In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 16, 2020. 

Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 910) entitled 

‘‘An Act to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant 

College Program Act, and for other purposes.’’, do pass with 

the following 

AMENDMENT: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant Col3 lege Program Amendments Act of 2020’’. 

4 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL5 LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 

6 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 

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

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

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

10 other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program 

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

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

13 POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

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

15 is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
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1 (b) PLACEMENTS IN CONGRESS.—Such section is fur2 ther amended— 

3 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec4 retary’’ and inserting the following: 

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

6 (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para7 graph (1), in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘A fel8 lowship’’ and inserting the following: 

9 ‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 

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

11 the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 

12 under this subsection, when considering the 

13 placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 

14 prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 

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

16 Members on, committees of Congress that 

17 have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic 

18 and Atmospheric Administration. 

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

20 Congress that have a demonstrated interest 

21 in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. 

22 ‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—In plac23 ing fellows in offices described in subparagraph 

24 (A), the Secretary shall ensure that placements 
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1 are equitably distributed among the political 

2 parties. 

3 ‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 

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

5 section shall apply with respect to the first calendar year 

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

7 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL HIR8 ING OF FORMER FELLOWS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

9 in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship 

10 under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Pro11 gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the exceptional quali12 fications of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, 

13 acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 

14 and Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal 

15 agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees 

16 at the conclusion of their fellowships for workforce positions 

17 appropriate for their education and experience. 

18 SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 

19 COMMERCE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NA20 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

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

22 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not24 withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
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1 States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 

2 services;’’. 

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

4 through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

5 Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona6 tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 

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

8 and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of 

9 expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow10 ship’s placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative 

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

12 in accordance with the recommendations under subsection 

13 (c) of this section. 

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

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

16 Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the Na17 tional Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Asso18 ciation, shall— 

19 (1) develop recommendations for the optimal use 

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

21 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

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

23 (2) submit to Congress a report on the rec24 ommendations developed under paragraph (1). 
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1 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

2 construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 

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

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

5 1127(b)), including amounts— 

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

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

8 (2) appropriated pursuant to the authorization 

9 of appropriations under section 212 of that Act (33 

10 U.S.C. 1131). 

11 SEC. 5. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NA12 TIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD RE13 PORT. 

14 Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend15 ed— 

16 (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘BI17 ENNIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; 

18 (2) by striking the first sentence and inserting 

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

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

21 sea grant college program and shall notify Congress 

22 of any significant changes to the state of the program 

23 not later than two years after the submission of such 

24 a report.’’; and 
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1 (3) in the second sentence, by adding before the 

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

3 research conducted under the program’’. 

4 SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA 

5 GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

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

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

8 education, extension, training, technology transfer, and 

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

10 SEC. 7. DESIGNATION OF NEW NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL11 LEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTITUTES. 

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

13 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘EX14 ISTING DESIGNEES’’ and inserting ‘‘ADDITIONAL

15 DESIGNATIONS’’; and 

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

17 the following: 

18 ‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF DESIGNA19 TIONS.— 

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

21 before designating an institution, or an associa22 tion or alliance of two or more such institutions, 

23 as a sea grant college or sea grant institute 

24 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify 

25 Congress in writing of the proposed designation. 
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1 The notification shall include an evaluation and 

2 justification for the designation. 

3 ‘‘(B) EFFECT OF JOINT RESOLUTION OF

4 DISAPPROVAL.—The Secretary may not designate 

5 an institution, or an association or alliance of 

6 two or more such institutions, as a sea grant col7 lege or sea grant institute under subsection (a) 

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

9 in subparagraph (A), a joint resolution dis10 approving the designation is enacted. 

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

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

13 MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 

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

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

16 appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 

17 of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than sec18 tions 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate de19 scribed in subsection (b) directly to a position with the Fed20 eral agency for which the candidate meets Office of Per21 sonnel Management qualification standards. 

22 (b) DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOW23 SHIP.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former re24 cipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow-
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1 ship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College 

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

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

4 a field related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes re5 sources or policy from an accredited institution of 

6 higher education; and 

7 (2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 

8 fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of 

9 the United States Government. 

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

11 section shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified 

12 candidate not later than 2 years after the date that the can13 didate completed the fellowship described in subsection (b). 

14 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA15 TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 

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

17 is amended— 

18 (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol19 lows: 

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

21 appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title— 

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

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

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

25 ‘‘(D) $101,325,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
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1 ‘‘(E) $105,700,000 for fiscal year 2025.’’; 

2 and 

3 (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol4 lows: 

5 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS

6 2021 THROUGH 2025.—In addition to the amounts au7 thorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), 

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

9 each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 for competitive 

10 grants for the following: 

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

12 prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative spe13 cies. 

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

15 oyster restoration, and oyster-related human 

16 health risks. 

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

18 prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 

19 blooms. 

20 ‘‘(D) University research, education, train21 ing, and extension services and activities focused 

22 on coastal resilience and United States working 

23 waterfronts and other regional or national pri24 ority issues identified in the strategic plan under 

25 section 204(c)(1). 
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1 ‘‘(E) University research and extension on 

2 sustainable aquaculture techniques and tech3 nologies. 

4 ‘‘(F) Fishery research and extension activi5 ties conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant 

6 institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing 

7 core program funding.’’. 

8 (b) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS FOR

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

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

11 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 

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

13 for administration of programs under this title 

14 in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the less15 er of— 

16 ‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap17 propriated under this title for the fiscal 

18 year; or 

19 ‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 

20 this title for the fiscal year. 

21 ‘‘(B) CRITICAL STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.— 

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

23 use the authority under subchapter VI of 

24 chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 

25 and under section 210 of this title, to meet 
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1 any critical staffing requirement while car2 rying out the activities authorized under 

3 this title. 

4 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FROM CAP.—For pur5 poses of subparagraph (A), any costs in6 curred as a result of an exercise of authority 

7 as described in clause (i) shall not be con8 sidered an amount used for administration 

9 of programs under this title in a fiscal 

10 year.’’. 

11 (c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 

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

13 1123(d)(3)) is amended— 

14 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

15 (A), by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant col16 leges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant in18 stitutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 

19 projects’’; and 

20 (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter pre21 ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘funding among 

22 sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes’’ and 

23 inserting ‘‘funding among sea grant colleges, sea 

24 grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea 

25 grant projects’’. 
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1 (2) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING

2 DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 

3 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 

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

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

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

7 SEC. 10. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON CO8 ORDINATION OF OCEANS AND COASTAL RE9 SEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

10 Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

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

12 SEC. 11. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

13 The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

14 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— 

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

16 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the 

17 right; and 

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

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

20 striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and inserting the fol21 lowing: 
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1 ‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART2 MENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 
116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 910 

AMENDMENT