II 

Calendar No. 426 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 910 

[Report No. 116–216] 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 27, 2019 

Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. SULLIVAN, and 

Ms. MURKOWSKI) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

Reported by Mr. WICKER, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College 

Program Act, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant 

5 College Program Amendments Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL2 LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 

3 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 

4 this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 

5 of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi6 sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 

7 section or other provision of the National Sea Grant Col8 lege Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 

9 SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE 

10 POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 

12 1127(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘shall’’. 

14 (b) PLACEMENTS IN CONGRESS.—Such section is 

15 further amended— 

16 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec17 retary’’ and inserting the following: 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

19 (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para20 graph (1), in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘A fel21 lowship’’ and inserting the following: 

22 ‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each year in which 

24 the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 

25 under this subsection, when considering the 


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1 placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 

2 prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 

3 ‘‘(i) Positions in offices of, or with 

4 Members on, committees of Congress that 

5 have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic 

6 and Atmospheric Administration. 

7 ‘‘(ii) Positions in offices of Members 

8 of Congress that have a demonstrated in9 terest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes re10 sources. 

11 ‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—In plac12 ing fellows in offices described in subparagraph 

13 (A), the Secretary shall ensure that placements 

14 are equitably distributed among the political 

15 parties. 

16 ‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 

17 (c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Section 208(c) (33 

18 U.S.C. 1127(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

19 ‘‘(c) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts available for fel21 lowships under this section, including amounts ac22 cepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated 

23 under section 212 to implement this section, shall be 

24 used only for award of such fellowships and adminis25 trative costs of implementing this section. 


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1 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

2 Not more than 3 percent of amounts made available 

3 for fellowships under subsection (b) may be used by 

4 a sea grant college or sea grant institute for fringe 

5 or other necessary costs of administering the fellow6 ships. 

7 ‘‘(3) ALLOWABLE USES.—Amounts provided to 

8 a fellow under subsection (b) may be used by the fel9 low for the costs of academic travel, including travel 

10 costs relating to returning to the home institution of 

11 higher education of the fellow to complete degree re12 quirements.’’. 

13 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

14 this section shall apply with respect to the first calendar 

15 year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 (e) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL

17 HIRING OF FORMER FELLOWS.—It is the sense of Con18 gress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the 

19 fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant 

20 College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the ex21 ceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees, the Sec22 retary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary 

23 of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should encour24 age participating Federal agencies to consider opportuni25 ties for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their felVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:43 Feb 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S910.RS S910

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1 lowships for workforce positions appropriate for their edu2 cation and experience. 

3 SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 

4 COMMERCE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NA5 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 

7 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 

8 ‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not9 withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 

10 States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 

11 services;’’. 

12 (b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting 

13 through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

14 Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona15 tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 

16 Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 

17 1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities 

18 the possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Ma19 rine Policy Fellowship’s placement of additional fellows in 

20 relevant legislative offices under section 208(b) of that Act 

21 (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance with the recommenda22 tions under subsection (c) of this section. 

23 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

24 of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 

25 Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the NaVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:43 Feb 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S910.RS S910

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1 tional Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Asso2 ciation, shall— 

3 (1) develop recommendations for the optimal 

4 use of any donations accepted under section 

5 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Pro6 gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and 

7 (2) submit to Congress a report on the rec8 ommendations developed under paragraph (1). 

9 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

10 construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 

11 available for marine policy fellowships under section 

12 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 

13 (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts— 

14 (1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that 

15 Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or 

16 (2) appropriated pursuant to the authorization 

17 of appropriations under section 212 of that Act (33 

18 U.S.C. 1131). 

19 SEC. 5. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NA20 TIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD RE21 PORT. 

22 Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend23 ed— 

24 (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘BI25 ENNIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; 


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1 (2) by striking the first sentence and inserting 

2 the following: ‘‘The Board shall report to Congress 

3 at least once every four years on the state of the na4 tional sea grant college program and shall notify 

5 Congress of any significant changes to the state of 

6 the program not later than two years after the sub7 mission of such a report.’’; and 

8 (3) in the second sentence, by adding before the 

9 end period the following: ‘‘and provide a summary of 

10 research conducted under the program’’. 

11 SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA 

12 GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

13 Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in 

14 the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘for re15 search, education, extension, training, technology transfer, 

16 and public service’’ after ‘‘financial assistance’’. 

17 SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF NEW NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL18 LEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES. 

19 Section 207(b) (33 U.S.C. 1126(b)) is amended— 

20 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘EX21 ISTING DESIGNEES’’ and inserting ‘‘ADDITIONAL

22 DESIGNATIONS’’; and 

23 (2) by striking ‘‘Any institution’’ and inserting 

24 the following: 


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1 ‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF DESIGNA2 TIONS.— 

3 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 30 days 

4 before designating an institution, or an associa5 tion or alliance of two or more such institu6 tions, as a sea grant college or sea grant insti7 tute under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

8 notify Congress in writing of the proposed des9 ignation. The notification shall include an eval10 uation and justification for the designation. 

11 ‘‘(B) EFFECT OF JOINT RESOLUTION OF

12 DISAPPROVAL.—The Secretary may not des13 ignate an institution, or an association or alli14 ance of two or more such institutions, as a sea 

15 grant college or sea grant institute under sub16 section (a) if, before the end of the 30-day pe17 riod described in subparagraph (A), a joint res18 olution disapproving the designation is enacted. 

19 ‘‘(2) EXISTING DESIGNEES.—Any institution’’. 

20 SEC. 8. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS 

21 MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2019 and any 

23 fiscal year thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may 

24 appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 

25 of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than 


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1 sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate 

2 described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the 

3 Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of 

4 Personnel Management qualification standards. 

5 (b) DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FEL6 LOWSHIP.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to a 

7 former recipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy 

8 Fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea 

9 Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) who— 

10 (1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree 

11 in a field related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 

12 resources or policy from an accredited institution of 

13 higher education; and 

14 (2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 

15 fellowship within the executive or legislative branch 

16 of the United States Government. 

17 (c) LIMITATION.—The direct hire authority under 

18 this section shall be exercised with respect to a specific 

19 qualified candidate not later than 2 years after the date 

20 that the candidate completed the fellowship described in 

21 subsection (b). 

22 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA23 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 

25 1131(a)) is amended— 


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1 (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol2 lows: 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

4 appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 

5 title— 

6 ‘‘(A) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

7 ‘‘(B) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

8 ‘‘(C) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

9 ‘‘(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

10 ‘‘(E) $111,710,813 for fiscal year 2024; 

11 and 

12 ‘‘(F) $117,296,353 for fiscal year 2025.’’; 

13 and 

14 (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol15 lows: 

16 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS

17 2020 THROUGH 2025.—In addition to the amounts 

18 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), 

19 there are authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 

20 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025 for com21 petitive grants for the following: 

22 ‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 

23 prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative 

24 species. 


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1 ‘‘(B) University research on oyster dis2 eases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related 

3 human health risks. 

4 ‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 

5 prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 

6 blooms. 

7 ‘‘(D) University research, education, train8 ing, and extension services and activities fo9 cused on coastal resilience and United States 

10 working waterfronts and other regional or na11 tional priority issues identified in the strategic 

12 plan under section 204(c)(1). 

13 ‘‘(E) University research and extension on 

14 sustainable aquaculture techniques and tech15 nologies. 

16 ‘‘(F) Fishery research and extension activi17 ties conducted by sea grant colleges or sea 

18 grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, 

19 existing core program funding.’’. 

20 (b) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS

21 FOR ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) 

22 (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 

24 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There may not be 

25 used for administration of programs under this 


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1 title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of 

2 the lesser of— 

3 ‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap4 propriated under this title for the fiscal 

5 year; or 

6 ‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 

7 this title for the fiscal year. 

8 ‘‘(B) CRITICAL STAFFING REQUIRE9 MENTS.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall 

11 use the authority under subchapter VI of 

12 chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 

13 and under section 210 of this title, to meet 

14 any critical staffing requirement while car15 rying out the activities authorized under 

16 this title. 

17 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FROM CAP.—For 

18 purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs 

19 incurred as a result of an exercise of au20 thority as described in clause (i) shall not 

21 be considered an amount used for adminis22 tration of programs under this title in a 

23 fiscal year.’’. 

24 (c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(d)(3) (33 

2 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) is amended— 

3 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

4 (A), by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant col5 leges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant 

7 institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 

8 projects’’; and 

9 (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter 

10 preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘funding 

11 among sea grant colleges and sea grant insti12 tutes’’ and inserting ‘‘funding among sea grant 

13 colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant pro14 grams, and sea grant projects’’. 

15 (2) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING

16 DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 

17 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 

18 (A) by striking subsection (c); and 

19 (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and 

20 (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 

21 SEC. 10. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON CO22 ORDINATION OF OCEANS AND COASTAL RE23 SEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

24 Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

25 Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 


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1 SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

2 The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

3 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— 

4 (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 

5 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the 

6 right; and 

7 (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 

8 1128(b)(2)), as amended by section 5, in the third 

9 sentence, by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and in10 serting the following: 

11 ‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART12 MENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 

13 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

14 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant Col15 lege Program Amendments Act of 2019’’. 

16 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL17 LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 

18 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 

19 this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of 

20 an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 

21 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 

22 other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program 

23 Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 


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1 SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE 

2 POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) 

4 is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

5 (b) PLACEMENTS IN CONGRESS.—Such section is fur6 ther amended— 

7 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec8 retary’’ and inserting the following: 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

10 (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para11 graph (1), in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘A fel12 lowship’’ and inserting the following: 

13 ‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each year in which 

15 the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 

16 under this subsection, when considering the 

17 placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 

18 prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 

19 ‘‘(i) Positions in offices of, or with 

20 Members on, committees of Congress that 

21 have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic 

22 and Atmospheric Administration. 

23 ‘‘(ii) Positions in offices of Members of 

24 Congress that have a demonstrated interest 

25 in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. 


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1 ‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—In plac2 ing fellows in offices described in subparagraph 

3 (A), the Secretary shall ensure that placements 

4 are equitably distributed among the political 

5 parties. 

6 ‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 

7 (c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Section 208(c) (33 

8 U.S.C. 1127(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(c) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 

10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts available for fel11 lowships under this section, including amounts ac12 cepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated 

13 under section 212 to implement this section, shall be 

14 used only for award of such fellowships and adminis15 trative costs of implementing this section. 

16 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

17 Not more than 3 percent of amounts made available 

18 for fellowships under subsection (b) may be used by 

19 a sea grant college or sea grant institute for fringe or 

20 other necessary costs of administering the fellowships. 

21 ‘‘(3) ALLOWABLE USES.—Amounts provided to a 

22 fellow under subsection (b) may be used by the fellow 

23 for the costs of academic travel, including travel costs 

24 relating to returning to the home institution of higher 


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1 education of the fellow to complete degree require2 ments.’’. 

3 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 

4 section shall apply with respect to the first calendar year 

5 beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

6 (e) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL HIR7 ING OF FORMER FELLOWS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

8 in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship 

9 under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Pro10 gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the exceptional quali11 fications of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, 

12 acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 

13 and Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal 

14 agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees 

15 at the conclusion of their fellowships for workforce positions 

16 appropriate for their education and experience. 

17 SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 

18 COMMERCE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NA19 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 

21 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 

22 ‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not23 withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 

24 States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 

25 services;’’. 


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1 (b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting 

2 through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

3 Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona4 tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 

5 Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)), 

6 and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of 

7 expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow8 ship’s placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative 

9 offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), 

10 in accordance with the recommendations under subsection 

11 (c) of this section. 

12 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 

14 Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the Na15 tional Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Asso16 ciation, shall— 

17 (1) develop recommendations for the optimal use 

18 of any donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) 

19 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

20 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and 

21 (2) submit to Congress a report on the rec22 ommendations developed under paragraph (1). 

23 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

24 construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 

25 available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) 


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1 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 

2 1127(b)), including amounts— 

3 (1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that 

4 Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or 

5 (2) appropriated pursuant to the authorization 

6 of appropriations under section 212 of that Act (33 

7 U.S.C. 1131). 

8 SEC. 5. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NA9 TIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD RE10 PORT. 

11 Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend12 ed— 

13 (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘BI14 ENNIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; 

15 (2) by striking the first sentence and inserting 

16 the following: ‘‘The Board shall report to Congress at 

17 least once every four years on the state of the national 

18 sea grant college program and shall notify Congress 

19 of any significant changes to the state of the program 

20 not later than two years after the submission of such 

21 a report.’’; and 

22 (3) in the second sentence, by adding before the 

23 end period the following: ‘‘and provide a summary of 

24 research conducted under the program’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA 

2 GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

3 Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in the 

4 matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘for research, 

5 education, extension, training, technology transfer, and 

6 public service’’ after ‘‘financial assistance’’. 

7 SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF NEW NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL8 LEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES. 

9 Section 207(b) (33 U.S.C. 1126(b)) is amended— 

10 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘EX11 ISTING DESIGNEES’’ and inserting ‘‘ADDITIONAL

12 DESIGNATIONS’’; and 

13 (2) by striking ‘‘Any institution’’ and inserting 

14 the following: 

15 ‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF DESIGNA16 TIONS.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 30 days 

18 before designating an institution, or an associa19 tion or alliance of two or more such institutions, 

20 as a sea grant college or sea grant institute 

21 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify 

22 Congress in writing of the proposed designation. 

23 The notification shall include an evaluation and 

24 justification for the designation. 

25 ‘‘(B) EFFECT OF JOINT RESOLUTION OF

26 DISAPPROVAL.—The Secretary may not designate 


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1 an institution, or an association or alliance of 

2 two or more such institutions, as a sea grant col3 lege or sea grant institute under subsection (a) 

4 if, before the end of the 30-day period described 

5 in subparagraph (A), a joint resolution dis6 approving the designation is enacted. 

7 ‘‘(2) EXISTING DESIGNEES.—Any institution’’. 

8 SEC. 8. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS 

9 MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2019 and any 

11 fiscal year thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may 

12 appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 

13 of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than sec14 tions 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate de15 scribed in subsection (b) directly to a position with the Fed16 eral agency for which the candidate meets Office of Per17 sonnel Management qualification standards. 

18 (b) DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOW19 SHIP.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former re20 cipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow21 ship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College 

22 Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) who— 

23 (1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in 

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1 sources or policy from an accredited institution of 

2 higher education; and 

3 (2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 

4 fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of 

5 the United States Government. 

6 (c) LIMITATION.—The direct hire authority under this 

7 section shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified 

8 candidate not later than 2 years after the date that the can9 didate completed the fellowship described in subsection (b). 

10 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA11 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) 

13 is amended— 

14 (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol15 lows: 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

17 appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title— 

18 ‘‘(A) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

19 ‘‘(B) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

20 ‘‘(C) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

21 ‘‘(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 

22 ‘‘(E) $105,700,000 for fiscal year 2024.’’; 

23 and 

24 (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol25 lows: 


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1 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS

2 2020 THROUGH 2024.—In addition to the amounts au3 thorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), 

4 there are authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for 

5 each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for competitive 

6 grants for the following: 

7 ‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 

8 prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative spe9 cies. 

10 ‘‘(B) University research on oyster diseases, 

11 oyster restoration, and oyster-related human 

12 health risks. 

13 ‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 

14 prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 

15 blooms. 

16 ‘‘(D) University research, education, train17 ing, and extension services and activities focused 

18 on coastal resilience and United States working 

19 waterfronts and other regional or national pri20 ority issues identified in the strategic plan under 

21 section 204(c)(1). 

22 ‘‘(E) University research and extension on 

23 sustainable aquaculture techniques and tech24 nologies. 


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1 ‘‘(F) Fishery research and extension activi2 ties conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant 

3 institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing 

4 core program funding.’’. 

5 (b) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS FOR

6 ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) (33 

7 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read as follows: 

8 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There may not be used 

10 for administration of programs under this title 

11 in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the less12 er of— 

13 ‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap14 propriated under this title for the fiscal 

15 year; or 

16 ‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 

17 this title for the fiscal year. 

18 ‘‘(B) CRITICAL STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.— 

19 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall 

20 use the authority under subchapter VI of 

21 chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 

22 and under section 210 of this title, to meet 

23 any critical staffing requirement while car24 rying out the activities authorized under 

25 this title. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FROM CAP.—For pur2 poses of subparagraph (A), any costs in3 curred as a result of an exercise of authority 

4 as described in clause (i) shall not be con5 sidered an amount used for administration 

6 of programs under this title in a fiscal 

7 year.’’. 

8 (c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 

10 1123(d)(3)) is amended— 

11 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

12 (A), by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant col13 leges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant in15 stitutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 

16 projects’’; and 

17 (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter pre18 ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘funding among 

19 sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes’’ and 

20 inserting ‘‘funding among sea grant colleges, sea 

21 grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea 

22 grant projects’’. 

23 (2) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING

24 DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 

25 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 


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1 (A) by striking subsection (c); and 

2 (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) 

3 as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 

4 SEC. 10. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON CO5 ORDINATION OF OCEANS AND COASTAL RE6 SEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

7 Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

8 Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 

9 SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

10 The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

11 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— 

12 (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 

13 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the 

14 right; and 

15 (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), 

16 as amended by section 5, in the third sentence, by 

17 striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and inserting the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART20 MENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 


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Calendar No. 426 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 910 

[Report No. 116–216] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant 

College Program Act, and for other purposes. 

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

Reported with an amendment 


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