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[House Report 106-810]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

106th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     106-810

======================================================================

 
                      EXPLORATION OF THE SEAS ACT

                                _______
                                

 September 6, 2000.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2090]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2090) to direct the Secretary of Commerce to contract 
with the National Academy of Sciences to establish the 
Coordinated Oceanographic Program Advisory Panel to report to 
the Congress on the feasibility and social value of a 
coordinated oceanography program, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that 
the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Exploration of the Seas Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

  Congress finds the following:
          (1) During the past 100 years, scientists working with marine 
        fossils, both underwater and high in the mountains, have traced 
        the origins of life on Earth to the sea, beginning 
        approximately 3 billion years ago. Today, life on our planet 
        remains dependent on the vitality of the sea.
          (2) More than two-thirds of the Earth's surface is covered by 
        water, with oceans and inland seas accounting for almost 140 
        million square miles.
          (3) The United Nations forecasts a worldwide population of 
        8.9 billion by the year 2050, a 50 percent increase from 5.9 
        billion in 1999. As this trend in population growth continues, 
        increasing demands will be placed on ocean and coastal 
        resources, not only as a result of population growth in coastal 
        regions, but also from the need to harvest increasing amounts 
        of marine life as a source of food to satisfy world protein 
        requirements, and from the mining of energy-producing materials 
        from offshore resource deposits.
          (4) The ocean remains one of the Earth's last unexplored 
        frontiers. It has stirred our imaginations over the millennia, 
        led to the discovery of new lands, immense mineral deposits, 
        and reservoirs of other resources, and produced startling 
        scientific findings. Recognizing the importance of the marine 
        environment, the need for scientific exploration to expand our 
        knowledge of the world's oceans is crucial if we are to ensure 
        that the marine environment will be managed sustainably.
          (5) The seas possess enormous economic and environmental 
        importance. Some ocean resources, such as fisheries and 
        minerals, are well recognized. Oil use has increased 
        dramatically in recent times, and the sea bed holds large 
        deposits of largely undiscovered reserves. Other ocean 
        resources offer promise for the future. In addition to fossil 
        fuels, the ocean floor contains deposits of gravel, sand, 
        manganese crusts and nodules, tin, gold, and diamonds. Marine 
        mineral resources are extensive, yet poorly understood.
          (6) The oceans also offer rich untapped potential for 
        medications. Marine plants and animals possess inestimable 
        potential in the treatment of human illnesses. Coral reefs, 
        sometimes described as the rain forests of the sea, contain 
        uncommon chemicals that may be used to fight diseases for which 
        scientists have not yet found a cure, such as cancer, acquired 
        immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and diabetes. While the 
        number of new chemical compounds that can be derived from land 
        based plants and microbial fermentation is limited, scientists 
        have only just begun to explore the sea's vast molecular 
        potential.
          (7) In spite of the development of new technologies, 
        comparatively little of the ocean has been studied. The 
        leadership role of the United States has been eroded by a 
        gradual decrease in funding support, even while public opinion 
        surveys indicate that ocean exploration is at least as 
        important as space exploration.
          (8) The National Academy of Sciences has the means by which 
        to study and make determinations regarding the adoption and 
        establishment of a coordinated oceanography program for the 
        exploration of the seas, in which the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration could participate in a role similar 
        to that of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        with regard to the International Space Station.

SEC. 3. COORDINATED OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM ADVISORY PANEL.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act and subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Commerce shall contract with the National Academy of 
Sciences to establish the Coordinated Oceanography Program Advisory 
Panel (in this Act referred to as the ``Panel''), comprised of experts 
in ocean studies, including individuals with academic experience in 
oceanography, marine biology, marine geology, ichthyology, and ocean 
related economics.
  (b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Panel shall elect a 
chairperson and a vice-chairperson.
  (c) Termination.--The Panel shall cease to exist 30 days after 
submitting its final report and recommendations pursuant to section 4.

SEC. 4. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

  (a) In General.--No later than 18 months after its establishment, the 
Panel shall report to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the feasibility and social value of a 
coordinated oceanography program. In preparing its report, the Panel 
shall examine existing oceanographic efforts and the level of 
coordination or cooperation between and among participating countries 
and institutions.
  (b) International Workshop.--To assist in making its feasibility 
determination under subsection (a), the Panel shall convene an 
international workshop with participation from interested nations and a 
broad range of persons representing scientists, engineers, policy 
makers, regulators, industry, and other interested parties.
  (c) Final Report.--The Panel shall include in its final report 
recommendations for a national oceans exploration strategy, which 
will--
          (1) define objectives and priorities, and note important 
        scientific, historic, and cultural sites;
          (2) promote collaboration among research organizations;
          (3) examine the potential for new ocean exploration 
        technologies;
          (4) describe those areas of study in which national or 
        international oceanographic cooperation is currently being 
        undertaken;
          (5) identify areas of study in which knowledge of the oceans 
        is inadequate;
          (6) ensure coordination with the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration's Marine Protected Area Center;
          (7) ensure that newly discovered organisms with medicinal or 
        commercial potential are identified for possible research and 
        development; and
          (8) identify countries and organizations that would be likely 
        to participate in a coordinated oceanography program.
  (d) Implementation.--If the Panel determines that a coordinated 
oceanography program is feasible and has significant value for 
advancing mankind's knowledge of the ocean, the Panel shall include in 
its final report recommendations for implementing such program, 
including recommendations regarding--
          (1) the institutional arrangements, treaties, or laws 
        necessary to implement a coordinated oceanography program;
          (2) the methods and incentives needed to secure cooperation 
        and commitments from participating nations to ensure that the 
        benefit that each nation that is a party to any international 
        agreement establishing a coordinated oceanography program 
        receives is contingent upon meeting the nation's obligations 
        (financial and otherwise) under such an agreement;
          (3) the costs associated with establishing a coordinated 
        oceanography program;
          (4) the types of undersea vehicles, ships, observing systems, 
        or other equipment that would be necessary to operate a 
        coordinated oceanography program; and
          (5) how utilization of aboriginal observational data and 
        other historical information may be best incorporated into a 
        coordinated oceanography program.

SEC. 5. OBTAINING DATA.

  Subject to national security restrictions, the Panel may obtain from 
any department or agency of the United States information necessary to 
enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the chairperson of the 
Panel, the head of any department or agency shall furnish that 
information at no cost to the Panel.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of carrying 
out this Act, and to remain available until expended, $1,500,000.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 2090 is to direct the Secretary of 
Commerce to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to 
establish the Coordinated Oceanographic Program Advisory Panel 
to report to Congress on the feasibility and social value of a 
coordinated oceanographic program.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Over the past 15 years, tremendous advances in 
oceanographic technology have been made and recent 
technological advances have given us the ability to fully 
explore the world's oceans. Unfortunately, the United States 
does not have a comprehensive plan for determining what data 
needs to be collected, or for integrating that data into an 
easily usable system. H.R. 2090 establishes a panel to 
determine whether the U.S. is making the most productive and 
efficient use of the new oceanographic technologies available 
to us, and whether the U.S. is making the best investments with 
our limited resources.
    H.R. 2090 establishes the Coordinated Oceanographic Program 
Advisory Panel composed of individuals with academic experience 
in oceanography, marine biology, marine geology, ichthyology, 
and ocean-related economics. The Panel will submit a report to 
Congress on the feasibility and social value of a coordinated 
international oceanographic program. This report will include 
recommendations for a national oceans exploration strategy. If 
the Panel determines that a coordinated oceanographic program 
is feasible and necessary, the report shall include 
recommendations for establishing such a program.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 2090 was introduced on June 9, 1999, by Congressman 
Jim Greenwood (R-PA). The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. On October 27, 
1999, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On March 23, 
2000, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. No amendments 
were offered and the bill was then ordered favorably reported 
to the Full Committee by voice vote. On July 26, 2000, the Full 
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. Congressman Jim 
Saxton (R-NJ) offered an amendment to expand the list of 
objectives and priorities to be included in the national oceans 
exploration strategy, add to the findings the importance of 
sustainable management of marine resources and add to the 
implementation section a provision to incorporate aboriginal 
observational data and historical information. It was adopted 
by voice vote. The bill as amended was then ordered favorably 
reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

    The short title of the bill is the ``Exploration of the 
Seas Act''.

Section 2. Findings

    The findings express the importance of, and the need to 
better understand, the world's ocean.

Section 3. Coordinated Oceanographic Program Advisory Panel

    The Secretary of Commerce will contract with the National 
Academy of Sciences to establish the Coordinated Oceanographic 
Program Advisory Panel, which will be composed of experts in 
ocean studies, including individuals with academic experience 
in oceanography, marine biology, marine geology, ichthyology, 
and ocean related economics. The Panel will elect a chairperson 
and a vice- chairperson. The Panel will cease to exist 30 days 
after submitting its final report and recommendations to 
Congress under section 4 of the bill.

Section 4. Report and recommendations

    No later than 18 months after its establishment, the Panel 
will report to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the feasibility and social 
value of a coordinated oceanographic program. In preparing the 
report, the Panel will examine existing oceanographic efforts 
and the level of coordination or cooperation between and among 
participating countries and institutions. To aid in determining 
whether a coordinated oceanographic program is feasible, the 
Panel will convene an international workshop with participation 
from interested nations and a broad range of persons 
representing scientists, engineers, policy makers, regulators, 
industry, and other interested parties.
    The Panel will include in its final report recommendations 
for a national oceans exploration strategy, which will: define 
objectives and priorities, and note important scientific, 
historic and cultural sites; promote collaboration among 
research organizations; examine the potential for new ocean 
exploration technologies; describe those areas of study in 
which national or international oceanographic cooperation is 
currently being undertaken; identify areas of study in which 
knowledge of the oceans is inadequate; ensure coordination with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine 
Protected Area Center; ensure that newly-discovered organisms 
with medicinal or commercial potential are identified for 
possible research and development; and identify countries and 
organizations that would be likely to participate in a 
coordinated program.
    If the Panel determines that a coordinated oceanographic 
program is feasible and necessary, the report shall include 
recommendations for establishing such a program, including the 
institutional arrangements, treaties and laws needed, the 
methods and incentives needed to secure cooperation and 
commitments from participating nations, the costs of 
establishing a coordinated program, the types of capital 
equipment necessary to support a coordinated program and how 
utilization of aboriginal observational data and other 
historical information may be best incorporated into a 
coordinated oceanographic program.

Section 5. Obtaining data

    Subject to national security restrictions, the Panel may 
obtain, at no cost, the information necessary to carry out this 
bill from any department or agency of the United States.

Section 6. Authorization of appropriations

    There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of 
carrying out this bill $1.5 million, to remain available until 
expended.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations 
are reflected in the body of this report.

                  FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized 
in the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed 
by one or more agencies, an advisory committee already in 
existence or by enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory 
committee.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation.--Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act.--As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. Government Reform Oversight Findings.--Under clause 
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of 
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on 
Government Reform on this bill.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.--Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, August 4, 2000.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2090, the 
Exploration of the Seas Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2090--Exploration of the Seas Act

    H.R. 2090 would direct the Secretary of Commerce to 
establish an advisory panel composed of experts in ocean 
studies. The panel would convene an international workshop of 
scientists, policymakers, and other interested parties. Within 
18 months of its creation, the panel would report to the 
Congress on the feasibility and social value of an oceanography 
program that would be coordinated with other interested 
nations. The report would include recommendations for a 
national oceans exploration strategy and suggestions on how to 
implement the strategy. For these purposes, the bill would 
authorize the appropriation of $1.5 million.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO 
estimates that the Department of Commerce would spend $1.5 
million over the next two years to create the advisory panel, 
convene the international workshop, and complete the panel's 
report to the Congress.
    The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 2090 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no 
impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. 
This estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                
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