[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 140 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 206
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 140
To improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans,
bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2021
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Merkley, and Mr.
Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
December 17, 2021
Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans,
bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Bolstering Long-term
Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and
Estuaries Act'' or the ``BLUE GLOBE Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. PURPOSE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> The purpose of this Act is to promote and support--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the monitoring, understanding, and exploration
of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the collection, analysis, synthesis, and
sharing of data related to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays,
estuaries, and coasts to facilitate science and operational
decision making.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> It is the sense of Congress that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) agencies should optimize data collection,
management, and dissemination, to the extent practicable, to
maximize their impact for research, commercial, regulatory, and
educational benefits and to foster innovation, scientific
discoveries, the development of commercial products, and the
development of sound policy with respect to the Great Lakes,
oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) agencies should consider current and future
needs relating to supercomputing capacity, data storage
capacity, and public access, address gaps in those areas, and
coordinate across agencies as needed;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the United States is a leading member of the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a
founding member of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, and a
key partner in developing the United Nations Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the
Global Ocean Observing System are key assets and networks that
bolster understanding of the marine environment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the National Oceanographic Partnership Program
is a meaningful venue for collaboration and coordination among
Federal agencies, scientists, and ocean users;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) the National Centers for Environmental
Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration should be looked to by other Federal agencies as
a primary, centralized repository for Federal ocean
data;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) the Marine Cadastre, a joint effort of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management, provides access to data and
information for specific issues and activities in ocean
resources management to meet the needs of offshore energy and
planning efforts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) the regional associations of the Integrated
Ocean Observing System, certified by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for the quality and reliability of
their data, are important sources of observation information
for the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) the Regional Ocean Partnerships and regional
data portals, which provide publicly available tools such as
maps, data, and other information to inform decisions and
enhance marine development, should be supported by and viewed
as collaborators with Federal agencies and ocean
users.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF ADMINISTRATOR.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act, the term ``Administrator'' means the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the Under
Secretary's capacity as Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. INCREASED COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO
DATA AND MONITORING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Interagency Ocean Observation Committee.--In addition
to its responsibilities as of the date of the enactment of this Act,
and in consultation with the associated advisory committee authorized
by section 12304(d) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(d)), the Interagency Ocean
Observation Committee shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) work with international coordinating bodies,
as necessary, to ensure robust, direct measurements of the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, including
oceanographic data; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) support cross-agency and multi-platform
synergy, by coordinating overlapping data collection by
satellites, buoys, submarines, gliders, vessels, and other data
collection vehicles and technologies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Federal Geographic Data Committee.--In addition to its
responsibilities as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and in
consultation with the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, the
Federal Geographic Data Committee shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) work with international coordinating bodies,
as necessary, to ensure robust, continuous measurements of the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, including
satellite and geospatial data; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) support new and old data and metadata
certification, quality assurance, quality control, integration,
and archiving.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping.--
In addition to its responsibilities as of the date of the enactment of
this Act, and in consultation with its associated advisory panel
authorized by section 12203(g) of the Ocean and Coastal Mapping
Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3502(g)), the Interagency Committee on Ocean
and Coastal Mapping shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) work with international coordinating bodies,
as necessary, to ensure robust, continuous satellite and direct
measurements of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and
coasts, including bathymetric data; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) make recommendations on how to make data,
metadata, and model output accessible to a broader public
audience, including through geographic information system
layers, graphics, and other visuals.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION TO COMBAT ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED,
AND UNREGULATED FISHING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--Section 3532 of the Maritime Security
and Fisheries Enforcement Act (16 U.S.C. 8001) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (13)
as paragraphs (7) through (14), respectively; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(6) Innovative technologies.--The term
`innovative technologies' includes the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) Improved satellite imagery and
tracking.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) Advanced electronic monitoring
equipment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) Vessel location data.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) Improved genetic, molecular, or
other biological methods of tracking sources of
seafood.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) Electronic catch documentation and
traceability.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) Such other technologies as the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration considers appropriate.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Technology Programs.--Section 3546 of the Maritime
Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act (16 U.S.C. 8016) is amended--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) coordinating the application of existing
innovative technologies and the development of emerging
innovative technologies.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. WORKFORCE STUDY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Section 303(a) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (33 U.S.C. 893c(a)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, skillsets,
or credentials'' after ``degrees'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or highly
qualified technical professionals and tradespeople'' after
``atmospheric scientists'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, skillsets,
or credentials'' after ``degrees'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking ``scientist'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting
``, observations, and monitoring;''</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) in paragraph (6), by striking ``into Federal''
and all that follows and inserting ``, technical professionals,
and tradespeople into Federal career positions;''</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as
paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) whether there is a shortage in the number of
individuals with technical or trade-based skillsets or
credentials suited to a career in oceanic and atmospheric data
collection, processing, satellite production, or satellite
operations;''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) workforce diversity and actions the Federal
Government can take to increase diversity in the scientific
workforce; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(9) actions the Federal Government can take to
shorten the hiring backlog for such workforce.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Coordination.--Section 303(b) of such Act (33 U.S.C.
893c(b)) is amended by striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting
``Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Report.--Section 303(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C.
893c(c)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking ``the date of enactment of this
Act'' and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the
Bolstering Long-term Understanding and Exploration of the Great
Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' and
inserting ``Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by striking ``to each committee'' and all that
follows through ``section 302 of this Act'' and inserting ``to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Program and Plan.--Section 303(d) of such Act (33
U.S.C. 893c(d)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking ``Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by striking ``academic partners'' and all that
follows and inserting ``academic partners.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 8. ACCELERATING INNOVATION AT COOPERATIVE
INSTITUTES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Focus on Emerging Technologies.--The Administrator
shall ensure that the goals of the Cooperative Institutes of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration include focusing on
advancing or applying emerging technologies, which may include--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) applied uses and development of real-time and
other advanced genetic technologies and applications, including
such technologies and applications that derive genetic material
directly from environmental samples without any obvious signs
of biological source material;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) deployment of, and improvements to, the
durability, maintenance, and other lifecycle concerns of
advanced unmanned vehicles, regional small research vessels,
and other research vessels that support and launch unmanned
vehicles and sensors; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) supercomputing and big data management,
including data collected through electronic monitoring and
remote sensing.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Data Sharing.--Each Cooperative Institute shall ensure
that data collected from the work of the institute, other than
classified, confidential, or proprietary data, are archived and made
publicly accessible.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Coordination With Other Programs.--The Cooperative
Institutes shall work with the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee,
the regional associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and
other ocean observing programs to coordinate technology needs and the
transition of new technologies from research to operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 9. OCEAN INNOVATION PRIZE AND PRIORITIZATION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Ocean Innovative Prizes.--Not later than 4 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and under the authority provided
by section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980
(15 U.S.C. 3719), the Administrator, in consultation with the heads of
relevant Federal agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, and in
conjunction with nongovernmental partners, as appropriate and at the
discretion of the Administrator, shall establish at least one Ocean
Innovation Prize to catalyze the rapid development and deployment of
data collection and monitoring technology related to the Great Lakes,
oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts in at least one of the areas
specified in subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Areas.--The areas specified in this subsection are the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Improved eDNA analytics and deployment with
autonomous vehicles.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Plastic pollution detection, quantification,
and mitigation, including with respect to used fishing gear and
tracking technologies to reduce or eliminate bycatch.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Advanced satellite data and other advanced
technology for improving scientific assessment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) New stock assessment methods using satellite
data or other advanced technologies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Advanced electronic fisheries monitoring
equipment and data analysis tools, including improved fish
species recognition software, confidential data management,
data analysis and visualization, and storage of electronic
reports, imagery, location information, and other
data.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Autonomous and other advanced surface
vehicles, underwater vehicles, or airborne platforms for data
collection and monitoring.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Artificial intelligence and machine learning
applications for data collection and monitoring related to the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Coral reef ecosystem monitoring.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Electronic equipment, chemical or biological
sensors, data analysis tools, and platforms to identify and
fill gaps in robust and shared continuous data related to the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts to inform
global earth system models.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) Means for protecting aquatic life from injury
or other ill effects caused, in whole or in part, by monitoring
or exploration activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) Discovery and dissemination of data related
to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and
coasts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (12) Water quality monitoring, including improved
detection and prediction of harmful algal blooms and
pollution.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (13) Enhancing blue carbon sequestration and other
ocean acidification mitigation opportunities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (14) Such other areas as may be identified by the
Administrator.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Prioritization of Proposals.--In selecting recipients
of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) solicitations and interagency grants for
ocean innovation, including the National Oceanographic Partnership
Program, the Administrator shall prioritize proposals for fiscal years
2021 and 2022 that address at least one of the areas specified in
subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 10. REAUTHORIZATION OF NOAA PROGRAMS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act
of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$70,814,000
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``$71,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2024'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$25,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``$34,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2024'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$29,932,000
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``$38,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2024'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$26,800,000
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``$45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in paragraph (5), by striking ``$30,564,000
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting
``$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through
2024''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 11. BLUE ECONOMY VALUATION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Measurement of Blue Economy Industries.--The
Administrator, the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the
Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall
prioritize the collection, aggregation, and analysis of data to measure
the value and impact of industries related to the Great Lakes, oceans,
bays, estuaries, and coasts on the economy of the United States,
including living resources, marine construction, marine transportation,
offshore mineral extraction, ship and boat building, tourism,
recreation, subsistence, and such other industries the Administrator
considers appropriate (known as ``Blue Economy'' industries).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Collaboration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) work with the Director of the Bureau of
Economic Analysis and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies to develop a Coastal and Ocean Economy Satellite
Account that includes national and State-level statistics to
measure the contribution of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays,
estuaries, and coasts to the overall economy of the United
States; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) collaborate with national and international
organizations and governments to promote consistency of
methods, measurements, and definitions to ensure comparability
of results between countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Report.--Not less frequently than once every 2 years,
the Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of
Economic Analysis, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall publish a report that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) defines the Blue Economy, in coordination with
Tribal governments, academia, industry, nongovernmental
organizations, and other relevant experts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) makes recommendations for updating North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) reporting codes
to reflect the Blue Economy; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) provides a comprehensive estimate of the value
and impact of the Blue Economy with respect to each State and
territory of the United States, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the value and impact of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) economic activities that are
dependent upon the resources of the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and
coasts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) the population and
demographic characteristics of the population
along the coasts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) port and shoreline
infrastructure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) the volume and value of cargo
shipped by sea or across the Great Lakes;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) data collected from the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts,
including such data collected by businesses
that purchase and commodify the data, including
weather prediction and seasonal agricultural
forecasting; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to the extent possible, the qualified
value and impact of the natural capital of the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts with respect
to tourism, recreation, natural resources, and cultural
heritage, including other indirect values.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 12. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-OCEANS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Agreement.--Not later than 45 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek to enter into
an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct the
comprehensive assessment under subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Comprehensive Assessment.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Under an agreement between the
Administrator and the National Academy of Sciences under this
section, the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a
comprehensive assessment of the need for and feasibility of
establishing an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Oceans (ARPA-
O) that operates in coordination with and with nonduplication
of existing Federal oceanic research programs, including
programs of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Elements.--The comprehensive assessment
carried out pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) an assessment of how an ARPA-O could
help overcome the long-term and high-risk technological
barriers in the development of ocean technologies, with
the goal of enhancing the economic, ecological, and
national security of the United States through the
rapid development of technologies that result in--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) improved data collection,
monitoring, and prediction of the ocean
environment, including sea ice
conditions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) overcoming barriers to the
application of new and improved technologies,
such as high costs and scale of operational
missions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) improved management
practices for protecting ecological
sustainability;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) improved national security
capacity;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) improved technology for
fishery population assessments;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) expedited processes between
and among Federal agencies to successfully
identify, transition, and coordinate research
and development output to operations,
applications, commercialization, and other
uses; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vii) ensuring that the United
States maintains a technological lead in
developing and deploying advanced ocean
technologies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) an evaluation of the organizational
structures under which an ARPA-O could be organized,
which takes into account--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) best practices for new
research programs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) consolidation and
reorganization of existing Federal oceanic
programs to effectuate coordination and
nonduplication of such programs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) metrics and approaches for
periodic program evaluation;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) capacity to fund and manage
external research awards; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) options for oversight of the
activity through a Federal agency, an
interagency organization, nongovernmental
organization, or other institutional
arrangement; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) an estimation of the scale of
investment necessary to pursue high priority ocean
technology projects.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a
report on the comprehensive assessment conducted under subsection
(b).</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bolstering Long-term Understanding
and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act''
or the ``BLUE GLOBE Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to promote and support--
(1) the monitoring, understanding, and exploration of the
Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts; and
(2) the collection, analysis, synthesis, and sharing of
data related to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and
coasts to facilitate science and operational decision making.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that Federal agencies should optimize
data collection, management, and dissemination, to the extent
practicable, to maximize their impact for research, conservation,
commercial, regulatory, and educational benefits and to foster
innovation, scientific discoveries, the development of commercial
products, and the development of sound policy with respect to the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the
Under Secretary's capacity as Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
SEC. 5. WORKFORCE STUDY.
(a) In General.--Section 303(a) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (33 U.S.C. 893c(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting ``Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, skillsets, or
credentials'' after ``degrees'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or highly qualified
technical professionals and tradespeople'' after ``atmospheric
scientists'';
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, skillsets, or
credentials'' after ``degrees'';
(5) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking ``scientist''; and
(B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``,
observations, and monitoring;''
(6) in paragraph (6), by striking ``into Federal'' and all
that follows and inserting ``, technical professionals, and
tradespeople into Federal career positions;''
(7) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as
paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively;
(8) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) whether there is a shortage in the number of
individuals with technical or trade-based skillsets or
credentials suited to a career in oceanic and atmospheric data
collection, processing, satellite production, or satellite
operations;''; and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) workforce diversity and actions the Federal
Government can take to increase diversity in the scientific
workforce; and
``(9) actions the Federal Government can take to shorten
the hiring backlog for such workforce.''.
(b) Coordination.--Section 303(b) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 893c(b))
is amended by striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere''.
(c) Report.--Section 303(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 893c(c)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``the date of enactment of this Act'' and
inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Bolstering Long-
term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans,
Bays, and Estuaries Act'';
(2) by striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' and inserting
``Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere''; and
(3) by striking ``to each committee'' and all that follows
through ``section 302 of this Act'' and inserting ``to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives''.
(d) Program and Plan.--Section 303(d) of such Act (33 U.S.C.
893c(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere''; and
(2) by striking ``academic partners'' and all that follows
and inserting ``academic partners.''.
SEC. 6. ACCELERATING INNOVATION AT COOPERATIVE INSTITUTES.
(a) Focus on Emerging Technologies.--The Administrator shall
consider evaluating the goals of one or more Cooperative Institutes of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to include focusing
on advancing or applying emerging technologies, which may include--
(1) applied uses and development of real-time and other
advanced genetic technologies and applications, including such
technologies and applications that derive genetic material
directly from environmental samples without any obvious signs
of biological source material;
(2) deployment of, and improvements to, the durability,
maintenance, and other lifecycle concerns of advanced unmanned
vehicles, regional small research vessels, and other research
vessels that support and launch unmanned vehicles and sensors;
and
(3) supercomputing and big data management, including data
collected through model outputs, electronic monitoring, and
remote sensing.
(b) Coordination With Other Programs.--If appropriate, the
Cooperative Institutes shall work with the Interagency Ocean
Observation Committee, the regional associations of the Integrated
Ocean Observing System, and other ocean observing programs to
coordinate technology needs and the transition of new technologies from
research to operations.
SEC. 7. ELECTRONIC MONITORING INNOVATION PRIZE.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and under the authority provided by section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), the Administrator,
in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal agencies and
nongovernmental partners, as appropriate, shall establish an Electronic
Monitoring Innovation Prize, which may be awarded for the development
of advanced electronic fisheries monitoring equipment and data analysis
tools, including improved fish species recognition software.
SEC. 8. BLUE ECONOMY VALUATION.
(a) Measurement of Blue Economy Industries.--The Administrator, in
consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall
establish a program to improve the collection, aggregation, and
analysis of data to measure the value and impact of industries related
to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts on the economy
of the United States, including living resources, marine construction,
marine transportation, offshore energy development and siting including
for renewable energy, offshore mineral production, ship and boat
building, tourism, recreation, subsistence, commercial, recreational,
and charter fishing, seafood processing, and other fishery-related
businesses, aquaculture such as kelp and shellfish, and other
industries the Administrator considers appropriate (known as ``Blue
Economy'' industries).
(b) Collaboration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall--
(1) work with the Director of the Bureau of Economic
Analysis and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies to
develop a Coastal and Ocean Economy Satellite Account that
includes national, Tribal, and State-level statistics to
measure the contribution of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays,
estuaries, and coasts to the overall economy of the United
States; and
(2) collaborate with national and international
organizations and governments to promote consistency of
methods, measurements, and definitions to ensure comparability
of results between countries.
(c) Report.--Not less frequently than once every 2 years until the
date that is 20 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Administrator, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall publish a report that--
(1) defines the Blue Economy, in coordination with Indian
Tribes, academia, the private sector, nongovernmental
organizations, and other relevant experts;
(2) makes recommendations for updating North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) reporting codes to
reflect the Blue Economy; and
(3) provides a comprehensive estimate of the value and
impact of the Blue Economy with respect to each State and
territory of the United States, including--
(A) the value and impact of--
(i) economic activities that are dependent
upon the resources of the Great Lakes, oceans,
bays, estuaries, and coasts;
(ii) the population and demographic
characteristics of the population along the
coasts;
(iii) port and shoreline infrastructure;
(iv) the volume and value of cargo shipped
by sea or across the Great Lakes; and
(v) data collected from the Great Lakes,
oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, including
such data collected by businesses that purchase
and commodify the data, including weather
prediction and seasonal agricultural
forecasting; and
(B) to the extent possible, the qualified value and
impact of the natural capital of the Great Lakes,
oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts with respect to
tourism, recreation, natural resources, and cultural
heritage, including other indirect values.
SEC. 9. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-OCEANS.
(a) Agreement.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek to enter into an
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct the
comprehensive assessment under subsection (b).
(b) Comprehensive Assessment.--
(1) In general.--Under an agreement between the
Administrator and the National Academy of Sciences under this
section, the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a
comprehensive assessment to evaluate--
(A) whether there is a need for an Advanced
Research Projects Agency-Oceans (ARPA-O) that operates
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in coordination with, but not
duplicative of, existing Federal research programs
relating to oceanic, coastal, Great Lakes, estuarine,
and related systems, including programs of the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(B) if there is such a need, the feasibility of
establishing such an ARPA-O.
(2) Elements.--The comprehensive assessment conducted under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of how an ARPA-O may help
overcome the long-term and high-risk technological
barriers in the development of ocean technologies, with
the goal of enhancing the economic, ecological, and
national security of the United States through the
rapid development of technologies that result in--
(i) improved data collection, monitoring,
and prediction of the ocean environment,
including sea ice conditions;
(ii) overcoming barriers to the application
of new and improved technologies, such as high
costs and scale of operational missions;
(iii) improved technology for fishery stock
assessments and surveys; and
(iv) ensuring that the United States
maintains a technological lead in developing
and deploying advanced ocean technologies;
(B) an evaluation of the organizational structures
under which an ARPA-O could be organized, which takes
into account--
(i) best practices for new research
programs;
(ii) metrics and approaches for periodic
program evaluation;
(iii) capacity to fund and manage external
research awards; and
(iv) options for oversight of the activity
through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(C) an estimation of the scale of investment
necessary to pursue high priority ocean technology
projects; and
(D) in a case in which an ARPA-O is not recommended
as an independent office, recommendations to improve
the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
achieve the goals described in subparagraph (A).
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
comprehensive assessment conducted under subsection (b).
(2) Definition of appropriate committees of congress.--In
this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives;
(D) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives; and
(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 10. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are to be authorized to carry out this Act.
SEC. 11. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act.
Calendar No. 206
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 140
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans,
bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 17, 2021
Reported with an amendment