[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3110-S3115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, at this juncture I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate now proceed to consideration of calendar No. 403, S. 
1218.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1218) to provide for Presidential support and 
     coordination of interagency ocean science programs and 
     development and coordination of a comprehensive and 
     integrated United States research and monitoring program.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
  (Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in 
italic.)

                                S. 1278

       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 ``Oceans and Human Health 
     Act''.

     [SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       [(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       [(1) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms provides 
     society with an essential biomedical resource, a promising 
     source of novel compounds with therapeutic potential, and a 
     potentially important contribution to the national economy.
       [(2) The diversity of ocean life and research on the health 
     of marine organisms, including marine mammals and other 
     sentinel species, helps scientists in their efforts to 
     investigate and understand human physiology and biochemical 
     processes, as well as providing a means for monitoring the 
     health of marine ecosystems.
       [(3) The oceans drive climate and weather factors causing 
     severe weather events and shifts in temperature and rainfall 
     patterns that affect the density and distribution of disease-
     causing organisms and the ability of public health systems to 
     address them.
       [(4) The oceans act as a route of exposure for human 
     disease and illnesses through ingestion of contaminated 
     seafood and direct contact with seawater containing toxins 
     and disease-causing organisms.
       [(5) During the past two decades, the incidence of harmful 
     blooms of algae has increased around the world, contaminating 
     shellfish, causing widespread fish kills, threatening marine 
     environmental quality and resulting in substantial economic 
     losses to coastal communities.
       [(6) Existing Federal programs and resources support 
     research in a number of these areas, but gaps in funding, 
     coordination, and outreach have impeded national progress in 
     addressing ocean health issues.
       [(7) National investment in a coordinated program of 
     research and monitoring would improve understanding of marine 
     ecosystems, allow prediction and prevention of marine public 
     health problems and assist in realizing the potential of the 
     oceans to contribute to the development of effective new 
     treatments of human diseases and a greater understanding of 
     human biology.
       [(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide 
     for--
       [(1) Presidential support and coordination of interagency 
     ocean science programs; and
       [(2) development and coordination of a comprehensive and 
     integrated United States research and monitoring program that 
     will assist this Nation and the world to understand, use and 
     respond to the role of the oceans in human health.

     [SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL.

       [(a) Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy To 
     Chair Council.--Section 207(a) of the National Science and 
     Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 
     (42 U.S.C. 6616(a)) is amended--
       [(1) by striking ``Chairman of Federal Coordinating Council 
     for Science, Engineering, and Technology'' in the subsection 
     heading and inserting ``Chair of the National Science and 
     Technology Council''; and
       [(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       [``(1) serve as Chair of the National Science and 
     Technology Council; and''.
       [(b) Functions.--Section 401 of the National Science and 
     Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 
     (42 U.S.C. 6651) is amended to read as follows:

     [``SEC. 401. FUNCTIONS OF COUNCIL.

       [``(a) In General.--The National Science and Technology 
     Council (hereinafter referred to as the `Council') shall 
     consider problems and developments in the fields of science, 
     engineering, and technology and related activities affecting 
     more than one Federal agency, and shall recommend policies 
     and other measures designed to--
       [``(1) provide more effective planning and administration 
     of Federal scientific, engineering, and technology programs;
       [``(2) identify research needs, including areas requiring 
     additional emphasis;
       [``(3) achieve more effective use of the scientific, 
     engineering, and technological resources and facilities of 
     Federal agencies, including elimination of unwarranted 
     duplication; and
       [``(4) further international cooperation in science, 
     engineering and technology.
       [``(b) Coordination.--The Council may be assigned 
     responsibility for developing long-range and coordinated 
     plans for scientific and technical research which involve the 
     participation of more than 2 agencies. Such plans shall--
       [``(1) identify research approaches and priorities which 
     most effectively advance scientific understanding and provide 
     a basis for policy decisions;
       [``(2) provide for effective cooperation and coordination 
     of research among Federal agencies; and
       [``(3) encourage domestic and, as appropriate, 
     international cooperation among government, industry and 
     university scientists.
       [``(c) Other Duties.--The Council shall perform such other 
     related advisory duties as shall be assigned by the President 
     or by the Chair of the Council.
       [``(d) Assistance of Other Agencies.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out the provisions of this section, each Federal 
     agency represented on the Council shall furnish necessary 
     assistance to the Council. Such assistance may include--
       [``(1) detailing employees to the Council to perform such 
     functions, consistent with the purposes of this section, as 
     the Chairman of the Council may assign to them; and
       [``(2) undertaking upon the request of the Chair, such 
     special studies for the Council as

[[Page S3111]]

     come within the scope of authority of the Council.
       [``(e) Standing Committees; Working Groups.--For the 
     purpose of developing interagency plans, conducting studies, 
     and making reports as directed by the Chairman, standing 
     committees and working groups of the Council may be 
     established.''.

     [SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH 
                   PROGRAM.

       [(a) Establishment of Committee.--
       [(1) The National Science and Technology Council shall 
     coordinate and support a national research program to improve 
     understanding of the role of the oceans in human health. In 
     planning the program, the Council shall establish a Committee 
     on Oceans and Human Health that shall consist of 
     representatives from those agencies with programs or missions 
     that could contribute to or benefit from the program. The 
     Committee shall consist of at least one representative from--
       [(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       [(B) the National Science Foundation;
       [(C) the National Institute of Environmental Health 
     Sciences and other institutes within the National Institutes 
     of Health;
       [(D) the Centers for Disease Control;
       [(E) the Environmental Protection Agency;
       [(F) the Food and Drug Administration;
       [(G) the Department of Homeland Security; and
       [(H) such other agencies and departments as the Council 
     deems appropriate.
       [(2) The members of the Committee biennially shall select 
     one of its members to serve as Chair. The Chair shall be 
     knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the 
     administration of scientific research programs, and shall be 
     a representative of an agency that contributes substantially, 
     in terms of scientific research capability and budget, to the 
     interagency program.
       [(b) Implementation Plan.--Within one year after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Chair of the National Science 
     and Technology Council, through the Committee on the Oceans 
     and Human Health, shall develop and submit to the Congress a 
     plan for coordinated Federal activities under the program. In 
     developing the plan, the Committee will consult with the 
     Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. 
     Such plan will build on and complement the ongoing activities 
     of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
     National Science Foundation, the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences, and other departments and 
     agencies and shall--
       [(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the 
     year it is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal 
     research which most effectively advance scientific 
     understanding of the connections between the oceans and human 
     health, provide usable information for the prediction and 
     prevention of marine public health problems and use the 
     biological potential of the oceans for development of new 
     treatments of human diseases and a greater understanding of 
     human biology;
       [(2) describe specific activities required to achieve such 
     goals and priorities, including establishment of national 
     centers of excellence, the funding of competitive research 
     grants, ocean and coastal observations, training and support 
     for scientists, and participation in international research 
     efforts;
       [(3) identify and address, as appropriate, relevant 
     programs and activities of the Federal agencies and 
     departments that would contribute to the program;
       [(4) consider and use, as appropriate, reports and studies 
     conducted by Federal agencies and departments, the National 
     Research Council, the Ocean Research Advisory Panel, the 
     Commission on Ocean Policy and other entities;
       [(5) make recommendations for the coordination of program 
     activities with ocean and human health-related activities of 
     other national and international organizations; and
       [(6) estimate Federal funding for research activities to be 
     conducted under the program.
       [(c) Program Scope.--The program shall include the 
     following activities related to the role of oceans in human 
     health:
       [(1) Interdisciplinary research among the ocean and medical 
     sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve 
     understanding of processes within the ocean that may affect 
     human health and to explore the potential contribution of 
     marine organisms to medicine and research, including--
       [(A) vector- and water-borne diseases of humans and marine 
     organisms, including marine mammals and fish;
       [(B) harmful algal blooms;
       [(C) marine-derived pharmaceuticals;
       [(D) marine organisms as models for biomedical research and 
     as indicators of marine environmental health;
       [(E) marine environmental microbiology;
       [(F) bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical 
     contaminants; and
       [(G) predictive models based on indicators of marine 
     environmental health.
       [(2) Coordination with the National Ocean Research 
     Leadership Council (10 U.S.C. 7902(a)) to ensure that any 
     integrated ocean and coastal observing system provides 
     information necessary to monitor, predict and reduce marine 
     public health problems including--
       [(A) baseline observations of physical ocean properties to 
     monitor climate variation;
       [(B) measurement of oceanic and atmospheric variables to 
     improve prediction of severe weather events;
       [(C) compilation of global health statistics for analysis 
     of the effects of oceanic events on human health;
       [(D) documentation of harmful algal blooms; and
       [(E) development and implementation of sensors to measure 
     biological processes, acquire health-related data on 
     biological populations and detect contaminants in marine 
     waters and seafood.
       [(3) Development through partnerships among Federal 
     agencies, States, or academic institutions of new 
     technologies and approaches for detecting and reducing 
     hazards to human health from ocean sources and to strengthen 
     understanding of the value of marine biodiversity to 
     biomedicine, including--
       [(A) genomics and proteomics to develop genetic and 
     immunological detection approaches and predictive tools and 
     to discover new biomedical resources;
       [(B) biomaterials and bioengineering;
       [(C) in situ and remote sensors to detect and quantify 
     contaminants in marine waters and organisms and to identify 
     new genetic resources;
       [(D) techniques for supplying marine resources, including 
     chemical synthesis, culturing and aquaculturing marine 
     organisms, new fermentation methods and recombinant 
     techniques; and
       [(E) adaptation of equipment and technologies from human 
     health fields.
       [(4) Support for scholars, trainees and education 
     opportunities that encourage an interdisciplinary and 
     international approach to exploring the diversity of life in 
     the oceans.

     [SEC. 5. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                   OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH PROGRAM.

       [(a) Establishment.--As part of the interagency program 
     planned and coordinated under section 4, the Secretary of 
     Commerce shall establish an Oceans and Human Health Program 
     to coordinate and implement research and activities of the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to 
     the role of the oceans in human health. In establishing the 
     program, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal 
     agencies conducting integrated oceans and human health 
     research and research in related areas, including the Centers 
     for Disease Control, the National Science Foundation, and the 
     National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The 
     Oceans and Human Health Program shall provide support for--
       [(1) a program and research coordination office;
       [(2) an advisory panel;
       [(3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration national centers of excellence;
       [(4) research grants; and
       [(5) distinguished scholars and traineeships.
       [(b) Program Office.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     program office to identify and coordinate oceans and human 
     health-related research and activities within the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and carry out the 
     elements of the program. The program office will provide 
     support for administration of the program and, in cooperation 
     with the oceans and human health advisory panel, will serve 
     as liaison with academic institutions and other agencies 
     participating in the interagency oceans and human health 
     research program planned and coordinated under section 3.
       [(c) Advisory Panel.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the 
     development and implementation of the Oceans and Human Health 
     Program. Membership of the advisory group shall provide for 
     balanced representation of individuals with multi-
     disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences. 
     The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
     apply to the oceans and human health advisory panel.
       [(d) National Centers.--
       [(1) The Secretary shall identify and provide financial 
     support through a competitive process to develop, within the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for one or 
     more centers of excellence that strengthen the capabilities 
     of the Administration to carry out programs and activities 
     related to the oceans' role in human health. Such centers 
     shall complement and be in addition to the centers 
     established by the National Science Foundation and the 
     National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
       [(2) The centers shall focus on areas related to agency 
     missions, including use of marine organisms as indicators for 
     marine environmental health, ocean pollutants, marine toxins 
     and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, seafood testing, drug 
     discovery, and biology and pathobiology of marine mammals, 
     and on disciplines including marine genomics, marine 
     environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry and 
     conservation medicine.
       [(3) In selecting centers for funding, the Secretary will 
     consider the need for geographic representation and give 
     priority to proposals with strong interdisciplinary 
     scientific merit that encourage educational opportunities and 
     provide for effective partnerships among the Administration, 
     other Federal entities, State, academic, medical, and 
     industry participants.
       [(e) Research Grants.--

[[Page S3112]]

       [(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants of 
     financial assistance for critical research and projects that 
     explore the relationship between the oceans and human health 
     and that complement or strengthen Administration programs and 
     activities related to the ocean's role in human health. 
     The Secretary shall consult with the oceans and human 
     health advisory panel established under subsection (c) and 
     the National Sea Grant College Program and may work 
     cooperatively with other agencies participating in the 
     interagency program under section 3 to establish joint 
     criteria for such research and projects.
       [(2) Grants under this subsection shall be awarded through 
     a peer-review process that may be conducted jointly with 
     other agencies participating in the interagency program 
     established in section 3 or under the National Oceanographic 
     Partnership Program under section 7901 of title 10, United 
     States Code.
       [(f) Distinguished Scholars and Traineeships.--
       [(1) The Secretary shall designate and provide financial 
     assistance to support distinguished scholars from academic 
     institutions, industry or State governments for collaborative 
     work with scientists and facilities of the Administration.
       [(2) In consultation with the Directors of the National 
     Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, the 
     Secretary of Commerce may establish a program to provide 
     training and experience to scientists at the beginning of 
     their careers who are interested in the role of the oceans in 
     human health.

     [SEC. 6. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.

       [(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce, in 
     consultation with the Centers for Disease Control, the Food 
     and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency 
     and the States, shall design and implement a national public 
     information and outreach program on potential ocean-related 
     human health risks, including health hazards associated with 
     the human consumption of seafood. Under such program, the 
     Secretary shall--
       [(1) collect and analyze information on ocean-related 
     health hazards and illnesses, including information on the 
     number of individuals affected, causes and geographic 
     location of the hazard or illness;
       [(2) disseminate the results of the analysis to any 
     appropriate Federal or State agency, the public, involved 
     industries, and other interested persons;
       [(3) provide advice regarding precautions that may be taken 
     to safeguard against the hazard or illness; and
       [(4) assess and make recommendations for observing systems 
     to support the program.
       [(b) Seafood Safety.--To address health hazards associated 
     with human consumption of seafood, the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Centers for Disease Control, the Food 
     and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency 
     and the States, shall assess risks related to--
       [(1) seafood that is domestically harvested and processed 
     as compared with imported seafood that is harvested and 
     processed outside the United States;
       [(2) seafood that is commercially harvested and processed 
     as compared with that harvested for recreational or 
     subsistence purposes and not prepared commercially; and
       [(3) contamination originating from certain practices that 
     occur both prior to and after sale of seafood to consumers, 
     especially those connected to the manner in which consumers 
     handle and prepare seafood.

     [SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       [(a) NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to 
     carry out the NOAA Oceans and Human Health program 
     established under section 5, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, 
     $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and $20,000,000 annually 
     for fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2008.
       [(b) Public Information.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the public 
     information and outreach program established under section 6, 
     $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Oceans and Human Health 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms provides 
     society with an essential biomedical resource, a promising 
     source of novel compounds with therapeutic potential, and a 
     potentially important contribution to the national economy.
       (2) The diversity of ocean life and research on the health 
     of marine organisms, including marine mammals and other 
     sentinel species, helps scientists in their efforts to 
     investigate and understand human physiology and biochemical 
     processes, as well as providing a means for monitoring the 
     health of marine ecosystems.
       (3) The oceans drive climate and weather factors causing 
     severe weather events and shifts in temperature and rainfall 
     patterns that affect the density and distribution of disease-
     causing organisms and the ability of public health systems to 
     address them.
       (4) The oceans act as a route of exposure for human disease 
     and illnesses through ingestion of contaminated seafood and 
     direct contact with seawater containing toxins and disease-
     causing organisms.
       (5) During the past two decades, the incidence of harmful 
     blooms of algae and hypoxia has increased in United States 
     coastal waters, including the Great Lakes, and around the 
     world, contaminating shellfish, causing widespread fish 
     kills, threatening marine environmental quality and resulting 
     in substantial economic losses to coastal communities.
       (6) Existing Federal programs and resources support 
     research in a number of these areas, but gaps in funding, 
     coordination, and outreach have impeded national progress in 
     addressing ocean health issues.
       (7) National investment in a coordinated program of 
     research and monitoring would improve understanding of marine 
     ecosystems, allow prediction and prevention of marine public 
     health problems and assist in realizing the potential of the 
     oceans to contribute to the development of effective new 
     treatments of human diseases and a greater understanding of 
     human biology.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide 
     for--
       (1) Presidential support and coordination of interagency 
     ocean science programs; and
       (2) development and coordination of a comprehensive and 
     integrated United States ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
     research and monitoring program that will assist this Nation 
     and the world to understand, use and respond to the role of 
     the oceans in human health.

     SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment of Committee.--
       (1) The President, through the National Science and 
     Technology Council, shall coordinate and support a national 
     research program to improve understanding of the role of the 
     oceans in human health. In planning the program, the Council 
     shall establish or designate a Committee on Oceans and Human 
     Health that shall consist of representatives from those 
     agencies with programs or missions that could contribute to 
     or benefit from the program. The Committee shall consist of 
     at least one representative from--
       (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       (B) the National Science Foundation;
       (C) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
     and other institutes within the National Institutes of 
     Health;
       (D) the Centers for Disease Control;
       (E) the Environmental Protection Agency;
       (F) the Food and Drug Administration;
       (G) the Department of Defense;
       (H) the Department of Homeland Security; and
       (I) such other agencies and departments as the Council 
     deems appropriate.
       (2) The members of the Committee biennially shall select 
     one of its members to serve as Chair. The Chair shall be 
     knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the 
     administration of scientific research programs, and shall be 
     a representative of an agency that contributes, in terms of 
     scientific research capability and budget, to the interagency 
     program.
       (b) Implementation Plan.--Within 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Chair of the National Science and 
     Technology Council, through the Committee on the Oceans and 
     Human Health, shall develop and submit to the Congress a plan 
     for coordinated Federal activities under the program. Nothing 
     in this subsection is intended to duplicate or supersede the 
     activities of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal 
     Blooms and Hypoxia established under section 603 of the 
     Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 
     1998 (16 U.S.C. 1451 note). In developing the plan, the 
     Committee will consult with the Inter-Agency Task Force on 
     Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. Such plan will build on and 
     complement the ongoing activities of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, 
     the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and 
     other departments and agencies and shall--
       (1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year 
     it is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal 
     research which most effectively advance scientific 
     understanding of the connections between the oceans and human 
     health, provide usable information for the prediction and 
     prevention of marine-related public health problems and use 
     the biological potential of the oceans for development of new 
     treatments of human diseases and a greater understanding of 
     human biology;
       (2) describe specific activities required to achieve such 
     goals and priorities, including establishment of national 
     centers of excellence, the funding of competitive research 
     grants, ocean and coastal observations, training and support 
     for scientists, and participation in international research 
     efforts;
       (3) identify and address, as appropriate, relevant programs 
     and activities of the Federal agencies and departments that 
     would contribute to the program;
       (4) consider and use, as appropriate, reports and studies 
     conducted by Federal agencies and departments, the National 
     Research Council, the Ocean Research Advisory Panel, the 
     Commission on Ocean Policy and other expert scientific 
     bodies;
       (5) make recommendations for the coordination of program 
     activities with ocean and human health-related activities of 
     other national and international organizations; and
       (6) estimate Federal funding for research activities to be 
     conducted under the program.
       (c) Program Scope.--The program shall include the following 
     activities related to the role of oceans in human health:
       (1) Interdisciplinary research among the ocean and medical 
     sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve 
     understanding of processes within the ocean that may affect 
     human health and to explore the potential contribution of 
     marine organisms to medicine and research, including--
       (A) vector- and water-borne diseases of humans and marine 
     organisms, including marine mammals and fish;

[[Page S3113]]

       (B) harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
       (C) marine-derived pharmaceuticals;
       (D) marine organisms as models for biomedical research and 
     as indicators of marine environmental health;
       (E) marine environmental microbiology;
       (F) bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical 
     contaminants; and
       (G) predictive models based on indicators of marine 
     environmental health or public health threats.
       (2) Coordination with the National Ocean Research 
     Leadership Council (10 U.S.C. 7902(a)) to ensure that any 
     integrated ocean and coastal observing system provides 
     information necessary to monitor, predict and reduce marine 
     public health problems including--
       (A) baseline observations of physical ocean properties to 
     monitor climate variation;
       (B) measurement of oceanic and atmospheric variables to 
     improve prediction of severe weather events;
       (C) compilation of global health statistics for analysis of 
     the effects of oceanic events on human health;
       (D) documentation of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and
       (E) development and implementation of sensors to measure 
     biological processes, acquire health-related data on 
     biological populations and detect contaminants in marine 
     waters and seafood.
       (3) Development through partnerships among Federal 
     agencies, States, or academic institutions of new 
     technologies and approaches for detecting and reducing 
     hazards to human health from ocean sources and to strengthen 
     understanding of the value of marine biodiversity to 
     biomedicine, including--
       (A) genomics and proteomics to develop genetic and 
     immunological detection approaches and predictive tools and 
     to discover new biomedical resources;
       (B) biomaterials and bioengineering;
       (C) in situ and remote sensors to detect and quantify 
     contaminants in marine waters and organisms and to identify 
     new genetic resources;
       (D) techniques for supplying marine resources, including 
     chemical synthesis, culturing and aquaculturing marine 
     organisms, new fermentation methods and recombinant 
     techniques; and
       (E) adaptation of equipment and technologies from human 
     health fields.
       (4) Support for scholars, trainees and education 
     opportunities that encourage an interdisciplinary and 
     international approach to exploring the diversity of life in 
     the oceans.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                   OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.

       (a) Establishment.--As part of the interagency program 
     planned and coordinated under section 3, the Secretary of 
     Commerce shall establish an Oceans and Human Health 
     Initiative to coordinate and implement research and 
     activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration related to the role of the oceans in human 
     health. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
     consult with other Federal agencies conducting integrated 
     oceans and human health research and research in related 
     areas, including the Centers for Disease Control, the 
     National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences. The Oceans and Human Health 
     Initiative shall provide support for--
       (1) program and research coordination;
       (2) an advisory panel;
       (3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration national centers of excellence;
       (4) research grants; and
       (5) distinguished scholars and traineeships.
       (b) Advisory Panel.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the 
     development and implementation of the Oceans and Human Health 
     Initiative. Membership of the advisory group shall provide 
     for balanced representation of individuals with multi-
     disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences. 
     The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
     apply to the oceans and human health advisory panel.
       (c) National Centers.--
       (1) The Secretary shall identify and provide financial 
     support through a competitive process to develop, within the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for one or 
     more centers of excellence that strengthen the capabilities 
     of the Administration to carry out programs and activities 
     related to the oceans' role in human health. Such centers 
     shall complement and be in addition to the centers 
     established by the National Science Foundation and the 
     National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
       (2) The centers shall focus on areas related to agency 
     missions, including use of marine organisms as indicators for 
     marine environmental health, ocean pollutants, marine toxins 
     and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, seafood 
     testing, drug discovery, and biology and pathobiology of 
     marine mammals, and on disciplines including marine genomics, 
     marine environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry and 
     conservation medicine.
       (3) In selecting centers for funding, the Secretary will 
     consider the need for geographic representation and give 
     priority to proposals with strong interdisciplinary 
     scientific merit that encourage educational opportunities and 
     provide for effective partnerships among the Administration, 
     other Federal entities, State, academic, medical, and 
     industry participants.
       (d) Research Grants.--
       (1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants of 
     financial assistance for critical research and projects that 
     explore the relationship between the oceans and human health 
     and that complement or strengthen Administration programs and 
     activities related to the ocean's role in human health. The 
     Secretary shall consult with the oceans and human health 
     advisory panel established under subsection (b) and the 
     National Sea Grant College Program and may work cooperatively 
     with other agencies participating in the interagency program 
     under section 3 to establish joint criteria for such research 
     and projects.
       (2) Grants under this subsection shall be awarded through a 
     peer-review process that may be conducted jointly with other 
     agencies participating in the interagency program established 
     in section 3 or under the National Oceanographic Partnership 
     Program under section 7901 of title 10, United States Code.
       (e) Distinguished Scholars and Traineeships.--
       (1) The Secretary shall designate and provide financial 
     assistance to support distinguished scholars from academic 
     institutions, industry or State governments for collaborative 
     work with scientists and facilities of the Administration.
       (2) In consultation with the Directors of the National 
     Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, the 
     Secretary of Commerce may establish a program to provide 
     training and experience to scientists at the beginning of 
     their careers who are interested in the role of the oceans in 
     human health.

     SEC. 5. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce, in 
     consultation with the Centers for Disease Control, the Food 
     and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency 
     and the States, shall design and implement a national public 
     information and outreach program on potential ocean-related 
     human health risks, including health hazards associated with 
     the human consumption of seafood. Under such program, the 
     Secretary shall--
       (1) collect and analyze information on ocean-related health 
     hazards and illnesses, including information on the number of 
     individuals affected, causes and geographic location of the 
     hazard or illness;
       (2) disseminate the results of the analysis to any 
     appropriate Federal or State agency, the public, involved 
     industries, and other interested persons;
       (3) provide advice regarding precautions that may be taken 
     to safeguard against the hazard or illness; and
       (4) assess and make recommendations for observing systems 
     to support the program.
       (b) Seafood Safety.--To address health hazards associated 
     with human consumption of seafood, the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Centers for Disease Control, the Food 
     and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency 
     and the States, shall perform a coordinated assessment of 
     risks and benefits associated with seafood handling and 
     consumption.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to 
     carry out the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative 
     established under section 4, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2004, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $15,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2006, and $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2007 and 2008.
       (b) Public Information.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the public 
     information and outreach program established under section 5, 
     $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 1218, the Oceans 
and Human Health Act, legislation being considered by the Senate today. 
This bill, which Senator Stevens and I introduced last year, was 
reported unanimously from the Commerce Committee, will spur the 
development of an exciting new field of research, one that explores the 
role of the oceans in human health. Senators Inouye, Breaux, Kerry, 
Cantwell, Bill Nelson, Lautenberg, DeWine, Levin, and Kennedy have all 
lent their considerable support to the bill as cosponsors. I am also 
pleased to have worked closely with the distinguished chairman and 
ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, 
HELP, Committee, Senators Judd Gregg and Ted Kennedy, in crafting the 
final manager's amendment to the bill.
  The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, established pursuant to the 
Oceans Act of 2000, is poised to issue its draft report with 
recommendations for a new national ocean policy. The draft report is 
likely to recommend increased Federal support for integrated and 
innovative ocean research initiatives such as in oceans and human 
health in order to focus attention on the increasingly complex 
interaction between humans and the sea. The Cceans and Human Health Act 
would establish a national interagency program that will coordinate 
research into oceans and human health and ensure the availability of an 
adequate Federal investment in this critical area. It also would 
authorize such a program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, NOAA, to strengthen its work in this important field of 
study.
  Throughout history, society has turned to the oceans for food, 
transport, commerce and recreation. This

[[Page S3114]]

tremendous resource has enriched and sustained our existence. It is no 
coincidence that today, over 50 percent of the U.S. population lives in 
the coastal zone, and this number is increasing. In addition, over 95 
percent of U.S. overseas trade moves through our Nation's ports and 
this volume is expected to more than double by 2020. Our oceans are 
inextricably linked to our personal and economic well-being.
  In recent years, the rich biodiversity of the world's seas has 
generated considerable interest. Scientists believe the oceans 
represent a promising source of novel compounds with therapeutic and/or 
disease-fighting capabilities. A 1999 National Research Council report, 
``From Monsoons to Microbes,'' noted that nature has been the 
traditional source of new pharmaceuticals and found that over half of 
marketed drugs are extracted or produced from natural sources. Our 
oceans account for over 80 percent of the planet's biological 
productivity, yet little of it has been catalogued or studied. At 
present, there are only three marine compounds in clinical use--and 
these were developed in the 1950s. While there are some new compounds 
in the pipeline, we need to speed research efforts to ensure we get 
more products approved.
  I am encouraged by research suggesting that sea sponges contain 
compounds which show promise in treating pancreatic cancer. And 
recently, a scientist analyzing a water sample from the Sargasso Sea, 
off Bermuda, discovered at least 1,800 new microbial species and more 
than 1.2 million genes in that sample. Imagine what new drug 
discoveries await researchers and the medical community.

  Pioneering scientists are also needed to tackle marine environmental 
issues that affect human and marine life alike, such as ocean pollution 
and marine pathogens. Our marine resources are under growing 
environmental stresses. Signs of these stresses include ``dead zones,'' 
loss of coastal wetlands, changes in ocean salinity, contamination of 
fish and marine life, and increases in extreme weather events 
associated with global climate change. Over the past 2 weeks, over 60 
dolphin carcasses have been found along Florida's panhandle beaches and 
bays. Preliminary test results point to one or more biotoxins that are 
associated with red tides. Certain biotoxins have been known to produce 
eye and respiratory irritation in humans. Dolphins are an important 
indicator species of environmental pollution and their unusually high 
mortality rates in Florida raise the issue of potential risks to human 
health.
  Because oceans act as a route of exposure for human disease through 
ingestion of contaminated seafood or direct contact with saltwater 
containing toxins and disease-causing organisms, it is vital that we 
learn more about how public health is affected by the marine 
environment. We must ensure that the sea maintains its capacity to 
sustain itself without becoming a ``dead zone.'' We must find ways to 
monitor and reduce the occurrence of ocean toxins that kill marine 
mammals and taint seafood. As with cancer, our goal must be 
understanding and prevention, rather than relying exclusively on 
treatment.
  Many research programs and laboratories perform research and related 
activities that could contribute significantly to a national research 
effort, but such efforts have not always realized their potential. To 
be successful, research into oceans and human health must integrate 
disciplines, bringing together oceanographers and biomedical 
researchers to better understand marine processes, reduce public health 
risks and enhance our biomedical capabilities.
  The Oceans and Human Health initiative recently established at NOAA, 
and a joint program between the National Science Foundation, NSF, and 
the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS, 
already show tremendous promise, and this legislation provides further 
support for a coordinated Federal effort. The NIEHS and NSF initiative 
provides $6 million annually to establish centers of excellence 
focusing on harmful algal blooms, water and vectorborne diseases, and 
marine pharmaceuticls and probes. In addition, we provided NOAA with 
appropriations of $8 million in Fiscal Year 2003 and $10 million in 
Fiscal Year 2004 for an oceans and human health initiative focused on 
strengthening important oceans and human health research within NOAA's 
areas of focus, including health coasts and marine life.
  Within NOAA, an interdisciplinary and medically oriented approach to 
ocean research can be found at two marine laboratories in Charleston, 
SC. The NOAA labs have partnered with the National Institute for 
Standards and Technology, the State of South Carolina, the Medical 
University of South Carolina, and the College of Charleston and are on 
the front lines of discovery and prevention, particularly in the 
emerging field of marine genomics. They are hard at work on todays' 
important public and marine environmental health issues. For instance, 
they are conducting research into dolphin health that will for the 
first time utilize a traditional medical approach to help us learn more 
about the health of dolphins in the wild.
  This NOAA research collaboration epitomizes the variety of important 
disciplines that must work side by side if we are to make progress in 
understanding the connections between oceans and human health. It is 
home to cutting-edge research involving algal toxins, natural products 
with potential pharmaceutical applications, and viral and bacterial 
pathogens that cause disease in marine animals, with potential links to 
human illness, disease processes and natural product chemistry. The 
scientists use unique medical tools such as nuclear magnetic resonators 
to help map the cellular and genetic structure of marine organisms and 
have developed methods for detecting pesticides in water, sediments, 
fish, and marine mammals that may potentially affect both the health of 
the marine environment and human health. The scientists are also 
developing exposure, toxicology and disease models to assess 
pollution's effects on a variety of marine organisms. Their work will 
better define ocean health and bridge the gap with existing human 
health models.
  Taken together, the NIEHS-NSF and NOAA research initiatives offer an 
excellent basis for building a comprehensive national program. In 
addition, a number of other Federal agencies are poised to make 
significant contributions.
  The Oceans and Human Health Act provides the legislative framework 
for coordinated, national investment to improve understanding of marine 
ecosystems, address marine public health problems and tap into the 
ocean's potential contribution to new biomedical treatments and 
advances. At the heart of this legislation--and key to its success--is 
our commitment to building new partnerships among Federal health, 
science and ocean agencies, diverse scientific disciplines, and 
academic researchers.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have a more detailed 
summary of the legislation printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Section by Section Analysis of Oceans and Human Health Act

       The Oceans and Human Health Act would authorize the 
     establishment of a coordinated Federal research program to 
     aid in understanding and responding to the role of oceans in 
     human health. The bill would establish a Federal interagency 
     Oceans and Human Health initiative coordinated through the 
     National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) as well as 
     establish an Oceans and Human Health initiative at the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The 
     bill also directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a 
     coordinated public information and outreach program with the 
     Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental 
     Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control 
     (CDC) and the States to provide information on potential 
     ocean-related human health risks.
     Section 1. Short Title
       Section 1 provides the short title of the Act, which is to 
     be cited as the ``Oceans and Human health Act.''
     Section 2. Findings and Purposes
       Section 2 sets forth findings and purposes for the Act.
     Section 3. Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research 
         Program
       Section 3 provides for the coordination of Federal national 
     research activities to improve the understanding of the role 
     of the oceans in human health. Subsection (a) directs the 
     President to coordinate this research program through the 
     National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).

[[Page S3115]]

       10-Year Implementation Plan. Subsection (b) directs the 
     NSTC, through the Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, to submit to Congress within one year of 
     enactment a 10-year implementation plan for coordinated 
     Federal activities under the program. In developing the plan, 
     the Committee is required to consult with the Inter-Agency 
     Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. The 
     implementation plan will complement the ongoing activities of 
     NOAA, NSF, and other departments and agencies, and: (1) 
     Establish the goals and priorities for Federal research 
     related to oceans and human health; (2) describe specific 
     activities required to achieve such goals; (3) identify 
     relevant Federal programs and activities that would 
     contribute to the program; (4) consider and use reports and 
     studies conducted by Federal agencies and departments, the 
     National Research Council, the Ocean Research Advisory Panel, 
     the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and other entities; (5) 
     make recommendations for the coordination of national and 
     international programs; and (6) estimate Federal funding for 
     research activities to be conducted under the program.
       Program Scope. Subsection (c) outlines the scope of the 
     coordinated research program, as follows:
       (1) Interdisciplinary and coordinated research and 
     activities to improve our understanding of how ocean 
     processes and marine organisms can relate to human health and 
     contribute to medicine and research;
       (2) Coordination with the National Ocean Leadership Council 
     (established under 10 U.S.C. 7902(a)) to ensure any ocean and 
     coastal observing system provides information necessary to 
     monitor, predict and reduce marine public health problems;
       (3) Development of new technologies and approaches for 
     detecting and reducing hazards to human health from ocean 
     sources and to strengthen understanding of the value of 
     marine biodiversity to biomedicine; and
       (4) Support for scholars, trainees and education 
     opportunities that encourage a multidisciplinary approach to 
     exploring the diversity of life in the oceans.
       Annual Report. Subsection (d) stipulates that beginning 
     with the first year occurring more than 24 months after 
     enactment of the Act, the National Science and Technology 
     Council will submit an annual report to the President and 
     Congress on the previous year's activities conducted pursuant 
     to the Act.
     Section 4. NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative
       Establishment. Section 4 would establish a NOAA Oceans and 
     Human Health Initiative.
       Subsection (a) directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop 
     an Oceans and Human Health initiative that will coordinate 
     and implement NOAA research and activities related to the 
     role of the oceans in human health. In establishing the 
     program, the Secretary is required to consult with other 
     Federal agencies conducting integrated ocean health research 
     or research in related areas, including NSF. The NOAA Oceans 
     and Human Health Initiative will provide support for the 
     following components:
       (1) centralized program and research coordination;
       (2) an Advisory Panel;
       (3) National Center(s) of Excellence;
       (4) Research grants; and
       (5) Distinguished scholars and traineeships.
       Advisory Panel. Under subsection (b), the Secretary will 
     establish an Oceans and Human Health Advisory Panel to assist 
     in the development and implementation of the NOAA Oceans and 
     Human Health Initiative. Membership of the Advisory Group 
     will include a balanced representation of individuals with 
     multi-disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical 
     sciences. The subsection provides that Federal Advisory 
     Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 1) shall not apply to the Panel.
       National Centers of Excellence. Subsection (c) provides 
     that the Secretary shall, through a competitive process, 
     establish and support NOAA Centers of Excellence that 
     strengthen NOAA's capabilities to carry out programs and 
     activities related to the ocean's role in human health. 
     Centers selected for funding and support under Section 4 
     would focus on areas related to NOAA missions, including: (1) 
     use of marine organisms as indicators for marine 
     environmental health; (2) ocean pollutants; (3) marine toxins 
     and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, seafood testing, drug 
     discovery, biology and pathobiology of marine mammals; and 
     (4) such disciplines as marine geomics, marine environmental 
     microbiology, ecological chemistry and conservation medicine. 
     The Secretary will encourage proposals that have strong 
     scientific and interdisciplinary merit.
       Extramural Research Grants. Subsection (d) authorizes the 
     Secretary of Commerce to provide grants for research and 
     projects that explore the relationship between the oceans and 
     human health, and that complement or strengthen NOAA-related 
     programs and activities. In implementing this subsection, the 
     Secretary is directed to consult with the Oceans and Human 
     Health Advisory Panel and may work cooperatively with other 
     agencies to establish joint criteria for such research 
     projects. This subsection specifies that the grants shall be 
     awarded through a competitive peer-reviewed, merit-based 
     process and that such a process may be conducted jointly with 
     other agencies participating in the program or under the 
     National Oceanographic Partnership Program (10 U.S.C. 
     7901).
       Distinguished Scholars. Subsection (e) directs the 
     Secretary to provide financial assistance to support 
     distinguished scholars working in collaboration with NOAA 
     scientists and facilities. The Secretary is also authorized 
     to establish a training program for scientists early in their 
     careers who are interested in oceans and human health.
     Section 5. Public Information and Outreach
       This section directs the Secretary of Commerce, in 
     consultation with other Federal agencies, to design and 
     implement a national public information and outreach program 
     on potential ocean-related human health risks. The outreach 
     program will collect and analyze information, disseminate the 
     results (to appropriate Federal, State, public, industry or 
     other interested parties), and make recommendations on 
     observing systems that would support the program.
     Section 6. Authorization of Appropriations
       Section 6 provides the authorization of appropriations for 
     the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative established under 
     Section 4, and the public information and risk assessment 
     program established under Section 5.
       Subsection (a) provides that there are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the 
     program under Section 5, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, 
     $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $20,000,000 for fiscal 
     years 2007-2008.
       Subsection (b) provides authorizations of appropriations of 
     $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007 for the 
     public information and outreach program established under 
     Section 5.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am extremely proud to sponsor this 
legislation, and hope that this will mark the beginning of a new 
century of ocean research that will reveal how integral and important 
the oceans are to our daily lives and our health, whether we live by 
the edge of the sea or in the heartland.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Hollings 
amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee substitute, as 
amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and 
passed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2933) was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1218), as amended, was read the third time and passed, 
as follows:
  (The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)

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