[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H403-H408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 927) to reauthorize the Sea Grant Program, as amended.
  The Clerk read 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 ``National Sea Grant College 
     Program Reauthorization Act of 1998''.

     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 (5) through (15) as 
     paragraphs (7) through (17), respectively, and inserting 
     after paragraph (4) the following:
       ``(5) The term `Great Lakes' includes Lake Champlain.
       ``(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 
     (11) (as redesignated) and inserting ``institute or other 
     institution''; and
       (5) by striking paragraphs (12) through (17) (as 
     redesignated) and inserting after paragraph (11) the 
     following:
       ``(12) 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.
       ``(13) 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.
       ``(14) 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.
       ``(15) 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.
       ``(16) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of 
     Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
     Oceans and Atmosphere.
       ``(17) 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 title, 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 title by the national sea grant office, the 
     Administration, and the panel;
       ``(3) the fellowship program under section 208; and
       ``(4) any national strategic investments in fields relating 
     to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources 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 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 
     National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 
     1998, 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 title, 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;
       ``(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, United States Code, 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; and
       ``(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, 
     United States Code, 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;

[[Page H404]]

       ``(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);
       ``(E) be recognized for excellence in fields related to 
     ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources (including marine 
     resources management and science), as determined by the 
     Secretary; and
       ``(F) 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 the National 
     Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, shall 
     not have to reapply for designation as a sea grant college or 
     sea grant institute, respectively, after the date of 
     enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program 
     Reauthorization Act of 1998, if the Director determines that 
     the institution, or association 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. SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.

       (a) Section 209(a) (33 U.S.C. 1128(a)) is amended by 
     striking the second sentence.
       (b) Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Panel'' and inserting ``(b) Duties.--
     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''; and
       (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. 9. 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.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this Act--
       ``(A) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(B) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
       ``(C) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
       ``(D) $59,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
       ``(E) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
       ``(2) Zebra mussel and oyster research.--In addition to the 
     amount authorized for each fiscal year under paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) up to $2,800,000 may be made available as provided in 
     section 1301(b)(4)(A) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
     Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4741(b)(4)(A)) 
     for competitive grants for university research on the zebra 
     mussel;
       ``(B) up to $3,000,000 may be made available for 
     competitive grants for university research on oyster diseases 
     and oyster-related human health risks; and
       ``(C) up to $3,000,000 may be made available for 
     competitive grants for university research on Pfiesteria 
     piscicida and other harmful algal blooms.''.
       (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.--No more than 5 percent of the lesser 
     of--
       ``(A) the amount authorized to be appropriated; or
       ``(B) the amount appropriated,

     for each fiscal year under subsection (a) may be used to fund 
     the program element contained in section 204(b)(2).
       ``(c) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds authorized by 
     this section are subject to a reprogramming action that 
     requires notice to be provided to the Appropriations 
     Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
     notice of such action shall concurrently be provided to the 
     Committees on Science and Resources of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate.
       ``(d) Notice of Reorganization.--The Secretary shall 
     provide notice to the Committees on Science, Resources, and 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
     Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 45 days before 
     any major reorganization of any program, project, or activity 
     of the National Sea Grant College Program.''.

     SEC. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES.

       Notwithstanding section 559 of title 5, United States Code, 
     with respect to any marine resource conservation law or 
     regulation administered by the Secretary of Commerce acting 
     through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
     all adjudicatory functions which are required by chapter 5 of 
     title 5 of such Code to be performed by an Administrative Law 
     Judge may be performed by the United States Coast Guard on a 
     reimbursable basis. Should the United States Coast Guard 
     require the detail of an Administrative Law Judge to perform 
     any of these functions, it may request such temporary or 
     occasional assistance from the Office of Personnel Management 
     pursuant to section 3344 of title 5, United States Code.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 927, a bill to reauthorize the 
National Sea Grant College Program. This bill is very similar to the 
legislation that I introduced in January, 1997, and in fact, that bill 
passed the House with 422 votes on June 18.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill that passed the House on June 18 by a vote of 
422 to zero was virtually the same as this bill. The House bill had the 
bipartisan support of 107 cosponsors, including the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young), Committee on Resources chairman, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Miller), ranking Democrat, and the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
  The version of the bill adopted by the House was a compromise version 
adopted by the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Science.
  The National Sea Grant College Program was established by Congress in 
1966 to improve our Nation's marine resources and conservation efforts, 
to better manage those resources, and to enhance their proper 
utilization.
  S. 927, the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 
1997, authorizes funding for Sea Grant through fiscal year 2003; 
simplifies the definition of issues under the Sea

[[Page H405]]

Grant authority; clarifies the responsibilities of State and national 
programs; consolidates and clarifies the requirements for the 
designation of Sea Grant colleges and regional groups; and assures that 
the Sea Grant research will be adequately peer reviewed.
  It also authorizes funding for timely research on oyster diseases and 
oyster-related human health risks, Pfiesteria and other harmful algae 
blooms and zebra mussels.
  Mr. Speaker, I have carefully reviewed the language in this Senate-
passed legislation and find it substantially the same as that passed 
here; and I support the changes approved by the other body with the 
minor changes we are making today. By enacting this legislation, we 
will be sending a clear message supporting the conservation and 
researched-based management of our marine and coastal resources.
  The Sea Grant program has been a big success, and I am pleased that 
after 3 years of hard work we are now poised to extend this most 
important environmental program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in strong support of the 
bill. S. 927 provides a strong reauthorization of the National Sea 
Grant College Program which, for over 30 years, has addressed important 
local, regional and national marine resource problems through 
education, research and public outreach.
  The legislation before the House is a compromise with the other body. 
It reauthorizes Sea Grant for 5 years. It clarifies the roles of the 
national office and the Sea Grant colleges. It strengthens competitive 
peer review for grants and contracts for research, education and 
outreach, and generally brings Sea Grant up to date as a modern 
education and research program.
  The authorization levels in the bill will fully fund Sea Grant's 
ongoing base program, while providing additional funding for certain 
research priorities, which include nonindigenous species, oyster 
disease, and toxic microbe Pfiesteria.

                              {time}  1845

  While I do not question the validity of research in these areas, I 
regret that some Members have felt it necessary to question whether all 
of these research options are necessary. One of the sea grant's great 
strengths over the years has been its ability to respond rapidly and 
effectively to local and regional needs, Mr. Speaker. I think that that 
is something that is now involved in the program in a way that both the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and myself can support. There is 
no reason to think that it will not continue to do so; that is to say, 
respond effectively to local needs under its usual effective peer 
review processes.
  I would like to express my appreciation for the cooperation that we 
in the minority have received from the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Saxton) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the staffs on 
this bill.
  I can assure my colleagues that on this bill any partisan 
considerations were put to rest with respect to the thrust of the 
legislative activity under consideration. This is not, therefore, a 
bipartisan bill, this is a nonpartisan bill. I think all of us who 
represent coastal areas have long appreciated the benefits of this 
practical and noncontroversial program. It is a good bill, 
reauthorizing a popular program. I am glad we are doing it at this 
time. I most certainly urge the House to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Green).
  (Mr. GREEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN. Mr. Speaker, to show the support of Texas for the sea 
grant reauthorization, I rise in support of the National Sea Grant 
College program. The National Sea Grant College program was established 
in 1966 to provide wide stewardship over our marine and coastal 
resources. It is a partnership between universities, States, 
communities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  The mission of the sea grant program is to promote and sponsor 
research and education and outreach aimed at the wise use of resources 
and the development and effective management and conservation programs 
that target our Nation's coastal and marine resources.
  Texas A&M university has a Sea Grant College at Galveston, Texas 
which is actually in the district of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Lampson). The program has spread throughout the Gulf Coast of Texas and 
throughout the whole State. I represent the port of Houston. So my home 
State of Texas allows individuals to learn about the ocean and the 
coastal environments and innovative marine technologies.
  The 29th district that I represent has the port of Houston and the 
port plays a vital part in our economy and the livelihood of our 
surrounding communities. Texas A&M's Sea Grant College provides 
business owners, fishermen and the community groups that live and work 
along the port of Houston with information on how to achieve the most 
benefits economically while responsively conserving the environment. 
Without the sea grant program, the citizens of Texas and our Nation 
will not stay current and be innovative and competitive with the rest 
of the world.
  By reauthorizing the Sea Grant College program through the year 2003, 
we have ensured that we will train our future citizens, future citizens 
who will not only look to protect our oceans and coastal areas but also 
be trained to properly manage our marine resources.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill. This bill makes significant 
improvements in the sea grant program by streamlining the proposal 
review process, reducing the administrative costs and clarifying the 
Federal and university roles in the program. This program, in its 30-
year history, has proven its value and worth to our country. I rise in 
support of the bill and I thank my colleague from Hawaii for yielding 
me the time and also the chairman of committee for bringing this bill 
forward.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Farr).
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Hawaii for yielding me the time and special thanks to our chair of our 
great committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton). I rise on 
this issue because I think oftentimes Members do not understand why a 
program like sea grant is so important to our Nation.
  We are a Nation surrounded by water. This whole globe is covered by 
water. Essentially the future of the survival of this planet is going 
to be dependent upon how societies treat the ocean. When we think about 
the meeting of land and water, which is the coastal zones of this 
country, that is the most fragile ecosystem there is on the planet 
because most of the people on this planet live in the coastal zone. So 
what happens is, if we do not understand what the significance is of 
using the ocean, dumping in the ocean, relying on the ocean, we are 
going to be victims of something we do not understand.
  We are already finding that as we find fisheries that are overfished, 
as we find global climate change, all of these factors are dependent 
upon a program that invests in collecting the best minds there are in 
the country to put some effort into studying the ocean. That is what 
the sea grant program is all about.
  There are 26 colleges in the United States that receive grants from 
this. It benefits the coastal States, benefits the Great Lakes States. 
These programs encompass advisory services, public education for marine 
scientists and also for our kindergarten through the 12th grade. So it 
is a program that is essentially looking into private sector 
collaboration with the government, an aquaculture program, coastal and 
estuarine research, marine biotechnology, marine fisheries management, 
and seafood safety.
  You add it all up and this is really a very important program. 
Frankly, the Federal Government puts very little money into it. We 
ought to put a lot more. This whole issue is so important that the 
world, other countries in the world are involved along with us with an 
International Year of the Oceans.

[[Page H406]]

  This issue about what are we doing with authorizing the sea grant 
program is essentially we have made the administration of it much 
cleaner, much more specific, much more, I think, to the interests of, 
broader interests of this country, but we are also realizing that this 
agenda of engaging the smartest minds in this country is essentially an 
issue about survival, not just survival of the United States but 
survival of the globe. This is money well spent. This program is well 
done.
  Let me just tell you a little story. Last year I was able to get a 
fellow in my office, Jennifer Newton. She has been so good at being a 
sea grant fellow that I hired her when her fellowship ended up to be in 
my program. So it brings people into the Capitol who would not 
otherwise be here and allows us access to good scientific minds. This 
reauthorization is a step well taken. It has no partisan differences. 
It is what we do here in Congress best.
  I am very proud to rise in support of it and to thank my learned 
colleagues for their support and particularly the leadership of our 
chair and ranking member the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me the time.
  This legislation particularly impacts those of us in the coastal area 
of Texas and as a Member of Congress that has an adjoining district 
near the Houston port as well as the Galveston coastline, we advocate 
clearly the need for legislation that provides for such improvement. I 
would argue that this is very important legislation and also 
legislation that is long overdue. I would like to thank both the 
chairman and ranking member for promoting this legislation and I might 
say to have it on the suspension calendar so that we might easily have 
it passed. I join my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), 
in advocating its importance for not only Texas but our local regional 
area.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Weygand).
  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Hawaii 
(Mr. Abercrombie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) for 
bringing this legislation before us. It truly has bipartisan support. 
It is a wonderful program. It is a great piece of legislation. As many 
of the previous speakers have mentioned, it does really affect so many 
different States, those of us that are on the ocean, those of us in the 
Great Lakes.
  But as the ocean State, Rhode Island has a very proud and rich 
maritime heritage. Not so coincidental the State has also had a proud 
and rich heritage with the sea grant program. My State's history with 
the National Sea Grant program dates back to 1968 when the first funds 
were awarded to the graduate school of oceanography at the University 
of Rhode Island in Narragansett. In 1971, the university was 
established as a Sea Grant College, one of the first four in the 
country. The university was recertified as a sea grant institution most 
recently in 1985. Rhode Island also serves as the proud host of the 
National Sea Grant Depository. Housed in the Pell Marine Science 
Library at the university, it houses over 55,000 scientific, technical 
and advisory and education and public information reports on sea grant 
supported work throughout the world.
  The sea grant program has allowed many valuable research and 
educational projects to be funded in my district, in my State and 
indeed throughout the country. Rhode Island alone has been the 
recipient of many programs that have been valuable in terms of 
providing new safety techniques for fish harvesting and environmentally 
sensitive beach erosion techniques, pollution mitigation for 
Narragansett Bay and other estuaries and streams and also valuable 
aquaculture that affects our State's economy.
  Similar projects throughout the country have been wonderfully 
received, have been very valuable not only to the research in and the 
education that goes on at our universities but, importantly, to the 
economy and the economic well-being of our States.
  These programs are aimed at not only saving our wonderful resources 
but also improving the businesses that use those resources. That is why 
it is so significant that we have been able to marry those two together 
in a very effective way to provide great preservation of our resources 
while at the same time recognizing its valuable input to our economy.
  I join my colleagues in recommending and supporting passage of this 
legislation. I would like to thank the two managers of the legislation, 
the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) and the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton), for their effort to bring this to the floor.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I would like to express once again my gratitude to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and express my very fond aloha 
to him and to the committee staff. Mr. Speaker, I do not think anyone 
in the Congress is as devoted to the subject matter over which he has 
jurisdiction than the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton). The ocean 
resources over which this Nation has sovereignty and the concern that 
he expresses for this most valuable of all resources is something that 
sets the benchmark, I think, for all of us regardless of party.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
would like to thank the gentleman for his very kind remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, this is good legislation and I am sure it is legislation 
that every Member of the House will want to support. But this 
legislation is just an example of what can be done when we work on a 
bipartisan basis. The gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), who has 
served for 3 years as the ranking member of the committee, has been a 
major, major contributor to the bipartisan spirit that has permitted us 
to move through issue after issue and, frankly, without rancor, and 
frankly I cannot think of a time that we have come to the floor with 
major legislation since the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) has 
been the ranking member when we have had a disagreement. We work things 
out ahead of time. We do it in an amicable way. As a result of that, we 
have been able to pass legislation that deals with the marine 
environment, been able to pass a major legislation that deals with 
fisheries resources, major legislation that deals with the marine 
mammal, the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We passed legislation on 
protection of coral reefs. We reformed the national refuge system with 
new legislation last year.

                              {time}  1900

  We were able to pass a bill to promote volunteerism in the refuge 
system. We were able to pass coastal estuary issues to protect wetlands 
and so on along many coastal areas of our country, all because of the 
bipartisan spirit that has been exhibited by the gentleman from Hawaii 
(Mr. Abercrombie) and what he has brought to the committee.
  Also, the gentleman is never at a loss for words when he is speaking 
up for the sea grant program, which also exists at the University of 
Hawaii, I would point out. He has been an outstanding advocate for his 
home, the humpback whale sanctuary and, of course, the National 
Undersea Research Laboratory, which is also in Hawaii.
  So I would just like to say it is not aloha, probably. He will still 
be a member of the committee, even though it will not be the ranking 
member, and I will look forward to working with the gentleman on these 
issues as they come back to visit us and many others, I am sure, along 
the way.
  It has been a pleasure over these past 3 years serving with the 
gentleman from Hawaii, and I will look forward to continuing our 
relationship.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, for over three decades, the National Sea 
Grant College Program has performed an extraordinary service not only 
to the State of New Jersey, but also to the nation. Sea Grant is a 
competitive, merit-based, aquatic science program that benefits marine 
and freshwater industries, environments, and communities of the United 
States by applying science and technology to problems of day-to-day 
concern.
  Few federal programs have achieved the exceptional economic impact 
that the Sea Grant College Program has shown since its inception in 
1996. Research conducted through the Sea Grant Program is crucial to 
meeting

[[Page H407]]

important objectives in the areas of aquatic resource conservation and 
management, sustainable development, technology innovation, and coastal 
and inland water quality. Furthermore, the program has proven to be 
very effective in transferring its scientific and technical results to 
industry as well as identifying and communicating local needs and 
problems to Sea Grant program managers and researchers.
  Recent examples of Sea Grant supported research and outreach 
activities that have positively impacted the lives of New Jersey 
residents include:
  Sponsoring a commercial fisherman's safety training program. 
Techniques learned in this course enabled a first mate on a Cape May 
fishing vessel to save the life of his captain's son during an accident 
at sea;
  Supporting a ``red tide'' research effort to examine nitrogen inputs 
into estuaries. This project has already developed into a full-scale, 
water quality monitoring and management project with potential for 
national applications; and
  Coordinating a partnership of the New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland 
Sea Grant Programs with the Public Service Gas and Electric Company 
(PSE&G) for a massive marsh restoration effort on the Delaware Bay. 
This effort is the largest of its kind in the country and represents a 
unique collaboration of government, industry, academic and scientific 
interests.
  To be competitive in the future, it is essential that the U.S. 
develop a skilled workforce that is scientifically literate and 
environmentally sensitive. The National Sea Grant College Program has 
been a leader in science education from ``hands-on'' science 
experiences at the K-12 level, to supporting thousands of graduate 
students in aquatic and environmental science. Informal education of 
the general public and technical advice for businesses are also 
important aspects of Sea Grant's education objectives.
  The National Sea Grant College Program is truly a program worthy of 
our investment. I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for bringing 
this bill to the floor today, and I look forward to continuing to work 
with my colleagues on this issue as the appropriations process moves 
forward.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, as many of you know, this year 
has been designated the International Year of the Oceans. I am pleased 
that so early on in our legislative agenda, we have the chance to vote 
for something which so positively affects our understanding, and wise 
management of our ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources.
  These resources are of great importance not only to our economy and 
the environment, but to our social and cultural vitality, and even our 
national security. But we put incredible pressures on these 
environments. Over half of our population lives in the 10% of land area 
defined as coastal. We have over-harvested many of the fish and other 
living resources. We alter the physical environment, filling in 
wetlands, dredging our harbors, and bulkheading our shorelines. We 
pollute. We introduce alien species into our ecosystems. We're adding 
substances to the atmosphere that increase ultraviolet radiation and 
alter the climate. We are inundated with news of disasters that affect 
our oceans and coasts, from harmful algal blooms such as the Pfisteria 
outbreaks this past summer, to medical wastes washing up on our shores.
  I hope to be standing up in front of you soon to urge your support of 
the Oceans Act of 1997, H.R. 2547, legislation which I have put 
together with my colleagues to help ensure that our coasts and oceans 
are properly taken care of for generations to come.
  I believe that Sea Grant is, and will be, an integral part of efforts 
to better understand, properly conserve, and sustainably use our marine 
resources. For over 30 years Sea Grant programs have supported high 
quality, competitive, peer reviewed science to better understand these 
dynamic resources, our effects on them, and to propose ways to minimize 
negative impacts while enhancing economic benefits. This information is 
then distributed to the public and user-groups through educational and 
advisory programs, so that they can manage and utilize these resources 
in a sustainable manner.
  And these programs are fiscally responsible. Federal funding for Sea 
Grant must be matched by non-federal contributions, and over half of 
the funding for Sea Grant programs comes from non-federal sources.
  Sea Grant provides virtually the only funding for the study of marine 
resource policy, and is a major contributor to efforts in aquaculture, 
coastal and estuarine research, marine biotechnology, marine fisheries 
management, and seafood safety.
  Funded at about $50 million dollars annually, a Sea Grant funded 
industrial pollution model has already led to over $480 million dollars 
in savings for State pollution clean-up costs in the Great Lakes alone.
  Sea Grant efforts have led to enhanced fisheries management and 
production, with direct economic benefits. In my own district, Sea 
Grant research is being conducted on how coastal upwelling affects 
larval survival in rockfish, a study important to properly managing the 
$10 million-a-year rockfish fishery.
  There's another project also underway to try to isolate medicinal 
products from marine algae. Sea grant programs have led to the 
discovery of more than 1,000 new compounds from marine organisms, and 
14 new product patents to date.
  A third project in my district is dealing with the important topic of 
preserving marine biodiversity, comparing the current diversity of the 
rocky intertidal in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the 
most biologically diverse regions known, to diversity levels recorded 
in the 1970's. This research will put into perspective issues of long-
term ecological stability and community persistence in the face of 
natural and human impacts.
  And in my office this past year we had a Sea Grant fellow, a graduate 
student who was learning how to apply her scientific background and 
research to effective policy making.
  This is a tremendously valuable, fiscally responsible program, and I 
urge you to support its reauthorization, as well as increased 
appropriations to the authorized amount in FY99.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 927, the 
National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act. This is a long-
awaited measure that reorganizes the nation's foremost aquatic 
educational grant program for the challenges of the Twenty-First 
Century.
  We have only begun to understand the depth of knowledge that our 
oceans can yield to us. What little we have learned has done much to 
change humanity's perspective on its relationship with the sea. And I 
am proud to say that Sea Grant has had a major role in the progress 
made in aquatic research at the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, 
located in Port Norris, New Jersey.
  In noting the provisions contained in S. 927 that authorize grants 
for oyster disease research, I am excited by the prospect of one day 
seeing Southern New Jersey watermen shovel bushels of oysters from the 
Delaware Bay, as they did many years ago. Research undertaken in this 
area by Rutgers University, through the financial assistance of New 
Jersey Sea Grant, will hopefully resurrect an industry that has all but 
disappeared from the Second Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 927.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, reauthorizing the National Sea Grant 
College Program is not only an investment in the future of our nation's 
marine resources, it is also sound public policy. The various 
ingredients, such as scientific research, educational training, and 
community application, mixed into the complex operation of a sea grant 
college benefit not only regions close to marine resources, but the 
global population as a whole. For example, Sea Grant developed the 
first systematic attempt to locate and establish new drugs from marine 
components.
  The development of our coastal regions means an increasing reliance 
on marine research to generate intelligence policies. Contributions in 
the area of aquatic resource management and sustainable economic 
development has made Sea Grant a vital link between scientific findings 
and local resource implementation. For Guam, this aspect is vitally 
important as we continue to attempt to fully utilize our Pacific 
resources.
  I also emphasize the National Sea Grant College Program's 
contributions to science education. Through various activities, such as 
the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, thousands of 
students are introduced to the wonders of marine science and research. 
Annually, Sea Grant supports 450 graduate students by employing them in 
research ventures. In addition, students from K-12 increase their 
marine knowledge through various Sea Grant sponsored activities.

[[Page H408]]

  The University of Guam collaborates in the Sea Grant Program through 
the University of Hawaii. However, the people of Guam look forward to a 
separate Sea Grant status. The Marine Laboratory in the University of 
Guam has evolved into an important marine research center serving not 
only Guam, but the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Guam 
has the support of the Office of Insular Affairs in the Department of 
Interior in this issue.
  Clearly the National Sea Grant Program is essential not only to our 
understanding and utilization of our marine resources, but for our 
economy, our environment and our students. I urge my colleagues to 
support its reauthorization.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House, today, to express 
my support for S. 927, a bill to reauthorize the National Sea Grant 
College Program through FY 2003.
  Established by Congress in 1966, the National Sea Grant College 
Program has fostered the wise use, conservation, and management of 
marine and coastal resources through practical research, graduate 
student education, and public service.
  I am proud that the University of Delaware has been a part of Sea 
Grant since 1976 when it became the 9th institution to join. In 
particular, the University of Delaware's program conducts research in 
environmental studies, fisheries, marine biotechnology, marine policy, 
seafood science, and coastal engineering.
  Graduates from its program have gone on to make impressive 
contributions at the National Academy of Sciences, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Boston University School of Medicine, the U.S. State 
Department, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and 
Environmental Control, and a host of cutting-edge corporations.
  The National Sea Grant College Program is much more than a research 
institution. Its staff reaches out to business owners, schoolteachers, 
and government agencies to provide them with objective information and 
assistance in addressing coastal problems and developing technology 
that benefits all of us.
  For example, the National Sea Grant College Program conducted 
important research on mosquito-eating fish that help curb disease-
carrying mosquito populations naturally. They also developed technology 
both to recycle crab shells into bandages and animal feed and to 
harvest pollution-free energy from ocean waves.
  One of the most important services the National Sea Grant College 
Program provides is assistance in protecting beaches, roads, buildings 
and wildlife along our fragile coastlines. The sea Grant Program's 
research is responsible for developing a novel sand bypass system that 
protects coastlines from beach erosion.
  Unfortunately, the Clinton Administration has not followed through on 
the investment this country made in the National Sea Grant College 
Program. In Delaware, the Administration has commissioned study after 
study that shows the tremendous need to construct the coastal 
protection technologies developed by the National Sea Grant College 
Program, but it refuses to honor its commitment to pay its share of the 
construction costs. As a result, in the last two weeks, Delaware has 
suffered tremendous damage in the wake of violent nor'easters.
  Mr. Speaker, every coastal state can boast the achievements of its 
Sea Grant College Program and every state benefits from its work. The 
Senate passed this legislation by unanimous consent and the House 
passed similar legislation, H.R. 437, last June, by a vote of 422-3. 
Therefore, please join me in reauthorizing this worthy program.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support S. 927, and I am 
very pleased to see that we are considering it today. We began the 
process of reauthorizing the National Sea Grant College Program more 
than three years ago, and I hope we can now conclude it quickly.
  Sea Grant was established in 1966 in order to improve our Nation's 
marine resource conservation efforts, to manage those resources more 
effectively, and to enhance their proper use. The program is patterned 
after the highly successful Land Grant College Program, which is 
familiar to many of our non-coastal members.
  For over 30 years, Sea Grant has successfully achieved its goals 
through a unique combination of research grants, marine advisory 
services, and education. This year, Mr. Ron Dearborn, who does an 
excellent job as Director of the Alaska Sea Grant College Program, is 
serving as President of the Sea Grant Association. Alaska's Sea Grant 
program has improved our understanding of commercial fish stocks, the 
factors affecting the size and health of those stocks, and the best 
economic uses for fishery resources. Using this information, we have 
developed effective management regimes, and we continue to create more 
jobs while minimizing long-term impacts to our fisheries.
  Alaska Sea Grant also supports a comprehensive Marine Advisory 
Service, which has provided industry training programs on topics 
ranging from marine safety and seafood technology to business 
management for fishermen and shoreside support facilities. Through 
proper training, we ensure that our industries, businesses, and 
individuals who depend on productive fisheries can continue to do their 
jobs effectively.
  Sea Grant is a perfect example of the type of program that we should 
support. The program produces tangible results that help solve local 
and regional problems and, most importantly, it maximizes immediate and 
long-range returns by matching Federal investments with State and 
private funds.
  The Resources and Science Committees were unable to reach agreement 
on reauthorizing legislation in the last Congress. In this Congress, 
H.R. 437, which was introduced by my colleague, Jim Saxton, and a 
number of other Members last year, and upon which S. 927 is based, 
passed the House by a vote of 422 to 3.
  S. 927 is similar to H.R. 437, it enjoys widespread support, and I am 
confident that by voting for it now we can finally reauthorize this 
important program. Mr. Speaker, I urge an aye vote on S. 927.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ney). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 927, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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