[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S452-S453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. 
        Dodd):
  S. 39. A bill to establish a coordinated national ocean exploration 
program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I introduce today S. 39, the ``National 
Ocean Exploration Program Act'' to expand exploration and knowledge of 
our Nation's oceans. When I introduced this bill in the 108th Congress, 
Senator Hollings and Senator Inouye were original co-sponsors. Senator 
Hollings has left this body, but he worked closely with Senator Inouye 
and me on this bill and we thank him for his contributions to ocean 
policy. Senators Snowe and Dodd would like to be added as original co-
sponsors of this bill.
  Senator Inouye and I introduce this legislation today in an effort to 
increase and coordinate research and exploration of our Nation's 
oceans. Alaska and Hawaii are uniquely dependent on the ocean for food, 
employment, recreation, and the delivery of goods. However, 
approximately 95 percent of the ocean floor remains unexplored, much of 
it located in the polar latitudes and the southern ocean. This 
legislation will advance ocean exploration and increase funding for 
greater research.
  In its final report, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended 
that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
National Science Foundation lead an expanded National Ocean Exploration 
Program. This legislation will accomplish that goal.
  The National Exploration Program expands ocean exploration. Through 
this program we will determine whether there are new marine substances 
with potential therapeutic benefits; study unique marine ecosystems, 
organisms and the geology of the world's oceans; and maximize ocean 
research by integrating multiple scientific disciplines in the ocean 
science community.
  The program will focus on remote ocean research and exploration. 
Specifically, research will be conducted on hydrothermal vents 
communities and seamounts. Increased research in these areas, where 
organisms exist in highly toxic environments, should yield significant 
scientific and medical breakthroughs.
  Decades ago I help Oscar Dyson, a great Alaska fisherman, secure a 
small grant to explore the North Pacific. With that grant he discovered 
a great number of marine species that are now considered vital to the 
North Pacific. It is my hope that the National Ocean Exploration 
Program Act will be the catalyst for that type of ocean exploration and 
discovery.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 39

       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 Ocean Exploration 
     Program Act''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

       The Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall, in 
     consultation with the National Science Foundation and other 
     appropriate Federal agencies, establish a coordinated 
     national ocean exploration program within the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of the program are the following:
       (1) To explore the physical, biological, chemical, 
     geological, archaeological, temporal, and other related 
     characteristics of the oceans to benefit, inform, and inspire 
     the American people.
       (2) To create missions and scientific activities of 
     discovery that will improve our understanding, appreciation, 
     and stewardship of the unique marine ecosystems, organisms, 
     chemistry, and geology of the world's oceans, and to enhance 
     knowledge of submerged maritime historical and archaeological 
     sites.
       (3) To facilitate discovery of marine natural products from 
     these ecosystems that may have potential beneficial uses, 
     including those that may help combat disease or provide 
     therapeutic benefits.
       (4) To communicate such discoveries and knowledge to 
     policymakers, regulators, researchers, educators, and 
     interested nongovernmental entities in order to support 
     policy decisions and to spur additional scientific research 
     and development.
       (5) To maximize effectiveness by integrating multiple 
     scientific disciplines, employing the diverse resources of 
     the ocean science community, and making ocean exploration 
     data and information available in a timely and consistent 
     manner.
       (6) To achieve heightened education, environmental 
     literacy, public understanding and appreciation of the 
     oceans.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES.

       In carrying out the program the Administrator of the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall--
       (1) conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages or other 
     scientific activities in conjunction with other Federal 
     agencies or academic or educational institutions, to survey 
     little known areas of the marine environment, inventory, 
     observe, and assess living and nonliving marine resources, 
     and report such findings;
       (2) give priority attention to deep ocean regions, with a 
     focus on surveying deep water marine systems that hold 
     potential for important scientific and medical discoveries, 
     such as hydrothermal vent communities and seamounts;
       (3) conduct scientific voyages to locate, define, and 
     document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites, and other 
     ocean exploration activities that combine archaeology and 
     oceanographic sciences;
       (4) develop, in consultation with the National Science 
     Foundation, a transparent process for reviewing and approving 
     proposals for activities to be conducted under this program;
       (5) enhance the technical capability of the United States 
     marine science community by promoting the development of 
     improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation, 
     and data collection systems, as well as underwater platforms 
     and sensors;
       (6) conduct public education and outreach activities that 
     improve the public understanding of ocean science, resources, 
     and processes, in conjunction with relevant educational 
     programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the National Science Foundation, and other 
     agencies;
       (7) accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be 
     applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing 
     knowledge of the oceans; and
       (8) establish an ocean exploration forum to encourage 
     partnerships and promote communication among experts and 
     other stakeholders in order to enhance the scientific and 
     technical expertise and relevance of the national program.

     SEC. 5. EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.

       The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 
     coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Naval 
     Research, and relevant governmental, non-governmental, 
     academic, and other experts, shall convene an ocean 
     technology and infrastructure task force to develop and 
     implement a strategy--
       (1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration technology to 
     the program;
       (2) to improve availability of communications 
     infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to the 
     program;
       (3) to develop an integrated, workable and comprehensive 
     data management information processing system that will make 
     information on unique and significant features obtained by 
     the program available for research and management purposes; 
     and
       (4) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with 
     governmental and non-governmental entities that will assist 
     in transferring exploration technology and technical 
     expertise to the program.

     SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY FINANCING.

       The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
     National Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies 
     involved in the program, are authorized to participate in 
     interagency financing and share, transfer, receive and spend 
     funds appropriated to any federal participant the program for 
     the purposes of carrying out any administrative or 
     programmatic project or activity under this section. Funds 
     may be transferred among such departments and agencies 
     through a appropriate instrument that specifies the

[[Page S453]]

     goods, services, or space being acquired from another Federal 
     participant and the costs of the same.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the 
     program--
       (1) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2011; 
     and
       (2) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017.
                                 ______