I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3303 To establish a national oceanographic partnership program to promote the national goals of assuring national security, advancing economic develop- ment, protecting quality of life, and strengthening science education

through oceanographic research and development.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 23, 1996 Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on National Security and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris- diction of the committee concerned

A BILL To establish a national oceanographic partnership program

to promote the national goals of assuring national security, advancing economic development, protecting quality

of life, and strengthening science education through

oceanographic research and development.

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.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Oceano5 graphic Partnership Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

2 Congress finds the following:

3 (1) The oceans and coastal areas of the United

4 States are among the Nation’s most valuable natural

5 resources, making substantial contributions to eco6 nomic growth, quality of life, and national security.

7 (2) Oceans drive global and regional climate.

8 Hence, they contain information affecting agri9 culture, fishing, and the prediction of severe weath10 er.

11 (3) Understanding of the oceans through basic

12 and applied research is essential for using the

13 oceans wisely and protecting their limited resources.

14 Therefore, the United States should maintain its

15 world leadership in oceanography as one key to its

16 competitive future.

17 (4) Ocean research and education activities take

18 place within Federal agencies, academic institutions,

19 and industry. These entities often have similar re20 quirements for research facilities, data, and other re21 sources (such as oceanographic research vessels).

22 (5) The need exists for a formal mechanism to

23 coordinate existing partnerships and establish new

24 partnerships for the sharing of resources, intellectual

25 talent, and facilities in the ocean sciences and edu26 cation, so that optimal use can be made of this most
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1 important natural resource for the well-being of all

2 Americans.

3 SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PARTNERSHIP PRO4 GRAM.

5 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—(1) Subtitle C of title 10,

6 United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter

7 663 the following new chapter:

8 ‘‘CHAPTER 665—NATIONAL OCEANO9 GRAPHIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

‘‘Sec.

‘‘7901. National Oceanographic Partnership Program.

‘‘7902. National Ocean Research Leadership Council.

‘‘7903. Ocean Research Partnership Coordinating Group.

‘‘7904. Ocean Research Advisory Panel.

10 ‘‘§ 7901. National Oceanographic Partnership Pro11 gram

12 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Navy

13 shall establish a program to be known as the ‘National

14 Oceanographic Partnership Program’.

15 ‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program are

16 as follows:

17 ‘‘(1) To promote the national goals of assuring

18 national security, advancing economic development,

19 protecting quality of life, and strengthening science

20 education and communication through improved

21 knowledge of the ocean.

22 ‘‘(2) To coordinate and strengthen oceano23 graphic efforts in support of those goals by—
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1 ‘‘(A) identifying and carrying out partner2 ships among Federal agencies, academia, indus3 try, and other members of the oceanographic

4 scientific community in the areas of data, re5 sources, education, and communication; and

6 ‘‘(B) reporting annually to Congress on the

7 program.

8 ‘‘§ 7902. National Ocean Research Leadership Council

9 ‘‘(a) COUNCIL.—There is a National Ocean Research

10 Leadership Council (hereinafter in this chapter referred

11 to as the ‘‘Council’’).

12 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council is composed of the

13 following members:

14 ‘‘(1) The Secretary of the Navy, who shall be

15 the chairman of the Council.

16 ‘‘(2) The Administrator of the National Oceanic

17 and Atmospheric Administration, who shall be the

18 vice chairman of the Council.

19 ‘‘(3) The Director of the National Science

20 Foundation.

21 ‘‘(4) The Administrator of the National Aero22 nautics and Space Administration.

23 ‘‘(5) The Deputy Secretary of Energy.

24 ‘‘(6) The Administrator of the Environmental

25 Protection Agency.
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1 ‘‘(7) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.

2 ‘‘(8) The Director of the Geological Survey of

3 the Department of the Interior.

4 ‘‘(9) The Director of the Defense Advanced Re5 search Projects Agency.

6 ‘‘(10) The Director of the Minerals Manage7 ment Service of the Department of the Interior.

8 ‘‘(11) The President of the National Academy

9 of Sciences, the President of the National Academy

10 of Engineering, and the President of the Institute of

11 Medicine.

12 ‘‘(12) The Director of the Office of Science and

13 Technology.

14 ‘‘(13) The Director of the Office of Manage15 ment and Budget.

16 ‘‘(14) One member appointed by the Chairman

17 from among individuals who will represent the views

18 of ocean industries.

19 ‘‘(15) One member appointed by the Chairman

20 from among individuals who will represent the views

21 of State governments.

22 ‘‘(16) One member appointed by the Chairman

23 from among individuals who will represent the views

24 of academia.
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1 ‘‘(17) One member appointed by the Chairman

2 from among individuals who will represent such

3 other views as the Chairman considers appropriate.

4 ‘‘(c) TERM OF OFFICE.—The term of office of a

5 member of the Council appointed under paragraph (14),

6 (15), (16), or (17) of subsection (b) shall be two years,

7 except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occur8 ring before the expiration of the term for which his prede9 cessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder

10 of such term.

11 ‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Council shall have the

12 following responsibilities:

13 ‘‘(1) To establish the Ocean Research Partner14 ship Coordinating Group as provided in section

15 7903.

16 ‘‘(2) To establish the Ocean Research Advisory

17 Panel as provided in section 7904.

18 ‘‘(3) To submit to Congress an annual report

19 pursuant to subsection (e).

20 ‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 1 of

21 each year, the Council shall submit to Congress a report

22 on the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. The

23 report shall contain the following:

24 ‘‘(1) A description of activities of the program

25 carried out during the fiscal year before the fiscal
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1 year in which the report is prepared. The description

2 also shall include a list of the members of the Ocean

3 Research Partnership Coordinating Group, the

4 Ocean Research Advisory Panel, and any working

5 groups in existence during the fiscal year covered.

6 ‘‘(2) A general outline of the activities planned

7 for the program during the fiscal year in which the

8 report is prepared.

9 ‘‘(3) A summary of projects continued from the

10 fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the report

11 is prepared and projects expected to be started dur12 ing the fiscal year in which the report is prepared

13 and during the following fiscal year.

14 ‘‘(4) A description of the involvement of the

15 program with Federal interagency coordinating enti16 ties.

17 ‘‘(5) The amounts requested, in the budget sub18 mitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of

19 title 31 for the fiscal year following the fiscal year

20 in which the report is prepared, for the programs,

21 projects, and activities of the program and the esti22 mated expenditures under such programs, projects,

23 and activities during such following fiscal year.
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1 ‘‘§ 7903. Ocean Research Partnership Coordinating

2 Group

3 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Council shall establish

4 an entity to be known as the ‘Ocean Research Partnership

5 Coordinating Group’ (hereinafter in this chapter referred

6 to as the ‘Coordinating Group’).

7 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Coordinating Group shall

8 consist of members appointed by the Council, with one

9 member appointed from each Federal department or agen10 cy having an oceanographic research or development pro11 gram.

12 ‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN.—The Council shall appoint the

13 Chairman of the Coordinating Group.

14 ‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the authority,

15 direction, and control of the Council, the Coordinating

16 Group shall have the following responsibilities:

17 ‘‘(1) To prescribe policies and procedures to im18 plement the National Oceanographic Partnership

19 Program.

20 ‘‘(2) To review, select, and identify and allocate

21 funds for partnership projects for implementation

22 under the program, based on the following criteria:

23 ‘‘(A) Whether the project addresses critical

24 research objectives or operational goals, such as

25 data accessibility and quality assurance, sharing

26 of resources, education, or communication.
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1 ‘‘(B) Whether the project has broad par2 ticipation within the oceanographic community.

3 ‘‘(C) Whether the partners have a long4 term commitment to the objectives of the

5 project.

6 ‘‘(D) Whether the resources supporting the

7 project are shared among the partners.

8 ‘‘(E) Whether the project has been sub9 jected to adequate peer review.

10 ‘‘(3) To promote participation in partnership

11 projects by each Federal department and agency in12 volved with oceanographic research and development

13 by publicizing the program and by prescribing guide14 lines for participation in the program.

15 ‘‘(4) To submit to the Council an annual report

16 pursuant to subsection (i).

17 ‘‘(e) PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFICE.—The Coordi18 nating Group shall establish, using competitive proce19 dures, and oversee a partnership program office to carry

20 out such duties as the Chairman of the Coordinating

21 Group considers appropriate to implement the National

22 Oceanographic Partnership Program, including the follow23 ing:
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1 ‘‘(1) To establish and oversee working groups

2 to propose partnership projects to the Coordinating

3 Group and advise the Group on such projects.

4 ‘‘(2) To manage peer review of partnership

5 projects proposed to the Coordinating Group and

6 competitions for projects selected by the Group.

7 ‘‘(3) To submit to the Coordinating Group an

8 annual report on the status of all partnership

9 projects and activities of the office.

10 ‘‘(f) CONTRACT AND GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Co11 ordinating Group may authorize one or more of the de12 partments or agencies represented in the Group to enter

13 into contracts and make grants, using funds appropriated

14 pursuant to an authorization for the National Oceano15 graphic Partnership Program, for the purpose of imple16 menting the program and carrying out the Coordinating

17 Group’s responsibilities.

18 ‘‘(g) FORMS OF PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.—Partner19 ship projects selected by the Coordinating Group may be

20 in any form that the Coordinating Group considers appro21 priate, including memoranda of understanding, coopera22 tive research and development agreements, and similar in23 struments.

24 ‘‘(h) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than February 1

25 of each year, the Coordinating Group shall submit to the
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1 Council a report on the National Oceanographic Partner2 ship Program. The report shall contain, at a minimum,

3 copies of any recommendations or reports to the Coordi4 nating Group by the Ocean Research Advisory Panel.

5 ‘‘§ 7904. Ocean Research Advisory Panel

6 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Council shall appoint

7 an Ocean Research Advisory Panel (hereinafter in this

8 chapter referred to as the ‘Advisory Panel’) consisting of

9 not less than 10 and not more than 18 members.

10 ‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Members of the Advisory Panel

11 shall be appointed from among persons who are eminent

12 in the fields of marine science or marine policy, or related

13 fields, and who are representative, at a minimum, of the

14 interests of government, academia, and industry.

15 ‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—(1) The Coordinating

16 Group shall refer to the Advisory Panel, and the Advisory

17 Panel shall review, each proposed partnership project esti18 mated to cost more than $500,000. The Advisory Panel

19 shall make any recommendations to the Coordinating

20 Group that the Advisory Panel considers appropriate re21 garding such projects.

22 ‘‘(2) The Advisory Panel shall make any rec23 ommendations to the Coordinating Group regarding activi24 ties that should be addressed by the National Oceano-
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1 graphic Partnership Program that the Advisory Panel

2 considers appropriate.’’.

3 (2) The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle

4 C of title 10, United States Code, and at the beginning

5 of part IV of such subtitle, are each amended by inserting

6 after the item relating to chapter 663 the following:

‘‘665. National Oceanographic Partnership Program ......... 7901’’.

7 (b) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS OF COUNCIL MEM8 BERS.—The Secretary of the Navy shall make the ap9 pointments required by section 7902(b) of title 10, United

10 States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), not later than

11 December 1, 1996.

12 (c) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS OF ADVISORY PANEL

13 MEMBERS.—The National Ocean Research Leadership

14 Council established by section 7902 of title 10, United

15 States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), shall make

16 the appointments required by section 7904 of such title

17 not later than January 1, 1997.

18 (d) FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF NATIONAL OCEAN

19 RESEARCH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.—The first annual re20 port required by section 7902(e) of title 10, United States

21 Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), shall be submitted

22 to Congress not later than March 1, 1997. The first report

23 shall include, in addition to the information required by

24 such section, information about the terms of office, proce-
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1 dures, and responsibilities of the Ocean Research Advisory

2 Panel established by the Council.

3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

4 authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for the Na5 tional Oceanographic Partnership Program for fiscal year

6 1997.

7 (f) REQUIRED FUNDING FOR PROGRAM OFFICE.—Of

8 the amount appropriated for the National Oceanographic

9 Partnership Program for fiscal year 1997, at least

10 $500,000, or 3 percent of the amount appropriated,

11 whichever is greater, shall be available for operations of

12 the partnership program office established pursuant to

13 section 7903(e) of title 10, United States Code, for such

14 fiscal year.

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