[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 87 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6558-S6560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mr. Inouye, and Ms. Cantwell):
  S. 1252. A bill to promote ocean and human health and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, oceans affect human health both 
directly and indirectly from the water quality at our beaches to the 
safety of seafood at U.S. markets; therefore, it is important to 
understand the relationship between environmental stressors, coastal 
conditions, climate change, and human health. Over the last several 
decades ocean and coastal waters have become channels for environmental 
threats to human health including infectious disease, harmful toxins 
from algae, and chemical pollutants from contact with contaminated 
seafood, polluted drinking water, and dirty beaches. Since the 1960s, 
scientists have realized that marine plants, animals, and microbes can 
also produce substances that benefit human health, such as anticancer, 
anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic medicines.
  Through well designed research and monitoring programs, we can 
maximize the health benefits derived from the oceans, improve the 
safety of American seafood, reduce beach closures, and detect emerging 
threats to human health in a proactive rather than reactive manner.
  In 2004, Congress enacted the Oceans and Human Health Act which 
authorized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health to 
conduct research to improve understanding of the connection between the 
oceans and public health. Today, Senator Inouye, Senator Cantwell, and 
I are introducing the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 
2009.
  This legislation would direct the President, working through the 
National Science and Technology Council, to coordinate a national 
research program to improve understanding of the role of the oceans, 
coasts and Great Lakes in human health and deliver information, 
products, and services to assist the nation in reducing public health 
risks, including those related to climate change, and enhancing health 
benefits from the ocean. It would establish the Oceans and Human Health 
Task Force that will include a number of federal agencies, such as the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National 
Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the National 
Institute for Environmental Health Science, and the Center for Disease 
Control. It would direct the Interagency Oceans and Human Health Task 
Force to develop an implementation plan that: establishes the goals and 
priorities for federal research that advance scientific

[[Page S6559]]

understanding of the connections between oceans and human health; 
provides information for the prediction, surveillance, and forecasting 
of marine-related public health problems, including those related to 
climate change; and uses the biological and chemical potentials of the 
oceans to develop new products for the prevention and treatment of 
diseases and to increase our understanding of the biological properties 
of ocean resources. The legislation would also reauthorize the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Oceans and Human Health 
Initiative and establish a Distinguished Scholars program for 
scientists to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration on the oceans and human health initiative.
  Importantly, this bill would recognize the effects of climate change 
on oceans and human health. The effects of climate change do not stop 
with sea level rise and increased water temperatures. Without physical 
and ecological boundaries, climate change causes a cascade of effects 
throughout ocean environments that can result in surprising impacts on 
ocean and human health. This reauthorization bill would include climate 
change and oceans and human health as a new research area.
  Our oceans impact every American and they are a foundation of 
America's economy. The research and monitoring supported by this bill 
will help make sure we have healthy oceans where people can swim, fish, 
play, and eat seafood. It will also help us develop new blue jobs in 
marine natural products and lead to new discoveries in medicines to 
cure deadly diseases.
  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. 1252

       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 ``Oceans and Human Health 
     Reauthorization Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM.

       (a) Coordination.--Subsection (a) of section 902 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended by 
     striking ``in human health.'' and inserting ``, coasts, and 
     Great Lakes in human health and deliver information, 
     products, and services to assist the nation in reducing 
     public health risks, including those related to climate 
     change, and enhancing health benefits from the ocean.''.
       (b) Implementation Plan.--Subsection (b) of section 902 of 
     the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
       (1) by amending the matter preceding paragraph (1) to read 
     as follows:
       ``(b) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 5 years after 
     the date of the enactment of the Oceans and Human Health 
     Reauthorization Act of 2009, an Interagency Oceans and Human 
     Health Task Force or working group established by the 
     National Science and Technology Council, through the Director 
     of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall revise 
     and update the 2007 `Interagency Oceans and Human Health 
     Research Implementation Plan' and submit to the Congress the 
     updated Plan. Nothing in this subsection is intended to 
     duplicate or supersede the activities of the Inter-Agency 
     Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia established 
     under section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
     Research and Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-383; 16 
     U.S.C. 1451 note). The updated plan shall--'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by inserting ``, surveillance, and forecasting'' after 
     ``prediction'';
       (B) by inserting ``, including problems related to climate 
     change,'' after ``health problems'';
       (C) by inserting ``and chemical'' after ``biological''; and
       (D) by inserting ``products for the prevention and'' after 
     ``new'';
       (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and participation;'' 
     and all that follows through the end and inserting 
     ``participation in national and international research and 
     outreach efforts, and outreach to the medical community and 
     the public;'';
       (4) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including joint 
     efforts,'' after ``departments'';
       (5) in paragraph (4), by striking ``preventive'' and 
     inserting ``preventing'';
       (6) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``Resources'' after 
     ``the Ocean'';
       (7) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (8) by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows:
       ``(7) estimate funding needed for research, surveillance, 
     education, and outreach activities to be conducted within or 
     supported by Federal agencies and departments under the 
     program.''; and
       (9) by at the end the following:
       ``(8) build on, and complement, the research, surveillance, 
     and outreach activities of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, 
     the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention, the National Institute of 
     Environmental Health Sciences, and other departments and 
     agencies.''.
       (c) Program Scope.--Subsection (c) of section 902 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
       (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) Interdisciplinary research among the ocean, 
     atmospheric, and medical sciences, and coordinated research 
     and activities to improve understanding of processes within 
     the ocean that may affect human and marine animal health and 
     to explore the potential contribution of marine organisms to 
     medicine and research, including--
       ``(A) vector-, water-, and food-borne diseases of humans 
     and marine organisms, including marine mammals, corals, and 
     fish;
       ``(B) health effects for both humans and marine animals 
     associated with harmful algal blooms and hypoxia (in 
     collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful 
     Algal Blooms and Hypoxia);
       ``(C) health effects for humans and marine organisms 
     associated with climate change impacts in ocean, coastal, and 
     Great Lakes waters;
       ``(D) marine-derived pharmaceuticals and other natural 
     products;
       ``(E) marine organisms and habitats as models for 
     biomedical research and as indicators of human health and 
     well being and marine environmental health;
       ``(F) marine environmental microbiology;
       ``(G) legacy and emerging chemicals of concern, including 
     bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical 
     contaminants;
       ``(H) predictive models based on indicators of marine 
     environmental health or public health threats; and
       ``(I) social, economic, and behavioral studies of 
     relationships between the condition of oceans, coasts, and 
     Great Lakes and human health and well-being.'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) Coordination with any appropriate interagency working 
     group of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 
     Technology, or its successor body, through the National 
     Science and Technology Council, to ensure that any integrated 
     ocean and coastal observing system provides information 
     necessary to monitor and reduce marine public health 
     problems, including climate change information, health-
     related data on biological populations, and detection of 
     toxins and contaminants in marine waters and seafood.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``genomics and 
     proteomics'' and inserting ``genomics, proteomics, 
     metabolomics, and other related sciences'';
       (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
       ``(C) in situ, laboratory, and remote sensors--
       ``(i) to detect, quantify, and predict the presence, 
     distribution, concentration, toxicity, or virulence of 
     infectious microbes, harmful algae, toxins, and chemical 
     contaminants in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters, 
     sediments, organisms, and seafood; and
       ``(ii) to identify new genetic resources for biomedical 
     purposes;''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``equipment and 
     technologies'' and inserting ``equipment, technologies, and 
     methodologies''.
       (d) Biennial Report.--Subsection (d) of section 902 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Annual'' and inserting 
     ``Biennial'';
       (2) in the material preceding paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``24 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act'' and inserting ``12 months after the date of the 
     enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act 
     of 2009'';
       (B) by striking ``each year an annual'' and inserting 
     ``alternate years a biennial''; and
       (C) by striking ``year,'' and inserting ``years,'';
       (3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``year;'' and inserting 
     ``years;'';
       (4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``that preceding fiscal 
     year;'' and inserting ``the preceding two fiscal years;'' and
       (5) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, funding needs,'' 
     after ``action''.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                   OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.

       (a) Establishment.--Subsection (a) of section 903 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the 
     second sentence, and inserting ``In carrying out this 
     section, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal 
     agencies and departments conducting integrated oceans and 
     human health research and disease surveillance activities and 
     research in related areas, including the National Science 
     Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers 
     for Disease Control and

[[Page S6560]]

     Prevention, the National Institute of Environmental Health 
     Sciences, and other agencies and departments.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``external'' after 
     ``an''.
       (b) Advisory Panel.--Subsection (b) of section 903 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting 
     ``shall''; and
       (2) by striking ``sciences.'' and inserting ``sciences, 
     including public health practitioners.''.
       (c) National Centers.--Subsection (c) of section 903 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``for''; and
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) The centers shall focus on--
       ``(A) areas related to agency missions, including use of 
     marine organisms and habitats as indicators for marine 
     environmental health, impacts of climate change on ocean 
     health threats, ocean pollutants, marine toxins and 
     pathogens, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, seafood safety and 
     quality, identification of potential marine products, and 
     biology and pathobiology of marine mammals, corals, and other 
     marine organisms; and
       ``(B) supporting disciplines including marine genomics, 
     marine environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry, and 
     conservation medicine.''.
       (d) Extramural Research Grants.--Subsection (d) of section 
     903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3102) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Grants under this subsection shall support research 
     to improve understanding of processes within the ocean that 
     may affect human and marine animal health and to explore the 
     potential contribution of marine organisms to medicine and 
     research, including--
       ``(A) vector-, water-, and food-borne diseases of humans 
     and marine organisms, including marine mammals, corals, and 
     fish;
       ``(B) health effects for humans and marine organisms 
     associated with climate change impacts in ocean, coastal, and 
     Great Lakes waters;
       ``(C) marine-derived pharmaceuticals and other natural 
     products;
       ``(D) marine organisms and habitats as models for 
     biomedical research and as indicators of human health and 
     well being and marine environmental health;
       ``(E) marine environmental microbiology;
       ``(F) legacy and emerging chemicals of concern, including 
     bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting chemical 
     contaminants;
       ``(G) predictive models based on indicators of marine 
     environmental health or public health threats;
       ``(H) cataloging and interpreting microbes and 
     understanding microbial functions in ecosystems and impacts 
     on human and marine health; and
       ``(I) social, economic, and behavioral studies of 
     relationships between the condition of oceans, coasts, and 
     Great Lakes, and human health and well-being.''.
       (e) Distinguished Scholars; Cooperative Agreements.--
     Section 903 of the Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 
     3102) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Distinguished Scholars.--The Secretary of Commerce is 
     authorized to establish a competitive program to recognize 
     highly distinguished external scientists in any area of 
     oceans and human health research and to involve those 
     scientists in collaborative work with the Oceans and Human 
     Health Initiative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       ``(g) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary of Commerce 
     may execute and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or 
     cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out this 
     section.''.

     SEC. 4. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 904 of the 
     Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by 
     striking ``program,'' and inserting ``and institutions of 
     higher education,''.
       (b) Report.--Subsection (b) of section 904 of the Oceans 
     and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3103) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(b) Report.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--The Secretary of Commerce shall submit 
     to Congress a biennial report reviewing the results of the 
     research, assessments, and findings developed under the 
     Oceans and Human Health Initiative of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration. Each such report shall--
       ``(A) describe the projects, products, and programs funded 
     under the Initiative;
       ``(B) describe the work of the Advisory Committee and the 
     manner in which the program is meeting development and 
     implementation recommendations for the program; and
       ``(C) include recommendations for improving or expanding 
     the program.
       ``(2) Combined reports.--Each report required by paragraph 
     (1) may be combined with the National Ocean and Atmospheric 
     Administration's input to the biennial interagency report 
     required by section 902(d).''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Subsection (a) of section 905 of the Oceans and Human 
     Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3104) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``2005 through 2008'' and inserting ``2010 
     through 2014''; and
       (2) by inserting ``, distinguished scholar,'' after 
     ``grant''.
                                 ______