
                ``planned'';
                    (B) by striking ``year.'' and inserting ``year, 
                including--''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
                    ``(A) a statement of objectives for each such 
                project and a description of how such projects will 
                advance the purpose of the National Oceanographic 
                Partnership Program as described in section 8931(b) of 
                this title;
                    ``(B) an estimated budget for planned projects; and
                    ``(C) a description of any funds committed to 
                support such projects, either by Federal partners or 
                through private grants or contracts.''.
    (d) Partnership Program Office.--Subsection (f) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following 
        new sentence: ``To be considered qualified to compete to be 
        selected as an operator, an entity shall demonstrate strong 
        ties to relevant oceanographic industries, academia and other 
        research institutions, and Federal agencies, and have 
        experience managing interagency programs and oceanographic 
        programs with participation from public and private 
        entities.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
                subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following new subparagraph (C):
                    ``(C) To solicit, accept, and execute oceanographic 
                research and education projects aligned with the 
                purpose of the program and funded by private contracts, 
                grants, and donations, on behalf of, and in 
                consultation with the Council in accordance with 
                subsection (g).''.
    (e) Grant and Contract Authority.--Such section is further amended 
by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following new subsection 
(g):
    ``(g) Grant and Contract Authority.--To carry out the purpose of 
the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, under section 8921(b) 
of this title, the Council shall have, in addition to other powers 
otherwise given it under this section, the following authorities:
            ``(1) The authority to authorize one or more of the 
        departments or agencies represented on the Council to enter 
        into contracts and make grants, and establish and manage new 
        collaborative programs as determined necessary to address 
        emerging science priorities using funds appropriated pursuant 
        to an authorization or appropriations for the National 
        Oceanographic Partnership Program, for the purpose of 
        implementing the program and carrying out the responsibilities 
        of the Council.
            ``(2) The authority to authorize the Program Office, on 
        behalf of the Council, to accept funds, including fines and 
        penalties, from other Federal departments and agencies, and to 
        enter into contracts and award grants.
            ``(3) The authority to authorize the Program Office, on 
        behalf of the Council, to solicit, accept and execute 
        oceanographic research projects funded by private contracts, 
        grants, and donations.''.
    (f) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, the 
term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
            ``(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Natural 
        Resources of the House of Representatives; and
            ``(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on 
        Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.''.
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