[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1894 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 217
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1894
To designate Regional Ocean Partnerships of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 27, 2021
Mr. Wicker (for himself and Ms. Hassan) 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 designate Regional Ocean Partnerships of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, 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 ``Regional Ocean Partnership
Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS; PURPOSES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The ocean and coastal waters of the United
States are foundational to the economy, security, global
competitiveness, and well-being of the United States and
continuously serve the people of the United States and other
countries as an important source of food, energy, economic
productivity, recreation, beauty, and enjoyment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Over many years, the resource productivity and
water quality of the ocean and coastal areas of the United
States have been diminished by pollution, increasing population
demands, economic development, and natural and man-made hazard
events, both acute and chronic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Ocean and coastal areas of the United States
are managed by State and Federal resource agencies and
regulated on an interstate and regional scale by various
overlapping Federal authorities, thereby creating a significant
need for interstate coordination to enhance regional
priorities, including the ecological and economic health of
those areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Tribal governments have unique expertise and
knowledge important for the stewardship of the ocean and
coastal waters of the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the United States should seek to support
interstate coordination of shared regional priorities relating
to the management, conservation, resilience, and restoration of
ocean and coastal areas to maximize efficiencies through
collaborative regional efforts by Regional Ocean Partnerships,
in consultation with Federal and State agencies, Tribal
governments, and local authorities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) such efforts would enhance existing and
effective State coastal management efforts based on shared
regional priorities; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Regional Ocean Partnerships should consult
with Tribal governments and may include representation from
Tribal governments.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) To complement and expand cooperative voluntary
efforts intended to manage and restore ocean and coastal areas
spanning across multiple State boundaries.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) To expand Federal support for monitoring, data
management, and restoration activities in ocean and coastal
areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) To commit the United States to a comprehensive
cooperative program to achieve improved water quality in, and
improvements in the productivity of living resources of, all
coastal ecosystems.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) To authorize Regional Ocean Partnerships as
intergovernmental coordinators for shared interstate and
regional priorities relating to the collaborative management of
the large marine ecosystems, thereby reducing duplication of
efforts and maximizing opportunities to leverage support in the
ocean and coastal regions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) To empower States to take a lead role in
managing oceans and coasts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) To incorporate Tribal interests in the
management of oceans and coasts and provide funding to support
Tribal ocean and coastal resiliency activities in coordination
with Regional Ocean Partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) To enable Regional Ocean Partnerships, or
designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships, to
receive Federal funding to conduct the scientific research,
conservation and restoration activities, and priority
coordination on shared regional priorities necessary to achieve
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (6).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator''
means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal state'' has
the meaning given that term in section 304 of the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) 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).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Regional Ocean Partnerships.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--A coastal state may participate
in a Regional Ocean Partnership with one or more other coastal
states that share a common ocean or coastal area with the
coastal state, without regard to whether the coastal states are
contiguous.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Application.--The Governor of a coastal state
or the Governors of a group of coastal states may apply to the
Secretary of Commerce, on behalf of a partnership, for the
partnership to receive designation as a Regional Ocean
Partnership if the partnership--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) meets the requirements under paragraph
(3); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) submits an application for such
designation in such manner, in such form, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
require.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Requirements.--A partnership is eligible for
designation as a Regional Ocean Partnership by the Secretary
under paragraph (2) if the partnership--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) is established to coordinate the
interstate management of ocean and coastal
resources;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) focuses on the environmental issues
affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the members
participating in the partnership;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) complements existing State coastal and
ocean management efforts on an interstate scale,
focusing on shared regional priorities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) does not have a regulatory function;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) is not duplicative of an existing
Regional Ocean Partnership designated under paragraph
(4), as determined by the Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Designation of certain entities as regional
ocean partnerships.--Notwithstanding paragraph (2) or (3), the
following entities are designated as Regional Ocean
Partnerships:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, comprised
of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) The Northeast Regional Ocean Council,
comprised of the States of Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode
Island.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on
the Ocean, comprised of the States of New York, New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) The West Coast Ocean Alliance,
comprised of the States of California, Oregon, and
Washington and the coastal Indian Tribes
therein.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Governing Bodies of Regional Ocean Partnerships.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--A Regional Ocean Partnership
designated under subsection (b) shall be governed by a
governing body.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Membership.--A governing body described in
paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) shall be comprised, at a minimum, of
voting members from each coastal state participating in
the Regional Ocean Partnership, designated by the
Governor of the coastal state; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) may include such other members as the
partnership considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Functions.--A Regional Ocean Partnership designated
under subsection (b) may perform the following functions:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Promote coordination of the actions of the
agencies of coastal states participating in the partnership
with the actions of the appropriate officials of Federal
agencies and State and Tribal governments in developing
strategies--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to conserve living resources, increase
valuable habitats, enhance coastal resilience and ocean
management, promote ecological and economic health, and
address such other issues related to the shared ocean
or coastal area as are determined to be a shared,
regional priority by those states; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) to manage regional data portals and
develop associated data products for purposes that
support the priorities of the partnership.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) In cooperation with appropriate Federal and
State agencies, Tribal governments, and local authorities,
develop and implement specific action plans to carry out
coordination goals.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Coordinate and implement priority plans and
projects, and facilitate science, research, modeling,
monitoring, data collection, and other activities that support
the goals of the partnership through the provision of grants
and contracts under subsection (f).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Engage, coordinate, and collaborate with
relevant governmental entities and stakeholders to address
ocean and coastal related matters that require interagency or
intergovernmental solutions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Implement outreach programs for public
information, education, and participation to foster stewardship
of the resources of the ocean and coastal areas, as
relevant.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Develop and make available, through
publications, technical assistance, and other appropriate
means, information pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues
being addressed through the coordinated activities of the
partnership.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Serve as a liaison with, and provide
information to, international counterparts, as appropriate on
priority issues for the partnership.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Consultation and Engagement.--A Regional Ocean
Partnership designated under subsection (b) shall maintain mechanisms
for consultation and engagement with the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Tribal governments.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Nongovernmental entities, including academic
organizations, nonprofit organizations, and
businesses.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Grants and Contracts.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--A Regional Ocean Partnership
designated under subsection (b) may, in coordination with
existing Federal and State management programs, from amounts
made available to the partnership by the Administrator or the
head of another Federal agency provide grants and enter into
contracts for the purposes described in paragraph
(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this
paragraph include any of the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Monitoring the water quality and
living resources of multi-State ocean and coastal
ecosystems and coastal communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Researching and addressing the effects
of natural and human-induced environmental changes on--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) ocean and coastal ecosystems;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) coastal
communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Developing and executing cooperative
strategies that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) address regional data issues
identified by the partnership; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) will result in more effective
management of common ocean and coastal
areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Report Required.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in
coordination with the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated
under subsection (b), shall submit to Congress a report on the
partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Report requirements.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) An assessment of the overall status of
the work of the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated
under subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of
the partnerships in supporting regional priorities
relating to the management of common ocean and coastal
areas.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) An identification of any duplication
of efforts between the partnerships and other
entities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) An assessment of the benefits and
costs of the partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) An assessment of the effectiveness of
the strategies that the partnerships are supporting or
implementing and the extent to which the priority needs
of the regions covered by the partnerships are being
met through such strategies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) An assessment of how the efforts of
the partnerships support or enhance Federal and State
efforts consistent with the purposes of this
Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) Such recommendations as the
Administrator may have for improving--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) efforts of the partnerships to
support the purposes of this Act; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) collective strategies that
support the purposes of this Act in
coordination and consultation with all relevant
Federal, State, and Tribal entities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (H) The distribution of funds from each
partnership for each fiscal year covered by the
report.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (h) Availability of Federal Funds.--In addition to amounts
made available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b) by the Administrator under this section, the head of any
other Federal agency may provide grants to, enter into contracts with,
or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Authorities.--Nothing in this section establishes any
new legal or regulatory authority of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration or of the Regional Ocean Partnerships
designated under subsection (b), other than--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the authority of the Administrator to provide
amounts to the partnerships; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the authority of the partnerships to provide
grants and enter into contracts under subsection (f).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (j) Funding.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Regional ocean partnerships.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration the following amounts to be made
available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b) or designated fiscal management entities of such
partnerships to carry out activities of the partnerships under
this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) $10,100,000 for fiscal year
2022.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) $10,202,000 for fiscal year
2023.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) $10,306,040 for fiscal year
2024.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) $10,412,160 for fiscal year
2025.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) $10,520,404 for fiscal year
2026.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Distribution of amounts.--Amounts made
available under paragraph (1) shall be divided evenly among the
Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection
(b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Tribal consultation.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through
2026 for Indian Tribes to be distributed for purposes of
participation in or engagement with the Regional Ocean
Partnerships.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Derivation.--Funds to carry out the activities
under this Act shall be derived from amounts authorized to be
appropriated pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) that are
appropriated after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Ocean Partnership Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS; PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The ocean and coastal waters and the Great Lakes of the
United States are foundational to the economy, security, global
competitiveness, and well-being of the United States and
continuously serve the people of the United States and other
countries as an important source of food, energy, economic
productivity, recreation, beauty, and enjoyment.
(2) Over many years, the resource productivity and water
quality of the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas of the
United States have been diminished by pollution, increasing
population demands, economic development, and natural and man-
made hazard events, both acute and chronic.
(3) The ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas of the United
States are managed by State and Federal resource agencies and
Indian Tribes and regulated on an interstate and regional scale
by various overlapping Federal authorities, thereby creating a
significant need for interstate coordination to enhance
regional priorities, including the ecological and economic
health of those areas.
(4) Indian Tribes have unique expertise and knowledge
important for the stewardship of the ocean and coastal waters
and the Great Lakes of the United States.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should seek to support interstate
coordination of shared regional priorities relating to the
management, conservation, resilience, and restoration of ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes areas to maximize efficiencies through
collaborative regional efforts by Regional Ocean Partnerships,
in coordination with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes,
and local authorities;
(2) such efforts would enhance existing and effective
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management efforts of States
and Indian Tribes based on shared regional priorities; and
(3) Regional Ocean Partnerships should coordinate with
Indian Tribes.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To complement and expand cooperative voluntary efforts
intended to manage, conserve, and restore ocean, coastal, and
Great Lakes areas spanning across multiple State and Indian
Tribe jurisdictions.
(2) To expand Federal support for monitoring, data
management, restoration, research, and conservation activities
in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas.
(3) To commit the United States to a comprehensive
cooperative program to achieve improved water quality in, and
improvements in the productivity of living resources of,
oceans, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.
(4) To authorize Regional Ocean Partnerships as
intergovernmental coordinators for shared regional priorities
among States and Indian Tribes relating to the collaborative
management of the large marine ecosystems, thereby reducing
duplication of efforts and maximizing opportunities to leverage
support in the ocean and coastal regions.
(5) To empower States to take a lead role in managing
oceans, coastal, and Great Lakes areas.
(6) To incorporate rights of Indian Tribes in the
management of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes resources and
provide resources to support Indian Tribe participation in and
engagement with Regional Ocean Partnerships.
(7) To enable Regional Ocean Partnerships, or designated
fiscal management entities of such partnerships, to receive
Federal funding to conduct the scientific research,
conservation and restoration activities, and priority
coordination on shared regional priorities necessary to achieve
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (6).
SEC. 3. REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(2) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal state'' has the
meaning given that term in section 304 of the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453).
(3) 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).
(4) Regional ocean partnership.--The term ``Regional Ocean
Partnership'' means a Regional Ocean Partnership, a Regional
Coastal Partnership, or a Regional Great Lakes Partnership.
(b) Regional Ocean Partnerships.--
(1) In general.--A coastal state may participate in a
Regional Ocean Partnership with one or more--
(A) coastal states that share a common ocean or
coastal area with the coastal state, without regard to
whether the coastal states are contiguous; and
(B) States--
(i) with which the coastal state shares a
common watershed; or
(ii) that would contribute to the
priorities of the partnership.
(2) Great lakes.--A partnership consisting of one or more
coastal states bordering one or more of the Great Lakes may be
known as a ``Regional Coastal Partnership'' or a ``Regional
Great Lakes Partnership''.
(3) Application.--The Governor of a coastal state or the
Governors of a group of coastal states may apply to the
Secretary of Commerce, on behalf of a partnership, for the
partnership to receive designation as a Regional Ocean
Partnership if the partnership--
(A) meets the requirements under paragraph (4); and
(B) submits an application for such designation in
such manner, in such form, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(4) Requirements.--A partnership is eligible for
designation as a Regional Ocean Partnership by the Secretary
under paragraph (3) if the partnership--
(A) is established to coordinate the management of
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources among State
governments and Indian Tribes;
(B) focuses on the environmental issues affecting
the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas of the
members participating in the partnership;
(C) complements existing coastal and ocean
management efforts of States and Indian Tribes on an
interstate scale, focusing on shared regional
priorities;
(D) does not have a regulatory function; and
(E) is not duplicative of an existing Regional
Ocean Partnership designated under paragraph (5), as
determined by the Secretary.
(5) Designation of certain entities as regional ocean
partnerships.--Notwithstanding paragraph (3) or (4), the
following entities are designated as Regional Ocean
Partnerships:
(A) The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, comprised of the
States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Texas.
(B) The Northeast Regional Ocean Council, comprised
of the States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
(C) The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean,
comprised of the States of New York, New Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
(D) The West Coast Ocean Alliance, comprised of the
States of California, Oregon, and Washington and the
coastal Indian Tribes therein.
(c) Governing Bodies of Regional Ocean Partnerships.--
(1) In general.--A Regional Ocean Partnership designated
under subsection (b) shall have a governing body.
(2) Membership.--A governing body described in paragraph
(1)--
(A) shall be comprised, at a minimum, of voting
members from each coastal state participating in the
Regional Ocean Partnership, designated by the Governor
of the coastal state; and
(B) may include such other members as the
partnership considers appropriate.
(d) Functions.--A Regional Ocean Partnership designated under
subsection (b) may perform the following functions:
(1) Promote coordination of the actions of the agencies of
coastal states participating in the partnership with the
actions of the appropriate officials of Federal agencies, State
governments, and Indian Tribes in developing strategies--
(A) to conserve living resources, increase valuable
habitats, enhance coastal resilience and ocean
management, promote ecological and economic health, and
address such other issues related to the shared ocean,
coastal, or Great Lakes areas as are determined to be a
shared, regional priority by those states; and
(B) to manage regional data portals and develop
associated data products for purposes that support the
priorities of the partnership.
(2) In cooperation with appropriate Federal and State
agencies, Indian Tribes, and local authorities, develop and
implement specific action plans to carry out coordination
goals.
(3) Coordinate and implement priority plans and projects,
and facilitate science, research, modeling, monitoring, data
collection, and other activities that support the goals of the
partnership through the provision of grants and contracts under
subsection (f).
(4) Engage, coordinate, and collaborate with relevant
governmental entities and stakeholders to address ocean and
coastal related matters that require interagency or
intergovernmental solutions.
(5) Implement outreach programs for public information,
education, and participation to foster stewardship of the
resources of the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas, as
relevant.
(6) Develop and make available, through publications,
technical assistance, and other appropriate means, information
pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues being addressed
through the coordinated activities of the partnership.
(7) Serve as a liaison with, and provide information to,
international counterparts, as appropriate on priority issues
for the partnership.
(e) Coordination, Consultation, and Engagement.--
(1) In general.--A Regional Ocean Partnership designated
under subsection (b) shall maintain mechanisms for
coordination, consultation, and engagement with the following:
(A) The Federal Government.
(B) Indian Tribes.
(C) Nongovernmental entities, including academic
organizations, nonprofit organizations, and private
sector entities.
(D) Other federally mandated regional entities,
including the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the
regional associations of the National Integrated
Coastal and Ocean Observation System, and relevant
Marine Fisheries Commissions.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1)(B) may
be construed as affecting any requirement to consult with
Indian Tribes under Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301 note;
relating to consultation and coordination with Indian tribal
governments) or any other applicable law or policy.
(f) Grants and Contracts.--
(1) In general.--A Regional Ocean Partnership designated
under subsection (b) may, in coordination with existing Federal
and State management programs, from amounts made available to
the partnership by the Administrator or the head of another
Federal agency, provide grants and enter into contracts for the
purposes described in paragraph (2).
(2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this paragraph
include any of the following:
(A) Monitoring the water quality and living
resources of multi-State ocean and coastal ecosystems
and coastal communities.
(B) Researching and addressing the effects of
natural and human-induced environmental changes on--
(i) ocean and coastal ecosystems; and
(ii) coastal communities.
(C) Developing and executing cooperative strategies
that--
(i) address regional data issues identified
by the partnership; and
(ii) will result in more effective
management of common ocean and coastal areas.
(g) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination
with the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b), shall submit to Congress a report on the
partnerships.
(2) Report requirements.--The report required by paragraph
(1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the overall status of the work
of the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b).
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
partnerships in supporting regional priorities relating
to the management of common ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes areas.
(C) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
strategies that the partnerships are supporting or
implementing and the extent to which the priority needs
of the regions covered by the partnerships are being
met through such strategies.
(D) An assessment of how the efforts of the
partnerships support or enhance Federal and State
efforts consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(E) Such recommendations as the Administrator may
have for improving--
(i) efforts of the partnerships to support
the purposes of this Act; and
(ii) collective strategies that support the
purposes of this Act in coordination with all
relevant Federal and State entities and Indian
Tribes.
(F) The distribution of funds from each partnership
for each fiscal year covered by the report.
(h) Availability of Federal Funds.--In addition to amounts made
available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b) by the Administrator under this section, the head of any
other Federal agency may provide grants to, enter into contracts with,
or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships.
(i) Authorities.--Nothing in this section establishes any new legal
or regulatory authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration or of the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under
subsection (b), other than--
(1) the authority of the Administrator to provide amounts
to the partnerships; and
(2) the authority of the partnerships to provide grants and
enter into contracts under subsection (f).
(j) Funding.--
(1) Regional ocean partnerships.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration the following amounts to be made available to
the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection (b)
or designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships
to carry out activities of the partnerships under this Act:
(A) $10,100,000 for fiscal year 2022.
(B) $10,202,000 for fiscal year 2023.
(C) $10,306,040 for fiscal year 2024.
(D) $10,412,160 for fiscal year 2025.
(E) $10,520,404 for fiscal year 2026.
(2) Distribution of amounts.--Amounts made available under
paragraph (1) shall be divided evenly among the Regional Ocean
Partnerships designated under subsection (b).
(3) Indian tribe participation .--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through
2026 for Indian Tribes to be distributed for purposes of
participation in or engagement with the Regional Ocean
Partnerships.
(4) Derivation.--Funds to carry out the activities under
this Act shall be derived from amounts authorized to be
appropriated pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) that are
appropriated after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Calendar No. 217
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1894
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To designate Regional Ocean Partnerships of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.
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December 17, 2021
Reported with an amendment