[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3570-S3571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Stevens, 
        Mr. Breaux, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Reed, and Mr. 
        Feingold):
  S. 2428. A bill to amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce with my 
colleagues, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Breaux, Mr. 
Sarbanes, Mr. Reed and Mr. Feingold the National Sea Grant College 
Program Act Amendments of 2002, legislation to reauthorize the National 
Sea Grant College Program Act.
  Congress established the Sea Grant program back in 1966. Since that 
time Sea Grant has provided the Administration and Congress a 
comprehensive vehicle that engages our best universities to respond to 
complex and changing ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues. The 31 Sea 
Grant programs, located in coastal and Great Lakes States and Puerto 
Rico, serve as the core of this dynamic national network of over 300 
participating institutions involving more than 3,000 scientists, 
engineers, educators, students, and outreach experts.
  Sea Grant's legislative charge is to ``increase the understanding, 
assessment, development, utilization, and conservation of the nation's 
ocean and coastal resources by providing assistance to promote a strong 
education base, responsive research and training activities, and broad 
and prompt dissemination of knowledge and techniques''. Sea Grant has 
consistently proven its value to taxpayers as a program that supports 
rigorous, high quality research that is directly responsive to the 
concerns of coastal constituents. The Sea Grant Program brings academic 
creativity and expertise to bear on a host of issues affecting the 
oceans, coasts and Great Lakes.
  Most decisions that affect the coastal environment are made locally, 
and, through the Sea Grant Colleges, the federal government has the 
ability to partner with state and local constituencies to address 
national problems at state and local levels. Moreover, many coastal 
issues cross State jurisdictions and need to be addressed regionally. 
In addition to its state-based infrastructure, Sea Grant has developed 
a system of regional networks for organizing multi-state responses to 
regional/ecosystem-level problems.
  The current administration proposed moving the Sea Grant program from 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to the 
National Science Foundation, NSF. I do not support such a move. The Sea 
Grant program has been a success in NOAA and one has to wonder if 
something is not broke why should we fix it. This is obviously the case 
with Sea Grant and I see no reason why we should move the program from 
NOAA to NSF.
  Allow me for a moment to point out one area where the Sea Grant/NOAA 
partnership is working. As Chairman of the Oceans, Fisheries and 
Atmosphere Subcommittee I know first-hand the struggles that commercial 
fishermen face as we try and rebuild our stocks. Sea Grant is currently 
working in coastal communities to better document the social and 
economic impacts of fishery regulations on communities, so that we can 
develop regulations that not only preserve and protect are valuable 
marine resources but also protect the fabric of our coastal 
communities. As you may know, the National Marine Fisheries Service is 
one of five line offices within NOAA, that is charged with regulating 
all of our domestic commercial fisheries. One thing that all of us from 
coastal states will agree on is the need to improve our knowledge of 
fishing communities and how regulations affect the lives of the people 
who live there.
  A unique feature of the existing National Sea Grant College Program 
Act, which is maintained through this reauthorization bill, is that the 
majority of grants awarded require that every $2 of federal funds be 
matched by $1 of non-federal funds that are usually provided by host 
universities, as well as state or local governments, thus providing 
outstanding leverage as well as strong regional support for the federal 
funds awarded.
  Because Sea Grant is non-regulatory and science-based, it serves as 
an ``honest broker'' among a wide range of constituents. In an age that 
emphasizes multi-disciplinary, goal-oriented, performance-measured 
partnerships, Sea Grant has demonstrated its capability to effectively 
deliver relevant science and services.

[[Page S3571]]

  In short, Sea Grant offers numerous economic opportunities, problem-
solving processes and programmatic efficiencies for the federal 
government to achieve its marine and coastal science agenda. Based on 
the Sea Grant College Program's remarkable capabilities, excellent 
track record, and cost effective use of federal funds, I ask for your 
support in quick passage of this reauthorization bill.
  I ask unanimous consent 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. 2428

       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 Act Amendments of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO FINDINGS.

       Findings.--Section 202(a)(6) of the National Sea Grant 
     College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)(6)) is amended by 
     striking the period at the end and inserting ``, including 
     strong collaborations between Administration scientists and 
     scientists at academic institutions.''.

     SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Quadrennial Strategic Plan.--Section 204 (c)(1) of the 
     National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123 
     (c)(1)) is amended to read as follows: ``The Secretary, in 
     consultation with the panel, sea grant colleges, and sea 
     grant institutes, shall develop at least every 4 years a 
     strategic plan which establishes priorities for the national 
     sea grant college program, provides an appropriately balanced 
     response to local, regional, and national needs, and is 
     reflective of integration with the strategic plans of the 
     Department of Commerce and of NOAA.''.
       (b) Allocation of Funding.--Section 204(d)(3)(B) of the 
     National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1123(d)(3)(B)) is amended.--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     clause (ii);
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) encourage and promote coordination and cooperation 
     between the research, education, and outreach programs of the 
     Administration and those of academic institutions; and''.
       (c) Ensuring Equal Access.--Section 208(a) of such Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1127(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``The Secretary shall strive to ensure equal 
     access for minority and economically disadvantaged students 
     to the program carried out under this subsection.''.

     SEC. 4. TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL.

       Section 209(c)(2) of the National Sea Grant College Program 
     Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is amended by striking the first 
     sentence and inserting the following: ``The term of office of 
     a voting member of the panel shall be 3 years for a member 
     appointed before the date of enactment of the National Sea 
     Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002, and 4 years for 
     a member appointed or reappointed after the date of enactment 
     of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 
     2002. The Director may extend the term of office of a voting 
     member of the panel appointed before the date of enactment of 
     the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 
     by up to 1 year.''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 212 of 
     the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1131) 
     are amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Authorization.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Secretary to carry out this title--
       ``(A) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       ``(B) $77,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       ``(C) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       ``(D) $82,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       ``(E) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       ``(2) Priority research.--In addition to the amount 
     authorized under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be 
     appropriated for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008--
       ``(A) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for university 
     research on biology and control of zebra mussels and other 
     important non-native species as identified in section 
     1301(b)(4)(A) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
     Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4171(b)(4)(A));
       ``(B) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for university 
     research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-
     related human health risks;
       ``(C) $5,000,000 for competitive grants for university 
     research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of 
     harmful algal blooms, including Pfiesteria piscicida; and
       ``(D) $3,000,000 for competitive grants for research 
     contributing to the fisheries extension program to enhance, 
     not supplant, existing core program funding.
       ``(b) Limitations.--
       ``(1) Administration.--There may not be used for 
     administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year 
     more than 5 percent of the lesser of--
       ``(A) the amount authorized to be appropriated under this 
     title for the fiscal year; or
       ``(B) the amount appropriated under this title for the 
     fiscal year.
       ``(2) Use for other offices or programs.--Sums appropriated 
     under the authority of subsection (a)(2) shall not be 
     available for administration of this title by the National 
     Sea Grant Office, for any other Administration or department 
     program, or for any other administrative expenses.''.
       (b) Distribution of Funds.--Such section is further amended 
     by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Distribution of Funds.--In any fiscal year in which 
     the appropriations made pursuant to subsection (a)(1) exceed 
     the amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2003 for the 
     purposes described in such subsection, the Secretary shall 
     distribute the excess amounts (except amounts used for the 
     administration of programs) solely to--
       ``(1) State sea grant programs on a merit reviewed, 
     competitive basis to support, enhance, and reward programs 
     that are best managed and carry out the highest quality 
     research, education, extension, and training programs; and
       ``(2) national strategic initiatives.''.
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