National Biological Resources Research and Development Act

Summary: National Biological Resources Research and Development Act - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution a National Center for Biological Resources (Research and Development) to facilitate the collection, synthesis, and dissemination of information relating to the sustainable use, research, development, and conservation of biological resources. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Biological Resources 
Research and Development Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) existing information regarding the abundance and 
        distribution of biological resources is inadequate and often 
        inaccessible;
            (2) the loss of biological resources may have serious 
        consequences for human welfare as raw material for research and 
        agricultural, medicinal, and industrial development are 
        irretrievably lost;
            (3) existing laws and programs relevant to the loss of 
        indigenous biological resources in the United States are 
        largely uncoordinated and inadequate, and sometimes result in 
        duplication of efforts, conflicts in goals, and gaps in 
        geographic and taxonomic coverage; and,
            (4) increased research in biological resources is needed to 
        provide adequate knowledge to maintain and to ensure the 
        sustainable use of natural resources.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``biological resources'' means the full range 
        of variety and variability within and among living organisms 
        (including both terrestrial and aquatic) and the ecological 
        complexes in which they occur, and encompasses ecosystem or 
        community diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity;
            (2) the term ``genetic diversity'' means the differences in 
        genetic composition within and among populations of a given 
        species;
            (3) the term ``species diversity'' means the richness and 
        variety of indigenous species in a particular location of the 
        world;
            (4) the term ``community diversity'' means the variety 
        between different integrated assemblages of species inhabiting 
        different locales; and
            (5) the term ``United States'' means all of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth 
        of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and any other 
        commonwealth, territory, possession, or area of legal or 
        economic jurisdiction of the United States.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to undertake a nationally coordinated effort to survey, 
        collect, inventory, synthesize, and disseminate adequate data 
        and information for--
                    (A) the understanding of the full range of 
                biological resources;
                    (B) assessing the rate and scale of change in 
                biological resources;
                    (C) developing tests and making available cost 
                effective methodologies for scientific and economic 
                inventories of biological resources; and
                    (D) evaluating the potential economic implications 
                of the sustainable use of biological resources.
            (2) to support basic and applied research necessary for a 
        full understanding of the nation's biological resources; and
            (3) to promote better understanding of the importance of 
        biological resources and foster actions that prevent biological 
        impoverishment and sustainably preserve biological resources.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES (RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT).

    (a) Establishment and Purpose.--There is established within the 
Smithsonian Institution, in cooperation with the Environmental 
Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation, a National 
Center for Biological Resources (Research and Development) (the 
Center), whose purpose shall be to set research priorities, to provide 
leadership and coordination for the understanding and promotion of 
knowledge of the biota within the United States with respect to its 
composition, systematics, distribution, status, biological properties, 
ecological relationships (including environmental significance), and 
economic value, and the effect of human activities on the biota, and to 
make this knowledge accessible to the people of the United States and 
others working on research and development in biological resources 
throughout the world. The Center shall be administered by a Director.
    (b) Functions.--The functions of the Center shall be--
            (1) to summarize and enhance the knowledge of the 
        distribution, status, and characteristics of the biota in a 
        manner that can be used in the sustainable development of 
        natural products;
            (2) to prepare, with the assistance of agencies and other 
        sources, lists and, where appropriate, maps of--
                    (A) indigenous biotic communities, species, and 
                populations that appear to be in significant decline or 
                in imminent danger of loss of viability;
                    (B) areas of outstanding indigenous biotic 
                importance; and,
                    (C) factors, including the legal status and 
                applicable laws, affecting the potential development of 
                such communities, species, and populations;
            (3) to publish information, such as floral and faunal 
        treatises, resource inventories, vegetation maps, atlases, and 
        guides for practical use of biological information, and 
        especially publications that synthesize information relevant to 
        national goals of understanding biological resource use and its 
        sustainable development;
            (4) to identify taxonomic groups, ecological communities, 
        and geographical areas in need of study, and to develop a 
        strategic plan for, initiate, and provide financial support 
        toward an ongoing survey of the biota;
            (5) to provide for the conducting of research, through 
        grants, contracts, or otherwise, by Federal, State, and private 
        agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals;
            (6) to make recommendations to Federal agencies and others 
        on the technical management of data collection, storage, and 
        retrieval;
            (7) to provide training and technical assistance to Federal 
        agencies and others regarding collection and interpretation of 
        biological data;
            (8) to raise additional funds through grants and contracts 
        as necessary to support the activities of the Center; and
            (9) to research and explore the development of natural 
        products.
    (c) Structure and Membership.--
            (1) Board of trustees.--There is established in the 
        Smithsonian Institution a Board of Trustees to be known as the 
        Trustees of the National Center for Biological Resources 
        (Research and Development), which shall provide advice and 
        assistance to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
        Institution on all matters relating to the policies, 
        administration, and operation of the Center.
            (2) Membership.--(A) The Board of Trustees shall consist of 
        19 members, including--
                    (i) one representative of the Smithsonian 
                Institution;
                    (ii) one representative of the Fish and Wildlife 
                Service;
                    (iii) one representative of the National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration;
                    (iv) one representative of the National Park 
                Service;
                    (v) one representative of the Department of Energy;
                    (vi) one representative of the National Science 
                Foundation;
                    (vii) one representative of the Agricultural 
                Research Service;
                    (viii) one representative of the Environmental 
                Protection Agency;
                    (ix) one representative of the Forest Service;
                    (x) one representative of the Bureau of Land 
                Management;
                    (xi) one representative of the Department of 
                Defense;
                    (xii) one representative of State biological 
                surveys;
                    (xiii) one representative of private organizations 
                that maintain large data bases oriented toward 
                biological resource inventories;
                    (xiv) two scientists from nonprofit research 
                institutions or universities; and
                    (xv) two representatives from institutions with 
                collections of biological specimens; and
                    (xvi) two representatives from companies that 
                develop products from biotic resources.
            (B) Members listed under clauses (xii) through (xv) of 
        subparagraph (A) shall be appointed by the President from a 
        list of nominees recommended by the National Academy of 
        Sciences.
            (3) Terms.--Members of the Board of Trustees shall serve 
        for terms of five years, and may serve more than one term.
            (4) Compensation of members.--
                    (A) Nongovernment members.--Each member of the 
                advisory board that is not otherwise in the service of 
                the Federal Government shall, to the extent provided 
                for in advance in appropriations Acts, be paid actual 
                travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence 
                expenses in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, 
                United States Code, when such member is away from the 
                member's usual place of residence.
                    (B) Government members.--Each member of the 
                advisory board that is otherwise in the service of the 
                Federal Government shall serve without compensation in 
                addition to that received for such other service, but 
                while engaged in the work of the Board of Trustees, 
                such member shall, to the extent provided for in 
                advance in appropriations Acts, be paid actual travel 
                expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses 
                in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
                5, United States Code, when away from the member's 
                usual place of residence.
            (5) Chairman.--The members of the Board of Trustees shall 
        select one member to serve as Chairman.
            (6) Funding arrangements.--The Director of the Center shall 
        make appropriate arrangements for necessary administrative and 
        clerical support of the Board of Trustees, in consultation with 
        the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
1994, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
1996, to remain available until expended as specified in appropriations 
Acts.