To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

Summary: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to substitute "extension services" for "advisory services" in the definition of "project."

(Sec. 5) Adds regional and national projects as elements of the national sea grant college program. Removes a reference to the sea grant review panel from provisions relating to the administration of the program. Refers to regional or national strategic investments being developed in consultation with the board and with the approval of sea grant colleges and the sea grant institutes. (Current law refers to the approval of the sea grant review panel as well as the colleges and institutes.) Revises the program director's duties.

(Sec. 6) Excludes amounts appropriated under provisions relating to graduate ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources fellowships (the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program) from provisions restricting contributions by the Secretary of Commerce to two-thirds of the total cost of sea grant programs and projects.

(Sec. 7) Requires that sea grant colleges provide extension services (currently, advisory services).

(Sec. 8) Requires that amounts available for fellowships (under provisions relating to graduate and post-graduate fellowships related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources), including funds from other federal departments and agencies and appropriated funds, be used only for those fellowships and related administrative costs.

(Sec. 9) Redesignates the sea grant review panel as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and modifies it's duties.

(Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations through FY2014. Modifies requirements regulating the distribution of appropriated amounts exceeding certain amounts appropriated for FY2003.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program 
Amendments Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever 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. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is amended--
        (1) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1) and 
    inserting the following:
            ``(D) encourage the development of preparation, forecast, 
        analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery systems for 
        coastal hazards;
            ``(E) understand global environmental processes and their 
        impacts on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and'';
        (2) by striking ``program of research, education,'' in 
    paragraph (2) and inserting ``program of integrated research, 
    education, extension,''; and
        (3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
        ``(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
    through the national sea grant college program, offers the most 
    suitable locus and means for such commitment and engagement through 
    the promotion of activities that will result in greater such 
    understanding, assessment, development, management, utilization, 
    and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The 
    most cost-effective way to promote such activities is through 
    continued and increased Federal support of the establishment, 
    development, and operation of programs and projects by sea grant 
    colleges, sea grant institutes, and other institutions, including 
    strong collaborations between Administration scientists and 
    research and outreach personnel at academic institutions.''.
    (b) Purpose.--Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended by 
striking ``to promote research, education, training, and advisory 
service activities'' and inserting ``to promote integrated research, 
education, training, and extension services and activities''.
    (c) Terminology.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 (15 U.S.C. 
1121(a) and (b)) are amended by inserting ``management,'' after 
``development,'' each place it appears.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (4) by inserting ``management,'' after 
    ``development,'';
        (2) in paragraph (11) by striking ``advisory services'' and 
    inserting ``extension services''; and
        (3) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ``(33 
    U.S.C. 1126)''.
    (b) Repeal.--Section 307 of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide 
for the designation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine 
Sanctuary'' (Public Law 102-251; 106 Stat. 66) is repealed.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

    (a) Program Elements.--Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is 
amended--
        (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
        ``(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant 
    college program network, including international projects conducted 
    within such programs and regional and national projects conducted 
    among such programs;'';
        (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
        ``(2) administration of the national sea grant college program 
    and this title by the national sea grant office and the 
    Administration;''; and
        (3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
        ``(4) any regional or national strategic investments in fields 
    relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources developed in 
    consultation with the Board and with the approval of the sea grant 
    colleges and the sea grant institutes.''.
    (b) Technical Correction.--Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(2)) 
is amended by striking ``Within 6 months of the date of enactment of 
the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, 
the'' and inserting ``The''.
    (c) Functions of Director of National Sea Grant College Program.--
Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``long range'';
        (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
            (A) by striking ``(A)(i) evaluate'' and inserting ``(A) 
        evaluate and assess'';
            (B) by striking ``activities; and'' and inserting 
        ``activities;''; and
            (C) by striking clause (ii); and
        (3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
            (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses 
        (iii) through (v), respectively, and by inserting after clause 
        (i) the following:
                ``(ii) encourage collaborations among sea grant 
            colleges and sea grant institutes to address regional and 
            national priorities established under subsection (c)(1);'';
            (B) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated) by striking 
        ``encourage'' and inserting ``ensure'';
            (C) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by striking ``and'' 
        after the semicolon;
            (D) by inserting after clause (v) (as so redesignated) the 
        following:
            ``(vi) encourage cooperation with Minority Serving 
        Institutions to enhance collaborative research opportunities 
        and increase the number of such students graduating in NOAA 
        science areas; and''.

SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

    Section 205 (33 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``204(c)(4)(F).'' in subsection (a) and 
    inserting ``204(c)(4)(F) or that are appropriated under section 
    208(b).''; and
        (2) by striking the matter following paragraph (3) in 
    subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``The total amount that may be provided for grants under this 
subsection during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 5 
percent of the total funds appropriated for such year under section 
212.''.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT 
              INSTITUTES.

    Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs 
(2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ``advisory services'' and inserting 
``extension services''.

SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS.

    Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
    enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments 
    of 2002, and every 2 years thereafter,'' in subsection (a) and 
    inserting ``Every 2 years,''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Restriction on Use of Funds.--Amounts available for 
fellowships under this section, including amounts accepted under 
section 204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated under section 212 to implement 
this section, shall be used only for award of such fellowships and 
administrative costs of implementing this section.''

SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Redesignation of Sea Grant Review Panel as Board.--
        (1) Redesignation.--The sea grant review panel established by 
    section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
    U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the enactment of this 
    Act, is redesignated as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.
        (2) Membership not affected.--An individual serving as a member 
    of the sea grant review panel immediately before date of the 
    enactment of this Act may continue to serve as a member of the 
    National Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of such 
    member's term under section 209(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)).
        (3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
    document, paper, or other record of the United States to such sea 
    grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the National Sea 
    Grant Advisory Board.
        (4) Conforming amendments.--
            (A) In general.--Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is amended by 
        striking so much as precedes subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There shall be an independent committee to be 
known as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.''.
            (B) Definition.--Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9)) is 
        amended to read as follows:
        ``(9) The term `Board' means the National Sea Grant Advisory 
    Board established under section 209.'';
            (C) Other provisions.--The following provisions are each 
        amended by striking ``panel'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Board'':
                (i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123).
                (ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126).
                (iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128).
    (b) Duties.--Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Duties.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Board shall advise the Secretary and the 
    Director concerning--
            ``(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant college 
        program to address the Nation's highest priorities regarding 
        the understanding, assessment, development, management, 
        utilization, and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great 
        Lakes resources;
            ``(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant 
        institutes; and
            ``(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to the 
        Board for review and advice.
        ``(2) Biennial report.--The Board shall report to the Congress 
    every two years on the state of the national sea grant college 
    program. The Board shall indicate in each such report the progress 
    made toward meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan 
    in effect under section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available 
    to the Board such information, personnel, and administrative 
    services and assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out 
    its duties under this title.''.
    (c) Membership, Terms, and Powers.--Section 209(c)(1) (33 U.S.C. 
1128(c)(1)) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``coastal management,'' after ``resource 
    management,''; and
        (2) by inserting ``management,'' after ``development,''.
    (d) Extension of Term.--Section 209(c)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(3)) is 
amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: 
``The Director may extend the term of office of a voting member of the 
Board once by up to 1 year.''.
    (e) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 209(c) (33 U.S.C. 
1128(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are reasonably 
necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (b). Such 
subcommittees may include individuals who are not Board members.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
        (1) by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting the following: 
    ``
        ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
    the Secretary to carry out this title--
        ``(A) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
        ``(B) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2010;
        ``(C) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2011;
        ``(D) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2012;
        ``(E) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
        ``(F) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
        (2) in subsection (a)(2)--
            (A) by striking ``fiscal years 2003 through 2008--'' and 
        inserting ``fiscal years 2009 through 2014--'';
            (B) by striking ``biology and control of zebra mussels and 
        other important aquatic'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting 
        ``biology, prevention, and control of aquatic''; and
            (C) by striking ``blooms, including Pfiesteria piscicida; 
        and'' in subparagraph (C) and inserting ``blooms; and'';
        (3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``rating under section 
    204(d)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``performance assessments''; and
        (4) by striking subsection (c)(2) and inserting the following:
    ``(2) regional or national strategic investments authorized under 
section 204(b)(4);''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.