89–006 

116TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 116–81 

COASTAL COMMUNITIES OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACT OF 

2019 

MAY 23, 2019.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1716] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom was 

referred the bill (H.R. 1716) to direct the Secretary of Commerce, 

acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to conduct coastal community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, and for other 

purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 

with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do 

pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Amendment ................................................................................................. 2 

II. Purpose of the Bill ...................................................................................... 3 

III. Background and Need for the Legislation ................................................ 3 

IV. Committee Hearings ................................................................................... 4 

V. Committee Consideration and Votes ......................................................... 5 

VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill .................................................. 6 

VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section) .................................. 6 

VIII. Committee Views ........................................................................................ 6 

IX. Cost Estimate .............................................................................................. 7 

X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 7 

XI. Compliance with Public Law 104–4 (Unfunded Mandates) .................... 8 

XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations ........................... 9 

XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives ...................... 9 

XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 9 

XV. Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................... 9 

XVI. Earmark Identification ............................................................................... 9 

XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch ..................................................... 9 

XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law ........................ 9 


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XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported ....................... 9 

XX. Exchange of Committee Correspondence .................................................. 17 

XXI. Proceedings of Subcommittee Markup ...................................................... 19 

XXII. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup .................................................... 37 

I. AMENDMENT

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 ‘‘Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 

2019’’. 

SEC. 2. STATE AND UNITED STATES DEFINED. 

Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 

2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the 

United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States.’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(5) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘United States’ means the States, collectively.’’. 

SEC. 3. COASTAL COMMUNITY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And 

Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); and 

(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 

‘‘(b) COMMUNITY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the program established under subsection (a), shall conduct an ocean acidification coastal community vulnerability 

assessment, and issue a corresponding public report, which shall be updated at 

least once every 7 years. 

‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The assessment conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 

‘‘(A) identify the United States coastal communities, including island communities, low-population rural communities, and subsistence communities, 

that are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted by ocean acidification; 

‘‘(B) assess the nature of the social and economic vulnerabilities of those 

communities, including the economic impact on local or regional commercial 

fisheries and recreational opportunities; 

‘‘(C) identify the ocean acidification impacts that might harm those communities, including impacts from changes in ocean and coastal marine resources that are not managed by the Federal Government; 

‘‘(D) identify key knowledge gaps where research could be devoted to better understand the possible impacts of ocean acidification on those communities, the risks and threats facing those communities, and possible adaptation strategies for those communities; and 

‘‘(E) be conducted in collaboration with experts, indigenous knowledge 

groups, and stakeholders who are familiar with the unique economic, social, 

ecological, geographic, and resource concerns of coastal communities in the 

United States, including representatives of— 

‘‘(i) the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Office for Coastal 

Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 

‘‘(ii) National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System regional information coordination entities established under section 

12304(c)(4) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 

Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)(4)); 

‘‘(iii) regional ocean acidification networks; and 

‘‘(iv) State sea grant programs (as defined in section 203 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1122)). 

‘‘(c) SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGIC

RESEARCH PLANNING.—In carrying out the program established under subsection 

(a), the Secretary shall collaborate with State, local, and tribal government entities 

that are conducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, strategic research 


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planning, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and its impacts on 

coastal communities, for the purpose of— 

‘‘(1) determining whether such activities can be used as a model for other 

communities; and 

‘‘(2) identifying opportunities for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal agencies to support such activities.’’. 

(b) ONGOING INPUT MECHANISM.—Section 12404(b)(5) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(b)(5)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘including information’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘including— 

‘‘(A) information’’; 

(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(B) an ongoing mechanism that allows affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, community acidification 

networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific experts not employed 

by the Federal Government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring that is necessary to support on-the-ground management, decisionmaking, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its impacts.’’. 

(c) STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification 

Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 

(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 

and’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(10) make recommendations for research that should be conducted, including 

in the social sciences and economics, to address the key knowledge gaps identified in the community vulnerability assessment report conducted under section 

12406(b).’’; and 

(2) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘, tribal governments, indigenous knowledge 

groups,’’ after ‘‘industry’’. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 12409(a) of the Federal Ocean 

Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3708(a)) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) NOAA.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration to carry out the purposes of this subtitle $2,700,000 for 

each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 

(e) REPORT ON SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND

STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLANNING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the efforts of the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration to support State, local, and tribal community vulnerability assessments, strategic research and planning, and monitoring needs, pursuant to section 12406(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (as added by subsection (a) of this section). 

II. PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 1716, sponsored by Rep. Pingree, is to direct 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to 

study the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification on coastal 

communities across the United States. The bill is cosponsored by 

Representatives Bonamici, Buchanan, Crist, Gabbard, Golden, 

Gonza ́lez-Colo ́n, Huffman, King, Larsen, McGovern, Panetta, Rooney, Roybal-Allard, Thompson, Waltz, Wexton, and Young. 

III. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

Ocean acidification is a global phenomenon of the gradual decrease in oceanic pH primarily from the absorption of excess carbon 

dioxide in the atmosphere. Under a higher emissions scenario, global mean surface acidity is expected to increase by 100–150 percent 


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1 National Climate Assessment 4; Volume I; Ch. 13 

2 NCA4; Volume I; Ch. 13 

3Phys.org. December 16, 2014. ‘‘Ocean acidification a culprit in commercial shellfish hatcheries’ failures.’’ https://phys.org/news/2014-12-ocean-acidification-culprit-commercial-shellfish.html 

by the end of the century.1 However, acidification is occurring faster in some U.S. coastal regions as a result of upwelling of naturally 

low pH water (Pacific Northwest), changes in freshwater inputs 

(Gulf of Maine), and high nutrient inputs (for example, in agricultural watersheds).2

Ocean acidification is a growing problem for coastal communities 

and economies that are dependent on ocean resources. Coastal 

economies contribute significantly to the nation’s gross domestic 

product (GDP). According to NOAA, fourteen percent of U.S. counties that are adjacent to the coasts produce 45 percent of the nation’s GDP, with nearly three million jobs directly dependent on 

ocean and coastal resources. Some coastal economies in the United 

States have already been negatively impacted by ocean acidification. One of the earliest examples was the near collapse of the Pacific Northwest shellfish hatchery industry in the mid-2000s. Low 

pH water was linked to mortality of shellfish larvae in the region, 

causing local commercial hatchery failures and associated major 

economic losses.3 The hatcheries have been able to improve shellfish growth by treating the water to raise the pH levels for the larvae. 

There is a growing need to understand the social and economic 

effects of ocean acidification in order to better help communities 

prepare and respond to it. Regions that are vulnerable to ocean 

acidification can be used to test adaptation and mitigation strategies to manage and adapt to ocean acidification. 

Recognizing this need, NOAA began funding regional vulnerability assessments for ocean acidification in the mid-2010s and 

has thus far completed parts of assessments for several regions. 

However, NOAA does not have dedicated funds for vulnerability assessments, and the funds come out of the Ocean Acidification Program’s limited programmatic funds. H.R. 1716 would authorize and 

enhance NOAA’s ocean acidification vulnerability assessments for 

low lying coastal communities, island communities, and other communities that that are most dependent on ocean and coastal resources and identify research gaps and socioeconomic impacts, in 

order to support resource managers and decision makers in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies. 

IV. COMMITTEE HEARINGS

For the purposes of section 103(i) of H.Res. 6 of the 116th Congress, the following hearings were used to develop the legislation: 

On March 7, 2019, the Honorable Lizzie Fletcher presiding over 

the Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology held a hearing focused on climate change 

impacts on our nation’s oceans and coasts, where ocean acidification was discussed as a major associated impact. There were four 

witnesses: (1) Dr. Sarah Cooley, Director of the Ocean Acidification 

Program at Ocean Conservancy. Dr. Cooley provided testimony on 

the science of ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation and 

resulting impacts to marine ecosystems and humans. (2) Dr. 

Radley Horton, Lamont Associate Research Professor at Columbia 


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University Earth Institute’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. 

Dr. Horton testified on sea level rise projections and impacts to 

coastal communities. (3) Dr. Thomas K. Frazer, Professor and Director of the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the 

University of Florida. Dr. Frazer testified on the impacts of climate 

change to fisheries and the need for increased federal investment 

in research to promote adaptation and mitigation to those changes. 

(4) Ms. Margaret A. Pilaro, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast 

Shellfish Growers Association. Ms. Pilaro provided testimony on 

the impacts of ocean acidification and deoxygenation to shellfish 

hatcheries and strategies for how their industry has started to 

adapt. 

V. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION AND VOTES

As summarized in Section IV of this report, the Subcommittee on 

Environment heard testimony in the 116th Congress relevant to 

the activities authorized in H.R. 1716 at a hearing held on February 27, 2019. 

On March 13, 2019, Representative Chellie Pingree, for herself 

and Representatives Rooney of Florida, Mr. Huffman of California, 

Ms. Bonamici of Oregon, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Young, and 

Mr. Thompson of California introduced H.R. 1716, the Coastal 

Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2019, to direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to conduct coastal 

community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, 

and for other purposes. 

On April 9, 2019, the Subcommittee on Environment met to consider H.R. 1716 and three other ocean acidification bills. There 

were no amendments offered to H.R. 1716. 

Ms. Fletcher moved that the Subcommittee favorably report H.R. 

1716 to the Full Committee. The motion was agreed to by a voice 

vote. 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to consider H.R. 1716 on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 and considered the following amendments to the bill: 

1. Ms. Johnson offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that strikes and replaces the bill with the entire text of the 

Senate companion, S. 778. The Senate bill, sponsored by Senator 

Murkowski, has a few technical differences from the original text 

of H.R. 1716. In addition, it includes references to tribal governments and adds three key expert groups to the list of entities required to participate in the regional vulnerability assessments. 

2. Ms. Gonza ́lez-Colo ́n offered an amendment to include a state 

definition to clarify the inclusion of five U.S. territories in the bill. 

The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. 

3. Ms. Wexton offered an amendment to add the economic impact 

on commercial fisheries and outdoor recreation to the assessment 

by NOAA on the vulnerabilities of communities affected by ocean 

acidification. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. 

4. Ms. Bonamici offered an amendment to provide NOAA with an 

increase in funding of $2.7 million annually above the current 

spending level for these studies, for the fiscal years 2020 through 

2024. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote. 


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Ms. Johnson moved that the Committee vote on the amendment 

in the nature of a substitute, with the inclusion of all the other 

amendments, which had all been agreed to. The substitute was 

adopted by a voice vote. 

Ms. Johnson moved that the Committee favorably report the bill, 

H.R. 1716, as amended, to the House with the recommendation 

that the bill be approved. The motion was agreed to by a voice vote. 

VI. SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

H.R. 1716 directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification on coastal communities across the United States. The bill 

authorizes appropriations for NOAA of $2.7 million annually for 

each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024. 

VII. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS (BY TITLE AND SECTION) 

Section 1. Short title 

Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2019. 

Section 2. Coastal community vulnerability assessment 

This section amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 

and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of 

Commerce to conduct studies to identify which communities are 

most dependent on ocean resources and how ocean acidification 

would affect them. The community vulnerability assessment and 

corresponding public report must be updated at least once every 

seven years and must identify the coastal communities that are 

most dependent on coastal and ocean resources, ocean acidification 

impacts to those vulnerable communities, and key knowledge gaps 

and potential adaptation strategies, and involve collaboration with 

appropriate experts. NOAA is directed to collaborate with state and 

local governments that are already conducting vulnerability assessments or similar ocean acidification activities to identify opportunities for NOAA to support those efforts and potentially create a 

model for other communities. 

This section also creates a mechanism for affected coastal industries, resource managers, and other non-federal stakeholders to 

provide input on federal ocean acidification research and activities 

and requires NOAA to submit a report on its efforts to support 

community vulnerability assessments 180 days after enactment of 

the bill. 

Finally, this section includes an authorization of appropriations 

of $2.7 million per year for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 

2024 to carry out the provisions of this bill. 

VIII. COMMITTEE VIEWS

Since the passage of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 

and Monitoring Act (FOARAM) of 2009, the federal investment in 

ocean acidification research has led to substantial increases in our 

understanding of the chemical changes in the ocean from the absorption of excess anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere 

and the resulting impacts on certain marine species. For example, 

it has been discovered that certain shelled and calcified marine orVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:59 May 26, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR081.XXX HR081

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ganisms (i.e. oysters, clams, mussels, corals) are particularly sensitive to ocean acidification. However, the ecological and ecosystem 

impacts of ocean acidification are much less understood, and so, 

too, are the impacts on human communities that are dependent on 

ocean and coastal resources. The Committee views ocean acidification vulnerability assessments to be important synthesis documents on the projected impacts of ocean acidification to dependent 

human communities and provide decision support to help those 

communities adapt to changing conditions. 

Since its inception in 2009, the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program has been investing in research on the socioeconomic impacts 

of ocean acidification in certain regions of the United States, in addition to the underlying science of ocean acidification, including 

changes in chemical conditions and the response of species and ecosystems, in accordance with requirements under the FOARAM Act. 

The Committee views NOAA as the lead federal agency in ocean 

acidification research and believes that NOAA is ideally equipped 

with the tools and expertise to conduct these vulnerability assessments, and should do so in cooperation with state, local, and tribal 

governments and the appropriate experts. H.R. 1716 will support 

and enhance NOAA’s current efforts to assess the socioeconomic 

impacts of ocean acidification. The Committee believes that these 

assessments will help vulnerable communities adapt to ocean acidification to prevent or minimize the negative economic effects on 

economically important fisheries, recreation, and other ocean-based 

aspects of coastal economies. 

The amendments offered and agreed to in the Full Committee 

markup were based on stakeholder feedback, including feedback 

from NOAA, after bill introduction. The Committee believes that 

these amendments make improvements to the bill, including offering an authorization of appropriation for the bill at a level that is 

above what NOAA currently spends on conducting vulnerability assessments. This amount will support and enhance NOAA’s existing 

efforts and will lead to increased geographic coverage of vulnerability assessments. 

IX. COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate 

of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures 

or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by the Director 

of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

X. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, May 10, 2019. 

Hon. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, 

Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM CHAIRWOMAN: The Congressional Budget Office 

has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1716, the Coastal 

Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2019. 


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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert Reese. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL, Director. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 1716 would authorize the appropriation of $2.7 million annually over the 2020–2024 period for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to implement its Ocean Acidification Program. The bill would require NOAA to: 

• Assess coastal communities’ vulnerability to ocean acidification, 

• Recommend research to address key knowledge gaps in 

that assessment, and 

• Allow citizens to provide input on ocean acidification research, data, and monitoring. 

CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1716 would cost $12 million over the 2020–2024 period and $2 million after 2024, assuming 

appropriation of the authorized amounts. In 2019, NOAA allocated 

$12 million to the Ocean Acidification Program. The costs of the 

legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall into budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). 

TABLE 1.—ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 1716 

By fiscal year, millions of dollars— 

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019– 

2024 

Authorization ............................................................................ 0 3 3 3 3 3 14 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................... 0 2 2 3 3 3 12 

Components may not sum to totals because of rounding. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Robert Reese. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

XI. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

H.R. 1716 contains no unfunded mandates. 


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XII. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

XIII. STATEMENT ON GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND

OBJECTIVES

The goals of H.R. 1716 are to require NOAA to conduct assessments of the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification on vulnerable coastal communities of the United States in order to improve 

understanding of impacts and help communities adapt to those 

changes. The bill has two reporting requirements: the first is a 

public report that is to be issued with the vulnerability assessments. The second is a report to Congress on the efforts of NOAA 

to support vulnerability assessments and strategic research planning. 

XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

H.R. 1716 does not create any advisory committees. 

XV. DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision of H.R. 

1716 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another federal program, including 

any program that was included in a report to Congress pursuant 

to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or the most recent Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance. 

XVI. EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the Committee 

finds that H.R. 1716 contains no earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 

limited tariff benefits. 

XVII. APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that H.R. 1716 does not relate to the terms 

and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

XVIII. STATEMENT ON PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL

LAW

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

XIX. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 


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FEDERAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH AND 

MONITORING ACT OF 2009 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE XII—NOAA UNDERSEA RESEARCH 

PROGRAM ACT OF 2009 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle D—Federal Ocean Acidification 

Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 12403. DEFINITIONS. 

In this subtitle: 

(1) OCEAN ACIDIFICATION.—The term ‘‘ocean acidification’’ 

means the decrease in pH of the Earth’s oceans and changes 

in ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide. 

(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each State of the United 

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United 

States, and any other territory or possession of the United 

States. 

ø(3)¿ (4) SUBCOMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Subcommittee’’ means 

the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of 

the National Science and Technology Council. 

(5) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘‘United States’’ means the 

States, collectively. 

SEC. 12404. INTERAGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE. 

(a) DESIGNATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science 

and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council shall coordinate Federal activities on ocean acidification and 

establish an interagency working group. 

(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The interagency working group on ocean 

acidification shall be comprised of senior representatives from 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and such other Federal agencies as appropriate. 

(3) CHAIRMAN.—The interagency working group shall be 

chaired by the representative from the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration. 

(b) DUTIES.—The Subcommittee shall— 

(1) develop the strategic research and monitoring plan to 

guide Federal research on ocean acidification required under 


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section 12405 of this subtitle and oversee the implementation 

of the plan; 

(2) oversee the development of— 

(A) an assessment of the potential impacts of ocean 

acidification on marine organisms and marine ecosystems; 

and 

(B) adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and ecosystems exposed to ocean acidification; 

(3) facilitate communication and outreach opportunities with 

nongovernmental organizations and members of the stakeholder community with interests in marine resources; 

(4) coordinate the United States Federal research and monitoring program with research and monitoring programs and 

scientists from other nations; and 

(5) establish or designate an Ocean Acidification Information 

Exchange to make information on ocean acidification developed 

through or utilized by the interagency ocean acidification program accessible through electronic means, øincluding information¿ including— 

(A) information which would be useful to policymakers, 

researchers, and other stakeholders in mitigating or adapting to the impacts of ocean acidificationø.¿; and 

(B) an ongoing mechanism that allows affected industry 

members, coastal stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, community acidification networks, indigenous 

knowledge groups, and scientific experts not employed by 

the Federal Government to provide input on research, data, 

and monitoring that is necessary to support on-the-ground 

management, decisionmaking, and adaptation related to 

ocean acidification and its impacts. 

(c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 

(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall transmit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

of Representatives that— 

(A) includes a summary of federally funded ocean acidification research and monitoring activities, including the 

budget for each of these activities; and 

(B) describes the progress in developing the plan required under section 12405 of this subtitle. 

(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the delivery of the initial report under paragraph (1) and every 2 

years thereafter, the Subcommittee shall transmit a report to 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and 

the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives that includes— 

(A) a summary of federally funded ocean acidification research and monitoring activities, including the budget for 

each of these activities; and 


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(B) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving 

the goals and priorities for the interagency research plan 

developed by the Subcommittee under section 12405. 

(3) STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 2 years after 

the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall 

transmit the strategic research plan developed under section 

12405 to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 

of Representatives. A revised plan shall be submitted at least 

once every 5 years thereafter. 

SEC. 12405. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall develop a strategic plan 

for Federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification that will 

provide for an assessment of the impacts of ocean acidification on 

marine organisms and marine ecosystems and the development of 

adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms 

and marine ecosystems. In developing the plan, the Subcommittee 

shall consider and use information, reports, and studies of ocean 

acidification that have identified research and monitoring needed 

to better understand ocean acidification and its potential impacts, 

and recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences 

in the review of the plan required under subsection (d). 

(b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.—The plan shall— 

(1) provide for interdisciplinary research among the ocean 

sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve 

the understanding of ocean chemistry that will affect marine 

ecosystems; 

(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year the 

plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal research 

and monitoring which will— 

(A) advance understanding of ocean acidification and its 

physical, chemical, and biological impacts on marine organisms and marine ecosystems; 

(B) improve the ability to assess the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification; and 

(C) provide information for the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems; 

(3) describe specific activities, including— 

(A) efforts to determine user needs; 

(B) research activities; 

(C) monitoring activities; 

(D) technology and methods development; 

(E) data collection; 

(F) database development; 

(G) modeling activities; 

(H) assessment of ocean acidification impacts; and 

(I) participation in international research efforts; 

(4) identify relevant programs and activities of the Federal 

agencies that contribute to the interagency program directly 

and indirectly and set forth the role of each Federal agency in 

implementing the plan; 


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(5) consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports and studies 

conducted by Federal agencies, the National Research Council, 

or other entities; 

(6) make recommendations for the coordination of the ocean 

acidification research and monitoring activities of the United 

States with such activities of other nations and international 

organizations; 

(7) outline budget requirements for Federal ocean acidification research and monitoring and assessment activities to be 

conducted by each agency under the plan; 

(8) identify the monitoring systems and sampling programs 

currently employed in collecting data relevant to ocean acidification and prioritize additional monitoring systems that may 

be needed to ensure adequate data collection and monitoring of 

ocean acidification and its impacts; øand¿ 

(9) describe specific activities designed to facilitate outreach 

and data and information exchange with stakeholder 

communitiesø.¿; and 

(10) make recommendations for research that should be conducted, including in the social sciences and economics, to address the key knowledge gaps identified in the community vulnerability assessment report conducted under section 12406(b). 

(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The plan shall include at a minimum 

the following program elements: 

(1) Monitoring of ocean chemistry and biological impacts associated with ocean acidification at selected coastal and openocean monitoring stations, including satellite-based monitoring 

to characterize— 

(A) marine ecosystems; 

(B) changes in marine productivity; and 

(C) changes in surface ocean chemistry. 

(2) Research to understand the species specific physiological 

responses of marine organisms to ocean acidification, impacts 

on marine food webs of ocean acidification, and to develop environmental and ecological indices that track marine ecosystem 

responses to ocean acidification. 

(3) Modeling to predict changes in the ocean carbon cycle as 

a function of carbon dioxide and atmosphere-induced changes 

in temperature, ocean circulation, biogeochemistry, ecosystem 

and terrestrial input, and modeling to determine impacts on 

marine ecosystems and individual marine organisms. 

(4) Technology development and standardization of carbonate 

chemistry measurements on moorings and autonomous floats. 

(5) Assessment of socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and development of adaptation and mitigation strategies 

to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems. 

(d) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 

Sciences to review the plan. 

(e) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In developing the plan, the Subcommittee shall consult with representatives of academic, State, industry, tribal governments, indigenous knowledge groups, and environmental groups. Not later than 90 days before the plan, or any 

revision thereof, is submitted to the Congress, the plan shall be 


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published in the Federal Register for a public comment period of 

not less than 60 days. 

SEC. 12406. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and maintain an 

ocean acidification program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct research, monitoring, and 

other activities consistent with the strategic research and implementation plan developed by the Subcommittee under section 

12405 that— 

(1) includes— 

(A) interdisciplinary research among the ocean and atmospheric sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve understanding of ocean acidification; 

(B) the establishment of a long-term monitoring program 

of ocean acidification utilizing existing global and national 

ocean observing assets, and adding instrumentation and 

sampling stations as appropriate to the aims of the research program; 

(C) research to identify and develop adaptation strategies and techniques for effectively conserving marine ecosystems as they cope with increased ocean acidification; 

(D) as an integral part of the research programs described in this subtitle, educational opportunities that encourage an interdisciplinary and international approach to 

exploring the impacts of ocean acidification; 

(E) as an integral part of the research programs described in this subtitle, national public outreach activities 

to improve the understanding of current scientific knowledge of ocean acidification and its impacts on marine resources; and 

(F) coordination of ocean acidification monitoring and 

impacts research with other appropriate international 

ocean science bodies such as the International Oceanographic Commission, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the North Pacific Marine Science Organization, and others; 

(2) provides grants for critical research projects that explore 

the effects of ocean acidification on ecosystems and the socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean acidification that are relevant to the goals and priorities of the strategic research plan; 

and 

(3) incorporates a competitive merit-based process for awarding grants that may be conducted jointly with other participating agencies or under the National Oceanographic Partnership Program under section 8931 of title 10, United States 

Code. 

(b) COMMUNITY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the program established under subsection (a), shall conduct an ocean acidification 

coastal community vulnerability assessment, and issue a corresponding public report, which shall be updated at least once 

every 7 years. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The assessment conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 


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(A) identify the United States coastal communities, including island communities, low-population rural communities, and subsistence communities, that are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted 

by ocean acidification; 

(B) assess the nature of the social and economic 

vulnerabilities of those communities, including the economic impact on local or regional commercial fisheries and 

recreational opportunities; 

(C) identify the ocean acidification impacts that might 

harm those communities, including impacts from changes 

in ocean and coastal marine resources that are not managed by the Federal Government; 

(D) identify key knowledge gaps where research could be 

devoted to better understand the possible impacts of ocean 

acidification on those communities, the risks and threats 

facing those communities, and possible adaptation strategies for those communities; and 

(E) be conducted in collaboration with experts, indigenous knowledge groups, and stakeholders who are familiar 

with the unique economic, social, ecological, geographic, 

and resource concerns of coastal communities in the United 

States, including representatives of— 

(i) the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Office for Coastal Management of the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration; 

(ii) National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System regional information coordination entities 

established under section 12304(c)(4) of the Integrated 

Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 

U.S.C. 3603(c)(4)); 

(iii) regional ocean acidification networks; and 

(iv) State sea grant programs (as defined in section 

203 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 

U.S.C. 1122)). 

(c) SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS

AND STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLANNING.—In carrying out the program 

established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate 

with State, local, and tribal government entities that are conducting 

or have completed vulnerability assessments, strategic research 

planning, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification 

and its impacts on coastal communities, for the purpose of— 

(1) determining whether such activities can be used as a 

model for other communities; and 

(2) identifying opportunities for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal agencies 

to support such activities. 

ø(b)¿ (d) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—In conducting the Program, 

the Secretary may enter into and perform such contracts, leases, 

grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out 

the purposes of this subtitle on such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

* * * * * * * 


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SEC. 12409. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

ø(a) NOAA.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the 

purposes of this subtitle— 

ø(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ 

(a) NOAA.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the 

purposes of this subtitle $2,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 

through 2024. 

(b) NSF.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out the purposes of this subtitle— 

(1) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

(2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

(4) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 

* * * * * * * 


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