[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 879. A bill to make improvements to the Arctic Research and Policy 
Act of 1984; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, it has been 20 years since the passage 
of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, a bill sponsored by the 
former Senator Murkowski. The time has come to make some modifications 
to reflect the experience we've gained over that time.
  I'm pleased to note that the amendments I introducing today are 
really very modest, an indication that the act--and the presidential 
commission it created--have functioned quite well. These minimal 
changes will, I hope, make them function even more smoothly.
  First, the chairman of the Arctic Research Commission will be 
authorized compensation for an additional 30 days of work during the 
course of a year. That is still far less than the actual number of days 
demanded by the position, but will help. Second, the bill will allow 
the Commission to stimulate additional interest in Arctic research by 
establishing a professional award program for excellence in research. 
Current and former members of the Commission will not be eligible. 
Awards will be capped at a symbolic amount of $1,000, but the 
recognition by each winner's scientific peers will be invaluable. Third 
and finally, the bill will allow the Commission to reciprocate in the 
expected manner when foreign delegations host a reception or other 
event. This provision is limited to no more than two-tenths of a 
percent of the Commission budget--as with the award program, the value 
is primarily symbolic, but is nonetheless important.
  Although these are small changes, they will help ensure a smoothly 
functioning Arctic Research Act, and that is important. Although it is 
not something you hear about on a daily basis, the United States is a 
leader in the very small circle of Arctic nations, and the Congress 
plays a major role in ensuring that we remain a leader in this 
critically important sphere. And make no mistake about it, the Arctic 
is critical to this country for social, strategic, economic and 
scientific reasons that are simply too plentiful to enumerate at this 
time.
  The main purposes of the Arctic Research and Policy Act are: 1, to 
establish national policy for basic and applied research on Arctic 
resources and materials, physical, biological and health sciences, and 
social and behavioral sciences; 2, to establish the U.S. Arctic 
Research Commission to promote Arctic research and to recommend 
research policies; 3, to designate the National Science Foundation as 
the lead agency for implementing Arctic research; and, 4, to establish 
the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, IARPC, which is 
responsible for coordinating a multiplicity of Arctic research efforts 
throughout the government.
  As we continue to see evidence of Arctic warming--whether or not we 
consider it to be human-caused or natural, global or regional--it is of 
tremendous importance to prepare as best we can. The future may hold 
both positives--such as increased agricultural production and access to 
natural resources--and negatives--such as widespread damage to existing 
infrastructure, flooding, and sweeping social changes. The Arctic 
Research Commission plays a vital role and deserves our full support.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 879

       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 ``Arctic Research and Policy 
     Amendments Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. CHAIRPERSON OF THE ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION.

       (a) Compensation.--Section 103(d)(1) of the Arctic Research 
     and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4102(d)(1)) is amended in 
     the second sentence by striking ``90 days'' and inserting ``, 
     in the case of the chairperson, 120 days, and, in the case of 
     any other member, 90 days,''.
       (b) Redesignation.--Section 103(d)(2) of the Arctic 
     Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4102(d)(2)) is 
     amended by striking ``Chairman'' and inserting 
     ``chairperson''.

     SEC. 3. COMMISSION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH.

       (a) Authority.--Section 104 of the Arctic Research and 
     Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4103) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(b) Commission Awards for Excellence in Research.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission may make a 
     cash award to any person in recognition of excellence in 
     Arctic research conducted by such person or outstanding 
     support of Arctic research provided by such person.
       ``(2) Amount.--The amount of a cash award made to a person 
     under paragraph (1) shall be fixed by the Commission and 
     shall not exceed $1,000.
       ``(3) Ineligibility of commission members.--An individual 
     who is or has been a member of the Commission shall be 
     ineligible to receive an award under paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Technical Amendments.--Section 104 of such Act, as 
     amended by subsection (a), is further amended--
       (1) by inserting ``Duties of Commission.--'' before ``The 
     Commission'' in subsection (a); and
       (2) by inserting ``Report.--'' before ``Not later than'' in 
     subsection (c).

     SEC. 4. REPRESENTATION AND RECEPTION ACTIVITIES.

       Section 106 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 
     (15 U.S.C. 4105) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) expend for representation and reception expenses each 
     fiscal year not more than 0.2 percent of the amounts made 
     available to the Commission under section 111 for such fiscal 
     year.''.
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