[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13008-13009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 161, S. 764.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 764) to reauthorize and amend the National Sea 
     Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

                                 S. 764

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College 
     Program Amendments Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM 
                   ACT.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever 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. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY 
                   FELLOWSHIP.

       (a) In General.--Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is 
     amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
       (b) Placements in Congress.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
       (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1), in 
     the second sentence, by striking ``A fellowship'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(2) Placement priorities.--
       ``(A) In general.--In each year in which the Secretary 
     awards a legislative fellowship under this subsection, when 
     considering the placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 
     prioritize placement of fellows in the following:
       ``(i) Positions in offices of, or with members on, 
     committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
       ``(ii) Positions in offices of members of Congress that 
     have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great 
     Lakes resources.
       ``(B) Equitable distribution.--In placing fellows in 
     offices described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
     ensure, to the maximum degree practicable, that placements 
     are equitably distributed among the political parties.
       ``(3) Duration.--A fellowship''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) 
     shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (d) Sense of Congress Concerning Federal Hiring of Former 
     Fellows.--It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of 
     the competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) 
     of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1127(b)), and of the exceptional qualifications of fellowship 
     awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under 
     Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should 
     encourage participating Federal agencies to consider 
     opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of 
     their fellowship for workforce positions appropriate for 
     their education and experience.

     SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE TO 
                   ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 
     1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(E) accept donations of money and, notwithstanding 
     section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, of voluntary 
     and uncompensated services;''.
       (b) Priorities.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through 
     the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
     shall establish priorities for the use of donations accepted 
     under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College 
     Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider 
     among those priorities the possibility of expanding the Dean 
     John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship's placement of 
     additional fellows in relevant legislative offices under 
     section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance 
     with the recommendations under subsection (c) of this 
     section.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Sea Grant 
     College Program, in consultation with the National Sea Grant 
     Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Association, shall--
       (1) develop recommendations for the optimal use of any 
     donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 
     Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and
       (2) submit to Congress a report on the recommendations 
     developed under paragraph (1).
       (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 
     available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) 
     of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1127(b)), including amounts--
       (1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or
       (2) appropriated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1131).

     SEC. 5. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON COORDINATION OF 
                   OCEANS AND COASTAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

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

     SEC. 6. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NATIONAL SEA 
                   GRANT ADVISORY BOARD REPORT.

       Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Biennial'' and inserting 
     ``Periodic''; and
       (2) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Board shall 
     report to the Congress every two years'' and inserting ``Not 
     less frequently than once every 3 years, the Board shall 
     submit to Congress a report''.

     SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT 
                   COLLEGE PROGRAM.

       Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in the 
     matter before paragraph (1), by inserting ``for research, 
     education, extension, training, technology transfer, and 
     public service'' after ``financial assistance''.

     SEC. 8. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE 
                   POLICY FELLOWSHIP.

       (a) In General.--During fiscal year 2016 and thereafter, 
     the head of any Federal agency may appoint, without regard to 
     the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, 
     United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that 
     title, a qualified candidate described in subsection (b) 
     directly to a position with the Federal agency for which the 
     candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification 
     standards.
       (b) Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.--
     Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former recipient of 
     a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 
     208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1127(b)) who--
       (1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in a field 
     related to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources or policy 
     from an accredited institution of higher education; and
       (2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 
     fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of the 
     United States Government.
       (c) Limitation.--The direct hire authority under this 
     section shall be exercised with respect to a specific 
     qualified candidate not later than 2 years after the date 
     that the candidate completed the fellowship.

     SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA 
                   GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``;''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;
       ``(H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016;
       ``(I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017;
       ``(J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018;
       ``(K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019;
       ``(L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
       ``(M) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.'';
       (2) in the heading for paragraph (2), by inserting ``for 
     fiscal years 2009 through 2014'' after ``Priority 
     activities''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 
     2020.--In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph 
     (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 for competitive grants 
     for the following:
       ``(A) University research on the biology, prevention, and 
     control of aquatic nonnative species.
       ``(B) University research on oyster diseases, oyster 
     restoration, and oyster-related human health risks.
       ``(C) University research on the biology, prevention, and 
     forecasting of harmful algal blooms.
       ``(D) University research, education, training, and 
     extension services and activities focused on coastal 
     resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other regional or 
     national priority issues identified in the strategic plan 
     under section 204(c)(1).
       ``(E) University research on sustainable aquaculture 
     techniques and technologies.
       ``(F) Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant 
     colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not 
     supplant, existing core program funding.''.
       (b) Modification of Limitations on Amounts for 
     Administration.--Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 
     1131(b)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) Administration.--

[[Page 13009]]

       ``(A) In general.--There may not be used for administration 
     of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 
     percent of the lesser of--
       ``(i) the amount authorized to be appropriated under this 
     title for the fiscal year; or
       ``(ii) the amount appropriated under this title for the 
     fiscal year.
       ``(B) Critical staffing requirements.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Director shall use the authority 
     under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
     Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement while 
     carrying out the activities authorized in this title.
       ``(ii) Exception from cap.--For purposes of subparagraph 
     (A), any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of 
     authority as described in clause (i) shall not be considered 
     an amount used for administration of programs under this 
     title in a fiscal year.''.
       (c) Allocation of Funding.--
       (1) In general.--Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) 
     is amended--
       (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant 
     institutes'' and inserting ``With respect to sea grant 
     colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea 
     grant projects''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter before clause (i), 
     by striking ``funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant 
     institutes'' and inserting ``funding among sea grant 
     colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea 
     grant projects''.
       (2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of 
     excess amounts.--Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (c); and
       (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
     (c) and (d), respectively.

     SEC. 10. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 
     et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by 
     moving clause (vi) two ems to the right; and
       (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended 
     by section 6, in the third sentence, by striking ``The 
     Secretary shall'' and inserting the following:
       ``(3) Availability of resources of department of 
     commerce.--The Secretary shall''.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The bill (S. 764), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________