IC 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 914 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

AN ACT 

To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009, to clarify the authority of the 

Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration with respect to post-storm assessments, 

and to require the establishment of a National Water 

Center, and for other purposes. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

S 914 RFH

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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 

6 2020’’. 

7 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

8 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND 

OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009 

Sec. 101. Purposes. 

Sec. 102. Definitions. 

Sec. 103. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System. 

Sec. 104. Financing and agreements. 

Sec. 105. Reports to Congress. 

Sec. 106. Public-private use policy. 

Sec. 107. Repeal of independent cost estimate. 

Sec. 108. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 109. Reports and research plans. 

Sec. 110. Strategic research plan. 

Sec. 111. Stakeholder input on monitoring. 

Sec. 112. Research activities. 

TITLE II—NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM 

ASSESSMENTS 

Sec. 201. Named Storm Event Model and post-storm assessments. 

TITLE III—WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING 

Sec. 301. Water prediction and forecasting. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

S 914 RFH

1 TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF 

2 INTEGRATED COASTAL AND 

3 OCEAN OBSERVATION SYS4 TEM ACT OF 2009 

5 SEC. 101. PURPOSES. 

6 Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

7 Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is 

8 amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 12302. PURPOSES. 

10 ‘‘The purposes of this subtitle are— 

11 ‘‘(1) to establish and sustain a national inte12 grated System of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 

13 observing systems, comprised of Federal and non14 Federal components coordinated at the national level 

15 by the Council and at the regional level by a network 

16 of regional coastal observing systems, and that in17 cludes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean 

18 observation and modeling capabilities, technologies, 

19 data management systems, communication systems, 

20 and product development systems, and is designed to 

21 address regional and national needs for ocean and 

22 coastal information, to gather specific data on key 

23 ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes variables, and to en24 sure timely and sustained dissemination and avail25 ability of these data— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(A) to the public; 

2 ‘‘(B) to support national defense, search 

3 and rescue operations, marine commerce, navi4 gation safety, weather, climate, and marine 

5 forecasting, energy siting and production, eco6 nomic development, ecosystem-based marine, 

7 coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, 

8 public safety, and public outreach and edu9 cation; 

10 ‘‘(C) to promote greater public awareness 

11 and stewardship of the Nation’s ocean, coastal, 

12 and Great Lakes resources and the general 

13 public welfare; 

14 ‘‘(D) to provide easy access to ocean, 

15 coastal, and Great Lakes data and promote 

16 data sharing between Federal and non-Federal 

17 sources and promote public data sharing; 

18 ‘‘(E) to enable advances in scientific un19 derstanding to support the sustainable use, con20 servation, management, and understanding of 

21 healthy ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes re22 sources to ensure the Nation can respond to op23 portunities to enhance food, economic, and na24 tional security; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(F) to monitor and model changes in the 

2 oceans and Great Lakes, including with respect 

3 to chemistry, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, 

4 water levels, and other phenomena; 

5 ‘‘(2) to improve the Nation’s capability to meas6 ure, track, observe, understand, and predict events 

7 related directly and indirectly to weather and cli8 mate, natural climate variability, and interactions 

9 between the oceanic and atmospheric environments, 

10 including the Great Lakes; 

11 ‘‘(3) to sustain, upgrade, and modernize the 

12 Nation’s ocean and Great Lakes observing infra13 structure to detect changes and ensure delivery of 

14 reliable and timely information; and 

15 ‘‘(4) to authorize activities— 

16 ‘‘(A) to promote basic and applied research 

17 to develop, test, and deploy innovations and im18 provements in coastal and ocean observation 

19 technologies, including advanced observing tech20 nologies such as unmanned maritime systems 

21 needed to address critical data gaps, modeling 

22 systems, other scientific and technological capa23 bilities to improve the understanding of weather 

24 and climate, ocean-atmosphere dynamics, global 

25 climate change, and the physical, chemical, and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

S 914 RFH

1 biological dynamics of the ocean, coastal, and 

2 Great Lakes environments; and 

3 ‘‘(B) to conserve healthy and restore de4 graded coastal ecosystems.’’. 

5 SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 

6 Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

7 Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is 

8 amended— 

9 (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 

10 7902’’ and inserting ‘‘section 8932’’; 

11 (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘integrated 

12 into the System and are managed through States, 

13 regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental 

14 organizations, or the private sector’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘managed through States, regional organizations, 

16 universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the 

17 private sector and integrated into the System by a 

18 regional coastal observing system, the National Oce19 anic and Atmospheric Administration, or the agen20 cies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observa21 tion Committee’’; 

22 (3) by amending paragraph (6) to read as fol23 lows: 

24 ‘‘(6) REGIONAL COASTAL OBSERVING SYS25 TEM.—The term ‘regional coastal observing system’ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

S 914 RFH

1 means an organizational body that is certified or es2 tablished by contract or memorandum by the lead 

3 Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) 

4 and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal, and pri5 vate interests at a regional level with the responsi6 bility of engaging the private and public sectors in 

7 designing, operating, and improving regional coastal 

8 observing systems in order to ensure the provision of 

9 data and information that meet the needs of user 

10 groups from the respective regions.’’; and 

11 (4) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘National 

12 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’’ and in13 serting ‘‘Administrator’’. 

14 SEC. 103. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVA15 TION SYSTEM. 

16 (a) SYSTEM ELEMENTS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 12304(b) of the In18 tegrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 

19 of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended by striking 

20 paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to fulfill the pur22 poses of this subtitle, the System shall be national 

23 in scope and consist of— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
8 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(A) Federal assets to fulfill national and 

2 international observation missions and prior3 ities; 

4 ‘‘(B) non-Federal assets, including a net5 work of regional coastal observing systems iden6 tified under subsection (c)(4), to fulfill regional 

7 and national observation missions and prior8 ities; 

9 ‘‘(C) observing, modeling, data manage10 ment, and communication systems for the time11 ly integration and dissemination of data and in12 formation products from the System, including 

13 reviews of data collection procedures across re14 gions and programs to make recommendations 

15 for data collection standards across the System 

16 to meet national ocean, coastal, and Great 

17 Lakes observation, applied research, and weath18 er forecasting needs; 

19 ‘‘(D) a product development system to 

20 transform observations into products in a for21 mat that may be readily used and understood; 

22 and 

23 ‘‘(E) a research and development program 

24 conducted under the guidance of the Council, 

25 consisting of— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
9 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(i) basic and applied research and 

2 technology development— 

3 ‘‘(I) to improve understanding of 

4 coastal and ocean systems and their 

5 relationships to human activities; and 

6 ‘‘(II) to ensure improvement of 

7 operational assets and products, in8 cluding related infrastructure, observ9 ing technologies such as unmanned 

10 maritime systems, and information 

11 and data processing and management 

12 technologies; 

13 ‘‘(ii) an advanced observing tech14 nology development program to fill gaps in 

15 technology; 

16 ‘‘(iii) large scale computing resources 

17 and research to advance modeling of ocean, 

18 coastal, and Great Lakes processes; 

19 ‘‘(iv) models to improve regional 

20 weather forecasting capabilities and re21 gional weather forecasting products; and 

22 ‘‘(v) reviews of data collection proce23 dures across regions and programs to 

24 make recommendations for data collection 

25 standards across the System to meet naVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Sep 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S914.RFH S914

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
10 

S 914 RFH

1 tional ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ob2 servation, applied research, and weather 

3 forecasting needs.’’. 

4 (2) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—Section 

5 12304(b)(3) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)(3)) is 

6 amended by inserting ‘‘for research and for use in 

7 the development of products to address societal 

8 needs’’ before the period at the end. 

9 (b) POLICY OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATION, AND RE10 GIONAL COORDINATION.—Section 12304(c) of the Inte11 grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 

12 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)) is amended by striking para13 graphs (2), (3), and (4), and inserting the following: 

14 ‘‘(2) INTERAGENCY OCEAN OBSERVATION COM15 MITTEE.— 

16 ‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Council shall 

17 establish or designate a committee, which shall 

18 be known as the ‘Interagency Ocean Observa19 tion Committee’. 

20 ‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The Interagency Ocean 

21 Observation Committee shall— 

22 ‘‘(i) prepare annual and long-term 

23 plans for consideration and approval by the 

24 Council for the integrated design, oper25 ation, maintenance, enhancement, and exVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Sep 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S914.RFH S914

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
11 

S 914 RFH

1 pansion of the System to meet the objec2 tives of this subtitle and the System Plan; 

3 ‘‘(ii) develop and transmit to Con4 gress, along with the budget submitted by 

5 the President to Congress pursuant to sec6 tion 1105(a) of title 31, United States 

7 Code, an annual coordinated, comprehen8 sive budget— 

9 ‘‘(I) to operate all elements of 

10 the System identified in subsection 

11 (b); and 

12 ‘‘(II) to ensure continuity of data 

13 streams from Federal and non-Fed14 eral assets; 

15 ‘‘(iii) establish requirements for obser16 vation data variables to be gathered by 

17 both Federal and non-Federal assets and 

18 identify, in consultation with regional 

19 coastal observing systems, priorities for 

20 System observations; 

21 ‘‘(iv) establish and define protocols 

22 and standards for System data processing, 

23 management, collection, configuration 

24 standards, formats, and communication for 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
12 

S 914 RFH

1 new and existing assets throughout the 

2 System network; 

3 ‘‘(v) develop contract requirements for 

4 each regional coastal observing system— 

5 ‘‘(I) to establish eligibility for in6 tegration into the System; 

7 ‘‘(II) to ensure compliance with 

8 all applicable standards and protocols 

9 established by the Council; and 

10 ‘‘(III) to ensure that regional ob11 servations are integrated into the Sys12 tem on a sustained basis; 

13 ‘‘(vi) identify gaps in observation cov14 erage or needs for capital improvements of 

15 both Federal assets and non-Federal as16 sets; 

17 ‘‘(vii) subject to the availability of ap18 propriations, establish through 1 or more 

19 Federal agencies participating in the Inter20 agency Ocean Observation Committee, in 

21 consultation with the System advisory com22 mittee established under subsection (d), a 

23 competitive matching grant or other pro24 grams— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
13 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(I) to promote intramural and 

2 extramural research and development 

3 of new, innovative, and emerging ob4 servation technologies including test5 ing and field trials; and 

6 ‘‘(II) to facilitate the migration 

7 of new, innovative, and emerging sci8 entific and technological advances 

9 from research and development to 

10 operational deployment; 

11 ‘‘(viii) periodically— 

12 ‘‘(I) review the System Plan; and 

13 ‘‘(II) submit to the Council such 

14 recommendations as the Interagency 

15 Ocean Observation Committee may 

16 have for improvements to the System 

17 Plan; 

18 ‘‘(ix) ensure collaboration among Fed19 eral agencies participating in the Inter20 agency Ocean Observation Committee; and 

21 ‘‘(x) perform such additional duties as 

22 the Council may delegate. 

23 ‘‘(3) LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY.— 

24 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The National Oceanic 

25 and Atmospheric Administration shall function 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
14 

S 914 RFH

1 as the lead Federal agency for the implementa2 tion and administration of the System. 

3 ‘‘(B) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—In car4 rying out this paragraph, the Administrator 

5 shall consult with the Council, the Interagency 

6 Ocean Observation Committee, other Federal 

7 agencies that maintain portions of the System, 

8 and the regional coastal observing systems. 

9 ‘‘(C) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out 

10 this paragraph, the Administrator shall— 

11 ‘‘(i) establish and operate an Inte12 grated Ocean Observing System Program 

13 Office within the National Oceanic and At14 mospheric Administration that— 

15 ‘‘(I) utilizes, to the extent nec16 essary, personnel from Federal agen17 cies participating in the Interagency 

18 Ocean Observation Committee; and 

19 ‘‘(II) oversees daily operations 

20 and coordination of the System; 

21 ‘‘(ii) implement policies, protocols, 

22 and standards approved by the Council 

23 and delegated by the Interagency Ocean 

24 Observation Committee; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
15 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(iii) promulgate program guide2 lines— 

3 ‘‘(I) to certify and integrate re4 gional associations into the System; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(II) to provide regional coastal 

7 and ocean observation data that meet 

8 the needs of user groups from the re9 spective regions; 

10 ‘‘(iv) have the authority to enter into 

11 and oversee contracts, leases, grants, or co12 operative agreements with non-Federal as13 sets, including regional coastal observing 

14 systems, to support the purposes of this 

15 subtitle on such terms as the Adminis16 trator deems appropriate; 

17 ‘‘(v) implement and maintain a merit18 based, competitive funding process to sup19 port non-Federal assets, including the de20 velopment and maintenance of a national 

21 network of regional coastal observing sys22 tems, and develop and implement a process 

23 for the periodic review and evaluation of 

24 the regional associations; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
16 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(vi) provide opportunities for com2 petitive contracts and grants for dem3 onstration projects to design, develop, inte4 grate, deploy, maintain, and support com5 ponents of the System; 

6 ‘‘(vii) establish and maintain efficient 

7 and effective administrative procedures for 

8 the timely allocation of funds among con9 tractors, grantees, and non-Federal assets, 

10 including regional coastal observing sys11 tems; 

12 ‘‘(viii) develop and implement a proc13 ess for the periodic review and evaluation 

14 of the regional coastal observing systems; 

15 ‘‘(ix) formulate an annual process by 

16 which gaps in observation coverage or 

17 needs for capital improvements of Federal 

18 assets and non-Federal assets of the Sys19 tem are— 

20 ‘‘(I) identified by the regional as21 sociations described in the System 

22 Plan, the Administrator, or other 

23 members of the System; and 

24 ‘‘(II) submitted to the Inter25 agency Ocean Observation Committee; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
17 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(x) develop and be responsible for a 

2 data management and communication sys3 tem, in accordance with standards and 

4 protocols established by the Interagency 

5 Ocean Observation Committee, by which 

6 all data collected by the System regarding 

7 ocean and coastal waters of the United 

8 States including the Great Lakes, are proc9 essed, stored, integrated, and made avail10 able to all end-user communities; 

11 ‘‘(xi) not less frequently than once 

12 each year, submit to the Interagency 

13 Ocean Observation Committee a report on 

14 the accomplishments, operational needs, 

15 and performance of the System to con16 tribute to the annual and long-term plans 

17 prepared pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(i); 

18 ‘‘(xii) develop and periodically update 

19 a plan to efficiently integrate into the Sys20 tem new, innovative, or emerging tech21 nologies that have been demonstrated to be 

22 useful to the System and which will fulfill 

23 the purposes of this subtitle and the Sys24 tem Plan; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
18 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(xiii) work with users and regional 

2 associations to develop products to enable 

3 real-time data sharing for decision makers, 

4 including with respect to weather fore5 casting and modeling, search and rescue 

6 operations, corrosive seawater forecasts, 

7 water quality monitoring and communica8 tion, and harmful algal bloom forecasting. 

9 ‘‘(4) REGIONAL COASTAL OBSERVING SYS10 TEMS.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A regional coastal ob12 serving system described in the System Plan as 

13 a regional association may not be certified or 

14 established under this subtitle unless it— 

15 ‘‘(i) has been or shall be certified or 

16 established by contract or agreement by 

17 the Administrator; 

18 ‘‘(ii) meets— 

19 ‘‘(I) the certification standards 

20 and compliance procedure guidelines 

21 issued by the Administrator; and 

22 ‘‘(II) the information needs of 

23 user groups in the region while adher24 ing to national standards; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
19 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(iii) demonstrates an organizational 

2 structure, that under funding limitations is 

3 capable of— 

4 ‘‘(I) gathering required System 

5 observation data; 

6 ‘‘(II) supporting and integrating 

7 all aspects of coastal and ocean ob8 serving and information programs 

9 within a region; and 

10 ‘‘(III) reflecting the needs of 

11 State, local, and tribal governments, 

12 commercial interests, and other users 

13 and beneficiaries of the System and 

14 other requirements specified under 

15 this subtitle and the System Plan; 

16 ‘‘(iv) identifies— 

17 ‘‘(I) gaps in observation coverage 

18 needs for capital improvements of 

19 Federal assets and non-Federal assets 

20 of the System; and 

21 ‘‘(II) other recommendations to 

22 assist in the development of the an23 nual and long-term plans prepared 

24 pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(i) and 

25 transmits such information to the 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
20 

S 914 RFH

1 Interagency Ocean Observation Com2 mittee through the Program Office es3 tablished under paragraph (3)(C)(i); 

4 ‘‘(v) develops and operates under a 

5 strategic plan that will ensure the efficient 

6 and effective administration of programs 

7 and assets to support daily data observa8 tions for integration into the System, pur9 suant to the standards approved by the 

10 Council; 

11 ‘‘(vi) works cooperatively with govern12 mental and nongovernmental entities at all 

13 levels to identify and provide information 

14 products of the System for multiple users 

15 within the service area of the regional 

16 coastal observing system; and 

17 ‘‘(vii) complies with all financial over18 sight requirements established by the Ad19 ministrator, including requirements relat20 ing to audits. 

21 ‘‘(B) PARTICIPATION.—For the purposes 

22 of this subtitle, employees of Federal agencies 

23 are permitted to be members of the governing 

24 body for the regional coastal observing systems 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
21 

S 914 RFH

1 and may participate in the functions of the re2 gional coastal observing systems.’’. 

3 (c) SYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 

4 12304(d) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observa5 tion System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(d)) is amend6 ed— 

7 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or the Inter8 agency Ocean Observing Committee.’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘or the Council under this subtitle’’; and 

10 (2) in paragraph (2)— 

11 (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, 

12 data sharing,’’ after ‘‘data management’’; 

13 (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

14 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

15 (C) by striking subparagraph (D) and in16 serting the following: 

17 ‘‘(D) additional priorities, including— 

18 ‘‘(i) a national surface current map19 ping network designed to improve fine 

20 scale sea surface mapping using high fre21 quency radar technology and other emerg22 ing technologies to address national prior23 ities, including Coast Guard search and 

24 rescue operation planning and harmful 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
22 

S 914 RFH

1 algal bloom forecasting and detection 

2 that— 

3 ‘‘(I) is comprised of existing high 

4 frequency radar and other sea surface 

5 current mapping infrastructure oper6 ated by national programs and re7 gional coastal observing systems; 

8 ‘‘(II) incorporates new high fre9 quency radar assets or other fine scale 

10 sea surface mapping technology as11 sets, and other assets needed to fill 

12 gaps in coverage on United States 

13 coastlines; and 

14 ‘‘(III) follows a deployment plan 

15 that prioritizes closing gaps in high 

16 frequency radar infrastructure in the 

17 United States, starting with areas 

18 demonstrating significant sea surface 

19 current data needs, especially in areas 

20 where additional data will improve 

21 Coast Guard search and rescue mod22 els; 

23 ‘‘(ii) fleet acquisition for unmanned 

24 maritime systems for deployment and data 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
23 

S 914 RFH

1 integration to fulfill the purposes of this 

2 subtitle; 

3 ‘‘(iii) an integrative survey program 

4 for application of unmanned maritime sys5 tems to the real-time or near real-time col6 lection and transmission of sea floor, water 

7 column, and sea surface data on biology, 

8 chemistry, geology, physics, and hydrog9 raphy; 

10 ‘‘(iv) remote sensing and data assimi11 lation to develop new analytical methodolo12 gies to assimilate data from the System 

13 into hydrodynamic models; 

14 ‘‘(v) integrated, multi-State moni15 toring to assess sources, movement, and 

16 fate of sediments in coastal regions; 

17 ‘‘(vi) a multi-region marine sound 

18 monitoring system to be— 

19 ‘‘(I) planned in consultation with 

20 the Interagency Ocean Observation 

21 Committee, the National Oceanic and 

22 Atmospheric Administration, the De23 partment of the Navy, and academic 

24 research institutions; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
24 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(II) developed, installed, and op2 erated in coordination with the Na3 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad4 ministration, the Department of the 

5 Navy, and academic research institu6 tions; and 

7 ‘‘(E) any other purpose identified by the 

8 Administrator or the Council.’’; 

9 (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting 

10 ‘‘The Administrator may stagger the terms of 

11 the System advisory committee members.’’ be12 fore ‘‘Members’’; and 

13 (E) in paragraph (4)— 

14 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

15 ‘‘and the Interagency Ocean Observing 

16 Committee’’; and 

17 (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 

18 ‘‘Observing’’ and inserting ‘‘Observation’’. 

19 (d) CIVIL LIABILITY.—Section 12304(e) of the Inte20 grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 

21 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(e)) is amended— 

22 (1) by striking ‘‘information coordination enti23 ty’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘coastal ob24 serving system’’; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
25 

S 914 RFH

1 (2) by striking ‘‘contract, lease, grant, or coop2 erative agreement under subsection (c)(3)(D)’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘a memorandum of agreement of certifi4 cation under subsection (c)(3)(C)(iii)’’. 

5 (e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Integrated 

6 Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 

7 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended by striking ‘‘regional in8 formation coordination entities’’ each place it appears and 

9 inserting ‘‘regional coastal observing systems’’. 

10 SEC. 104. FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS. 

11 Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and 

12 Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

13 3604(a)) is amended to read as follows: 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce may 

15 execute an agreement, on a reimbursable or nonreimburs16 able basis, with any State or subdivision thereof, any Fed17 eral agency, any public or private organization, or any in18 dividual to carry out activities under this subtitle.’’. 

19 SEC. 105. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

20 Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

21 Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is 

22 amended to read as follows: 

23 ‘‘SEC. 12307. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

24 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than March 30, 

25 2022, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
26 

S 914 RFH

1 shall prepare, and the President acting through the Coun2 cil shall approve and transmit to Congress, a report on 

3 progress made in implementing this subtitle. 

4 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—Each report required under sub5 section (a) shall include— 

6 ‘‘(1) a description of activities carried out under 

7 this subtitle and the System Plan; 

8 ‘‘(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 

9 System, including an evaluation of progress made by 

10 the Council to achieve the goals identified under the 

11 System Plan; 

12 ‘‘(3) the identification of Federal and non-Fed13 eral assets as determined by the Council that have 

14 been integrated into the System, including assets es15 sential to the gathering of required observation data 

16 variables necessary to meet the respective missions 

17 of Council agencies; 

18 ‘‘(4) a review of procurements, planned or initi19 ated, by each department or agency represented on 

20 the Council to enhance, expand, or modernize the 

21 observation capabilities and data products provided 

22 by the System, including data management and 

23 communication subsystems; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
27 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(5) a summary of the existing gaps in observa2 tion infrastructure and monitoring data collection, 

3 including— 

4 ‘‘(A) priorities considered by the System 

5 advisory committee; 

6 ‘‘(B) the national sea surface current map7 ping network; 

8 ‘‘(C) coastal buoys; 

9 ‘‘(D) ocean chemistry monitoring; 

10 ‘‘(E) marine sound monitoring; and 

11 ‘‘(F) unmanned maritime systems tech12 nology gaps; 

13 ‘‘(6) an assessment regarding activities to inte14 grate Federal and non-Federal assets, nationally and 

15 on the regional level, and discussion of the perform16 ance and effectiveness of regional coastal observing 

17 systems to coordinate regional observation oper18 ations; 

19 ‘‘(7) a description of benefits of the program to 

20 users of data products resulting from the System 

21 (including the general public, industries, scientists, 

22 resource managers, emergency responders, policy 

23 makers, and educators); 

24 ‘‘(8) recommendations, if any, concerning— 

25 ‘‘(A) modifications to the System; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
28 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(B) funding levels for the System in sub2 sequent fiscal years; and 

3 ‘‘(9) the results of a periodic external inde4 pendent programmatic audit of the System.’’. 

5 SEC. 106. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 

6 Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

7 Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is 

8 amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 12308. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 

10 ‘‘The Council shall maintain a policy that defines 

11 processes for making decisions about the roles of the Fed12 eral Government, the States, regional coastal observing 

13 systems, the academic community, and the private sector 

14 in providing to end-user communities environmental infor15 mation, products, technologies, and services related to the 

16 System. The Administrator shall ensure that the National 

17 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adheres to the 

18 decision making process developed by the Council regard19 ing the roles of the Federal Government, the States, the 

20 regional coastal observing systems, the academic commu21 nity, and the private sector in providing end-user commu22 nities environmental information, data products, tech23 nologies, and services related to the System.’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
29 

S 914 RFH

1 SEC. 107. REPEAL OF INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Integrated Coastal and 

3 Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 

4 et seq.) is amended by striking section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 

5 3608). 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table 

7 of contents in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land 

8 Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 

9 991) is amended by striking the item related to section 

10 12309. 

11 SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

13 Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is 

14 amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘SEC. 12311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 ‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec17 retary of Commerce to support the integrated oceans ob18 servations under this subtitle— 

19 ‘‘(1) $48,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

20 ‘‘(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

21 ‘‘(3) $52,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

22 ‘‘(4) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 

23 ‘‘(5) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
30 

S 914 RFH

1 SEC. 109. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS. 

2 Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 

3 Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

4 3703(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(4) ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY REPORT.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 

7 after the date of the enactment of the Coordi8 nated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 

9 2020, and every 6 years thereafter, the Sub10 committee shall transmit to the appropriate 

11 committees of Congress a report that— 

12 ‘‘(i) is named the ‘Ocean Chemistry 

13 Coastal Community Vulnerability Assess14 ment’; 

15 ‘‘(ii) identifies gaps in ocean acidifica16 tion monitoring by public, academic, and 

17 private assets in the network of regional 

18 coastal observing systems; 

19 ‘‘(iii) identifies geographic areas which 

20 have gaps in ocean acidification research; 

21 ‘‘(iv) identifies United States coastal 

22 communities, including island communities, 

23 fishing communities, low-population rural 

24 communities, tribal and subsistence com25 munities, and island communities, that 

26 may be impacted by ocean acidification; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
31 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(v) identifies impacts of changing 

2 ocean carbonate chemistry on the commu3 nities described in clause (iv), including 

4 impacts from changes in ocean and coastal 

5 marine resources that are not managed by 

6 the Federal Government; 

7 ‘‘(vi) identifies gaps in understanding 

8 of the impacts of ocean acidification on 

9 economically or commercially important 

10 species, particularly those which support 

11 United States commercial, recreational, 

12 and tribal fisheries and aquaculture; 

13 ‘‘(vii) identifies habitats that may be 

14 particularly vulnerable to corrosive sea 

15 water, including areas experiencing mul16 tiple stressors such as hypoxia, sedimenta17 tion, and harmful algal blooms; 

18 ‘‘(viii) identifies areas in which exist19 ing National Integrated Coastal and Ocean 

20 Observation System assets, including un21 manned maritime systems, may be lever22 aged as platforms for the deployment of 

23 new sensors or other applicable observing 

24 technologies; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
32 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(ix) is written in collaboration with 

2 Federal agencies responsible for carrying 

3 out this subtitle, including representatives 

4 of— 

5 ‘‘(I) the National Marine Fish6 eries Service and the Office for Coast7 al Management of the National Oce8 anic and Atmospheric Administration; 

9 ‘‘(II) regional coastal observing 

10 systems established under section 

11 12304(c)(4); 

12 ‘‘(III) regional ocean acidification 

13 networks; and 

14 ‘‘(IV) sea grant programs (as de15 fined in section 203 of the National 

16 Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

17 U.S.C. 1122)); and 

18 ‘‘(x) is written in consultation with ex19 perts, including subsistence users, aca20 demia, and stakeholders familiar with the 

21 economic, social, ecological, geographic, 

22 and resource concerns of coastal commu23 nities in the United States. 

24 ‘‘(B) FORM OF REPORT.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
33 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(i) INITIAL REPORT.—The initial re2 port required under subparagraph (A) 

3 shall include the information described in 

4 clauses (i) through (viii) of that subpara5 graph on a national level. 

6 ‘‘(ii) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Each 

7 report required under subparagraph (A) 

8 after the initial report— 

9 ‘‘(I) may describe the informa10 tion described in clauses (i) through 

11 (viii) of that subparagraph on a na12 tional level; or 

13 ‘‘(II) may consist of separate re14 ports for each region of the National 

15 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra16 tion. 

17 ‘‘(iii) REGIONAL REPORTS.—If the 

18 Subcommittee opts to prepare a report re19 quired under subparagraph (A) as separate 

20 regional reports under clause (ii)(II), the 

21 Subcommittee shall submit a report for 

22 each region of the National Oceanic and 

23 Atmospheric Administration not less fre24 quently than once during each 6-year re25 porting period. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
34 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(C) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON2 GRESS DEFINED.—In this paragraph and in 

3 paragraph (5), the term ‘appropriate commit4 tees of Congress’ means the Committee on 

5 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

6 Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and 

7 Technology of the House of Representatives, 

8 and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 

9 House of Representatives. 

10 ‘‘(5) MONITORING PRIORITIZATION PLAN.—Not 

11 later than 180 days after the date of the submission 

12 of the initial report under paragraph (4)(A), the 

13 Subcommittee shall transmit to the appropriate com14 mittees of Congress a report that develops a plan to 

15 deploy new sensors or other applicable observing 

16 technologies such as unmanned maritime systems— 

17 ‘‘(A) based on such initial report; 

18 ‘‘(B) prioritized by— 

19 ‘‘(i) the threat to coastal economies 

20 and ecosystems; 

21 ‘‘(ii) gaps in data; and 

22 ‘‘(iii) research needs; and 

23 ‘‘(C) that leverage existing platforms, 

24 where possible.’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
35 

S 914 RFH

1 SEC. 110. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 

2 (a) CONTENTS.—Section 12405(b) of the Federal 

3 Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 

4 (33 U.S.C. 3704(b)) is amended— 

5 (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

6 end; 

7 (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 

8 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

9 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(10) make recommendations for research to be 

11 conducted, including in the social sciences and eco12 nomics, to address the key knowledge gaps identified 

13 in the Ocean Chemistry Coastal Community Vulner14 ability Assessment conducted under section 

15 12404(c)(4).’’. 

16 (b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—Section 12405(c) of the 

17 Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act 

18 of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(c)) is amended by adding at the 

19 end the following: 

20 ‘‘(6) Research to understand the combined im21 pact of changes in ocean chemistry and other 

22 stressors, including sediment delivery, hypoxia, and 

23 harmful algal blooms, on each other and on living 

24 marine resources, including aquaculture and coastal 

25 ecosystems. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
36 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(7) Applied research to identify adaptation 

2 strategies for species impacted by changes in ocean 

3 chemistry including vegetation-based systems, shell 

4 recycling, species and genetic diversity, applied tech5 nologies, aquaculture methodologies, and manage6 ment recommendations.’’. 

7 (c) PARTICIPATION.—Section 12405(e) of the Fed8 eral Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 

9 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(e)) is amended in the first sentence 

10 by inserting ‘‘, tribal governments, and subsistence users’’ 

11 after ‘‘groups’’. 

12 (d) REVISED STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Not 

13 later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 

14 Act, the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Tech15 nology of the National Science and Technology Council 

16 shall submit to Congress a revised strategic research plan 

17 under section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification 

18 Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) 

19 that includes the matters required by the amendments 

20 made by this section. 

21 SEC. 111. STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON MONITORING. 

22 Section 12406(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 

23 Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

24 3705(a)) is amended— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
37 

S 914 RFH

1 (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

2 end; 

3 (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 

4 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

5 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(4) includes an ongoing mechanism that allows 

7 industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery 

8 management councils and commissions, non-Federal 

9 resource managers, community acidification net10 works, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific 

11 experts to provide input on monitoring needs that 

12 are necessary to support on the ground manage13 ment, decision making, and adaptation related to 

14 ocean acidification and its impacts.’’. 

15 SEC. 112. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

16 Section 12407(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 

17 Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

18 3706(a)) is amended to read as follows: 

19 ‘‘(a) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the 

20 National Science Foundation shall continue to carry out 

21 research activities on ocean acidification which shall sup22 port competitive, merit-based, peer-reviewed proposals for 

23 research, observation, and monitoring of ocean acidifica24 tion and its impacts, including— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
38 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(1) impacts on marine organisms, including 

2 species cultured for aquaculture, and marine eco3 systems; 

4 ‘‘(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine 

5 biogeochemistry; 

6 ‘‘(3) the development of methodologies and 

7 technologies to evaluate ocean acidification and its 

8 impacts; and 

9 ‘‘(4) impacts of multiple stressors on eco10 systems exhibiting hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, or 

11 sediment delivery, combined with changes in ocean 

12 chemistry.’’. 

13 TITLE II—NAMED STORM EVENT 

14 MODEL AND POST-STORM AS15 SESSMENTS 

16 SEC. 201. NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM 

17 ASSESSMENTS. 

18 (a) AMENDMENTS TO THE OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND

19 MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2009.—Section 12312 of the Om20 nibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

21 3611) is amended— 

22 (1) in subsection (a)— 

23 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking the pe24 riod at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘, 

25 except that the term shall not apply with reVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Sep 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S914.RFH S914

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
39 

S 914 RFH

1 spect to a State or territory that has an oper2 ational wind and flood loss allocation system.’’; 

3 (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘sus4 tained’’ before ‘‘winds’’; and 

5 (C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘that 

6 threaten any portion of a coastal State’’ and in7 serting ‘‘for which post-storm assessments are 

8 conducted’’; 

9 (2) in subsection (b)— 

10 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

11 (i) in subparagraph (A)— 

12 (I) by striking ‘‘540 days after 

13 the date of the enactment of the Con14 sumer Option for an Alternative Sys15 tem to Allocate Losses Act of 2012’’ 

16 and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’; 

17 and 

18 (II) by striking ‘‘by regulation’’; 

19 (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

20 ‘‘every’’ and inserting ‘‘an’’; and 

21 (iii) by adding at the end the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(C) PUBLIC REVIEW.—The Administrator 

24 shall seek input and suggestions from the public 

25 before the Named Storm Event Model, or any 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
40 

S 914 RFH

1 modification to the Named Storm Event Model, 

2 takes effect.’’; and 

3 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

4 (i) by redesignating subparagraphs 

5 (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (D) and 

6 (E), respectively; 

7 (ii) by inserting after subparagraph 

8 (A) the following: 

9 ‘‘(B) DATA COLLECTION.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Upon identifica11 tion of a named storm under subparagraph 

12 (A), and pursuant to the protocol estab13 lished under subsection (c), the Adminis14 trator may deploy sensors to enhance the 

15 collection of covered data in the areas in 

16 coastal States that the Administrator de17 termines are at the highest risk of experi18 encing geophysical events that would cause 

19 indeterminate losses. 

20 ‘‘(ii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—If 

21 the Administrator takes action under 

22 clause (i), that action may not be con23 strued as indicating that a post-storm as24 sessment will be developed for any coastal 

25 State in which that action is taken. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
41 

S 914 RFH

1 ‘‘(C) IDENTIFICATION OF INDETERMINATE

2 LOSSES IN COASTAL STATES.—Not later than 

3 30 days after the first date on which sustained 

4 winds of not less than 39 miles per hour are 

5 measured in a coastal State during a named 

6 storm identified under subparagraph (A), the 

7 Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the 

8 Administrator with respect to the existence of 

9 any indeterminate losses in that coastal State 

10 resulting from that named storm.’’; 

11 (iii) in subparagraph (D), as so redes12 ignated— 

13 (I) by striking ‘‘identification of 

14 a named storm under subparagraph 

15 (A)’’ and inserting ‘‘confirmation of 

16 indeterminate losses identified under 

17 subparagraph (C) with respect to a 

18 named storm’’; and 

19 (II) by striking ‘‘assessment for 

20 such named storm’’ and inserting ‘‘as21 sessment for each coastal State that 

22 suffered such indeterminate losses as 

23 a result of the named storm’’; 

24 (iv) in subparagraph (E), as so redes25 ignated— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
42 

S 914 RFH

1 (I) by striking ‘‘an identification 

2 of a named storm is made under sub3 paragraph (A)’’ and inserting ‘‘any in4 determinate losses are identified 

5 under subparagraph (C)’’; and 

6 (II) by striking ‘‘for such storm 

7 under subparagraph (B)’’ and insert8 ing ‘‘under subparagraph (D) for any 

9 coastal State that suffered such inde10 terminate losses’’; and 

11 (v) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(F) SEPARATE POST-STORM ASSESS13 MENTS FOR A SINGLE NAMED STORM.— 

14 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator 

15 may conduct a separate post-storm assess16 ment for each coastal State in which inde17 terminate losses are identified under sub18 paragraph (C). 

19 ‘‘(ii) TIMELINE.—If the Administrator 

20 conducts a separate post-storm assessment 

21 under clause (i), the Administrator shall 

22 complete the assessment based on the 

23 dates of actions that the Administrator 

24 takes under subparagraph (D).’’; and 

25 (3) in subsection (c)— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
43 

S 914 RFH

1 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘540 

2 days after the date of the enactment of the 

3 Consumer Option for an Alternative System to 

4 Allocate Losses Act of 2012’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘December 31, 2020’’; 

6 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, in the 

7 discretion of the Administrator,’’ after ‘‘of sen8 sors as may’’; and 

9 (C) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ‘‘and 

10 expend’’ after ‘‘receive’’. 

11 (b) AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSUR12 ANCE ACT OF 1968.—Section 1337 of the National Flood 

13 Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4057) is amended— 

14 (1) in subsection (a)— 

15 (A) in paragraph (3), by striking the pe16 riod at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘, 

17 except that the term shall not apply with re18 spect to a State or territory that has an oper19 ational wind and flood loss allocation system.’’; 

20 and 

21 (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘sus22 tained’’ after ‘‘maximum’’; 

23 (2) in subsection (b)— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
44 

S 914 RFH

1 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘estab2 lish by rule’’ and inserting ‘‘publish for com3 ment in the Federal Register’’; and 

4 (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting after 

5 ‘‘Elevation Certificate’’ the following: ‘‘, or 

6 other data or information used to determine a 

7 property’s current risk of flood, as determined 

8 by the Administrator,’’; 

9 (3) in subsection (c)(3)(A)(i), by striking ‘‘the 

10 issuance of the rule establishing the COASTAL For11 mula’’ and inserting ‘‘publication of the COASTAL 

12 Formula in the Federal Register as required by sub13 section (b)(1)’’; 

14 (4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘section 

15 12312(b)(2)(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

16 12312(b)(2)(E)’’; 

17 (5) in subsection (h)— 

18 (A) by inserting ‘‘that issues a standard 

19 flood insurance policy under the national flood 

20 insurance program’’ after ‘‘company’’; and 

21 (B) by striking ‘‘or the COASTAL For22 mula’’ and inserting ‘‘, the COASTAL For23 mula, or any other loss allocation or post-storm 

24 assessment arising under the laws or ordinances 

25 of any State’’; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
45 

S 914 RFH

1 (6) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘after the date 

2 on which the Administrator issues the rule estab3 lishing the COASTAL Formula under subsection 

4 (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘60 days after publication of the 

5 COASTAL Formula in the Federal Register as re6 quired by subsection (b)(1)’’; and 

7 (7) by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec9 tion shall be construed to create a cause of action under 

10 this Act.’’. 

11 TITLE III—WATER PREDICTION 

12 AND FORECASTING 

13 SEC. 301. WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING. 

14 (a) NATIONAL WATER CENTER.— 

15 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of 

17 Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall es18 tablish a center— 

19 (i) to serve as the research and oper20 ational center of excellence for hydrologic 

21 analyses, forecasting, and related decision 

22 support services within the National Oce23 anic and Atmospheric Administration and 

24 the National Weather Service; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
46 

S 914 RFH

1 (ii) to facilitate collaboration across 

2 Federal and State departments and agen3 cies, academia, and the private sector on 

4 matters relating to water resources. 

5 (B) DESIGNATION.—The center estab6 lished under subparagraph (A) shall be known 

7 as the ‘‘National Water Center’’. 

8 (2) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the National 

9 Water Center shall include the following: 

10 (A) Improving understanding of water re11 sources, stakeholder needs regarding water re12 sources, and identifying science and services 

13 gaps relating to water resources. 

14 (B) Developing and implementing ad15 vanced water resources modeling capabilities. 

16 (C) Facilitating the transition of hydro17 logic research into operations. 

18 (D) Delivering analyses, forecasts, and in19 undation information and guidance for all hy20 drologic events in the United States, including 

21 flash flooding, riverine flooding, and water re22 sources outlooks. 

23 (E) In coordination with warning coordina24 tion meteorologists, providing decision-support 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
47 

S 914 RFH

1 services to inform emergency management and 

2 water resources decisions. 

3 (b) NATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

6 Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the 

7 National Weather Service, shall make public an op8 erations and services policy directive for the Na9 tional Water Center. 

10 (2) CONTENTS.—The directive required by 

11 paragraph (1) shall include national instructions to 

12 perform the functions of the National Water Center, 

13 including the following: 

14 (A) Operational staff responsibilities. 

15 (B) Guidelines for content, format, and 

16 provision of hydrologic and inundation products 

17 developed by the National Water Center. 

18 (C) Procedures for cooperation and coordi19 nation between the National Water Center, the 

20 National Weather Service National Centers for 

21 Environmental Prediction, National Weather 

22 Service River Forecast Centers, and National 

23 Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
48 

S 914 RFH

1 (c) TOTAL WATER PREDICTION.—The Under Sec2 retary, acting through the Director of the Office of Water 

3 Prediction of the National Weather Service, shall— 

4 (1) initiate and lead research and development 

5 activities to develop operational water resource pre6 diction and related decision support products; 

7 (2) collaborate with, and provide decision sup8 port regarding total water prediction to— 

9 (A) the relevant Federal agencies rep10 resented on the National Science and Tech11 nology Council, Committee on Environment, 

12 Natural Resources, and Sustainability and the 

13 Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction; 

14 (B) State water resource agencies; and 

15 (C) State and local emergency manage16 ment agencies; and 

17 (3) in carrying out the responsibilities described 

18 in paragraphs (1) and (2), collaboratively develop 

19 capabilities necessary for total water predictive ca20 pacity, including observations, modeling, data man21 agement, supercomputing, social science, and com22 munications. 

23 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

24 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activi25 ties under this section amounts as follows: 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
49 

S 914 RFH

1 (1) $44,500,000 for fiscal year 2021. 

2 (2) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. 

3 (3) $45,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. 

4 (4) $46,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. 

5 (e) DERIVATION OF FUNDS.—Amounts made avail6 able to carry out this section shall be derived from 

7 amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the 

8 National Weather Service and the National Ocean Service. 

Passed the Senate July 30, 2020. 

Attest: JULIE E. ADAMS, 

Secretary. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS