[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6102-H6108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COORDINATED OCEAN OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2020
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 914) to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act of 2009, to clarify the authority of the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to
post-storm assessments, and to require the establishment of a National
Water Center, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 914
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the
``Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION
SYSTEM ACT OF 2009
Sec. 101. Purposes.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.
Sec. 104. Financing and agreements.
Sec. 105. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 106. Public-private use policy.
Sec. 107. Repeal of independent cost estimate.
Sec. 108. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 109. Reports and research plans.
Sec. 110. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 111. Stakeholder input on monitoring.
Sec. 112. Research activities.
TITLE II--NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS
Sec. 201. Named Storm Event Model and post-storm assessments.
TITLE III--WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING
Sec. 301. Water prediction and forecasting.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION
SYSTEM ACT OF 2009
SEC. 101. PURPOSES.
Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 12302. PURPOSES.
``The purposes of this subtitle are--
``(1) to establish and sustain a national integrated System
of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems,
comprised of Federal and non-Federal components coordinated
at the national level by the Council and at the regional
level by a network of regional coastal observing systems, and
that includes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean
observation and modeling capabilities, technologies, data
management systems, communication systems, and product
development systems, and is designed to address regional and
national needs for ocean and coastal information, to gather
specific data on key ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
variables, and to ensure timely and sustained dissemination
and availability of these data--
``(A) to the public;
``(B) to support national defense, search and rescue
operations, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather,
climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and
production, economic development, ecosystem-based marine,
coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, public safety,
and public outreach and education;
``(C) to promote greater public awareness and stewardship
of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and
the general public welfare;
``(D) to provide easy access to ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes data and promote data sharing between Federal and non-
Federal sources and promote public data sharing;
``(E) to enable advances in scientific understanding to
support the sustainable use, conservation, management, and
understanding
[[Page H6103]]
of healthy ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources to
ensure the Nation can respond to opportunities to enhance
food, economic, and national security; and
``(F) to monitor and model changes in the oceans and Great
Lakes, including with respect to chemistry, harmful algal
blooms, hypoxia, water levels, and other phenomena;
``(2) to improve the Nation's capability to measure, track,
observe, understand, and predict events related directly and
indirectly to weather and climate, natural climate
variability, and interactions between the oceanic and
atmospheric environments, including the Great Lakes;
``(3) to sustain, upgrade, and modernize the Nation's ocean
and Great Lakes observing infrastructure to detect changes
and ensure delivery of reliable and timely information; and
``(4) to authorize activities--
``(A) to promote basic and applied research to develop,
test, and deploy innovations and improvements in coastal and
ocean observation technologies, including advanced observing
technologies such as unmanned maritime systems needed to
address critical data gaps, modeling systems, other
scientific and technological capabilities to improve the
understanding of weather and climate, ocean-atmosphere
dynamics, global climate change, and the physical, chemical,
and biological dynamics of the ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes environments; and
``(B) to conserve healthy and restore degraded coastal
ecosystems.''.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 7902'' and
inserting ``section 8932'';
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``integrated into the
System and are managed through States, regional
organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations,
or the private sector'' and inserting ``managed through
States, regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental
organizations, or the private sector and integrated into the
System by a regional coastal observing system, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the agencies
participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation
Committee'';
(3) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
``(6) Regional coastal observing system.--The term
`regional coastal observing system' means an organizational
body that is certified or established by contract or
memorandum by the lead Federal agency designated in section
12304(c)(3) and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal,
and private interests at a regional level with the
responsibility of engaging the private and public sectors in
designing, operating, and improving regional coastal
observing systems in order to ensure the provision of data
and information that meet the needs of user groups from the
respective regions.''; and
(4) in paragraph (7), by striking ``National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Administrator''.
SEC. 103. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM.
(a) System Elements.--
(1) In general.--Section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal
and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b))
is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--In order to fulfill the purposes of this
subtitle, the System shall be national in scope and consist
of--
``(A) Federal assets to fulfill national and international
observation missions and priorities;
``(B) non-Federal assets, including a network of regional
coastal observing systems identified under subsection (c)(4),
to fulfill regional and national observation missions and
priorities;
``(C) observing, modeling, data management, and
communication systems for the timely integration and
dissemination of data and information products from the
System, including reviews of data collection procedures
across regions and programs to make recommendations for data
collection standards across the System to meet national
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observation, applied
research, and weather forecasting needs;
``(D) a product development system to transform
observations into products in a format that may be readily
used and understood; and
``(E) a research and development program conducted under
the guidance of the Council, consisting of--
``(i) basic and applied research and technology
development--
``(I) to improve understanding of coastal and ocean systems
and their relationships to human activities; and
``(II) to ensure improvement of operational assets and
products, including related infrastructure, observing
technologies such as unmanned maritime systems, and
information and data processing and management technologies;
``(ii) an advanced observing technology development program
to fill gaps in technology;
``(iii) large scale computing resources and research to
advance modeling of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
processes;
``(iv) models to improve regional weather forecasting
capabilities and regional weather forecasting products; and
``(v) reviews of data collection procedures across regions
and programs to make recommendations for data collection
standards across the System to meet national ocean, coastal,
and Great Lakes observation, applied research, and weather
forecasting needs.''.
(2) Availability of data.--Section 12304(b)(3) of such Act
(33 U.S.C. 3603(b)(3)) is amended by inserting ``for research
and for use in the development of products to address
societal needs'' before the period at the end.
(b) Policy Oversight, Administration, and Regional
Coordination.--Section 12304(c) of the Integrated Coastal and
Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)) is
amended by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), and
inserting the following:
``(2) Interagency ocean observation committee.--
``(A) Establishment.--The Council shall establish or
designate a committee, which shall be known as the
`Interagency Ocean Observation Committee'.
``(B) Duties.--The Interagency Ocean Observation Committee
shall--
``(i) prepare annual and long-term plans for consideration
and approval by the Council for the integrated design,
operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the
System to meet the objectives of this subtitle and the System
Plan;
``(ii) develop and transmit to Congress, along with the
budget submitted by the President to Congress pursuant to
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, an annual
coordinated, comprehensive budget--
``(I) to operate all elements of the System identified in
subsection (b); and
``(II) to ensure continuity of data streams from Federal
and non-Federal assets;
``(iii) establish requirements for observation data
variables to be gathered by both Federal and non-Federal
assets and identify, in consultation with regional coastal
observing systems, priorities for System observations;
``(iv) establish and define protocols and standards for
System data processing, management, collection, configuration
standards, formats, and communication for new and existing
assets throughout the System network;
``(v) develop contract requirements for each regional
coastal observing system--
``(I) to establish eligibility for integration into the
System;
``(II) to ensure compliance with all applicable standards
and protocols established by the Council; and
``(III) to ensure that regional observations are integrated
into the System on a sustained basis;
``(vi) identify gaps in observation coverage or needs for
capital improvements of both Federal assets and non-Federal
assets;
``(vii) subject to the availability of appropriations,
establish through 1 or more Federal agencies participating in
the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, in consultation
with the System advisory committee established under
subsection (d), a competitive matching grant or other
programs--
``(I) to promote intramural and extramural research and
development of new, innovative, and emerging observation
technologies including testing and field trials; and
``(II) to facilitate the migration of new, innovative, and
emerging scientific and technological advances from research
and development to operational deployment;
``(viii) periodically--
``(I) review the System Plan; and
``(II) submit to the Council such recommendations as the
Interagency Ocean Observation Committee may have for
improvements to the System Plan;
``(ix) ensure collaboration among Federal agencies
participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee;
and
``(x) perform such additional duties as the Council may
delegate.
``(3) Lead federal agency.--
``(A) In general.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall function as the lead Federal agency for
the implementation and administration of the System.
``(B) Consultation required.--In carrying out this
paragraph, the Administrator shall consult with the Council,
the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, other Federal
agencies that maintain portions of the System, and the
regional coastal observing systems.
``(C) Requirements.--In carrying out this paragraph, the
Administrator shall--
``(i) establish and operate an Integrated Ocean Observing
System Program Office within the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration that--
``(I) utilizes, to the extent necessary, personnel from
Federal agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean
Observation Committee; and
``(II) oversees daily operations and coordination of the
System;
``(ii) implement policies, protocols, and standards
approved by the Council and delegated by the Interagency
Ocean Observation Committee;
``(iii) promulgate program guidelines--
``(I) to certify and integrate regional associations into
the System; and
``(II) to provide regional coastal and ocean observation
data that meet the needs of user groups from the respective
regions;
``(iv) have the authority to enter into and oversee
contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements with
non-Federal assets, including regional coastal observing
systems,
[[Page H6104]]
to support the purposes of this subtitle on such terms as the
Administrator deems appropriate;
``(v) implement and maintain a merit-based, competitive
funding process to support non-Federal assets, including the
development and maintenance of a national network of regional
coastal observing systems, and develop and implement a
process for the periodic review and evaluation of the
regional associations;
``(vi) provide opportunities for competitive contracts and
grants for demonstration projects to design, develop,
integrate, deploy, maintain, and support components of the
System;
``(vii) establish and maintain efficient and effective
administrative procedures for the timely allocation of funds
among contractors, grantees, and non-Federal assets,
including regional coastal observing systems;
``(viii) develop and implement a process for the periodic
review and evaluation of the regional coastal observing
systems;
``(ix) formulate an annual process by which gaps in
observation coverage or needs for capital improvements of
Federal assets and non-Federal assets of the System are--
``(I) identified by the regional associations described in
the System Plan, the Administrator, or other members of the
System; and
``(II) submitted to the Interagency Ocean Observation
Committee;
``(x) develop and be responsible for a data management and
communication system, in accordance with standards and
protocols established by the Interagency Ocean Observation
Committee, by which all data collected by the System
regarding ocean and coastal waters of the United States
including the Great Lakes, are processed, stored, integrated,
and made available to all end-user communities;
``(xi) not less frequently than once each year, submit to
the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee a report on the
accomplishments, operational needs, and performance of the
System to contribute to the annual and long-term plans
prepared pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(i);
``(xii) develop and periodically update a plan to
efficiently integrate into the System new, innovative, or
emerging technologies that have been demonstrated to be
useful to the System and which will fulfill the purposes of
this subtitle and the System Plan; and
``(xiii) work with users and regional associations to
develop products to enable real-time data sharing for
decision makers, including with respect to weather
forecasting and modeling, search and rescue operations,
corrosive seawater forecasts, water quality monitoring and
communication, and harmful algal bloom forecasting.
``(4) Regional coastal observing systems.--
``(A) In general.--A regional coastal observing system
described in the System Plan as a regional association may
not be certified or established under this subtitle unless
it--
``(i) has been or shall be certified or established by
contract or agreement by the Administrator;
``(ii) meets--
``(I) the certification standards and compliance procedure
guidelines issued by the Administrator; and
``(II) the information needs of user groups in the region
while adhering to national standards;
``(iii) demonstrates an organizational structure, that
under funding limitations is capable of--
``(I) gathering required System observation data;
``(II) supporting and integrating all aspects of coastal
and ocean observing and information programs within a region;
and
``(III) reflecting the needs of State, local, and tribal
governments, commercial interests, and other users and
beneficiaries of the System and other requirements specified
under this subtitle and the System Plan;
``(iv) identifies--
``(I) gaps in observation coverage needs for capital
improvements of Federal assets and non-Federal assets of the
System; and
``(II) other recommendations to assist in the development
of the annual and long-term plans prepared pursuant to
paragraph (2)(B)(i) and transmits such information to the
Interagency Ocean Observation Committee through the Program
Office established under paragraph (3)(C)(i);
``(v) develops and operates under a strategic plan that
will ensure the efficient and effective administration of
programs and assets to support daily data observations for
integration into the System, pursuant to the standards
approved by the Council;
``(vi) works cooperatively with governmental and
nongovernmental entities at all levels to identify and
provide information products of the System for multiple users
within the service area of the regional coastal observing
system; and
``(vii) complies with all financial oversight requirements
established by the Administrator, including requirements
relating to audits.
``(B) Participation.--For the purposes of this subtitle,
employees of Federal agencies are permitted to be members of
the governing body for the regional coastal observing systems
and may participate in the functions of the regional coastal
observing systems.''.
(c) System Advisory Committee.--Section 12304(d) of the
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009
(33 U.S.C. 3603(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or the Interagency
Ocean Observing Committee.'' and inserting ``or the Council
under this subtitle''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, data sharing,''
after ``data management'';
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) additional priorities, including--
``(i) a national surface current mapping network designed
to improve fine scale sea surface mapping using high
frequency radar technology and other emerging technologies to
address national priorities, including Coast Guard search and
rescue operation planning and harmful algal bloom forecasting
and detection that--
``(I) is comprised of existing high frequency radar and
other sea surface current mapping infrastructure operated by
national programs and regional coastal observing systems;
``(II) incorporates new high frequency radar assets or
other fine scale sea surface mapping technology assets, and
other assets needed to fill gaps in coverage on United States
coastlines; and
``(III) follows a deployment plan that prioritizes closing
gaps in high frequency radar infrastructure in the United
States, starting with areas demonstrating significant sea
surface current data needs, especially in areas where
additional data will improve Coast Guard search and rescue
models;
``(ii) fleet acquisition for unmanned maritime systems for
deployment and data integration to fulfill the purposes of
this subtitle;
``(iii) an integrative survey program for application of
unmanned maritime systems to the real-time or near real-time
collection and transmission of sea floor, water column, and
sea surface data on biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and
hydrography;
``(iv) remote sensing and data assimilation to develop new
analytical methodologies to assimilate data from the System
into hydrodynamic models;
``(v) integrated, multi-State monitoring to assess sources,
movement, and fate of sediments in coastal regions;
``(vi) a multi-region marine sound monitoring system to
be--
``(I) planned in consultation with the Interagency Ocean
Observation Committee, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Department of the Navy, and academic
research institutions; and
``(II) developed, installed, and operated in coordination
with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Department of the Navy, and academic research institutions;
and
``(E) any other purpose identified by the Administrator or
the Council.'';
(D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``The Administrator
may stagger the terms of the System advisory committee
members.'' before ``Members''; and
(E) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and the Interagency
Ocean Observing Committee''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``Observing'' and
inserting ``Observation''.
(d) Civil Liability.--Section 12304(e) of the Integrated
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C.
3603(e)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``information coordination entity'' each
place it appears and inserting ``coastal observing system'';
and
(2) by striking ``contract, lease, grant, or cooperative
agreement under subsection (c)(3)(D)'' and inserting ``a
memorandum of agreement of certification under subsection
(c)(3)(C)(iii)''.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--The Integrated Coastal and
Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.)
is amended by striking ``regional information coordination
entities'' each place it appears and inserting ``regional
coastal observing systems''.
SEC. 104. FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS.
Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(a)) is amended
to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may execute an
agreement, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with
any State or subdivision thereof, any Federal agency, any
public or private organization, or any individual to carry
out activities under this subtitle.''.
SEC. 105. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 12307. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``(a) Requirement.--Not later than March 30, 2022, and
every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall prepare,
and the President acting through the Council shall approve
and transmit to Congress, a report on progress made in
implementing this subtitle.
``(b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a)
shall include--
``(1) a description of activities carried out under this
subtitle and the System Plan;
``(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the System,
including an evaluation of progress made by the Council to
achieve the goals identified under the System Plan;
[[Page H6105]]
``(3) the identification of Federal and non-Federal assets
as determined by the Council that have been integrated into
the System, including assets essential to the gathering of
required observation data variables necessary to meet the
respective missions of Council agencies;
``(4) a review of procurements, planned or initiated, by
each department or agency represented on the Council to
enhance, expand, or modernize the observation capabilities
and data products provided by the System, including data
management and communication subsystems;
``(5) a summary of the existing gaps in observation
infrastructure and monitoring data collection, including--
``(A) priorities considered by the System advisory
committee;
``(B) the national sea surface current mapping network;
``(C) coastal buoys;
``(D) ocean chemistry monitoring;
``(E) marine sound monitoring; and
``(F) unmanned maritime systems technology gaps;
``(6) an assessment regarding activities to integrate
Federal and non-Federal assets, nationally and on the
regional level, and discussion of the performance and
effectiveness of regional coastal observing systems to
coordinate regional observation operations;
``(7) a description of benefits of the program to users of
data products resulting from the System (including the
general public, industries, scientists, resource managers,
emergency responders, policy makers, and educators);
``(8) recommendations, if any, concerning--
``(A) modifications to the System; and
``(B) funding levels for the System in subsequent fiscal
years; and
``(9) the results of a periodic external independent
programmatic audit of the System.''.
SEC. 106. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY.
Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 12308. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY.
``The Council shall maintain a policy that defines
processes for making decisions about the roles of the Federal
Government, the States, regional coastal observing systems,
the academic community, and the private sector in providing
to end-user communities environmental information, products,
technologies, and services related to the System. The
Administrator shall ensure that the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration adheres to the decision making
process developed by the Council regarding the roles of the
Federal Government, the States, the regional coastal
observing systems, the academic community, and the private
sector in providing end-user communities environmental
information, data products, technologies, and services
related to the System.''.
SEC. 107. REPEAL OF INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE.
(a) In General.--The Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is
amended by striking section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 3608).
(b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents in
section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of
2009 (Public Law 111-11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by
striking the item related to section 12309.
SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 12311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
of Commerce to support the integrated oceans observations
under this subtitle--
``(1) $48,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(3) $52,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(4) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(5) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.''.
SEC. 109. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS.
Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Economic vulnerability report.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and
Research Act of 2020, and every 6 years thereafter, the
Subcommittee shall transmit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report that--
``(i) is named the `Ocean Chemistry Coastal Community
Vulnerability Assessment';
``(ii) identifies gaps in ocean acidification monitoring by
public, academic, and private assets in the network of
regional coastal observing systems;
``(iii) identifies geographic areas which have gaps in
ocean acidification research;
``(iv) identifies United States coastal communities,
including island communities, fishing communities, low-
population rural communities, tribal and subsistence
communities, and island communities, that may be impacted by
ocean acidification;
``(v) identifies impacts of changing ocean carbonate
chemistry on the communities described in clause (iv),
including impacts from changes in ocean and coastal marine
resources that are not managed by the Federal Government;
``(vi) identifies gaps in understanding of the impacts of
ocean acidification on economically or commercially important
species, particularly those which support United States
commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries and
aquaculture;
``(vii) identifies habitats that may be particularly
vulnerable to corrosive sea water, including areas
experiencing multiple stressors such as hypoxia,
sedimentation, and harmful algal blooms;
``(viii) identifies areas in which existing National
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System assets,
including unmanned maritime systems, may be leveraged as
platforms for the deployment of new sensors or other
applicable observing technologies;
``(ix) is written in collaboration with Federal agencies
responsible for carrying out this subtitle, including
representatives of--
``(I) the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Office
for Coastal Management of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
``(II) regional coastal observing systems established under
section 12304(c)(4);
``(III) regional ocean acidification networks; and
``(IV) sea grant programs (as defined in section 203 of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122)); and
``(x) is written in consultation with experts, including
subsistence users, academia, and stakeholders familiar with
the economic, social, ecological, geographic, and resource
concerns of coastal communities in the United States.
``(B) Form of report.--
``(i) Initial report.--The initial report required under
subparagraph (A) shall include the information described in
clauses (i) through (viii) of that subparagraph on a national
level.
``(ii) Subsequent reports.--Each report required under
subparagraph (A) after the initial report--
``(I) may describe the information described in clauses (i)
through (viii) of that subparagraph on a national level; or
``(II) may consist of separate reports for each region of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(iii) Regional reports.--If the Subcommittee opts to
prepare a report required under subparagraph (A) as separate
regional reports under clause (ii)(II), the Subcommittee
shall submit a report for each region of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration not less frequently than once
during each 6-year reporting period.
``(C) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
paragraph and in paragraph (5), the term `appropriate
committees of Congress' means the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives.
``(5) Monitoring prioritization plan.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the submission of the initial report
under paragraph (4)(A), the Subcommittee shall transmit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report that develops
a plan to deploy new sensors or other applicable observing
technologies such as unmanned maritime systems--
``(A) based on such initial report;
``(B) prioritized by--
``(i) the threat to coastal economies and ecosystems;
``(ii) gaps in data; and
``(iii) research needs; and
``(C) that leverage existing platforms, where possible.''.
SEC. 110. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.
(a) Contents.--Section 12405(b) of the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C.
3704(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) make recommendations for research to be conducted,
including in the social sciences and economics, to address
the key knowledge gaps identified in the Ocean Chemistry
Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment conducted under
section 12404(c)(4).''.
(b) Program Elements.--Section 12405(c) of the Federal
Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33
U.S.C. 3704(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) Research to understand the combined impact of changes
in ocean chemistry and other stressors, including sediment
delivery, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms, on each other
and on living marine resources, including aquaculture and
coastal ecosystems.
``(7) Applied research to identify adaptation strategies
for species impacted by changes in ocean chemistry including
vegetation-based systems, shell recycling, species and
genetic diversity, applied technologies, aquaculture
methodologies, and management recommendations.''.
(c) Participation.--Section 12405(e) of the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C.
3704(e)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ``,
tribal governments, and subsistence users'' after ``groups''.
(d) Revised Strategic Research Plan.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National
Science and Technology
[[Page H6106]]
Council shall submit to Congress a revised strategic research
plan under section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) that
includes the matters required by the amendments made by this
section.
SEC. 111. STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON MONITORING.
Section 12406(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) includes an ongoing mechanism that allows industry
members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils
and commissions, non-Federal resource managers, community
acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and
scientific experts to provide input on monitoring needs that
are necessary to support on the ground management, decision
making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its
impacts.''.
SEC. 112. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
Section 12407(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(a) Research Activities.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation shall continue to carry out research
activities on ocean acidification which shall support
competitive, merit-based, peer-reviewed proposals for
research, observation, and monitoring of ocean acidification
and its impacts, including--
``(1) impacts on marine organisms, including species
cultured for aquaculture, and marine ecosystems;
``(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine
biogeochemistry;
``(3) the development of methodologies and technologies to
evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts; and
``(4) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems
exhibiting hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, or sediment
delivery, combined with changes in ocean chemistry.''.
TITLE II--NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS
SEC. 201. NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Amendments to the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of
2009.--Section 12312 of the Omnibus Public Land Management
Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3611) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``, except that the term shall not
apply with respect to a State or territory that has an
operational wind and flood loss allocation system.'';
(B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``sustained'' before
``winds''; and
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ``that threaten any
portion of a coastal State'' and inserting ``for which post-
storm assessments are conducted'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``540 days after the date of the enactment
of the Consumer Option for an Alternative System to Allocate
Losses Act of 2012'' and inserting ``December 31, 2020''; and
(II) by striking ``by regulation'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``every'' and
inserting ``an''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Public review.--The Administrator shall seek input
and suggestions from the public before the Named Storm Event
Model, or any modification to the Named Storm Event Model,
takes effect.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) Data collection.--
``(i) In general.--Upon identification of a named storm
under subparagraph (A), and pursuant to the protocol
established under subsection (c), the Administrator may
deploy sensors to enhance the collection of covered data in
the areas in coastal States that the Administrator determines
are at the highest risk of experiencing geophysical events
that would cause indeterminate losses.
``(ii) Rule of construction.--If the Administrator takes
action under clause (i), that action may not be construed as
indicating that a post-storm assessment will be developed for
any coastal State in which that action is taken.
``(C) Identification of indeterminate losses in coastal
states.--Not later than 30 days after the first date on which
sustained winds of not less than 39 miles per hour are
measured in a coastal State during a named storm identified
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall notify the Administrator with respect to the existence
of any indeterminate losses in that coastal State resulting
from that named storm.'';
(iii) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated--
(I) by striking ``identification of a named storm under
subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``confirmation of
indeterminate losses identified under subparagraph (C) with
respect to a named storm''; and
(II) by striking ``assessment for such named storm'' and
inserting ``assessment for each coastal State that suffered
such indeterminate losses as a result of the named storm'';
(iv) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated--
(I) by striking ``an identification of a named storm is
made under subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``any
indeterminate losses are identified under subparagraph (C)'';
and
(II) by striking ``for such storm under subparagraph (B)''
and inserting ``under subparagraph (D) for any coastal State
that suffered such indeterminate losses''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Separate post-storm assessments for a single named
storm.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator may conduct a separate
post-storm assessment for each coastal State in which
indeterminate losses are identified under subparagraph (C).
``(ii) Timeline.--If the Administrator conducts a separate
post-storm assessment under clause (i), the Administrator
shall complete the assessment based on the dates of actions
that the Administrator takes under subparagraph (D).''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``540 days after the date
of the enactment of the Consumer Option for an Alternative
System to Allocate Losses Act of 2012'' and inserting
``December 31, 2020'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, in the discretion of
the Administrator,'' after ``of sensors as may''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and expend'' after
``receive''.
(b) Amendments to the National Flood Insurance Act of
1968.--Section 1337 of the National Flood Insurance Act of
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4057) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``, except that the term shall not
apply with respect to a State or territory that has an
operational wind and flood loss allocation system.''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``sustained'' after
``maximum'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establish by rule'' and
inserting ``publish for comment in the Federal Register'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting after ``Elevation
Certificate'' the following: ``, or other data or information
used to determine a property's current risk of flood, as
determined by the Administrator,'';
(3) in subsection (c)(3)(A)(i), by striking ``the issuance
of the rule establishing the COASTAL Formula'' and inserting
``publication of the COASTAL Formula in the Federal Register
as required by subsection (b)(1)'';
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``section
12312(b)(2)(C)'' and inserting ``section 12312(b)(2)(E)'';
(5) in subsection (h)--
(A) by inserting ``that issues a standard flood insurance
policy under the national flood insurance program'' after
``company''; and
(B) by striking ``or the COASTAL Formula'' and inserting
``, the COASTAL Formula, or any other loss allocation or
post-storm assessment arising under the laws or ordinances of
any State'';
(6) in subsection (i), by striking ``after the date on
which the Administrator issues the rule establishing the
COASTAL Formula under subsection (b)'' and inserting ``60
days after publication of the COASTAL Formula in the Federal
Register as required by subsection (b)(1)''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to create a cause of action under this Act.''.
TITLE III--WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING
SEC. 301. WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING.
(a) National Water Center.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans
and Atmosphere shall establish a center--
(i) to serve as the research and operational center of
excellence for hydrologic analyses, forecasting, and related
decision support services within the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service;
and
(ii) to facilitate collaboration across Federal and State
departments and agencies, academia, and the private sector on
matters relating to water resources.
(B) Designation.--The center established under subparagraph
(A) shall be known as the ``National Water Center''.
(2) Functions.--The functions of the National Water Center
shall include the following:
(A) Improving understanding of water resources, stakeholder
needs regarding water resources, and identifying science and
services gaps relating to water resources.
(B) Developing and implementing advanced water resources
modeling capabilities.
(C) Facilitating the transition of hydrologic research into
operations.
(D) Delivering analyses, forecasts, and inundation
information and guidance for all hydrologic events in the
United States, including flash flooding, riverine flooding,
and water resources outlooks.
[[Page H6107]]
(E) In coordination with warning coordination
meteorologists, providing decision-support services to inform
emergency management and water resources decisions.
(b) National Instructions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, acting
through the Director of the National Weather Service, shall
make public an operations and services policy directive for
the National Water Center.
(2) Contents.--The directive required by paragraph (1)
shall include national instructions to perform the functions
of the National Water Center, including the following:
(A) Operational staff responsibilities.
(B) Guidelines for content, format, and provision of
hydrologic and inundation products developed by the National
Water Center.
(C) Procedures for cooperation and coordination between the
National Water Center, the National Weather Service National
Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather
Service River Forecast Centers, and National Weather Service
Weather Forecast Offices.
(c) Total Water Prediction.--The Under Secretary, acting
through the Director of the Office of Water Prediction of the
National Weather Service, shall--
(1) initiate and lead research and development activities
to develop operational water resource prediction and related
decision support products;
(2) collaborate with, and provide decision support
regarding total water prediction to--
(A) the relevant Federal agencies represented on the
National Science and Technology Council, Committee on
Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability and the
Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction;
(B) State water resource agencies; and
(C) State and local emergency management agencies; and
(3) in carrying out the responsibilities described in
paragraphs (1) and (2), collaboratively develop capabilities
necessary for total water predictive capacity, including
observations, modeling, data management, supercomputing,
social science, and communications.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this
section amounts as follows:
(1) $44,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.
(2) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
(3) $45,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.
(4) $46,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
(e) Derivation of Funds.--Funds to carry out this section
shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated
to the National Weather Service and the National Ocean
Service that are enacted after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Case) and the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-
Colon) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii.
General Leave
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Hawaii?
There was no objection.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 914, the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research
Act, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act of 2009, called IOOS for short.
For over 10 years now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, or NOAA, has implemented this data-driven national
regional partnership to successfully improve safety, enhance the
economy, and protect the environment.
IOOS is a coordinated network of people and technology consisting of
Federal partners and regional associations that generates and
disseminates continuous data and models for our oceans and the Great
Lakes. These data give us a crucial understanding of environmental
variables, like temperature, salinity, currents, nutrient
concentrations, contaminant levels, and more.
This bill would also clarify the authority of NOAA in regards to
post-storm assessments, which NOAA has been doing the work for since it
was appropriated funds in 2016. The bill makes technical challenges to
the COASTAL Act of 2012 so that NOAA can successfully collect the
required data to perform post-storm assessments and then provide that
information to FEMA.
And finally, this legislation would codify establishment of the
National Water Center as the primary facility for hydrologic decision
support services. As we saw from the historic flooding events last
year, it is critical that NOAA has these decision support tools.
In the face of climate change, it is so important that our
environmental planners and managers have the tools they need to ensure
safety for the American people and the longevity of our coastal natural
resources. The Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act will put
us on that path.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 914.
This bill, the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act, will
reauthorize the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, better known as
IOOS, and increase Federal support for ocean data collection and
monitoring efforts, which are vital to coastal and island communities
across the Nation.
Why this bill is important is, as you may know, living in Puerto Rico
and after the hurricanes, this program, it was so important for
communities in the Caribbean as well as many other coastal communities
across the Nation.
This network consists of 17 Federal agencies and 11 regional
associations that provide quality information about our coasts, oceans,
and Great Lakes. And through the use of tools such as satellites,
buoys, and underwater gliders, the system delivers accurate data that
is critical to support coastal economies, maritime commerce, and
navigation safety.
These products are also used to improve hurricane tracking and
weather forecasts, monitor water quality, conduct research on coastal
ecosystems, and support the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue
operations. That was the reason I was supporting this, and, of course,
the dean of the House, Mr. Don Young, who is showing the way for many
of us arriving to the House after him.
In the case of Puerto Rico, we know firsthand the importance of this
system. The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System is one of the
networks's 11 regional associations that is based on the island. Among
other things, it helps support port and harbor operations, as well as
interisland shipping and cruising, by providing observations and models
of coastal weather, waves, wind, and currents in the waters surrounding
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
These system assets were particularly instrumental when Hurricanes
Irma and Maria struck in 2017. While Puerto Rico was without power and
communications, our buoys kept reporting data via satellite, providing
crucial information that was utilized by NOAA's National Hurricane
Center in Miami and other stakeholders. Reauthorizing this system
network is necessary to continue supporting this and other similar
efforts across the country and to ensure that we are delivering
accurate and continuous data on our oceans and coast.
Mr. Speaker, I should mention, as well, that while we are taking up a
Senate bill, the dean of the House, Don Young, has been a dedicated
supporter of this program for many, many years and has sponsored a
House companion bill. You may have all heard that the dean of the House
recently tested positive for COVID, as I did in August, and we are all
hoping that he remains strong, as he is, fierce, and well after his
resounding reelection victory.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I know many folks living in coastal
communities around the Nation will benefit from the enactment of this
legislation here today. So not just by the people living in the islands
or in coastal communities, but in solidarity with Congressman Young, I
urge the adoption of the measure and reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I certainly do deeply appreciate the comments
of my colleague from Puerto Rico, and she knows, as well as I do, as
members of the Island Caucus--and we include in the Island Caucus the
largest island of all, Alaska, Mr. Young's island--the deep importance
of this system. It is a matter of life and death to us in many areas
and many ways, and so we all fully endorse this bill from that
perspective.
[[Page H6108]]
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to
the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), dean of the House.
(Mr. YOUNG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good chairwoman for yielding the
time and my good friend on the other side from Hawaii, one of my
brother States, for this piece of legislation; Congresswoman Bonamici
for a very bipartisan bill with Senator Roger Wicker, Dan Sullivan,
involved in this legislation. It has been hard work, dedication to our
coasts, our oceans, and the Great Lakes.
Mr. Speaker, we sometimes forget, we hear a lot about climate change,
et cetera, but one of the biggest challenges we have is the condition
of our oceans and how we can clean it up, but only keep that in your
mind so maybe we can go forth in the future to really solve some of
these problems, especially with the plastics.
This bill, which includes technical changes implemented by the
Senate, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act through the fiscal year of 2024.
The 11 regional association networks of the Integrated Ocean
Observing System work with regional partners to develop, operate, and
maintain more than 300 observing assets that collect oceanographic and
coastal data, including information about rising sea levels, coastal
flooding, and harmful algal blooms.
This program is a simple system with multiple uses.
I will say that a cost-effective approach of fulfilling this Nation's
need for coastal data is very important.
The data from these systems enables the Coast Guard to reduce the
size of their search areas by two-thirds. The data is also used for
tracking oil spills, providing mariners with sea state conditions, and
for ship detection.
During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, IOOS regions responded by
deploying high-frequency radars and underwater gliders to the region to
assist with monitoring the spill. IOOS data standards enabled the
Federal command center to use non-Federal sources of data for the first
time. NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration now routinely uses this
data in their oil spill response.
It also provides core observations for water level, waves, winds, et
cetera, and it helps to protect against flooding and surges of the sea.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good, bipartisan piece of legislation. I hope
it will save lives.
We just had an instance in Haines, Alaska, where huge waves and rain
destroyed a lot of our coastal areas. That just happened yesterday.
This will help us try to make sure that we would have known that ahead
of time.
It will save us money.
I would really like to congratulate everybody here on a bipartisan
piece of legislation. It is long overdue. We will get the problems
solved with oceans.
This is a good piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to
support it.
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
invaluable legislation for our oceans and all of us, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I
rise in support of S. 914, a bill to reauthorize and increase funding
for the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.
The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet, but despite our
intrinsic connection to our ocean we know very little about what is
beneath its surface. The eleven Integrated Ocean Observing System
regional networks use satellites, buoys, underwater gliders, and tide
gauges to deliver accurate and continuous data on our ocean and coasts.
I was pleased to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman
Don Young, on the House companion to reauthorize these important ocean
observation efforts.
Coastal communities, like those I represent in Northwest Oregon, rely
on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information about ocean
acidification, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, sea level rise,
flooding, navigation, and port security. In the Pacific Northwest, we
are fortunate to have the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean
Observing Systems leading the way. Tribes, commercial fisheries,
emergency responders, and public health officials rely on the free and
open access data collected by NANOOS to learn about threats to the
health of our ocean. I am excited about the partnership between NANOOS
and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission that focuses on the
Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction and will help to
further our understanding of ocean-estuary interactions. I appreciate
the continued innovation from NANOOS to meet the needs of our
communities along the Pacific Coast and the Columbia River.
I am also pleased that this bill directs NOAA to conduct a
vulnerability assessment to identify communities that are dependent on
coastal and ocean resources and that may be affected by ocean
acidification. I am grateful for the bipartisan support for
strengthening our understanding of the socioeconomic effects of ocean
acidification on a range of geographically diverse coastal communities,
and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this
issue.
To protect and preserve one of our planet's greatest natural
resources, we must rapidly accelerate the collection, management, and
dissemination of ocean data collection and monitoring. I recently
joined my colleagues on the House Select Committee on the Climate
Crisis in releasing a bold, science-based comprehensive Climate Action
Plan to set our nation on a path to net-zero emissions no later than
midcentury and net-negative thereafter. I'm thrilled that our plan for
solving the climate crisis recognizes the power of our ocean as part of
the solution. Our Climate Action Plan specifically includes the
Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act to strengthen ocean
observations.
Thank you to NANOOS for their efforts to accurately predict, model,
and manage ocean observation data that support the needs of our region.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 914, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________