[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E396-E397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL REAUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE 
                              PROGRAM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2008

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I introduced a bill to reauthorize 
the National Sea Grant College Program Act.
  The National Sea Grant College Program originally was established in 
1966 upon the enactment of the National Sea Grant College Act, 33 
U.S.C. 1121-1131, to improve marine resource conservation, management, 
and utilization. The act was last reauthorized by an act of the 107th 
Congress in 2002, and current authorizations of appropriations expire 
at the end of fiscal year 2008.
  The National Sea Grant College Program is patterned after the Land 
Grant College System, which was created in 1862. Although originally 
assigned to the National Science Foundation, NSF, the National Sea 
Grant College Program was transferred in 1970 to the

[[Page E397]]

newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, 
within the Department of Commerce. Currently, there are over 30 Sea 
Grant College programs that represent a network of researchers, 
educators, and marine extension agents at some of the Nation's top 
academic institutions. Sea Grant Colleges sponsor a wide range of 
applied and basic marine science research, education, and training and 
technical assistance programs promoting the understanding, assessment, 
development, utilization and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes resources. Sea Grant Colleges also provide yearlong fellowships 
to graduate students in marine-related disciplines for placement in 
congressional offices and Federal agencies.
  The bill introduced today would refine the act to modestly expand and 
clarify the scope and purposes of the National Sea Grant College 
Program. The hill would provide the national program with the ability 
to promote, encourage, plan, and implement collaboration among groups 
of Sea Grant programs, strategic partners, and stakeholders. The bill 
includes amendments to the act that would describe in more detail the 
role of Sea Grant in addressing important issues of regional and 
national concern as identified in the National Ocean Research 
Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy.
  The bill would invigorate oversight and accountability by expanding 
the responsibilities of the National Sea Grant Review Panel, 
established by an earlier reauthorization of the National Sea Grant 
College Act. The bill renames this panel as the ``National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board'' to more appropriately and accurately describe its 
purpose and function. The bill would further authorize the Board to 
extend participation to non-panel members, principally through the 
establishment of subcommittees for the purpose of receiving advice and 
guidance. The revised title and afforded level of new participation 
reflects a broader and ongoing responsibility on behalf of the National 
Sea Grant College Program. The Board would be also charged with 
providing advice to the Secretary of Commerce as to how the National 
Sea Grant College Program can he best strengthened to ensure the 
activities of Sea Grant Colleges are consistent with and supportive of 
national objectives.

  The bill would amend Sea Grant program performance review standards. 
Adopted as part of the 2002 amendments, the review requirements have 
had the unintended consequence of creating a disincentive for programs 
to work cooperatively or form partnerships. Implementation of new 
measures for program review combined with policies aimed at advancing 
``continuous program improvement'' should ensure effective program 
assessments.
  In addition, the bill would increase the percentage of funds exempt 
from the non-Federal match requirement from the current 1 percent to 5 
percent. Many Sea Grant programs address issues of local as well as 
national concern. In the case of local Sea Grant projects within 
States, the general match requirement is appropriate. However, the 
match requirement makes it difficult for Sea Grant to participate in 
joint competitive programs with other NOAA offices or other Federal 
agencies because incoming proposals for Sea Grant funding require a 
match, while proposals from the other agencies often do not.
  The bill would also exempt the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy 
Fellowship Program from having to match grant awards in order to 
achieve parity between fellows placed in congressional offices with 
those fellows placed in Federal agencies.
  Finally, the bill also supports reasonable and justifiable increases 
in authorized appropriations for Sea Grant. Authorized funding levels 
would increase from $66 million to $100 million for the period between 
Fiscal Year 2009 through Fiscal Year 2014.
  The National Sea Grant College Program has established an impressive 
record over the course of its 38-year history. The reauthorization bill 
introduced today builds on the sensible recommendations of the Sea 
Grant Association, the Sea Grant Review Panel, other stakeholders, and 
consultations with personnel assigned to NOAA's Sea Grant Program 
Office. Sea Grant provides countless benefits to the American public, 
and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to reauthorize and strengthen this important extramural marine 
conservation program.

                          ____________________