[House Report 117-602]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                    {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                    {      117-602

======================================================================



 
                 CLIMATE ADAPTATION SCIENCE CENTERS ACT

                                _______
                                

December 7, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            DISSENTING VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 6654]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 6654) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
establish a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and 
Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the 
effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as 
amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Adaptation Science Centers 
Act'' or the ``CASC Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Adaptation.--The term ``adaptation'' means--
                  (A) the process of adjustment to actual or expected 
                climate and the effects of extreme weather, climate 
                trends, and climate variability; and
                  (B) protection, management, and conservation efforts 
                designed to maintain or enhance the ability of people, 
                fish, wildlife, plants, land, ecosystems, and water of 
                the United States to withstand, adjust to, or recover 
                from the effects of extreme weather, climate trends, 
                and climate variability.
          (2) Advisory service activities.--The term ``advisory service 
        activities'' means activities including--
                  (A) sharing climate science and climate adaptation 
                knowledge between National and Regional Climate 
                Adaptation Science Center researchers, stakeholders, 
                and other partners;
                  (B) building collaborations between National and 
                Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center researchers, 
                stakeholders, and other partners; and
                  (C) integrating climate adaptation science into 
                natural and cultural resource management, decision-
                making and planning.
          (2) Cultural resources.--The term ``cultural resources''--
                  (A) means those features and values related to 
                cultural heritage; and
                  (B) includes--
                          (i) biological species with cultural heritage 
                        or ceremonial importance, and historic and 
                        precontact sites, cultural landscapes, trails, 
                        structures, inscriptions, art, and artifacts on 
                        Federal lands or representative of the culture 
                        of Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and Native 
                        American Pacific Islanders; and
                          (ii) resources considered to be cultural 
                        resources according to the traditional 
                        knowledge of Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, 
                        and Native American Pacific Islanders.
          (3) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Advisory 
        Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences established 
        under section 6.
          (4) Consortium institution.--The term ``consortium 
        institution'' means college, university, State cooperative 
        institution, State agency, Indian Tribe, Tribal College or 
        University, Historically Black College or University, Tribal 
        organization, Native Hawaiian organization, minority-serving 
        institution, or other educational institution or organization, 
        Federal agency, public or private organization, or any other 
        party within each regional center other than the United States 
        Geological Survey and the host institution.
          (5) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the Department 
        of the Interior.
          (6) Ecosystem services.--The term ``ecosystem services'' 
        means those benefits that ecosystems provide humans and human 
        society, including clean air, clean water, and other 
        economically important services.
          (7) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term 
        ``Historically Black Colleges and Universities'' has the same 
        meaning given the term ``part B institutions'' in section 322 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
          (8) Host institution.--The term ``host institution'' means 
        the non-Federal lead organization within each regional center.
          (9) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
        and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).
          (10) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means a Hispanic-serving institution, an 
        Alaska Native-serving institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving 
        institution, a Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian 
        American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
        institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution 
        (as described in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))).
          (11) National center.--The term ``National Center'' means the 
        National Climate Adaptation Science Center established under 
        section 3(a).
          (12) Native american pacific islanders.--The term ``Native 
        American Pacific Islanders'' means any descendent of the 
        aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is a 
        territory of the United States.
          (13) Native hawaiian.--The term ``Native Hawaiian'' means any 
        individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, 
        prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area 
        that now constitutes the State of Hawaii.
          (14) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native 
        Hawaiian organization'' means--
                  (A) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
                  (B) Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei; and
                  (C) any other organization that--
                          (i) serves and represents the interests of 
                        Native Hawaiians;
                          (ii) has as a primary and stated purpose the 
                        provision of services to Native Hawaiians; and
                          (iii) has expertise in Native Hawaiian 
                        Affairs.
          (15) Natural resources.--The term ``natural resources'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 11.14 of title 43, Code 
        of Federal Regulations.
          (16) Regional center.--The term ``regional center'' means one 
        of the Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers established 
        under section 3(a) that provide support for specific geographic 
        locations in the United States.
          (17) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
          (18) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                  (A) a State of the United States;
                  (B) the District of Columbia;
                  (C) American Samoa;
                  (D) Guam;
                  (E) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
                  (F) Puerto Rico; and
                  (G) the Virgin Islands of the United States.
          (19) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal College 
        or University'' means an institution that--
                  (A) qualifies for funding under the Tribally 
                Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 
                1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the Navajo Community 
                College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a note); or
                  (B) is cited in section 532 of the Equity in 
                Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 
                note).
          (20) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
        means--
                  (A) the recognized governing body of any Indian 
                Tribe; or
                  (B) any legally established organization of Indians 
                that is--
                          (i) controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by 
                        the recognized governing body of an Indian 
                        Tribe; or
                          (ii)(I) democratically elected by the adult 
                        members of the Indian community to be served by 
                        such organization; and
                          (II) includes the maximum participation of 
                        Indians in all phases of its activities.
          (21) University.--The term ``university'' has the meaning 
        given to the term ``institution of higher education'' in 
        section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001(a)).

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.

  (a) Establishment.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration with States, 
        Indian Tribes, and other partner organizations, shall establish 
        a program to be known as the ``National and Regional Climate 
        Adaptation Science Centers'', which shall--
                  (A) provide scientific expertise to agencies, 
                organizations, individuals, Indian Tribes, tribal 
                organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations 
                engaged in the management of natural resources, 
                cultural resources, and ecosystem services for the 
                purpose of informing decisions that aid adaptation to a 
                changing climate and extreme weather events; and
                  (B) include a National Climate Adaptation Science 
                Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
          (2) Chief; directors.--
                  (A) Chief.--The Chief of the National Center shall be 
                a United States Geological Survey employee and shall be 
                responsible for national-scale and network-wide 
                strategic initiatives, science direction, and 
                partnerships.
                  (B) Directors.--Each regional center shall have--
                          (i) a Federal Director who shall--
                                  (I) be a United States Geological 
                                Survey employee;
                                  (II) report directly to the Chief of 
                                the National Center; and
                                  (III) be responsible for region-
                                specific and cross-regional strategic 
                                initiatives and implementation of 
                                climate science research agendas; and
                          (ii) a Host Institution Director who shall--
                                  (I) carry out the terms and 
                                conditions of the financial assistance 
                                award;
                                  (II) lead the institutional 
                                consortium in each region; and
                                  (III) oversee training and capacity 
                                building at the host and consortium 
                                institutions.
                  (C) Cooperative work.--Each Regional Federal Director 
                and each Host Institution Director shall work 
                cooperatively to further the mission of the relevant 
                regional center.
                  (D) Administration.--The National Center and all 
                regional centers shall be administered by the United 
                States Geological Survey.
  (b) Duties of the National Center.--In collaboration with Federal 
agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native 
Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific 
Islanders, and other partner organizations, the National Center shall--
          (1) serve as the national office for the regional centers;
          (2) provide leadership and guidance on administration, 
        partnerships, information management, and communications;
          (3) develop and facilitate coordination among the regional 
        centers;
          (4) coordinate and collaborate with other Federal agencies 
        working on similar research and activities to--
                  (A) minimize, as much as possible, the duplication of 
                research and effort; and
                  (B) use, as much as possible, existing data in the 
                development of new or ongoing research;
          (5) conduct research on cross-regional and national science 
        priorities;
          (6) support regional centers that--
                  (A) are hosted at a university, or a consortium of 
                universities or other research institutions, within the 
                region of each regional center;
                  (B) are collaborations between the Federal Director 
                and the Host Institution Director and their staffs to 
                address the broad scientific mission and goals as 
                defined by the National Center in a manner that is 
                relevant to its specific geographic region and in 
                cooperation with State and local governments, Indian 
                Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native 
                Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific 
                Islanders, and other entities within that region;
                  (C) promote research, education, training, and 
                advisory service activities to stakeholders, Tribal 
                governments, and the public via informational 
                publications, trainings, and other outreach methods; 
                and
                  (D) receive funding at the host institution through 
                cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants under 
                section 4; and
          (7) acting through the Chief of the National Center, with 
        respect to the regional centers--
                  (A) evaluate and assess the performance of the 
                programs of regional centers every five years, using 
                the priorities, guidelines, and qualifications 
                established by the Secretary under this section, and 
                determine if the programs are well managed and carry 
                out high-quality research, education, training, and 
                advisory service activities; and
                  (B) subject to the availability of appropriations, 
                allocate funding among regional centers so as to--
                          (i) conduct regionally relevant research, 
                        education, training, and advisory service 
                        activities in each of the regions;
                          (ii) encourage collaborations among regional 
                        centers to address regional and national 
                        priorities established under this section;
                          (iii) ensure successful implementation and 
                        operation of regional centers;
                          (iv) to the maximum extent consistent with 
                        other provisions of this Act, provide a stable 
                        base of funding in support of the regional 
                        centers on 5-year terms, with additional funds 
                        available annually subject to the availability 
                        of appropriations;
                          (v) encourage and promote coordination and 
                        cooperation between the research, education, 
                        training, and advisory service activities of 
                        the Department and those of the host and 
                        consortium institutions; and
                          (vi) pay the official Federal Government 
                        negotiated overhead rate to the host 
                        institution and partners on the basic agreement 
                        establishing the location of the regional 
                        center.
  (c) Authorities of the National Center.--The National Center may--
          (1) procure the services of appropriate public and private 
        agencies and institutions and other qualified persons to 
        conduct its work; and
          (2) operate and fund a network of not fewer than nine 
        regional centers that shall address the impacts of climate 
        trends and variability, including extreme weather events, on 
        natural and cultural resources and ecosystem services.
  (d) Designation of the Regional Centers.--
          (1) Existing regional center designations.--
                  (A) In general.--Any institution or consortium of 
                institutions designated as a regional center before the 
                date of enactment of this Act shall participate in one 
                final competition for its status as a regional center 
                upon the conclusion of its existing 5-year term to 
                assure that the host institutions and association 
                consortium institutions update proposals recognizing 
                the long-term commitment as a host.
                  (B) Recompetes.--After the next competition for 
                regional center after the date of enactment of this 
                Act, a designated regional center shall not have to 
                recompete on 5-year terms, but shall be subject to 
                review on 5-year terms as described in paragraph (2). 
                After competed, the final agreements shall only be 
                recompeted in the event of a failed review.
          (2) Reviews of the regional centers.--
                  (A) The Chief of the National Center, in consultation 
                with the Committee, shall establish guidelines for 5-
                year merit reviews of each regional center, which shall 
                include guidelines for --
                          (i) the establishment of a statement of 
                        objectives, agreed upon by the National Center 
                        and regional host institutions at the beginning 
                        of the 5-year term, that outline the 
                        expectations of activities or measures of 
                        success to be completed during the agreed upon 
                        period; and
                          (ii) an independent merit review, conducted 
                        by the National Center, of the host 
                        institution's activities as related to the 
                        statement of objectives.
                  (B) If a regional center does not meet the 
                requirements included in the statement of objective as 
                determined by the independent merit review referred to 
                in subparagraph (A)(ii), the host institution or 
                consortium of institutions may not continue as a host 
                of a regional center.
                  (C) If a host institution or consortium of 
                institution fails a merit review referred to in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chief of the National Center 
                may give the host institution or consortium of 
                institutions a probationary period of one year. After 
                the one-year probationary period, the Chief of the 
                National Center shall undertake an additional review 
                referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) to determine if the 
                host institution or consortium of institutions shall--
                          (i) continue as a host of a regional center; 
                        or
                          (ii) not continue as a host of a regional 
                        center, in which case the Chief of the National 
                        Center shall initiate a competitive process to 
                        select a new host institution .
                  (D) The Chief of the National Center shall ensure 
                that reviews completed pursuant to this paragraph are 
                publicly available.
          (2) Changes to consortium institutions.--The Chief of the 
        National Center, in consultation with the Federal Director and 
        Host Institution Director of a regional center, may add or 
        remove consortium institutions at any time to address regional 
        and national priorities established under this section.
          (3) FACA.--Committees, subcommittees, and working groups 
        appointed by Federal Directors of the regional centers pursuant 
        to this subsection shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
  (e) Duties of the Regional Centers.--In collaboration with Federal 
and State natural resources agencies and departments, Indian Tribes, 
Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, 
Native American Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
Historically Black Colleges or Universities, minority-serving 
institutions, universities, other research or educational institutions, 
and other partner organizations, regional centers shall develop 
research, education, training, and advisory service priorities 
regarding the impacts of climate trends and variability on natural and 
cultural resource management in their regions for the purpose of 
climate adaptation.
  (f) Project Solicitation .--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, each regional center shall undergo a project 
solicitation process annually that shall--
          (1) include regionally identified science priority topics;
          (2) work with science partners in the region to develop a 
        scientific review process to assure the highest quality of 
        proposals are selected; and
          (3) final decisions on annual project selections shall be 
        made by the Federal Directors of the regional centers.

SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, GRANTS, COOPERATIVE 
                    AGREEMENTS, AND INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.

  (a) Authority.--The Director of the United States Geological Survey 
is authorized to enter into contracts, grants, and cooperative 
agreements with a host institution or consortium institution to further 
the research, education, training, and advisory service activities of 
the Department or its partners relating to impacts of climate trends 
and variability. This authority supplements all other laws relating to 
the Department and is not to be construed as limiting or repealing any 
existing authorities.
  (b) Legal Instruments.--The Director of the United States Geological 
Survey may use a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or interagency 
agreement as the legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the 
Secretary and a host institution or consortium institution, to further 
the duties under section 3 without regard to--
          (1) any requirements for competition;
          (2) section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; or
          (3) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31, 
        United States Code.
  (c) Participation of Federal Agencies.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, any Federal agency may participate in any such 
cooperative agreement under this section by contributing funds through 
the National Center or otherwise if it is mutually agreed that the 
objectives of the agreement shall further the authorized programs of 
the contributing agency.
  (d) Approval Required.--In any case where a contract is let or grant 
made to an organization to perform services benefitting more than one 
Indian Tribe, the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a 
prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.

  Each department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Federal 
Government, that is engaged in or concerned with, or that has authority 
over, matters relating to natural and cultural resources, ecosystem 
services, or climate variability or change, including all member 
agencies of the United States Global Change Research Program--
          (1) shall, upon a written request from the Secretary, furnish 
        any available data or other information that the Secretary 
        deems necessary to carry out any provision of section 3;
          (2) shall cooperate with the National Center, regional 
        centers, and duly authorized officials thereof;
          (3) may make available, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, 
        any personnel (with their consent and without prejudice to 
        their position and rating), service, or facility which the 
        Chief of the National Center deems necessary to carry out any 
        provision of section 3; and
          (4) may transfer budgetary resources or otherwise enter into 
        interagency agreements, including funding, facilities, 
        computational resources, data, or other tangible or intangible 
        resources, between the National Center or regional centers to 
        aid collaborative work among Federal agencies, when approved by 
        the Chief of the National Center and their counterpart in the 
        other Federal agency.

SEC. 6. COMMITTEES.

  (a) Authority to Establish Committees.--The Chief of the National 
Center may establish committees or working groups and procedures to 
facilitate public participation in the advisory process, such as a 
national advisory committee for the National Center, stakeholder 
advisory committees and science implementation panels for the regional 
centers, and working groups for review of competitive.
  (b) Advisory Committee.--
          (1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and pursuant to the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Secretary shall establish an 
        Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences to 
        advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science 
        Centers on the following:
                  (A) The contents of a national strategy identifying 
                key climate adaptation science priorities to advance 
                the management of natural and cultural resources in the 
                face of climate change.
                  (B) The nature, extent, and quality of relations with 
                and facilitating engagement of key partners at the 
                regional center level.
                  (C) The nature and effectiveness of mechanisms to 
                effectively deliver science information and tools, and 
                build capacity, to aid the natural and cultural 
                resource management community and decision-makers in 
                adapting to a changing climate.
                  (D) Mechanisms that may be employed by the National 
                Center to ensure high standards of scientific quality 
                and integrity in its products.
                  (E) The integration of equity, particularly for 
                historically underserved communities, in the operation 
                of the National Center and regional centers.
          (2) Voting members.--The Committee shall have not fewer than 
        15 voting members who shall be appointed by the Secretary. Each 
        voting member shall be an employee of--
                  (A) an Indian Tribe;
                  (B) a Tribal organization;
                  (C) a Native Hawaiian organization;
                  (D) a State or local government;
                  (E) nongovernmental organization whose primary 
                mission is conservation and related scientific and 
                advocacy activities;
                  (F) an academic institution; or
                  (G) other sectors, environmental justice 
                organizations, or private industry.
          (3) Non-voting members.--A Host Institution Director who is 
        elected by the various Host Institution Directors shall serve 
        as a non-voting member of the Committee. No individual is 
        eligible to be a voting member of the Committee if the 
        individual is--
                  (A) a Host Institution Director;
                  (B) a full-time officer or employee of the United 
                States; or
                  (C) a voting member of the Committee who is an 
                applicant for or beneficiary of any grant or contract 
                under this Act shall abstain from voting when there is 
                a conflict of interest.
          (4) Chair.--The Director of the United States Geological 
        Survey shall appoint a Committee Chair from among the members 
        of the Committee.
          (5) Vice chair.--The Committee shall select one voting member 
        to serve as the Vice Chair, who shall act as Chair in the 
        absence or incapacity of the Chair.
          (6) Nominations.--Not less than once each year, the Secretary 
        shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting 
        nominations for membership on the Committee.
          (7) Term of office.--(A) The term of office of a voting 
        member of the Committee shall be not more than 3 years.
          (B) No individual may serve more than two consecutive terms 
        as a voting member of the Committee.
          (C) The Chair may extend the term of office of a voting 
        member of the Committee by up to 1 year.
          (D) Any individual appointed to a partial or full term may be 
        reappointed for one additional full term.
          (8) Duties.--The Committee shall identify and recommend 
        priorities for ongoing research needs on the issues described 
        in section 3(e) to inform the research priorities of the 
        National Center.
          (9) Estimated number and frequency of meetings.--The 
        Committee shall meet approximately one to two times annually, 
        and at such other times as designated by the Director of the 
        United States Geological Survey.
  (c) Committees; Working Groups.--
          (1) In general.--At the direction of the Secretary, the Chief 
        of the National Center may establish committees or working 
        groups to provide input on the science priorities, 
        implementation of science programs, review of competitive 
        proposals, and evaluation of the National Center and the 
        regional centers.
          (2) Members.--The committees or working groups shall, to the 
        extent practicable, include members from Federal and State 
        government, universities, private sector, nongovernmental 
        organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native 
        Hawaiian organizations.
          (3) Public participation.--The Secretary may establish 
        procedures to facilitate public participation in the advisory 
        process, including providing advance notice of meetings, 
        providing adequate opportunity for public input and comment, 
        maintaining appropriate records, and making a record of the 
        proceedings of meetings available for public inspection.
          (4) Implementation; availability of records.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that the procedures described in paragraph (3) are 
        adopted and implemented and that the records described in 
        paragraph (3) are accurately maintained and available for 
        public inspection.
          (5) FACA.--(A) The committees or working groups shall not be 
        considered advisory committees under the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
          (B) Seeking advice and input under subparagraph (A) shall not 
        be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.).

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
this Act not less than--
          (1) $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
          (2) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
          (3) $104,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
          (4) $114,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
          (5) $124,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 6654 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a National Climate Adaptation Science 
Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to 
respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate 
trends.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS) at the U.S. 
Department of the Interior is a science agency that provides 
impartial information on earth systems and resources, including 
water availability, land use, natural resources, and 
ecosystems. Within USGS, the Climate Adaptation Science Centers 
(CASCs) work specifically on science to help better understand 
and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The CASCs are a 
partnership-driven effort that teams scientists from USGS and 
research institutions with regional natural and cultural 
resource managers and local communities to help adapt to a wide 
range of changing conditions.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\See generally Climate Adaptation Science Centers, USGS, https://
www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers (last visited 
Dec. 4, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The CASCs have been funded through annual appropriations 
from Congress since 2008 but are not permanently authorized in 
statute. From FY18 to FY21, President Trump's budget requests 
attempted to cut funding for the CASCs significantly, but 
Congress maintained stable funding.\2\ In FY 2022, the CASCs 
received $54 million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\See various at Budget Archives, USGS Office of Bud., Planning & 
Integration, https://www.usgs.gov/bpi/budget-archives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The CASC network consists of one National Center at USGS 
headquarters in Reston, VA, and nine Regional Centers across 
the country. The Regional Centers are each headquartered at a 
university within their specified region and work on regional 
issues with local stakeholders. The nine regions are Alaska, 
Pacific Islands, Northwest, Southwest, North Central, South 
Central, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\Learn About the Regional CASCs, USGS, https://www.usgs.gov/
programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/learn-about-regional-cascs 
(last visited Dec. 5, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Each Regional Center is situated at a ``host institution,'' 
or local university, with multiple ``consortium institution'' 
members: universities, Indian tribes, tribal colleges or 
universities, or other research institutions or nongovernmental 
organizations within the region. Each Regional Center's current 
host and consortium intuitions are listed on a USGS website.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\CASC Network and Region Maps, USGS, https://www.usgs.gov/
programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/casc-network-and-region-
maps (last visited Dec. 5, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The CASC network partners with various stakeholders, 
including resource managers within federal and state agencies, 
tribes, other Indigenous communities, and nongovernmental 
organizations. The CASCs work directly with their partners to 
identify priority issues related to climate change, develop 
research plans, and produce useful science products.
    Each year, the National Center distributes a portion of the 
total appropriations for the CASC program to each Regional 
Center. The Regional Centers then identify projects to work on 
according to pre-established priorities and regional needs and 
publish all science for public use.
    The CASC network develops science directly applicable to 
climate adaptation decisions, actions, and plans by emphasizing 
engagement with their partners. These projects are designed to 
address the science-based specific needs of the community with 
whom they partner.
    The National and Regional CASCs work on a broad range of 
projects related to climate adaptation. For example, the North 
Central CASC partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society 
and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on a workshop 
incorporating climate data into the 2020 Wyoming Statewide 
Habitat Plan. The workshop led to revisions in the Habitat Plan 
that specifically responded to the impact of climate change.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\Project Spotlight: North Central CASC Aids Resource Agency in 
Adopting Climate-Informed Management Practices, USGS (Mar. 10, 2021), 
https://www.usgs.gov/news/project-spotlight-north-central-casc-aids-
resource-agency-adopting-climate-informed-management.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In Mississippi, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 
Congress directed the Mobile District U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers to repair barrier islands as the first line of 
defense against future storms. The Southeast CASC partnered 
with the Army Corps and other stakeholders early in the 
planning process to coordinate stakeholder objectives. The Army 
Corps needed to consult with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service about endangered Gulf sturgeon, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service about construction-displaced sea turtles and 
birds, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management about 
equipment for sand dredging, as well as other local and 
regional partners. The many federal and state agencies often 
have conflicting needs, goals, and jurisdictions, creating 
challenges for management and coordination. The Southeast CASC 
facilitated stakeholder meetings to preemptively determine the 
main project objectives, potential problems that could arise 
during construction, and the consequences and tradeoffs of 
different actions, leading to effective collaboration among 
partners.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Project Spotlight: Southeast CASC Project Contributes to 
Successful Barrier Island Restoration, USGS (May 18, 2021), https://
www.usgs.gov/news/project-spotlight-southeast-casc-project-contributes-
successful-barrier-island-restoration.
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    In Juneau, Alaska, 100-year glacial floods have occurred 
every year for the last ten years. When the first such recent 
flood occurred in 2011, flood models were entirely based on 
rainfall rather than the effect of climate change on nearby 
glaciers. The Alaska CASC partnered with the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, 
the Municipality of Anchorage, and the City and Borough of 
Juneau, to create new models to predict glacial flooding so 
communities and scientists could better understand and prepare 
for potential catastrophic events.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\Project Spotlight: Alaska CASC Helps Juneau Community Understand 
Mysterious Glacial Outburst Floods, USGS (October 28, 2021), https://
www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers-program/news/
project-spotlight-alaska-casc-helps-juneau; see also Christian 
Kienholz, Jamie Pierce, Eran Hood et al., Deglacierization of a 
Marginal Basin and Implications for Outburst Floods, Mendenhall 
Glacier, Alaska, 8 Frontiers in Earth Sci. art. 137 (2020), https://
doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00137.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The CASC network recognizes that Native Americans, Alaska 
Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other 
Indigenous peoples often face disproportionate impacts from 
climate change. The CASCs prioritize tribal nations, tribal 
organizations, and other Indigenous groups as partners in their 
work. Each Regional CASC hosts a Tribal Resilience Liaison, 
which connects tribal nations, tribal nation agencies, tribal 
organizations, and other Indigenous communities to information, 
data, resources, and expertise that facilitate culturally 
appropriate research and planning. CASC Tribal Liaisons have 
worked with over 100 tribal nations on adaptation plans and 
vulnerability assessments and have supported nearly 200 tribal 
climate camps, summits, trainings, workshops, retreats, and 
presentations.
    The final component of the CASCs' work is education and 
training. The CASC network has supported over 200 students and 
early-career scientists and professionals through fellowship 
and training programs. According to USGS, ``Participants 
conduct ground- breaking research on climate change impacts and 
adaptation, develop skills in science communication and partner 
engagement, and build networks of peers and mentors to support 
future career development.''\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\Education, USGS https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-
adaptation-science-centers/science/education (last visited Dec. 5, 
2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    H.R. 6654 would permanently authorize the Climate 
Adaptation Science Center program at the USGS, authorize 
appropriations for FY23-FY27, and make several technical 
changes to the program.
    The bill codifies that there should be nine Regional 
Centers. It also codifies a pathway to make changes to 
consortium institutions members in the middle of a five-year 
agreement rather than waiting until the end of an agreement 
cycle. Rather than having open competition for a host 
institution every five years, the bill introduces performance-
based evaluations for hosts. After one final round of 
competition, hosts can remain unless they fall below USGS' 
standards. If they fall below standard, then USGS may recommend 
open competition.
    The bill codifies the tools the CASCs can use to serve 
stakeholders and land managers, including training and 
education for early career professionals. Under the Trump 
administration, the CASCs were not allowed to do ``training'' 
or ``education'' and were limited to ``workforce development.'' 
This specifically limited work the CASCs could do with tribal 
partners, as training is a key to bringing tribal partners up 
to speed on data products and other science.
    The bill includes CASC-specific language for the USGS 
Office of Acquisition and Grants. The bill establishes 
additional options for how the host institutions can be funded 
and supported. Previously, CASC activities were authorized 
through the Organic Act of 1879, which authorized the United 
States Geological Survey, but did not include language for 
education, training, or mentoring, occasionally leading to some 
activities being denied.
    The legislation reinstates a Federal Advisory Committee 
that was dismantled during the Trump Administration. The 
Federal Advisory Committee guides where the CASCs should focus 
their efforts and what scientific questions and emerging issues 
they should prioritize. The Federal Advisory Committees are 
also a formalized way for the CASCs to check in with 
stakeholders, including other federal agencies and tribes, and 
for stakeholders to check in with each other.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 6654 was introduced on February 9, 2022, by 
Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ). The bill was referred 
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
and the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United 
States. On February 17, 2022, the Subcommittee on Energy and 
Mineral Resources held a hearing on the bill. On July 13, 2022, 
the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The 
Subcommittees were discharged by unanimous consent. Chair 
Grijalva offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
Rep. Blake D. Moore (R-UT) offered an amendment designated 
Moore #2 to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The 
amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 17 yeas and 
22 nays, as follows: 

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Rep. Moore offered an amendment designated Moore #3 to the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment was not 
agreed to by a roll call vote of 17 yeas and 21 nays, as 
follows: 

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Ranking Member Westerman offered an amendment designated 
Westerman #1 to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. 
The amendment was not agreed to by voice vote. Rep. Boebert 
offered an amendment designated Boebert #338 to the amendment 
in the nature of a substitute. The amendment was not agreed to 
by a roll call vote of 16 yeas and 20 nays, as follows: 

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) offered an amendment designated 
Tiffany #4 to the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The 
amendment was not agreed to by a roll call vote of 17 yeas and 
21 nays, as follows: 

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to 
by voice vote. The bill, as amended, was adopted and ordered 
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by a roll 
call vote of 22 yeas and 18 nays, as follows: 



                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the 
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure: 
hearing by the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held on February 17, 2022.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

Section 2. Definitions

    This section provides definitions for key terms.

Section 3. Establishment and duties

    This section establishes the framework and duties of the 
National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
    The Chief of the National Center will be a United States 
Geological Survey (USGS) employee. Each Regional Center will 
have a USGS employee Federal Director and a Host Institution 
Director who work collaboratively.
    In collaboration with other Federal agencies, states, 
tribes, and other partner organizations, the National Center 
will serve as the national office for the Regional Centers, 
providing leadership, facilitating coordination, and conducting 
research on cross-regional climate science priorities.
    Subject to the availability of appropriations, the National 
Center will provide a stable base of funding for no fewer than 
nine Regional Centers. The Regional Centers will be hosted at a 
university or consortium of universities within the designated 
region. Existing Regional Centers will have to compete for 
their status one final time upon the conclusion of its five-
year term to ensure that the host institutions and associated 
consortium institutions update their proposals recognizing 
long-term commitments. Afterward, a Regional Center will not 
have to compete for its status but will be subject to review on 
five-year terms. The Chief of the National Center will 
establish guidelines for merit reviews of the Regional Centers 
and host institutions. The Chief of the National Center can add 
or remove a consortium member at any time to address regional 
and national priorities.
    The duties of the Regional Centers are to collaborate with 
local and regional stakeholders, including federal and state 
agencies, tribes, and other partner organizations within the 
region, to develop research, education, training, and advisory 
services regarding the impacts of climate change on natural and 
cultural resource management.

Section 4. General authority to enter into contracts, grants, 
        cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements

    This section grants general authority for USGS to enter 
into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency 
agreements with a host institution or consortium institution. 
Any federal agency may participate in any cooperative agreement 
by contributing funds through the National Center.

Section 5. Interagency cooperation

    This section allows federal departments or agencies with 
authority over issues relating to natural resources, cultural 
resources, or climate change to work with the CASCs. They can 
make personnel, services, facilities, and data available to the 
CASCs, and may transfer funding, facilities, or other resources 
to the CASCs to aid collaborative work.

Section 6. Committees

    This section establishes procedures for advisory committees 
and working groups, as well as for facilitating public 
participation in the advisory process. This section sets up an 
Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resources that can 
include employees of tribes, tribal organizations, Native 
Hawaiian organizations, state and local government, host 
institutions, nongovernmental organizations, academic 
institutions, and organizations in the private sector.
    The Secretary of the Interior may establish procedures to 
facilitate public participation in the advisory process, which 
informs science priorities.

Section 7. Authorization of appropriations

    This section authorizes appropriations for FY 2023-FY 2027 
at the following levels.
           $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
           $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
           $104,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
           $114,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
           $124,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, as well as clause 3(d) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has received the 
following estimate for the bill from the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, November 14, 2022.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6654, the CASC 
Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Madeleine 
Fox.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    H.R. 6654 would authorize National and Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers, which are maintained by the U.S. 
Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. 
The centers provide expertise on extreme weather and climate 
trends to federal and nonfederal groups that manage natural and 
cultural resources. The bill also would require the department 
to establish a committee to advise the centers on research 
priorities. The centers received $41 million in funding for 
fiscal year 2022.
    H.R. 6654 would authorize the appropriation of $84 million 
for fiscal year 2023 for the centers' operations. That amount 
would increase by $10 million annually through 2027. Using 
historical spending patterns for USGS programs, CBO estimates 
that implementing H.R. 6654 would cost $471 million over the 
2023-2027 period and $509 million over the 2023-2032 period, 
assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall 
within budget function 300 (natural resources).

               TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 6654
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       By fiscal years, millions of dollars--
                                                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                                                     2023   2024   2025   2026   2027  2023-2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorization.....................................................     84     94    104    114    124        520
Estimated Outlays.................................................     60     86     98    109    118        471
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This program received an appropriation of $41 million in 2022 and that appropriation has been extended under the
  continuing resolution, Public Law 117-180. The amount in 2023 shows what would be authorized in the bill and
  is not adjusted for the amounts in the continuing resolution.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Madeleine Fox. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Director of Budget Analysis.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a National Climate Adaptation Science 
Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to 
respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate 
trends.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    According to CBO, this bill contains no unfunded mandates 
as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

                FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT STATEMENT

    This bill would authorize the CASCs, establish an Advisory 
Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences, and 
authorize for the Chief of the National Center and the Federal 
Directors of the regional centers to establish additional 
advisory committees as appropriate. In reporting the bill 
favorably to the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Natural Resources finds that these functions would be better 
performed by these advisory committees than by one or more 
agencies or by some another existing advisory committee.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program. Such program was not included in any report from the 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139. The most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 
Sec. 6104 does not identify other programs as related to the 
National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CFDA 
No. 15.820) authorized by this bill.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

                            DISSENTING VIEWS

    H.R. 6654 (Grijalva) would authorize the Climate Adaptation 
Science Centers (CASC) program at the U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS) at a total of $605 million over five years.
    The CASC program is intended to assist research efforts to 
support land management planning for environmental and climate-
related issues. The program consists of one national center and 
nine regional centers; the regions are Alaska, Midwest, North 
Central, Northeast, Northwest, Pacific Islands, South Central, 
Southeast, and Southwest.
    Currently, Congress appropriates funding to the National 
CASC on an annual basis. A portion of that funding stays at the 
National CASC, with the remainder divided amongst the nine 
regions. From there, research is funded through two mechanisms. 
First, approximately $4.5 million is provided to each ``host 
university'' (universities where regional CASCs are housed) 
over a five-year period for cooperative agreements between the 
host university and USGS. This funding is for the physical 
location of the regional CASC and salaries for graduate and 
post-doctorate students to assist in research efforts. The 
five-year science agenda under these cooperative agreements is 
largely formed by a stakeholder outreach process.
    The vast majority of research is performed through a second 
funding mechanism, in which regional CASCs each select one 
annual research project to fund. Once funding is distributed to 
the regions from the National CASC, the director of each region 
releases a call for proposals. Ultimately, the director of each 
regional CASC determines which project will be researched and 
funded, after receiving input from advisory committees. The 
directors of the regional CASCs have significant discretion 
over this project selection process, and there is no 
standardization of methodology for project prioritization. This 
means it is difficult for Congress to determine if research 
topics are properly prioritized in accordance with the stated 
goal of the program, self-described as, ``to deliver science to 
help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a 
changing climate.''
    For instance, in January 2022, the National CASC published 
a study on the projected impacts of climate change on 
ecosystems in Madagascar. Studies like this one demonstrate a 
departure from the original intent of the program, which was to 
research environment and climate-related issues to help land 
managers in regional and local decision-making. Unfortunately, 
the program as authorized by this bill has shifted away from 
the original goal of actionable, localized science.
    Under H.R. 6645, the CASC program would be authorized at a 
total of $605 million over five years. This would nearly triple 
the funding of the program compared to the fiscal year (FY) 
2021 appropriated level of $41.3 million--without controls for 
overhead costs. Historically, USGS research facilities have had 
overhead rates varying quite widely, from about 15 percent to 
more than 40 percent; university overhead costs can be even 
higher. USGS has cited growing demand for climate adaptation 
data, as well as questions from land managers on how to apply 
it, as the rationale for the major program increases, but it 
remains extremely unclear exactly how this additional funding 
will be utilized. The lack of mission clarity and absence of 
cost controls poses significant concerns about maintaining 
accountability for taxpayer dollars.
    Finally, there appears to be significant overlap between 
CASC and other programs. The National Science Foundation and 
other USGS programs, such as the Cooperative Research Units 
(CRUs), are already authorized and funded to analyze very 
similar research topics. It is difficult to tell how the CASC 
program is distinct from existing research efforts, or why it 
needs its own funding to compete with longstanding programs.
    This proposed major increase in funding with a lack of 
overhead limitations presents concerns regarding accountability 
to the taxpayers and oversight of the program. Furthermore, the 
expansion and vagueness of eligible research areas, including 
the broad discretion given regional CASC directors in selecting 
research projects, also generates concerns regarding overlap 
with existing federal programs, as well as a departure from the 
original intent of the CASC program.
    For these reasons, I oppose H.R. 6654.
                                                   Bruce Westerman.

                                  [all]