[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S219-S220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Rockefeller):
  S. 172. A bill to establish a coordinated national ocean exploration 
program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. 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 ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 172

       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 ``NOAA Ocean Exploration and 
     Undersea Research Program Act of 2009''.

                       TITLE I--OCEAN EXPLORATION

     SEC. 101. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this title is to establish the national 
     ocean exploration program and the national undersea research 
     program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.

     SEC. 102. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

       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 
     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. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

       (a) In General.--In carrying out the program authorized by 
     section 102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration shall--
       (1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific 
     activities 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 105;
       (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 sensor 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.--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 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 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).

     SEC. 105. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.

       (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall appoint an Ocean 
     Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant 
     fields--
       (1) to advise the Administrator on priority areas for 
     survey and discovery;
       (2) to assist the program in the development of a 5-year 
     strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great 
     Lakes science, exploration, and discovery;
       (3) to annually review the quality and effectiveness of the 
     proposal review process established under section 103(a)(4); 
     and
       (4) to 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).
       (c) Application with Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.--
     Nothing in this title 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) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (2) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (3) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (4) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       (5) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013;
       (6) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
       (7) $59,436,000 for fiscal year 2015.

                  TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM

     SEC. 201. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration shall establish and maintain 
     an undersea research program and shall designate a Director 
     of that program.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to increase 
     scientific knowledge essential for the informed management, 
     use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, and coastal areas 
     and the Great Lakes.

     SEC. 202. POWERS OF PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

       The Director of the program, in carrying out the program, 
     shall--
       (1) 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;
       (2) enter into partnerships, as appropriate and using 
     existing authorities, with the private sector to achieve the 
     goals of the program and to promote technological advancement 
     of the marine industry; and
       (3) coordinate the development of agency budgets and 
     identify the items in their annual budget that support the 
     activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

     SEC. 203. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE.

       (a) In General.--The program 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.
       (b) Direction.--The Director shall develop the overall 
     direction of the program in coordination with a Council of 
     Center Directors comprised of the directors of the extramural 
     regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea 
     Science and Technology. The Director shall publish a draft 
     program direction document not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act in the Federal Register for a 
     public comment period of not less than 120 days. The Director 
     shall publish a final program direction, including responses 
     to the comments received during the public comment period, 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 5 years.

     SEC. 204. RESEARCH, EXPLORATION, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The following research, exploration, 
     education, and technology programs shall be conducted through 
     the network of 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

[[Page S220]]

     Atmospheric Administration's research mission and programs.
       (3) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs 
     to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the 
     oceans and Great Lakes.
       (4) 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.
       (5) Discovery, study, and development of natural resources 
     and products from ocean, coastal, and aquatic systems.
       (b) Operations.--The Director of the program, through 
     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. 205. COMPETITIVENESS.

       (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 under section 203 and every 5 
     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. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this 
     title--
       (1) for fiscal year 2009--
       (A) $13,750,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $5,500,000 for the National Technology Institute;
       (2) for fiscal year 2010--
       (A) $15,125,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $6,050,000 for the National Technology Institute;
       (3) for fiscal year 2011--
       (A) $16,638,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $6,655,000 for the National Technology Institute;
       (4) for fiscal year 2012--
       (A) $18,301,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $7,321,000 for the National Technology Institute;
       (5) for fiscal year 2013--
       (A) $20,131,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $8,053,000 for the National Technology Institute;
       (6) for fiscal year 2014--
       (A) $22,145,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $8,859,000 for the National Technology Institute; and
       (7) for fiscal year 2015--
       (A) $24,359,000 for the regional centers, of which 50 
     percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 50 
     percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and
       (B) $9,744,000 for the National Technology Institute.
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