[Senate Report 111-296]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 573
111th Congress
2d Session SENATE Report
111-296
_______________________________________________________________________
OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 1252
September 20, 2010.--Ordered to be printed
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
89010 WASHINGTON : 2010
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred eleventh congress
second session
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
BARBARA BOXER, California JIM DeMINT, South Carolina
BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey GEORGE S. LeMIEUX, Florida
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas
TOM UDALL, New Mexico MIKE JOHANNS, Nebraska
MARK WARNER, Virginia
MARK BEGICH, Alaska
Ellen Doneski, Staff Director
James Reid, Deputy Staff Director
Bruce Andrews, General Counsel
Ann Begeman, Republican Staff Director
Brian Hendricks, Republican General Counsel
Todd Bertoson, Republican Senior Counsel
Calendar No. 573
111th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 111-296
======================================================================
OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010
_______
September 20, 2010.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rockefeller, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 1252]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 1252) to promote oceans and
human health and for other purposes, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment (in the
nature of a substitute) and recommends that the bill (as
amended) do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of S. 1252, the Oceans and Human Health
Reauthorization Act of 2010, is to promote interagency research
to improve our understanding of the role of oceans, coasts, and
Great Lakes in human health and to deliver information,
products, and services to assist the nation in reducing public
health risks and enhancing health benefits from the ocean.
Background and Needs
Over the last several decades, ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes waters have become conduits for environmental threats to
human health. Infectious disease, harmful toxins from algae,
and chemical pollutants endanger humans through contact with
contaminated seafood, polluted drinking water, and dirty
beaches. At the same time, there exists significant and largely
unrealized potential for marine plants, animals, and microbes
to provide products that benefit human health, such as anti-
cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic medicines. The
interactions between oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and human
health are inextricably linked. It is therefore important to
understand the relationship between environmental stressors,
coastal conditions, and human health.
The majority of the world's population lives in coastal
areas, and is exposed to potential hazards associated with the
marine environment. Humans are vulnerable to health risks in
the form of viral, bacterial, protozoal agents and algal toxins
in marine ecosystems primarily through the ingestion of
contaminated seafood, direct contact with seawater, and sea
spray containing toxins. These agents can move through the
marine system in several ways. Estuarine, coastal, and ocean
basin circulation, tides, and temperatures can affect the
distribution and proliferation of disease-causing organisms and
their vectors. Human activities contribute to the problem
through sewage disposal, nutrient runoff from agriculture and
other land uses (sources of Hepatitis A., poliovirus, E.coli,
and salmonella in the marine environment), and the transfer of
organisms via ballast water (e.g. the marine pathogenic
bacteria Vibrio cholera). Climate and weather systems can
rapidly spread disease through short, dramatic events such as
tsunamis, storm surges, and heavy rains and winds. These
systems can also contribute to long-term oceanic and climatic
trends such El Nino and Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
Diseases are being detected more frequently in marine
organisms, and these species can often be used as indicators of
the status of contaminants in the marine environment. Algal
toxins, viral epizootics, and other toxins can impact marine
mammals and cause increased mortality, reproductive failure,
and depression of the immune system. These impacts can be
useful indicators of marine ecological health as a whole. The
mechanisms of disease within these organisms may also be
studied and evaluated to determine similar mechanisms in
humans, and to develop potential treatments.
The rich biodiversity in the marine environment represents an
important biomedical resource, a promising source of novel
compounds with therapeutic potential, and a potentially
significant contribution to the national economy. Virtually
every type of life that exists on this planet is found in the
sea and many types of plants and animals are exclusively found
in the marine environment. While the oceans are a repository
for much of our biodiversity, little of it has been catalogued
or studied. We have only begun to explore the potential of
marine organisms to produce chemicals for treating diseases.
Historically, microorganisms are the most prolific sources for
new drugs and the marine environment is a major, untapped
resource for bacteria and other microorganisms. Some studies of
marine organisms have sparked new areas of investigation in
cancer research, immunology, inflammatory joint diseases,
kidney physiology, and neurochemistry. Currently, at least two
anticancer drugs produced by marine microbes are in clinical
trials for the treatment of various forms of cancer.
Considering the growth in drug-resistant infectious diseases,
marine bacteria and fungi may be the next great source of new
antibiotics to control human infectious diseases. All of these
facts strongly suggest that there is a need for more research
in this area.
Studying the impacts of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes on
human health is a relatively new interdisciplinary research
field that brings together oceanographers and biomedical
researchers to better understand marine processes, reduce
public health risks, and enhance our biomedical capabilities.
Pioneering scientists are needed to tackle marine environmental
issues that affect both human and marine life, such as ocean
pollution, marine pathogens, and potential drug discoveries. In
2004, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy called for a
coordinated research effort to understand the intersections
between oceans and human health. The same year, the Congress
passed the Ocean and Human Health Act as part of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005. It established an
interagency program to develop a Federal multidisciplinary
research program to advance scientific understanding of the
connections between oceans and human health, provide useable
information for the prediction of marine-related public health
problems, and use of biological potential of the oceans for
development of new treatments of human diseases and a greater
understanding of human biology.
The Act also established the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Ocean and Human Health Initiative (OHHI)
to coordinate and implement the agency's research and
activities related to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and
the Great Lakes in human health. OHHI has begun to explore
potential medicines and other products from the sea, and
develop ways to enhance the quality of seafood. Working with
other Federal agencies and academic partners, the OHHI has also
highlighted current and emerging ocean-related health risks,
which are in most cases on the rise, or are changing in
frequency, intensity, and distribution.
Research in oceans and human health is challenging due to its
interdisciplinary and pioneering nature. However, the need to
support this field of research is becoming increasingly clear.
Summary of Provisions
S. 1252 would amend and strengthen the Oceans and Human
Health Act of 2004 to enhance scientific research, education,
and training on the connections between human health and the
oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes. The bill would direct
the President, working through the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC), to deliver information, products,
and services to assist the nation in reducing public health
risk, and enhancing health benefits from the ocean, coasts, and
Great Lakes.
S. 1252 would require the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy (OSTP) to revise and update the 2007
Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research Implementation
Plan within two years after the date of enactment and every
five years afterwards. The updated Plan would define the roles
of Federal agencies and departments in order to avoid
duplication of activities and coordinate efforts in support of
the Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research Program;
establish the goals and priorities for Federal research for a
10-year period, including specific activities required to
achieve the goals and priorities; and estimate funding needed
for the program. The Plan would build on and complement the
ongoing research, surveillance, and outreach activities of
NOAA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes
of Health (including the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences), the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill would focus the scope of the interagency program on
(1) supporting 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; (2)
coordinating Federal agencies' research and activities to
ensure that any integrated ocean and coastal observing system
provides information necessary to monitor and reduce marine
public health problems; (3) developing new technologies and
approaches for detecting and reducing hazards to human health
from ocean sources through partnerships among Federal agencies,
States, academic institutions, or non-profit research
organizations; and (4) supporting educational opportunities
that encourage an interdisciplinary and international approach
to exploring the diversity of life in the oceans.
The Director of OSTP, through the NSTC, would be required to
submit a biennial report to the President and Congress that
summarizes the achievement of Federal oceans and human health
research, provides an analysis of the progress made towards
achieving the goals and objects of the implementation research
plan, provides a budget summary for oceans and human health
activities, and recommends actions, funding needs, or
legislation necessary to achieve the purposes of the Act.
S. 1252 would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to
establish an Oceans and Human Health Program (OHHP) at NOAA.
The Program would be responsible for coordinating and
implementing NOAA's research and activities related to the role
of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health.
The bill would require the Secretary to coordinate NOAA's OHHP
activities with other Federal agencies. It also would direct
the Secretary to develop a strategic implementation plan with
defined goals and benchmarks for the OHHP, including
transitioning research into program operations and
applications.
The bill would reauthorize NOAA's competitive extramural
research grant program, training, and distinguished scholars
programs. The bill would authorize $60 million for each of
fiscal years 2010 through 2014.
Legislative History
Senator Rockefeller introduced the Oceans and Human Health
Reauthorization Act of 2009 on June 11, 2009. Senators Inouye
and Cantwell are cosponsors of the legislation. On June 9,
2009, the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere,
Fisheries, and the Coast Guard held a hearing entitled ``The
Blue Economy: The Role of Oceans in our Nation's Economic
Future'' that addressed the legislation. Witnesses at the
hearing discussed the impact of the marine environment on human
health and the need for increased research in this field,
particularly in the area of marine natural products discovery
and commercialization. On March 24, 2010, the Committee met in
open executive session and ordered S. 1252 reported with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Estimated Costs
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
April 6, 2010.
Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1252, the Oceans and
Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2010.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
S. 1252--Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2010
Summary: S. 1252 would authorize the appropriation of $60
million over the 2010-2014 period for research on oceans and
human health issues. Those funds would be used by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to finance an
oceans and human health initiative and a public health
information and outreach program.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing S. 1252 would cost $57 million over
the 2010-2015 period--of which $4 million stems from an
existing appropriation for 2010--and $3 million after 2015.
Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation
because it would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 1252 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 1252 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(environment and natural resources).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010-2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Spending Under Current Law:\a\
Budget Authority................................. 4 0 0 0 0 0 4
Estimated Outlays................................ 3 1 0 0 0 0 4
Proposed Changes:
Estimated Authorization Level.................... 8 12 12 12 12 0 56
Estimated Outlays................................ 1 9 12 13 13 5 53
Estimated Spending Under S. 1252:
Estimated Authorization Level.................... 12 12 12 12 12 0 60
Estimated Outlays................................ 4 10 12 13 13 5 57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Program has already received an appropriation of $4 million for 2010.
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
authorized funds will be appropriated in equal amounts over the
2010-2014 period and that outlays will follow historical
spending patterns for similar NOAA programs.
S. 1252 would authorize the appropriation of $60 million
over the 2010-2014 period for NOAA's Oceans and Human Health
Program. Most of those funds would be used to provide grants to
public and private research centers and individuals. An
additional portion of those funds would be used to fund the
collection and dissemination of research findings and other
information on the relationship between oceans and human
health. Since 2006, appropriations for activities related to
the Oceans and Human Health Program have averaged $4 million a
year, including $4 million in 2010. Assuming appropriation of
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the
legislation would cost an additional $53 million over the 2010-
2015 period and $3 million after 2015.
Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1252
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Ryan Miller; Impact on
the Private Sector: Amy Petz
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED
S. 1252 would promote interagency research to improve our
understanding of the role of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes in
human health and to deliver information, products, and services
to assist the nation in reducing public health risks, and
enhancing health benefits, from the ocean. It does not
authorize any new regulations, and therefore would not subject
any individuals or businesses to new regulations.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The bill would authorize annual appropriations of $60 million
for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for NOAA and require
that not less than 50 percent of the amounts appropriated in
each fiscal year to carry out the OHHP be used to support the
extramural grant, distinguished training, and scholars
programs. These funding levels are not expected to have an
inflationary impact on the nation's economy.
PRIVACY
The reported bill would not have any adverse impact on the
personal privacy of individuals.
PAPERWORK
S. 1252 would not increase paperwork requirements for the
private sector.
Congressionally Directed Spending
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short Title; Amendment of Oceans and Human Health Act
This section would designate the short title of the bill the
Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of 2010. The
section would also clarify that wherever in the Act an
amendment of 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
Oceans and Human Health Act (33 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.).
Section 2. Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research Program
This section would direct the President, working through
NSTC, to coordinate a national interagency research program
(interagency program) to improve understanding of the roles of
oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes in human health and to deliver
information, products and services to assist the Nation in
reducing public health risks and enhancing health benefits from
the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The NSTC would revise and
update the 2007 Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research
Implementation Plan within two years after the date of
enactment of the Act, and every five years thereafter. The
updated Plan would define the roles of Federal agencies and
departments in order to avoid duplication of activities and
coordinate efforts in support of the research program, and
build on the ongoing research, surveillance, and outreach
activities of NOAA, the National Institutes of Health
(including the National Institutes of Environmental Health
Sciences), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The updated Plan would (1) establish, for a 10-year period,
the goals and priorities for the interagency program; (2)
describe activities required to achieve such goals and
priorities; (3) identify relevant programs and activities of
the Federal agencies and departments that would contribute to
the interagency program; (4) identify alternatives for
preventing unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal
agencies and departments with respect to the program; (5) make
recommendations for the coordination of program activities with
ocean and human health-related activities of other national and
international organizations; and (6) estimate funding needed
for research, surveillance, education, and outreach activities
to be conducted within and supported by Federal agencies under
the program.
This section would define the interagency program's scope to
(1) support interdisciplinary research among the ocean,
atmospheric, and medical sciences and coordinated research and
activities that may affect human and marine animal health and
to explore the potential contribution of marine organisms to
medicine and research; (2) coordinate with the appropriate
interagency working group(s) of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean
Science and Technology or its successor body, through the NSTC;
and (3) develop, through partnerships among Federal agencies,
States, academic institutions, or non-profit research
organizations, new technologies and approaches for detecting
and reducing hazards to human health from ocean sources and to
strengthen understanding of the value of marine biodiversity to
biomedicine.
This section would require the NSTC to prepare and submit a
biennial report on the activities of the interagency program.
The biennial report would include: (1) a summary of the
achievements of Federal oceans and human health research; (2)
an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and
objectives of the Implementation Research Plan; (3) a copy of
the plan and any changes made in the plan; (4) a summary of
agency budgets for oceans and human health activities for the
preceding two fiscal years; and (5) any recommendations
regarding additional action, funding needs, or legislation that
may be required to support the Program.
Section 3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceans and
Human Health Program
This section would direct the Secretary of Commerce to
establish the OHHP to coordinate and implement research and
activities of NOAA related to the role of the oceans, the
coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. The OHHP would
link research programs with operational activities focused on
forecasting to provide early warning and prediction of long-
term health impacts; surveillance to recognize emerging threats
to public health; assessment of risk perception, management,
and response; and development of ocean health products and
services.
This section would authorize the OHHP to provide support for
(1) centralized program and research coordination; (2) an
external advisory panel; (3) one or more NOAA national centers
of excellence; (4) one or more diagnostic laboratories to
provide processing of marine organism samples; (5)
transitioning scientific discoveries from research activities
into applications; (6) research grants; and (7) distinguished
scholars and traineeships.
This section would authorize the Secretary to establish an
oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the
development and implementation of the OHHP. It would also
reauthorize NOAA's competitive program to support centers of
excellence that strengthen NOAA's ability to carry out its
oceans and human health programs and activities. The section
would clarify that the centers would focus on areas related to
the program scope as defined Section 902(c) (33 U.S.C.
3101(c)). Further, this section would reauthorize the OHHP
extramural research grants, training program, and distinguished
scholarship programs.
The section would authorize the Secretary to execute and
perform any contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative
agreements that may be necessary to carry out the purposes of
the OHHP.
This section would require the OHHP to work with the
Integrated Ocean Observing System, the Harmful Algal Blooms and
Hypoxia Program, and other NOAA programs to support ocean and
human health research.
Section 4. Public Information and Outreach
This section would direct the Secretary of Commerce to design
and implement a program to disseminate information developed
under the OHHP, which will be made available to interested
persons and parties.
Section 5. Authorization of Appropriations
This section would authorize $60 million for each of fiscal
years 2010 through 2014. This section would require that not
less than 50 percent of the amounts appropriated in each fiscal
year to carry out the OHHP be used to support the extramural
grant, distinguished scholars, and training programs.
Section 6. Oceans Defined to Include Great Lakes
This section would amend the Oceans and Human Health Act to
include the Great Lakes within the definition of the term
``oceans'' for purposes of title IX of the Act.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown
in roman):
OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH ACT
SEC. 902. INTERAGENCY OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM.
[33 U.S.C. 3101]
(a) Coordination.--The President, through the National
Science and Technology Council, shall coordinate and support a
national research program to improve understanding of the role
of the [oceans in human health.] oceans, coasts, and Great
Lakes in human health and deliver information, products, and
services to assist the Nation in reducing public health risks,
and enhancing health benefits, from the ocean.
[(b) Implementation Plan.--Within 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Act, the National Science and Technology
Council, through the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall develop and submit to the Congress a
plan for coordinated Federal activities under the program.
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 (16 U.S.C. 1451 note). In developing the plan, the
Committee will consult with the Inter-Agency Task Force on
Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. Such plan will build on and
complement the ongoing activities of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation,
and other departments and agencies and shall--]
(b) Implementation Plan.--Within 2 years after the date of
the enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization
Act of 2010, and every 5 years thereafter, 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 the updated plan to the Congress. The updated
Plan shall define the roles of Federal agencies and departments
in order to avoid duplication of activities and coordinate
efforts in support of the research program. 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 (16 U.S.C.
1451 note). The updated Plan shall build on and complement the
ongoing research, surveillance, and outreach activities of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health
(including the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other Federal
departments and agencies, and shall--
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in
the year it is submitted, the goals and priorities for
Federal research which most effectively advance
scientific understanding of the connections between the
oceans and human health, provide usable information for
the [prediction] prediction, surveillance, forecasting,
and mitigation of marine-related public health problems
and use the biological and chemical potential of the
oceans for development of new products for the
prevention and treatments of human diseases and a
greater understanding of human biology;
(2) describe specific activities required to achieve
such goals and priorities, including the funding of
competitive research grants, ocean and coastal
observations, [training and support for scientists, and
participation in international research efforts;]
Federal research centers, training, and support for
scientists, and participation in national and
international research and outreach efforts, including
outreach to the medical community and the public;
(3) identify and address, as appropriate, relevant
programs and activities of the Federal agencies and
departments that would contribute to the program;
(4) identify alternatives for [preventive] preventing
unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal
agencies and departments with respect to the program;
(5) consider and use, as appropriate, reports and
studies conducted by Federal agencies and departments,
the National Research Council, the Ocean Resources
Research Advisory Panel, the Commission on Ocean Policy
and other expert scientific bodies;
(6) make recommendations for the coordination of
program activities with ocean and human health-related
activities of other national and international
organizations; and
[(7) estimate Federal funding for research activities
to be conducted under the program.]
(7) estimate funding needed for research,
surveillance, education, and outreach activities to be
conducted within and supported by Federal agencies
under the program.
(c) Program Scope.--The program may include the following
activities related to the role of oceans in human health:
[(1) Interdisciplinary research among the ocean and
medical sciences, and coordinated research and
activities to improve understanding of processes within
the ocean that may affect human health and to explore
the potential contribution of marine organisms to
medicine and research, including--
[(A) vector- and water-borne diseases of
humans and marine organisms, including marine
mammals and fish;
[(B) harmful algal blooms and hypoxia
(through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful
Algal Blooms and Hypoxia);
[(C) marine-derived pharmaceuticals;
[(D) marine organisms as models for
biomedical research and as indicators of marine
environmental health;
[(E) marine environmental microbiology;
[(F) bioaccumulative and endocrine-disrupting
chemical contaminants; and
[(G) predictive models based on indicators of
marine environmental health or public health
threats.
[(2) Coordination with the National Ocean Research
Leadership Council (10 U.S.C. 7902(a)) to ensure that
any integrated ocean and coastal observing system
provides information necessary to monitor and reduce
marine public health problems including health-related
data on biological populations and detection of
contaminants in marine waters and seafood.]
(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 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, fish, and shellfish;
(B) human health effects associated with
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia (in
collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force
on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia);
(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 linked
to human health;
(F) human health effects associated with
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; and
(H) social, economic, and behavioral studies
of relationships between the condition of
oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes and human
health and well-being.
(2) Coordination with appropriate interagency working
groups 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.
(3) Development through partnerships among Federal
agencies, States, academic institutions, or non-profit
research organizations of new technologies and
approaches for detecting and reducing hazards to human
health from ocean sources and to strengthen
understanding of the value of marine biodiversity to
biomedicine, including--
(A) [genomics and proteomics] genomics,
proteomics, metabolomics, and other related
sciences to develop genetic and immunological
detection approaches and predictive tools and
to discover new biomedical resources;
(B) biomaterials and bioengineering;
[(C) in situ and remote sensors used to
detect, quantify, and predict the presence and
spread of contaminants in marine waters and
organisms and to identify new genetic resources
for biomedical purposes;]
(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;
(D) techniques for supplying marine
resources, including chemical synthesis,
culturing and aquaculturing marine organisms,
new fermentation methods and recombinant
techniques; and
(E) adaptation of [equipment and
technologies] equipment, technologies, and
methodologies from human health fields.
(4) Support for scholars, trainees and education
opportunities that encourage an interdisciplinary and
international approach to exploring the diversity of
life in the oceans.
(d) [Annual] Biennial Report.--[Beginning with the first year
occurring more than 24 months after the date of enactment of
the Act, the] The National Science and Technology Council,
through the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress not later than January 31st of [each year an annual]
alternate years a biennial report on the activities conducted
pursuant to this title during the preceding fiscal [year,]
years, including--
(1) a summary of the achievements of Federal oceans
and human health research, including Federally
supported external research, during the preceding
[fiscal year;] 2 fiscal years;
(2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving
the goals and objectives of the plan developed under
subsection (b), including identification of trends and
emerging trends;
(3) a copy or summary of the plan and any changes
made in the plan;
(4) a summary of agency budgets for oceans and human
health activities for [that preceding fiscal year;] the
preceding 2 fiscal years; and
(5) any recommendations regarding additional [action]
action, funding needs, or legislation that may be
required to assist in achieving the purposes of this
title.
SEC. 903. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OCEANS AND
HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVE.
[33 U.S.C. 3102]
[(a) Establishment.--As part of the interagency oceans and
human health research program, the Secretary of Commerce is
authorized to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative
to coordinate and implement research and activities of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the
role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human
health. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall
consult with other Federal agencies conducting integrated
oceans and human health research and research in related areas,
including the National Science Foundation. The Oceans and Human
Health Initiative is authorized to provide support for--
[(1) centralized program and research coordination;
[(2) an advisory panel;
[(3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration national centers of excellence;
[(4) research grants; and
[(5) distinguished scholars and traineeships.]
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--As part of the interagency oceans
and human health research program, the Secretary of
Commerce shall establish an Oceans and Human Health
Program to coordinate and implement research and
activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration related to the role of the oceans, the
coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. The
program shall include linking research programs with
operational activities focused on--
(A) forecasting to provide early warning and
prediction of long-term health impacts;
(B) surveillance to recognize emerging
threats to public health;
(C) assessment of risk perception,
management, and response; and
(D) developing ocean health products and
services.
(2) Coordination with other agencies' efforts.--The
Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies
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
(including the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences), the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and other agencies and departments. NOAA shall
develop a strategic implementation plan with defined
goals and benchmarks for the program, including--
(A) performance measurements to evaluate the
effectiveness of the program;
(B) plans to transition research into program
operations;
(C) ocean and human health indices to
quantify and track their changes over time;
(D) coordination of oceans and human health
related programs across NOAA and with partner
organizations; and
(E) prioritization of research.
(3) Support function.--The Oceans and Human Health
Program shall provide support for--
(1) centralized program and research
coordination;
(2) an external advisory panel;
(3) one or more National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration national centers of
excellence;
(4) one or more diagnostic laboratories to
provide processing of marine organism samples;
(5) transitioning scientific discoveries from
research activities into applications;
(6) research grants; and
(7) distinguished scholars and training.
(b) Advisory Panel.--The Secretary is authorized to establish
an oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the
development and implementation of the Oceans and Human Health
Initiative. Membership of the advisory group shall provide for
balanced representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary
expertise in the marine and biomedical [sciences.] sciences,
including public health professionals, veterinarians, and other
health professionals. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the oceans and human health
advisory panel.
(c) National Centers.--
(1) The Secretary is authorized to identify and
provide financial support through a competitive process
to develop, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, [for] one or more centers of excellence
that strengthen the capabilities of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its
programs and activities related to the oceans' role in
human health.
[(2) The centers shall focus on areas related to
agency missions, including use of marine organisms as
indicators for marine environmental health, ocean
pollutants, marine toxins and pathogens, harmful algal
blooms, hypoxia, seafood testing, identification of
potential marine products, and biology and pathobiology
of marine mammals, and on disciplines including marine
genomics, marine environmental microbiology, ecological
chemistry and conservation medicine.]
(2) The centers shall focus on areas related to
agency missions and the program scope (as defined in
section 902(c)).
(3) In selecting centers for funding, the Secretary
will give priority to proposals with strong
interdisciplinary scientific merit that encourage
educational opportunities and provide for effective
partnerships among the Administration, other Federal
entities, State, academic, non-profit research
organizations, medical, and industry participants.
(d) Extramural Research Grants.--
(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants of
financial assistance to the scientific community for
critical research and projects that explore the
relationship between the oceans and human health and
that complement or strengthen programs and activities
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
related to the ocean's role in human health. Officers
and employees of Federal agencies may collaborate with,
and participate in, such research and projects to the
extent requested by the grant recipient. The Secretary
shall consult with the oceans and human health advisory
panel established under subsection (b) and may work
cooperatively with other agencies participating in the
interagency program to establish joint criteria for
such research and projects.
(2) Grants under this subsection shall be awarded
through a competitive peer-reviewed, merit-based
process that may be conducted jointly with other
agencies participating in the interagency program.
(3) Grants under this subsection shall support
research and activities within the program scope (as
defined in section 902(c)).
[(e) Traineeships.--] (e) Training Program.--The Secretary of
Commerce is authorized to establish a [program to provide
traineeships, training,] competitive program to provide
training, exposure, and experience to pre-doctoral and post-
doctoral students and to scientists at the beginning of their
careers who are interested in the oceans in human health
research conducted under the NOAA [initiative.] Ocean and Human
Health Program.
(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 NOAA Oceans and Human Health
Program.
(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.
(h) Coordination.--
(1) Integrated ocean observing system.--The Secretary
shall ensure that the Oceans and Human Health Program
and the Integrated Ocean Observing System work together
to develop and deploy instruments for sensing and
predicting ocean changes linked to health, develop an
early warning system that detect biological and
chemical indicators, and to support the data management
and analysis functions to develop forecasts for ocean
conditions that threaten health.
(2) Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.--The Secretary
shall ensure that the Oceans and Human Health Program
and Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Program work
together to avoid duplication of activities and
coordinate activities.
(3) Other programs.--The Secretary shall ensure that
the Program also coordinates its efforts across NOAA to
support ocean and human health research and programs.
(i) Report to Congress.--Within 6 months after the date of
enactment of the Oceans and Human Health Reauthorization Act of
2010, the Secretary shall report to the Congress on how NOAA
plans to implement the recommendations of its Science Advisory
Board Working Group on Oceans and Health.
(j) Operational Parameters.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall
operate the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program as an
interdisciplinary research, development, and
application program spanning the agency and in
partnership with the external scientific and health
communities.
(2) Resources.--To achieve this vision and maximize
potential for leveraging appropriations, NOAA may--
(A) apply for, accept, use, and spend
Federal, State, and private funds and in-kind
contributions as necessary to further the
mission of the program without regard to
section 3302(b) of title 31, United States
Code, and without regard to the source or of
the period of availability of these funds;
(B) apply for and hold patents either solely
or in partnership with others and receive
royalties from patents or licenses; and
(C) share personnel and facilities with
public and private partners as well as provide
and accept reimbursement for the sharing of
such personnel and facilities.
SEC. 904. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation
with other Federal agencies, and in cooperation with the
National Sea Grant [program,] program, relevant National Ocean
Service and National Marine Fisheries Service programs, and
institutions of higher education, shall design and implement a
program to disseminate information developed under the NOAA
Oceans and Human Health Initiative, including research,
assessments, and findings regarding the relationship between
oceans and human health, on both a regional and national scale.
The information, particularly with respect to potential health
risks, shall be made available in a timely manner to
appropriate Federal or State agencies, involved industries, and
other interested persons through a variety of means, including
through the Internet.
[(b) Report.--As part of this program, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress an annual report reviewing the results of
the research, assessments, and findings developed under the
NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative, as well as
recommendations for improving or expanding the program.]
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--As part of this program, the
Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a
biennial report describing--
(A) projects, products, and programs funded
under the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Program;
(B) the work of the Advisory Panel;
(C) how the Program is meeting the goals and
objectives of its strategic plan; and
(D) any recommendations the Secretary may
have for improving or expanding the program.
(2) Combined reports.--The report required by
paragraph (1) may be the same as the NOAA input for the
interagency report required by section 902(d).
SEC. 905. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce to carry out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Oceans and Human Health [Initiative,] Program,
$60,000,000 for fiscal years [2005 through 2008] 2010 through
2014. Not less than 50 percent of the amounts appropriated to
carry out the [initiative] Program shall be utilized in each
fiscal year to support the extramural [grant and traineeship]
grant, distinguished scholars, and training programs of the
[Initiative.] Program.
SEC. 906. OCEANS DEFINED.
In this title, the term ``oceans'' includes the oceans, the
Great Lakes, and the coastal areas appertainent thereto.