I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3627

To establish in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Oceans 

and Coastal Policy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 21, 2003

Mr. SAXTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 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 

A BILL

To establish in the Executive Office of the President the 

Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy.

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 ‘‘Office of Ocean and 

5 Coastal Policy Creation Act of 2003’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds that there is a demonstrated need 

8 for there to be an Office of Oceans and Coastal Policy 

9 in the Executive Office of the President. 
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1 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF OCEANS AND 

2 COASTAL POLICY. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

4 Executive Office of the President the Office of Oceans and 

5 Coastal Policy. 

6 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the office is to de7 velop comprehensive oceans and coastal policy and to ad8 vise the President on scientific, environmental, economic, 

9 technological, and international considerations involved in 

10 areas of national concern to ocean and coastal policy, in11 cluding the sustainable use of the Nation’s ocean and 

12 coastal resources, in order to provide for a better under13 standing and knowledge of the world’s oceans. 

14 SEC. 4. DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS. 

15 (a) DIRECTOR.—There shall be at the head of the 

16 Office a Director of the Office of Oceans and Coastal Pol17 icy, who shall—

18 (1) be appointed by the President, by and with 

19 the advice and consent of the Senate; and 

20 (2) be compensated at a rate consistent with 

21 the compensation of the Directors of other Offices 

22 within the Executive Office of the President. 

23 (b) ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS.—The President may ap24 point not more than 2 Associate Directors of the Office 

25 of Oceans and Coastal Policy, by and with the advice and 

26 consent of the Senate, who shall each—
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1 (1) be compensated at a rate not to exceed the 

2 rate provided for other Associate Directors of Offices 

3 within the Executive Office of the President; and 

4 (2) shall perform such functions as the Director 

5 may prescribe. 

6 SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR. 

7 (a) PRIMARY FUNCTION.—The primary function of 

8 the Director is to provide, within the Executive Office of 

9 the President, advice on the scientific environmental, eco10 nomic, technological, and international aspects of ocean 

11 and coastal issues that require the attention at the highest 

12 levels of the Government. 

13 (b) OTHER FUNCTIONS.—The Director shall—

14 (1) advise the President on scientific, environ15 mental, economic, technological, and international 

16 considerations involved in areas of national concern 

17 relating to ocean and coastal policy, including the 

18 sustainable use of the Nation’s ocean and coastal re19 sources; 

20 (2) evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness 

21 of the Federal effort in management and conserva22 tion of the Nation’s oceans and coastal resources, 

23 and advise the President on appropriate actions to 

24 take with respect to such management and conserva25 tion; 
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1 (3) advise the President on scientific, environ2 mental, economic, technological, and international 

3 aspects of ocean and coastal considerations with re4 gard to Federal budgets, assist the Office of Man5 agement and Budget with an annual review and 

6 analysis of funding proposed for research and devel7 opment in budgets of all Federal agencies, and aid 

8 the Office of Management and Budget and the agen9 cies throughout the budget development process; 

10 (4) assist the Office of Management and Budg11 et with an annual review and analysis of funding 

12 proposed for research and development relating to 

13 such policy in budgets of all Federal agencies, and 

14 aid the Office of Management and Budget and Fed15 eral agencies regarding oceans and coastal policy 

16 throughout the budget development process; 

17 (5) assist the President in providing general 

18 leadership and coordination of the research and de19 velopment programs of the Federal Government re20 lating to the oceans and coastal concerns; 

21 (6) coordinate the scientific, environmental, eco22 nomic, technological, and international aspects of 

23 ocean and coastal issues with the Council on Envi24 ronmental Quality, the Office of Science and Tech25 nology, the Council of Economic Advisers, and other 
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1 offices within the Executive Office of the President; 

2 and 

3 (7) perform such other functions and activities 

4 relating to the oceans and coastal policy as the 

5 President may prescribe. 

6 SEC. 6. CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON OCEAN AND 

7 COASTAL POLICY. 

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish 

9 a Commission on Ocean and Coastal Policy. The purpose 

10 of the Commission shall be to advise and assist the Direc11 tor of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Policy in identifying 

12 and fostering policies to conserve and manage the ocean 

13 and coastal environments and resources. 

14 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—(1) The Commission shall consist 

15 of no less than 18 and no more than 36 members, who 

16 shall be appointed for three year terms. 

17 (2) The Commission shall be composed of the Direc18 tor, the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, 

19 the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol20 icy, at least eight members to represent the interests of 

21 the States, and representatives of various interested stake22 holders. 

23 (3) The Director of the Office of Ocean and Coastal 

24 Policy shall serve as the Chairman of the Commission. 
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1 (4) Each member of the Commission shall, while serv2 ing on business of the Commission, be entitled to receive 

3 compensation at a rate not to exceed a daily rate to be 

4 determined by the President consistent with other Federal 

5 advisory boards. Federal and State officials serving on the 

6 Commission and serving in their official capacity shall not 

7 receive compensation in addition to their Federal or State 

8 salaries for their time on the Commission. Members of the 

9 Commission may be compensated for reasonable travel ex10 penses while performing their duties as members of the 

11 Commission. 

12 (5) The Commission shall meet at least twice per 

13 year, or as prescribed by the President.

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