[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5834-S5835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Snowe, 
        and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 3160. A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant 
College Program Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was order to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3160

       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 Sea Grant College 
     Program Amendments Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES

       Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever in 
     this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1) 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(D) encourage the development of preparation, forecast, 
     analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery systems for 
     coastal hazards;
       ``(E) understand global environmental processes and their 
     impacts on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and'';
       (2) by striking ``program of research, education,'' in 
     paragraph (2) and inserting ``program of integrated research, 
     education, extension,''; and
       (3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
       ``(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
     through the national sea grant college program, offers the 
     most suitable locus and means for such commitment and 
     engagement through the promotion of activities that will 
     result in greater such understanding, assessment, 
     development, management, and conservation of ocean, coastal, 
     and Great Lakes resources. The most cost-effective way to 
     promote such activities is through continued and increased 
     Federal support of the establishment, development, and 
     operation of programs and projects by sea grant colleges, sea 
     grant institutes, and other institutions, including strong 
     collaborations between Administration scientists and research 
     and outreach personnel at academic institutions.''.
       (b) Purpose.--Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended 
     by striking ``to promote research, education, training, and 
     advisory service activities'' and inserting ``to promote 
     integrated research, education, training, and extension 
     services and activities''.
       (c) Terminology.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 
     (15 U.S.C. 1121(a) and (b)) are amended by striking 
     ``utilization,'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``management,''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4) by striking ``utilization,'' and 
     inserting ``management,'';
       (2) in paragraph (11) by striking ``advisory services'' and 
     inserting ``extension services'';
       (3) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ``(33 
     U.S.C. 1126)''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(17) The term `regional research and information plan' 
     means a plan developed by one or more sea grant colleges or 
     sea grant institutes that identifies regional priorities.''.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

       (a) Program Elements.--Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) 
     is amended--
       (1) by amending in paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant 
     college program network, including international projects 
     conducted within such programs and regional and national 
     projects conducted among such programs;'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) administration of the national sea grant college 
     program and this title by the national sea grant office and 
     the Administration;''; and
       (3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
       ``(4) any regional or national strategic investments in 
     fields relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources 
     developed in consultation with the Board and with the 
     approval of the sea grant colleges and the sea grant 
     institutes.''.
       (b) Technical Correction.--Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 
     1123(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``Within 6 months of the 
     date of enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program 
     Reauthorization Act of 1998, the'' and inserting ``The''.
       (c) Functions of Director of National Sea Grant College 
     Program.--Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``long range'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
       (A) by striking ``(A)(i) evaluate'' and inserting ``(A) 
     evaluate and assess'';
       (B) by striking ``activities; and'' and inserting 
     ``activities;''; and
       (C) by striking clause (ii); and
       (3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
       (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses 
     (iii) through (v), respectively, and by inserting after 
     clause (i) the following:
       ``(ii) encourage collaborations among sea grant colleges 
     and sea grant institutes to address regional and national 
     priorities established under subsection (c)(1);''; and
       (B) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated) by striking 
     ``encourage'' and inserting ``ensure''.

     SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

       Section 205 (33 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``States or regions.'' in subsection (a)(2) 
     and inserting ``States, regions, or the Nation.''; and
       (2) by striking the matter following paragraph (3) in 
     subsection (b) and inserting the following:

     ``The total amount that may be provided for grants under this 
     subsection and subsection 208(b) during any fiscal year shall 
     not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the total funds 
     appropriated for such year under section 212.''.

     SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA 
                   GRANT INSTITUTES.

       Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of 
     paragraphs (2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ``advisory 
     services'' and inserting ``extension services''.

[[Page S5835]]

     SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS.

       Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
     Amendments of 2002, and every 2 years thereafter,'' in 
     subsection (a) and inserting ``Every 2 years,''; and
       (2) by striking ``year.'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
     ``year and is not subject to Federal cost share 
     requirements''.

     SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

       (a) Redesignation of Sea Grant Review Panel as Board.--
       (1) Redesignation.--The sea grant review panel established 
     by section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, is redesignated as the National Sea 
     Grant Advisory Board.
       (2) Membership not affected.--An individual serving as a 
     member of the sea grant review panel immediately before the 
     enactment of this Act may continue to serve as a member of 
     the National Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of 
     such member's term under section 209(c) of such Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1128(c).
       (3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to such 
     sea grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the 
     National Sea Grant Advisory Board.
       (4) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) In general.--Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is amended by 
     striking so much as precedes subsection (b) and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There shall be an independent 
     committee to be known as the National Sea Grant Advisory 
     Board.''.
       (B) Definition.--Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(9) The term `Board' means the National Sea Grant 
     Advisory Board established under section 209.'';
       (C) Other provisions.--The following provisions are each 
     amended by striking ``panel'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``Board'':
       (i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123).
       (ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126).
       (iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128).
       (b) Duties.--Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(b) Duties.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Board shall advise the Secretary and 
     the Director concerning--
       ``(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant college 
     program to address the Nation's highest priorities regarding 
     the understanding, assessment, development, management, and 
     conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
       ``(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant 
     institutes; and
       ``(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to the 
     Board for review and advice.
       ``(2) Biennial report.--The Board shall report to the 
     Congress every two years on the state of the national sea 
     grant college program. The Board shall indicate in each such 
     report the progress made toward meeting the priorities 
     identified in the strategic plan in effect under section 
     204(c). The Secretary shall make available to the Board such 
     information, personnel, and administrative services and 
     assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out its 
     duties under this title.''.
       (c) Membership, Terms, and Powers.--Section 209(c)(1) (33 
     U.S.C. 1128(c)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``coastal management,'' after ``resources 
     management,''; and
       (2) by striking ``utilization,'' and inserting 
     ``management,''.
       (d) Extension of Term.--Section 209(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 
     1128(c)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) The term of office of a voting member of the Board 
     shall be 4 years. The Director may extend the term of office 
     of a voting member of the Board once by up to 1 year.''.
       (e) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 209(c) (33 
     U.S.C. 1128(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are 
     reasonably necessary to carry out its duties under subsection 
     (b). Such subcommittees may include individuals who are not 
     Board members.''.

     SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting the 
     following: ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title--
       ``(A) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       ``(D) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       ``(E) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
       ``(F) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``biology and control of zebra mussels and 
     other important aquatic'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting 
     ``biology, prevention, and control of aquatic''; and
       (B) by striking ``blooms, including Pfiesteria piscicida; 
     and'' in subparagraph (C) and inserting ``blooms; and'';
       (3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``rating under section 
     204(d)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``performance assessments'';
       (4) by striking subsection (c)(2) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2) regional or national strategic investments authorized 
     under section 204(b)(4);''.

     SEC. 11. REPEAL OF ANNUAL COORDINATION REPORT REQUIREMENT.

       Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
     Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857-20) is repealed.
                                 ______