S. 910 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty 

An Act 

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

other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

Program Amendments Act of 2020’’. 

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 that placements are equitably distributed among 

the political parties. 
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‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 

shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after 

the date of the 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 fellowships 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 pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1131). 

SEC. 5. 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 paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘BIENNIAL’’ and 

inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; 

(2) by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘The Board shall report to Congress at least once every 
S. 910—3 

four years on the state of the national sea grant college program 

and shall notify Congress of any significant changes to the 

state of the program not later than two years after the submission of such a report.’’; and 

(3) in the second sentence, by adding before the end period 

the following: ‘‘and provide a summary of research conducted 

under the program’’. 

SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

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

preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘for research, education, 

extension, training, technology transfer, and public service’’ after 

‘‘financial assistance’’. 

SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF NEW NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND 

SEA GRANT INSTITUTES. 

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

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘EXISTING DES- IGNEES’’ and inserting ‘‘ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘Any institution’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF DESIGNATIONS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 30 days before designating an institution, or an association or alliance of two 

or more such institutions, as a sea grant college or sea 

grant institute under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 

notify Congress in writing of the proposed designation. 

The notification shall include an evaluation and justification for the designation. 

‘‘(B) EFFECT OF JOINT RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL.— The Secretary may not designate an institution, or an 

association or alliance of two or more such institutions, 

as a sea grant college or sea grant institute under subsection (a) if, before the end of the 30-day period described 

in subparagraph (A), a joint resolution disapproving the 

designation is enacted. 

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

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

POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2021 and any fiscal year 

thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may appoint, without 

regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 

5, United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that 

title, a qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to 

a position with the Federal agency for which the candidate meets 

Office of Personnel Management qualification standards. 

(b) DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former recipient of a Dean 

John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) 

of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) 

who— 

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

related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources or policy 

from an accredited institution of higher education; and 

(2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship 

within the executive or legislative branch of the United States 

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

shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate 

not later than 2 years after the date that the candidate completed 

the fellowship described in subsection (b). 

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL SEA 

GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

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

amended— 

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 

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

to the Secretary to carry out this title— 

‘‘(A) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

‘‘(B) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

‘‘(C) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

‘‘(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 

‘‘(E) $105,700,000 for fiscal year 2025.’’; and 

(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2021 THROUGH

2025.—In addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated 

under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated 

$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 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 United States working waterfronts and other 

regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1). 

‘‘(E) University research and extension on sustainable 

aquaculture techniques and technologies. 

‘‘(F) Fishery research and 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, and under section 210 of this 

title, to meet any critical staffing requirement while 

carrying out the activities authorized under this title. 
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‘‘(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 preceding 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 preceding 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. 10. 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. 11. 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) 2 ems to the right; and 

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

by section 5, in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘The Secretary 

shall’’ and inserting the following: 
S. 910—6 

‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.