[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3952 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3952
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 28, 2022
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To strengthen the role of the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration in order to promote scientific integrity
and advance the Administration's world-class research and development
portfolio.
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 ``NOAA Chief Scientist Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 1970 RELATING TO
CHIEF SCIENTIST OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 2 of Reorganization Plan
No. 4 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended to read as follows:
``(d)(1) There is in the Administration a Chief Scientist of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this subsection
referred to as the `Chief Scientist'), who shall be selected by the
Administrator and compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for
Level V of the Executive Schedule pursuant to section 5316 of title 5,
United States Code. In selecting a Chief Scientist, the Administrator
shall give due consideration to any recommendations for candidates
which may be submitted by the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Science Advisory Board, and other widely recognized,
reputable, and diverse United States scientific or academic bodies,
including minority serving institutions or other such bodies
representing underrepresented populations. The Chief Scientist shall be
the principal scientific adviser to the Administrator on science and
technology policy and strategy, as well as scientific integrity, and
shall perform such other duties as the Administrator may direct. The
Chief Scientist shall be an individual who is, by reason of scientific
education and experience, knowledgeable in the principles of scientific
disciplines associated with the work of the Administration, and who has
produced work of scientific merit through an established record of
distinguished service and achievement.
``(2) The Chief Scientist shall--
``(A) adhere to any agency or department scientific
integrity policy and--
``(i) provide written consent to all applicable
scientific integrity and other relevant science and
technology policies of the Administration prior to
serving in such position, with such written consent to
be made available on a publicly accessible website of
the Administration;
``(ii) in conjunction with the Administrator and
other members of Administration leadership, undergo all
applicable training programs of the Administration
which inform employees of their rights and
responsibilities regarding the conduct of scientific
research and communication with the media and the
public regarding scientific research; and
``(iii) in coordination with the Administrator and
other members of Administration leadership, make all
practicable efforts to ensure Administration employees
and contractors who are engaged in, supervise, or
manage scientific activities, analyze or communicate
information resulting from scientific activities, or
use scientific information in policy, management, or
regulatory decisions, adhere to established scientific
integrity policies of the Administration;
``(B) provide policy and program direction for science and
technology priorities of the Administration and facilitate
integration and coordination of research efforts across line
offices of the Administration, with other Federal agencies, and
with the external scientific community, including through--
``(i) leading the development of a science and
technology strategy of the Administration and issuing
policy guidance to ensure that overarching
Administration policy is aligned with science and
technology goals and objectives;
``(ii) chairing the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Science Council and serving
as a liaison to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Science Advisory Board;
``(iii) providing oversight to ensure--
``(I) the Administration funds high
priority and mission-aligned science and
technology development, including through
partnerships with the private sector,
Cooperative Institutes, academia,
nongovernmental organizations, and other
Federal and non-Federal institutions; and
``(II) there is no unnecessary duplication
of such science and technology development;
``(iv) ensuring the Administration attracts,
retains, and promotes world class scientists and
researchers from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and
expertise;
``(v) promoting the health and professional
development of the Administration's scientific
workforce, including by promoting efforts to reduce
assault, harassment, and discrimination that could
hamper such health and development; and
``(vi) ensuring coordination across the scientific
workforce and its conduct and application of science
and technology with the Administration's most recent
Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan;
``(C) under the direction of the Administrator, promote,
communicate, and advocate for the Administration's science and
technology portfolio and strategy to the broad domestic,
Tribal, and international communities and Congress, represent
the Administration in promoting and maintaining good public and
community relations, and provide the widest practical and
appropriate dissemination of science and technology information
concerning the full range of the Administration's earth system
authorities;
``(D) manage an Office of the Chief Scientist--
``(i) which shall be staffed by Federal employees
of the Administration detailed to the office on a
rotating basis, in a manner that promotes diversity of
expertise, background, and to the extent practicable,
ensures that each line office of the Administration is
represented in the Office over time;
``(ii) in which there shall be a Deputy Chief
Scientist, to be designated by the Administrator or
Acting Administrator from among the Assistant
Administrators on a rotational basis, as appropriate to
their backgrounds or expertise, who shall advise and
support the Chief Scientist and perform the functions
and duties of the Chief Scientist for not more than one
year in the event the Chief Scientist is unable to
carry out the duties of the Office, or in the event of
a vacancy in such position; and
``(iii) which may utilize contractors pursuant to
applicable laws and regulations, and offer
opportunities to fellows under existing programs; and
``(E) not less frequently than once each year, in
coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Science Council, produce and make publicly
available a report that--
``(i) describes the Administration's implementation
of the science and technology strategy and scientific
accomplishments from the past year;
``(ii) details progress toward goals and challenges
faced by the Administration's science and technology
portfolio and scientific workforce;
``(iii) provides a summary of Administration-funded
research, including--
``(I) the percentage of Administration-
funded research that is funded intramurally;
``(II) the percentage of Administration-
funded research that is funded extramurally,
including the relative proportion of extramural
research that is carried out by--
``(aa) the private sector;
``(bb) Cooperative Institutes;
``(cc) academia;
``(dd) nongovernmental
organizations; and
``(ee) other categories as
necessary; and
``(III) a summary of Administration-funded
research that is transitioned to operations,
applications, commercialization, and
utilization; and
``(iv) provides reporting on scientific integrity
actions, including by specifying the aggregate number
of scientific and research misconduct cases, the number
of consultations conducted, the number of allegations
investigated, the number of findings of misconduct, and
a summary of actions in response to such findings.
``(3) Nothing in this subsection may be construed as impeding the
ability of the Administrator to select any person for the position of
Chief Scientist the Administrator determines is qualified to serve in
such position.''.
(b) Saving Clause.--The individual serving as Chief Scientist of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the day before
the date of the enactment of this Act may continue to so serve until
such time as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration selects such a Chief Scientist in accordance with
subsection (d) of section 2 of
Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App), as amended by
subsection (a).
Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2022.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.