[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5871-S5874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Kerry, 
        Mr. Breaux, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Glenn):
  S. 927. A bill to reauthorize the Sea Grant Program.

[[Page S5872]]

       THE OCEAN AND COASTAL RESEARCH REVITALIZATION ACT OF 1997

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program. I am pleased to be 
joined in this effort by Senator Hollings, the ranking member on the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and by Senators 
Gregg, Kerry, Reed, Glenn, and Breaux.
  Since its establishment in 1966, the National Sea Grant College 
Program has provided an invaluable service to the citizens of our 
Nation, and particularly to those who depend on our Nation's coastal 
and marine resources. Sea Grant operates programs in concert with 29 
academic institutions covering the entire marine coastline of the 
United States, the Great Lakes region, and Puerto Rico. It serves as a 
kind of cooperative research and extension program for States and 
localities with a direct interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
resources. Sea Grant is unique in the breadth of its programs, bringing 
together the natural and social sciences as well as educational 
institutions, the private sector, and State and local governments. By 
facilitating these interactions across institutional boundaries, Sea 
Grant makes important contributions to the development of management 
programs that effectively address both resource conservation and the 
needs of communities who use these resources.
  In my home State of Maine, the decline in groundfish populations has 
had a devastating impact on the fishing community. The joint Maine/New 
Hampshire Sea Grant Program has supported research looking at the 
economic and social impacts of this decline, as well as biological 
investigations into the ecology of the fisheries. With the results of 
these studies, Maine has been able to mitigate some of the losses these 
citizens have suffered. Management programs have been adapted to better 
account for the needs of local residents and the vagaries of an ever-
changing ocean. In all of their programs, Maine Sea Grant has 
consistently reinvested in local communities, providing knowledge and 
tools for working with the sea.
  I know from my colleagues that the work I have witnessed in Maine is 
representative of the quality work Sea Grant programs are doing across 
the country. The wealth of benefits Sea Grant provides comes from a 
small Federal investment. By requiring matching grants, State Sea Grant 
Programs use their partnerships with industry and academia to generate 
a high return on every Federal dollar expended. This investment, in 
turn, helps to stimulate industry productivity and increase the 
efficiency of coastal management programs. In these cost-conscious 
times, Sea Grant is a model of being able to do more with less.
  This legislation will allow Sea Grant to continue its work by 
reauthorizing the program for 3 years. It caps the national 
administrative costs of the program at 5 percent of the total budget, 
and it repeals an international program and a postdoctoral fellowship 
program which have never been funded. The bill also responds to a 
National Research Council Report by clarifying the responsibilities of 
the Sea Grant director and streamlining the process for reviewing State 
program proposals.
  This bill is supported by the Sea Grant Association, whose membership 
includes many of the land grant universities and other institutions 
with an interest in the program, and it was drafted in close 
consultation with the Clinton administration. The legislation is 
deserving of broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and I look forward 
to working with my colleagues for its quick passage. Mr. President, I 
ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 927

       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 ``Ocean and Coastal Research 
     Revitalization Act of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM ACT.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment or repeal 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 National Sea Grant College 
     Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       (a) Section 202(a)(1) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
     subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) encourage the development of forecast and analysis 
     systems for coastal hazards;''.
       (b) Section 202(a)(6) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(6)) is amended by 
     striking the second sentence and inserting the following: 
     ``The most cost-effective way to promote such activities is 
     through continued and increased Federal support of the 
     establishment, development, and operation of programs and 
     projects by sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, and 
     other institutions.''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``their university or'' and inserting ``his 
     or her''; and
       (B) by striking ``college, programs, or regional 
     consortium'' and inserting ``college or sea grant 
     institute'';
       (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) The term `field related to ocean, coastal, and Great 
     Lakes resources' means any discipline or field, including 
     marine affairs, resource management, technology, education, 
     or science, which is concerned with or likely to improve the 
     understanding, assessment, development, utilization, or 
     conservation of ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (15) as 
     paragraphs (7) through (16), respectively, and inserting 
     after paragraph (5) the following:
       ``(6) The term `institution' means any public or private 
     institution of higher education, institute, laboratory, or 
     State or local agency.'';
       (4) by striking ``regional consortium, institution of 
     higher education, institute, or laboratory'' in paragraph 
     (10) (as redesignated) and inserting ``institute or other 
     institution'';
       (5) by striking paragraphs (11) through (16) (as 
     redesignated) and inserting after paragraph (10) the 
     following:
       ``(11) The term `project' means any individually described 
     activity in a field related to ocean, coastal, and Great 
     Lakes resources involving research, education, training, or 
     advisory services administered by a person with expertise in 
     such a field.
       ``(12) The term `sea grant college' means any institution, 
     or any association or alliance of two or more such 
     institutions, designated as such by the Secretary under 
     section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) of this Act.
       ``(13) The term `sea grant institute' means any 
     institution, or any association or alliance of two or more 
     such institutions, designated as such by the Secretary under 
     section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) of this Act.
       ``(14) The term `sea grant program' means a program of 
     research and outreach which is administered by one or more 
     sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes.
       ``(15) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of 
     Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
     Oceans and Atmosphere.
       ``(16) The term `State' means any State of the United 
     States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
     Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, or any other territory 
     or possession of the United States.''.
       (b) The Act is amended--
       (1) in section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)), as amended by 
     this Act, by striking ``, the Under Secretary,''; and
       (2) by striking ``Under Secretary'' every other place it 
     appears and inserting ``Secretary''.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

       Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 204. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Program Maintenance.--The Secretary shall maintain 
     within the Administration, a program to be known as the 
     national sea grant college program. The national sea grant 
     college program shall be administered by a national sea grant 
     office within the Administration.
       ``(b) Program Elements.--The national sea grant college 
     program shall consist of the financial assistance and other 
     activities authorized in this subchapter, and shall provide 
     support for the following elements--
       ``(1) sea grant programs which comprise a national sea 
     grant college program network, including international 
     projects conducted within such programs;
       ``(2) administration of the national sea grant college 
     program and this Act by the national sea grant office, the 
     Administration, and the panel;
       ``(3) the fellowship program under section 208; and
       ``(4) any national strategic investments developed with the 
     approval of the panel, the sea grant colleges, and the sea 
     grant institutes.
       ``(c) Responsibilities of the Secretary.--
       ``(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea 
     grant colleges, and sea grant

[[Page S5873]]

     institutes, shall develop a long-range strategic plan which 
     establishes priorities for the national sea grant college 
     program and which provides an appropriately balanced response 
     to local, regional, and national needs.
       ``(2) Within 6 months of the date of enactment of the Ocean 
     and Coastal Research Revitalization Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the panel, sea grant 
     colleges, and sea grant institutes, shall establish 
     guidelines related to the activities and responsibilities of 
     sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes. Such guidelines 
     shall include requirements for the conduct of merit review by 
     the sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes of proposals 
     for grants and contracts to be awarded under section 205, 
     providing, at a minimum, for standardized documentation of 
     such proposals and peer review of all research projects.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the 
     qualifications required for designation of sea grant colleges 
     and sea grant institutes under section 207.
       ``(4) To carry out the provisions of this subchapter, the 
     Secretary may--
       ``(A) appoint, assign the duties, transfer, and fix the 
     compensation of such personnel as may be necessary, in 
     accordance with civil service laws; except that one position 
     in addition to the Director may be established without regard 
     to the provisions of Title 5 governing appointments to the 
     competitive service, at a rate payable under section 5376 of 
     title 5, United States Code;
       ``(B) make appointments with respect to temporary and 
     intermittent services to the extent authorized by section 
     3109 of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(C) publish or arrange for the publication of, and 
     otherwise disseminate, in cooperation with other offices and 
     programs in the Administration and without regard to section 
     501 of title 44, any information of research, educational, 
     training or other value in fields related to ocean, coastal, 
     or Great Lakes resources;
       ``(D) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and 
     other transactions without regard to section 5 of title 41, 
     United States Code;
       ``(E) notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
     States Code, accept donations and voluntary and uncompensated 
     services;
       ``(F) accept funds from other Federal departments and 
     agencies, including agencies within the Administration, to 
     pay for and add to grants made and contracts entered into by 
     the Secretary;
       ``(G) promulgate such rules and regulations as may be 
     necessary and appropriate.
       ``(d) Director of the National Sea Grant College Program.--
       ``(1) The Secretary shall appoint, as the Director of the 
     National Sea Grant College Program, a qualified individual 
     who has appropriate administrative experience and knowledge 
     or expertise in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great 
     Lakes resources. The Director shall be appointed and 
     compensated, without regard to the provisions of title 5 
     governing appointments in the competitive service, at a rate 
     payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(2) Subject to the supervision of the Secretary, the 
     Director shall administer the national sea grant college 
     program and oversee the operation of the national sea grant 
     office. In addition to any other duty prescribed by law or 
     assigned by the Secretary, the Director shall--
       ``(A) facilitate and coordinate the development of a long-
     range strategic plan under subsection (c)(1);
       ``(B) advise the Secretary with respect to the expertise 
     and capabilities which are available within or through the 
     national sea grant college program and encourage the use of 
     such expertise and capabilities, on a cooperative or other 
     basis, by other offices and activities within the 
     Administration, and other Federal departments and agencies;
       ``(C) advise the Secretary on the designation of sea grant 
     colleges and sea grant institutes, and, if appropriate, on 
     the termination or suspension of any such designation; and
       ``(D) encourage the establishment and growth of sea grant 
     programs, and cooperation and coordination with other Federal 
     activities in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great 
     Lakes resources.
       ``(3) With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant 
     institutes, the Director shall--
       ``(A) evaluate the programs of sea grant colleges and sea 
     grant institutes, using the priorities, guidelines, and 
     qualifications established by the Secretary;
       ``(B) subject to the availability of appropriations, 
     allocate funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant 
     institutes so as to--
       ``(i) promote healthy competition among sea grant colleges 
     and institutes;
       ``(ii) encourage successful implementation of sea grant 
     programs; and
       ``(iii) to the maximum extent consistent with other 
     provisions of this Act, provide a stable base of funding for 
     sea grant colleges and institutes; and
       ``(C) ensure compliance with the guidelines for merit 
     review under subsection (c)(2).''.

     SEC. 6. REPEAL OF SEA GRANT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.

       Section 3 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 
     (33 U.S.C. 1124a) is repealed.

     SEC. 7. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES.

       Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 207. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES.

       ``(a) Designation.--
       ``(1) A sea grant college or sea grant institute shall meet 
     the following qualifications:
       ``(A) have an existing broad base of competence in fields 
     related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
       ``(B) make a long-term commitment to the objective in 
     section 202(b), as determined by the Secretary;
       ``(C) cooperate with other sea grant colleges and 
     institutes and other persons to solve problems or meet needs 
     relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
       ``(D) have received financial assistance under section 205 
     of this title (33 U.S.C. 1124); and
       ``(E) meet such other qualifications as the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the panel, considers necessary or 
     appropriate.
       ``(2) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an 
     association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as 
     a sea grant college if the institution, association, or 
     alliance --
       ``(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) maintains a program of research, advisory services, 
     training, and education in fields related to ocean, coastal, 
     and Great Lakes resources.
       `(3) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an 
     association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as 
     a sea grant institute if the institution, association, or 
     alliance--
       ``(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1); and ``(B) 
     maintains a program which includes, at a minimum, research 
     and advisory services.
       ``(b) Existing Designees.--Any institution, or association 
     or alliance of two or more such institutions, designated as a 
     sea grant college or awarded institutional program status by 
     the Director prior to the date of enactment of this Act, 
     shall not have to reapply for designation as a sea grant 
     college or sea grant institute, respectively, after the date 
     of enactment of this act, if the Director determines that the 
     institution, or assocation or alliance of institutions, meets 
     the qualifications in subsection (a).
       ``(c) Suspension or Termination of Designation.--The 
     Secretary may, for cause and after an opportunity for 
     hearing, suspend or terminate any designation under 
     subsection (a).
       ``(d) Duties.--Subject to any regulations prescribed or 
     guidelines established by the Secretary, it shall be the 
     responsibility of each sea grant college and sea grant 
     institute--
       ``(1) to develop and implement, in consultation with the 
     Secretary and the panel, a program that is consistent with 
     the guidelines and priorities established under section 
     204(c); and
       ``(2) to conduct a merit review of all proposals for grants 
     and contracts to be awarded under section 205.''.

     SEC. 8. REPEAL OF POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       Section 208(c) (33 U.S.C. 208(c)) is repealed.

     SEC. 9. SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.

       (a) Section 209(a)(33 U.S.C. 1128(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``; commencement date''; and
       (2) by striking the second sentence.
       (b) Section 209(b)(33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Panel'' and inserting ``The panel'';
       (2) by striking ``and section 3 of the Sea Grant College 
     Program Improvement Act of 1976'' in paragraph (1); and
       (3) by striking ``regional consortia'' in paragraph (3) and 
     inserting ``institutes''.
       (c) Section 209(c)(33 U.S.C. 1128(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``college, sea grant 
     regional consortium, or sea grant program'' and inserting 
     ``college or sea grant institute'';
       (2) by striking paragraph (5)(A) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) receive compensation at a rate established by the 
     Secretary, not to exceed the maximum daily rate payable under 
     section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, when actually 
     engaged in the performance of duties for such panel; and''.

     SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Grants, Contracts, and Fellowships.--Section 212(a) (33 
     U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this Act--
       (1) $55,400,000 for fiscal year 1998;
       ``(2) $56,500,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(3) $57,600,000 for fiscal year 2000;
       ``(4) $58,800,000 for fiscal year 2001; and
       ``(5) $59,900,000 for fiscal year 2002.''.
       (b) Limitation on Certain Funding.--Section 212(b)(1)(33 
     U.S.C. 1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Program Elements.--
       ``(1) Limitation.--Of the amount appropriated for each 
     fiscal year under subsection (a), no more than 6 percent may 
     be used to fund both the program element contained in section 
     204(b)(2) and any small business innovation research.''.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues in 
introducing this important bill to reauthorize the National Sea Grant 
College Program. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the Sea Grant 
Program, so it is especially fitting that we propose

[[Page S5874]]

legislation today that will revitalize the program and continue its 
effective operation into the next century.
  At its core, Sea Grant is a program that brings competitive, high-
quality science to bear on problems affecting our Nation's oceans and 
coasts. Sea Grant's top priority is creating new economic opportunities 
by forging alliances among academia, government, and industry to 
transfer information and technology into the hands of people who can 
truly use it. For example, Sea Grant led the development of hybrid 
striped bass aquaculture, which has grown from a university 
demonstration project to a $6 million fish farming industry in just 6 
years. In addition, Sea Grant has an extraordinary record of success in 
balancing development with sound marine conservation, working with 
citizen-volunteers to clean beaches and monitor environmental quality, 
and promoting the effective management of fisheries and other marine 
resources for the benefit of future generations.
  Sea Grant is a national leader in the field of marine biotechnology, 
which has shown enormous promise in truly revolutionizing our use of 
marine resources. Marine biotechnology research funded by Sea Grant has 
already succeeded in discovering new pharmaceuticals from the sea, 
developing new, environmentally-friendly products with a wide range of 
applications, improving fisheries management and stock assessments 
through advances at the molecular level, and enhancing environmental 
remediation through the development of compounds that combat oil spills 
and other toxic substances in the marine environment. In South 
Carolina, a study on how the Eastern oyster builds its shell laid the 
groundwork for the development of alternatives to non-biodegradable 
water treatment compounds and detergent additives. Based on this 
research, the Donlor Corporation was formed to synthesize and market 
these new materials. The company's 50,000 square foot plant will soon 
begin operations.
  A results-oriented point of exchange, Sea Grant brings Federal and 
State managers together providing an opportunity for local and regional 
needs to receive national attention. Conversely, national initiatives 
are placed on local and regional agendas. This legislation will bolster 
such exchanges by giving members of the Sea Grant network throughout 
the country a larger voice in planning national initiatives.
  Moreover, Sea Grant is training the next century's leaders in marine 
policy. Sea Grant graduate student fellowships give marine policy 
training to tomorrow's scientists and managers. Efforts like South 
Carolina's Sea Partners, a joint program sponsored by the South 
Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and the U.S. Coast Guard, reach out to 
kindergarten through high school students regarding the problem of 
marine pollution. Through such programs, young people become interested 
in ocean and coastal issues and develop life-long respect for 
conserving the marine environment.
  Mr. President, more than a quarter-century ago, the Stratton 
Commission outlined a seminal vision for the benefits this Nation could 
derive from the oceans and coasts. The Sea Grant Program has played a 
vital part in realizing this vision through the application of sound 
scientific research to problems affecting our publicly-owned marine 
resources. The legislation we are introducing today will strengthen the 
Sea Grant Program, improve the procedures by which it operates, clarify 
the respective roles of the Federal Government and the universities 
that participate in the program, and reduce administrative costs. I 
urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
program and this excellent bill.
                                 ______