[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2405 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 262
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2405
[Report No. 116-323]
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2019
Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Katko, Mr.
Beyer, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Raskin,
Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Case, Ms. Gabbard, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Sires, Mr. Pappas, and Mr. Keating) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
December 5, 2019
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Luria, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mrs.
Radewagen, Miss Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico, Mr. Pallone, Mr.
Hastings, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Moore, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Larson of
Connecticut, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Welch, Mr. Golden,
Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Posey, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Malinowski, Mr.
Heck, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Larsen of
Washington, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Trone, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Kind, Mr.
Cicilline, Mrs. Dingell, and Mr. Stauber
December 5, 2019
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April
30, 2019]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program
Amendments Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM ACT.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of the National Sea Grant
College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP.
(a) In General.--Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by
striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
(b) Placements in Congress.--Such section is further amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary''
and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1) of
this section, in the second sentence, by striking ``A
fellowship'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Placement priorities.--
``(A) In general.--In each year in which the
Secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this
subsection, when considering the placement of fellows,
the Secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in
the following:
``(i) Positions in offices of committees of
Congress that have jurisdiction over the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
``(ii) Positions in offices of Members of
Congress who are on such committees.
``(iii) Positions in offices of Members of
Congress that have a demonstrated interest in
ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.
``(B) Equitable distribution.--
``(i) Finding and recognition.--Congress--
``(I) finds that both host offices
and fellows benefit when fellows have
the opportunity to choose from a range
of host offices from different States
and regions, both chambers of Congress,
and both political parties; and
``(II) recognizes the steps taken
by the National Sea Grant College
Program to facilitate an equitable
distribution of fellows among the
political parties.
``(ii) In general.--The Secretary shall
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that
fellows have the opportunity to choose from
offices that are described in clauses (i),
(ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A) and that
are equitably distributed among--
``(I) the political parties; and
``(II) the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
``(iii) Political and cameral equity.--The
Secretary shall ensure that placements are
equitably distributed between--
``(I) the political parties; and
``(II) the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
``(3) Duration.--A fellowship''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) shall
apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date
of the enactment of this Act and each fiscal year thereafter.
(d) Sense of Congress Concerning Federal Hiring of Former
Fellows.--It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of the
competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) of the
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the
exceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees--
(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should
encourage participating Federal agencies to consider
opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of
their fellowships for workforce positions appropriate for their
education and experience; and
(2) Members and committees of Congress should consider
opportunities for such awardees for such positions.
SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE TO ACCEPT
DONATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(E) accept donations of money and,
notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States
Code, of voluntary and uncompensated services;''.
(b) Priorities.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall establish
priorities for the use of donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E)
of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C.
1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities the
possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy
Fellowship's placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative
offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in
accordance with the recommendations under subsection (c) of this
section.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Sea Grant College
Program, in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and
the Sea Grant Association, shall--
(1) develop recommendations for the optimal use of any
donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and
(2) submit to Congress a report on the recommendations
developed under paragraph (1).
(d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy
fellowships under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts--
(1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33
U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or
(2) appropriated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C.
1131).
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON COORDINATION OF OCEANS AND
COASTAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments
of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857-20) is repealed.
SEC. 6. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY
BOARD REPORT.
Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Biennial'' and inserting
``Periodic''; and
(2) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Board shall
report to the Congress every two years'' and inserting ``Not
less frequently than once every 4 years, the Board shall submit
to Congress a report''.
SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.
Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``for research, education,
extension, training, technology transfer, public service,'' after
``financial assistance''.
SEC. 8. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY
FELLOWSHIP.
(a) In General.--During fiscal year 2019 and any fiscal year
thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may appoint, without regard
to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United
States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a
qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to a position
with the Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of
Personnel Management qualification standards.
(b) Qualified Candidate.--Subsection (a) applies with respect to a
former recipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33
U.S.C. 1127(b)) who--
(1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in a field
related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources or policy
from an institution of higher education accredited by an agency
or association recognized by the Secretary of Education
pursuant to section 496(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1099b(a));
(2) received a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program
Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) within 5 years before the date the
individual is appointed under this section; and
(3) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the
fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of the
United States Government.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary to carry out this title--
``(A) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2020;
``(B) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(C) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(E) $106,380,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(F) $111,710,813 for fiscal year 2025.''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Priority activities for fiscal years 2020 through
2025.--In addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated
under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025 for
competitive grants for the following:
``(A) University research on the biology,
prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species.
``(B) University research on oyster diseases,
oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health
risks.
``(C) University research on the biology,
prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.
``(D) University research, education, training, and
extension services and activities focused on coastal
resilience and United States working waterfronts and
other regional or national priority issues identified
in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1).
``(E) University research and extension on
sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies.
``(F) Fishery research and extension activities
conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes
to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program
funding.''.
(b) Modification of Limitations on Amounts for Administration.--
Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(1) Administration.--
``(A) In general.--There may not be used for
administration of programs under this title in a fiscal
year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of--
``(i) the amount authorized to be
appropriated under this title for the fiscal
year; or
``(ii) the amount appropriated under this
title for the fiscal year.
``(B) Critical staffing requirements.--
``(i) In general.--The Director shall use
the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33
of title 5, United States Code, to meet any
critical staffing requirement while carrying
out the activities authorized under this title.
``(ii) Exception from cap.--For purposes of
subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a
result of an exercise of authority described in
clause (i) shall not be considered an amount
used for administration of programs under this
title in a fiscal year.''.
(c) Allocation of Funding.--
(1) In general.--Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3))
is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``With respect to sea grant colleges and sea
grant institutes'' and inserting ``With respect to sea
grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant
programs, and sea grant projects''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``funding among sea grant
colleges and sea grant institutes'' and inserting
``funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant
institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant
projects''.
(2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of
excess amounts.--Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as
subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
SEC. 10. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.)
is amended--
(1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by
moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the right; and
(2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended
by section 6 of this Act, in the third sentence, by striking
``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the following:
``(3) Availability of resources of department of
commerce.--The Secretary shall''.
Union Calendar No. 262
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2405
[Report No. 116-323]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 5, 2019
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed