National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program 
Amendments Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM ACT.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever 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. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP.

    (a) In General.--Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by 
striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
    (b) Placements in Congress.--Such section is further amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
            (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1), in 
        the second sentence, by striking ``A fellowship'' and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(2) Placement priorities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In each year in which the 
                Secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this 
                subsection, when considering the placement of fellows, 
                the Secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in 
                the following:
                            ``(i) Positions in offices of, or with 
                        members on, committees of Congress that have 
                        jurisdiction over the National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration.
                            ``(ii) Positions in offices of members of 
                        Congress that have a demonstrated interest in 
                        ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.
                    ``(B) Equitable distribution.--In placing fellows 
                in offices described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall ensure, to the maximum degree practicable, that 
                placements are equitably distributed among the 
                political parties.
            ``(3) Duration.--A fellowship''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) shall 
apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date 
of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Sense of Congress Concerning Federal Hiring of Former 
Fellows.--It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of the 
competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) of the 
National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the 
exceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal agencies to consider 
opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their 
fellowship for workforce positions appropriate for their education and 
experience.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE TO ACCEPT 
              DONATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)) is 
amended to read as follows:
                    ``(E) accept donations of money and, 
                notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States 
                Code, of voluntary and uncompensated services;''.
    (b) Priorities.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall establish 
priorities for the use of donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) 
of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities the 
possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy 
Fellowship's placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative 
offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in 
accordance with the recommendations under subsection (c) of this 
section.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Sea Grant College 
Program, in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and 
the Sea Grant Association, shall--
            (1) develop recommendations for the optimal use of any 
        donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 
        Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the recommendations 
        developed under paragraph (1).
    (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy 
fellowships under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College 
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts--
            (1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33 
        U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or
            (2) appropriated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 
        1131).

SEC. 5. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON COORDINATION OF OCEANS AND 
              COASTAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

    Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments 
of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857-20) is repealed.

SEC. 6. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY 
              BOARD REPORT.

    Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``Biennial'' and inserting 
        ``Periodic''; and
            (2) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Board shall 
        report to the Congress every two years'' and inserting ``Not 
        less frequently than once every 3 years, the Board shall submit 
        to Congress a report''.

SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

    Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in the matter before 
paragraph (1), by inserting ``for research, education, extension, 
training, technology transfer, and public service'' after ``financial 
assistance''.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``;''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;
                    ``(H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    ``(I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(M) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.'';
            (2) in the heading for paragraph (2), by inserting ``for 
        fiscal years 2009 through 2014'' after ``Priority activities''; 
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 
        2020.--In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph 
        (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 for competitive grants for 
        the following:
                    ``(A) University research on the biology, 
                prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species.
                    ``(B) University research on oyster diseases, 
                oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health 
                risks.
                    ``(C) University research on the biology, 
                prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms.
                    ``(D) University research, education, training, and 
                extension services and activities focused on coastal 
                resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other 
                regional or national priority issues identified in the 
                strategic plan under section 204(c)(1).
                    ``(E) University research on sustainable 
                aquaculture techniques and technologies.
                    ``(F) Fishery extension activities conducted by sea 
                grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and 
                not supplant, existing core program funding.''.
    (b) Modification of Limitations on Amounts for Administration.--
Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read 
as follows:
            ``(1) Administration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There may not be used for 
                administration of programs under this title in a fiscal 
                year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of--
                            ``(i) the amount authorized to be 
                        appropriated under this title for the fiscal 
                        year; or
                            ``(ii) the amount appropriated under this 
                        title for the fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Critical staffing requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Director shall use 
                        the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 
                        of title 5, United States Code, to meet any 
                        critical staffing requirement while carrying 
                        out the activities authorized in this title.
                            ``(ii) Exception from cap.--For purposes of 
                        subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a 
                        result of an exercise of authority as described 
                        in clause (i) shall not be considered an amount 
                        used for administration of programs under this 
                        title in a fiscal year.''.
    (c) Allocation of Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``With respect to sea grant colleges and sea 
                grant institutes'' and inserting ``With respect to sea 
                grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant 
                programs, and sea grant projects''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter before 
                clause (i), by striking ``funding among sea grant 
                colleges and sea grant institutes'' and inserting 
                ``funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant 
                institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 
                projects''.
            (2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of 
        excess amounts.--Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (c); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
                subsections (c) and (d), respectively.

SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) 
is amended--
            (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by 
        moving clause (vi) two ems to the right; and
            (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended 
        by section 6, in the third sentence, by striking ``The 
        Secretary shall'' and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Availability of resources of department of 
        commerce.--The Secretary shall''.

Summary: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015 This bill amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to reauthorize through FY2021 the National Sea Grant College Program. The bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to award Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships. Currently, NOAA may give fellowships. Those fellowships support graduate students in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources in positions with the executive and legislative branches. NOAA must give priority placement of those fellows placed in the legislative branch in: (1) offices or committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over NOAA. And (2) offices of Members of Congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. NOAA must attempt to ensure that placements are equitably distributed among political parties. NOAA must establish priorities for the use of donations given for the National Sea Grant College Program. The bill authorizes through FY2020 grants for university research on: (1) the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species, (2) oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks, (3) the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms. And (4) sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies. The bill also authorizes through FY2020 grants for: (1) fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance existing core program funding, and (2) priority issues identified in the National Sea Grant College Program's strategic plan.