[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 25 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H963-H964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill (H.R. 1834) to authorize the national ocean exploration 
program and the national undersea research program within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as proposed to be adopted under 
suspension of the rules, be modified by the amendment that I have 
placed at the desk.
  (For the text of H.R. 1834, see proceedings of the House of February 
13, 2008, at page H896.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the modification.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

              TITLE I--NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Ocean Exploration 
     Program Act''.

     SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION.

       The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration shall, in consultation with the National 
     Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, 
     conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program 
     within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     that promotes collaboration with other Federal ocean and 
     undersea research and exploration programs. To the extent 
     appropriate, the Administrator shall seek to facilitate 
     coordination of data and information management systems, 
     outreach and education programs to improve public 
     understanding of ocean and coastal resources, and development 
     and transfer of technologies to facilitate ocean and undersea 
     research and exploration.

     SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES.

       (a) In General.--In carrying out the program authorized 
     under section 102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration (in this title referred to as 
     the ``Administrator'') shall--
       (1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific 
     activities of discovery in conjunction with other Federal 
     agencies or academic or educational institutions, to explore 
     and 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 deep water marine systems that hold potential for 
     important scientific 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 and implement, in consultation with the 
     National Science Foundation, a transparent, competitive 
     process for merit-based peer-review and approval of proposals 
     for activities to be conducted under this program, taking 
     into consideration advice of the Board established under 
     section 104;
       (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 and autonomous vehicles; and
       (6) 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.
       (b) Donations.--In carrying out the program authorized 
     under section 102, the Administrator may accept donations of 
     property, data, and equipment to be applied for the purpose 
     of exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the 
     oceans.

     SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.

       (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall appoint an 
     Ocean Exploration Advisory

[[Page H964]]

     Board composed of experts in relevant fields to--
       (1) advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey 
     and discovery;
       (2) assist the program in the development of a five-year 
     strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great 
     Lakes science, exploration, and discovery;
       (3) annually review the quality and effectiveness of the 
     proposal review process established under section 103(4); and
       (4) provide other assistance and advice as requested by the 
     Administrator.
       (b) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
     apply to the Board appointed under subsection (a).

     SEC. 105. APPLICATION WITH OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT.

       Nothing in this Act supersedes, or limits the authority of 
     the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental 
     Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

     SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this 
     title--
       (1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (2) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (3) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (4) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (5) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       (6) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
       (7) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014.

                  TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Undersea Research 
     Program Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION.

       The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration shall conduct an undersea research, 
     exploration, education, and technology development program 
     and shall designate a Director of that program.

     SEC. 203. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of the program authorized under section 202 is 
     to increase scientific knowledge essential for the informed 
     management, use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, 
     coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The Director, in carrying 
     out the program authorized in section 202, shall cooperate 
     with institutions of higher education and other educational 
     marine and ocean science organizations, and shall make 
     available undersea research facilities, equipment, 
     technologies, information, and expertise to support undersea 
     research efforts by these organizations. The Director may 
     also enter into partnerships, using existing authorities, 
     with the private sector to achieve the goals of the program 
     and to promote technological advancement of the marine 
     industry.

     SEC. 204. PROGRAM.

       The program authorized under section 202 shall be conducted 
     through a national headquarters, a network of extramural 
     regional undersea research centers that represent all 
     relevant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and 
     Technology. Overall direction of the program will be 
     developed by the program director with a Council of Center 
     Directors comprised of the directors of the extramural 
     regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea 
     Science and Technology. Draft program direction shall be 
     published not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
     of this Act. The draft program direction shall be published 
     in the Federal Register for a public comment period of not 
     less than 120 days. Final program direction with Agency 
     responses to the comments received shall be published in the 
     Federal Register within 90 days after the close of the 
     comment period. The program director shall update the program 
     direction, with opportunity for public comment, at least 
     every five years.

     SEC. 205. REGIONAL CENTERS AND INSTITUTE.

       (a) Programs.--The following research, exploration, 
     education, and technology programs shall be conducted through 
     the network of extramural regional centers and the National 
     Institute for Undersea Science and Technology:
       (1) Core research and exploration based on national and 
     regional undersea research priorities.
       (2) Advanced undersea technology development to support the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research 
     mission and programs.
       (3) Development, testing, and transition of advanced 
     undersea technology associated with ocean observatories, 
     submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated 
     vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling 
     and sensing technologies.
       (4) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs 
     to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the 
     oceans and Great Lakes.
       (5) Discovery, study, and development of natural products 
     from ocean and aquatic systems.
       (b) Operations.--Operation of the extramural regional 
     centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and 
     Technology shall leverage partnerships and cooperative 
     research with academia and private industry.

     SEC. 206. COMPETITION.

       (a) Discretionary Fund.--The program shall allocate no more 
     than 10 percent of its annual budget to a discretionary fund 
     that may be used only for program administration and priority 
     undersea research projects identified by the Director but not 
     covered by funding available from centers.
       (b) Competitive Selection.--The Administrator shall conduct 
     an initial competition to select the regional centers that 
     will participate in the program 90 days after the publication 
     of the final program direction required in section 204 and 
     every five years thereafter. Funding for projects conducted 
     through the regional centers shall be awarded through a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed process on the basis of their 
     relevance to the goals of the program and their technical 
     feasibility.

     SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this 
     title--
       (1) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (2) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (3) $21,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (4) $23,500,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (5) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       (6) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
       (7) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2014.

            TITLE III--INTERAGENCY PLANNING AND COORDINATION

     SEC. 301. OCEAN EXPLORATION AND UNDERSEA RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY 
                   AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the 
     National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, 
     the Department of the Navy, the Mineral Management Service, 
     and relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, 
     industry, and other experts, shall convene an ocean 
     exploration and undersea research technology and 
     infrastructure task force to develop and implement a 
     strategy--
       (1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration and undersea 
     research technology to the programs authorized under titles I 
     and II of this Act;
       (2) to improve availability of communications 
     infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to such 
     programs;
       (3) to develop an integrated, workable, and comprehensive 
     data management information processing system that will make 
     information on unique and significant features obtained by 
     such programs available for research and management purposes;
       (4) to conduct public outreach activities that improve the 
     public understanding of ocean science, resources, and 
     processes, in conjunction with relevant programs of the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National 
     Science Foundation, and other agencies; and
       (5) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with 
     governmental and nongovernmental entities that will assist in 
     transferring exploration and undersea research technology and 
     technical expertise to the programs.
       (b) Budget Coordination.--The task force shall coordinate 
     the development of agency budgets and identify the items in 
     their annual budget that support the activities identified in 
     the strategy developed under subsection (a).

  Mr. BAIRD (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.

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