II 

Calendar No. 607 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2030 

[Report No. 113–279] 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2014 

Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. WICKER, and Ms. CANTWELL) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

DECEMBER 1, 2014 

Reported by Mr. ROCKEFELLER, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College 

Program Act, and for other purposes. 

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 Sea Grant 

5 College Program Amendments Act of 2014’’. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 2030 RS

1 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL2 LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 

3 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 

4 this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 

5 of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi6 sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 

7 section or other provision of the National Sea Grant Col8 lege Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 

9 SEC. 3. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTI10 TUTES; ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS. 

11 Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended by striking 

12 subsection (e). 

13 SEC. 4. DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOW14 SHIP. 

15 Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by 

16 striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

17 SEC. 5. REPORT ON COORDINATION OF OCEANS AND 

18 COASTAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

19 Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

20 Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 

21 SEC. 6. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD REPORT. 

22 Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended by 

23 amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(2) REPORT.—The Board shall report to the 

25 Congress every 3 years on the state of the national 

26 sea grant college program. The Board shall indicate 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 2030 RS

1 in each such report the progress made toward meet2 ing the priorities identified in the strategic plan in 

3 effect under section 204(c). The Secretary shall 

4 make available to the Board such information, per5 sonnel, and administrative services and assistance as 

6 it may reasonably require to carry out its duties 

7 under this title.’’. 

8 SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT. 

9 Section 205(c) (33 U.S.C. 1124(c)) is amended by 

10 striking ‘‘ELEGIBILITY’’ in the heading and inserting 

11 ‘‘ELIGIBILITY’’. 

12 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 

14 1131(a)) is amended— 

15 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

16 (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub17 paragraph (E); 

18 (B) by striking the period at the end of 

19 subparagraph (F) and inserting a semicolon; 

20 and 

21 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘(G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

23 ‘‘(H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

24 ‘‘(I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; 

25 ‘‘(J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 2030 RS

1 ‘‘(K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020.’’; 

4 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ACTIVITIES’’ 

5 in the heading and inserting ‘‘ACTIVITIES THROUGH

6 FISCAL YEAR 2014’’; and 

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

8 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS

9 2015 THROUGH 2020.—In addition to the amounts 

10 authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized 

11 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2015 

12 through 2020 $18,000,000 for competitive grants 

13 for the following: 

14 ‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 

15 prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative 

16 species. 

17 ‘‘(B) University research on oyster dis18 eases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related 

19 human health risks. 

20 ‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 

21 prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 

22 blooms. 

23 ‘‘(D) University research, education, train24 ing, and extension services and activities fo25 cused on regional or national priority issues 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 2030 RS

1 identified in the strategic plan under section 

2 204(c)(1). 

3 ‘‘(E) Fishery extension activities conducted 

4 by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to 

5 enhance, and not supplant, existing core pro6 gram funding.’’. 

7 (b) LIMITATIONS.—Section 212(b)(1) (33 U.S.C. 

8 1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There may not be 

11 used for administration of programs under this 

12 title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of 

13 the lesser of— 

14 ‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap15 propriated under this title for the fiscal 

16 year; or 

17 ‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 

18 this title for the fiscal year. 

19 ‘‘(B) CRITICAL STAFFING REQUIRE20 MENTS.—The Director shall use the authority 

21 under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, 

22 United States Code, to meet any critical staff23 ing requirement while implementing the activi24 ties authorized in this title. The costs associated 

25 with that exercise of authority shall not be 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 2030 RS

1 counted toward the cap under subparagraph 

2 (A).’’. 

3 (c) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Section 212(c) (33 

4 U.S.C. 1131(c)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, the year in 

5 which base funding was set,’’ after ‘‘2003’’. 

6 (d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 212(b)(2) 

7 (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or 

8 (a)(3)’’ after ‘‘(a)(2)’’. 

9 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

10 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant Col11 lege Program Amendments Act of 2014’’. 

12 SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COL13 LEGE PROGRAM ACT. 

14 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in 

15 this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of 

16 an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 

17 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 

18 other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program 

19 Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 

20 SEC. 3. SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT INSTI21 TUTES; ANNUAL REPORT ON PROGRESS. 

22 Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126) is amended by striking 

23 subsection (e). 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 2030 RS

1 SEC. 4. DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOW2 SHIP. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) 

4 is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

5 (b) PLACEMENTS IN CONGRESS.—Section 208(b) (33 

6 U.S.C. 1127(b)), as amended by subsection (a) of this sec7 tion, is further amended— 

8 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec9 retary’’ and inserting the following: 

10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

11 (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para12 graph (1), in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘A fel13 lowship’’ and inserting the following: 

14 ‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 

15 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each year in which 

16 the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 

17 under this subsection, when considering the 

18 placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 

19 prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 

20 ‘‘(i) Positions in offices of, or with 

21 members on, committees of Congress that 

22 have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic 

23 and Atmospheric Administration. 

24 ‘‘(ii) Positions in offices of members of 

25 Congress that have a demonstrated interest 

26 in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 2030 RS

1 ‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—In plac2 ing fellows in offices described in subparagraph 

3 (A), the Secretary shall ensure, to the degree 

4 practicable, that placements are equitably dis5 tributed among the political parties. 

6 ‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 

7 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub8 section (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar 

9 year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 

10 (d) SENSE OF CONGRESS; ENCOURAGEMENT OF CA11 REER DEVELOPMENT.—It is the sense of Congress that in 

12 recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship under 

13 section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program 

14 Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the exceptional qualifica15 tions of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, 

16 acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 

17 and Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal 

18 agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees 

19 at the conclusion of their fellowship for workforce positions 

20 appropriate for their education and experience. 

21 SEC. 5. DONATIONS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 

23 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not25 withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 2030 RS

1 States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 

2 services;’’. 

3 (b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting 

4 through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 

5 Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona6 tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 

7 Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)), 

8 and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of 

9 expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow10 ship’s placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative 

11 offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), 

12 in accordance with the recommendations under subsection 

13 (c) of this section. 

14 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

15 of enactment of this Act, the National Sea Grant Office, 

16 in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory 

17 Board and the Sea Grant Association, shall— 

18 (1) recommend the optimal use of any donations 

19 accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 

20 Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 

21 1123(c)(4)(E)); and 

22 (2) report the recommendations under paragraph 

23 (1) to Congress. 

24 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

25 construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 2030 RS

1 available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) 

2 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 

3 1127(b)), including amounts accepted under section 

4 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F) or appro5 priated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1131). 

6 SEC. 6. REPORT ON COORDINATION OF OCEANS AND 

7 COASTAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

8 Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

9 Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 

10 SEC. 7. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD REPORT. 

11 Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended by 

12 amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

13 ‘‘(2) REPORT.—The Board shall report to the 

14 Congress every 3 years on the state of the national sea 

15 grant college program. The Board shall indicate in 

16 each such report the progress made toward meeting 

17 the priorities identified in the strategic plan in effect 

18 under section 204(c). The Secretary shall make avail19 able to the Board such information, personnel, and 

20 administrative services and assistance as it may rea21 sonably require to carry out its duties under this 

22 title.’’. 

23 SEC. 8. PROGRAM ELEMENTS. 

24 Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended by in25 serting ‘‘for research, education, extension, training, techVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Dec 02, 2014 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S2030.RS S2030

emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 2030 RS

1 nology transfer, and public service’’ after ‘‘financial assist2 ance’’. 

3 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) 

5 is amended— 

6 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs 

7 (A) through (F) and inserting the following: 

8 ‘‘(A) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

9 ‘‘(B) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

10 ‘‘(C) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; 

11 ‘‘(D) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; 

12 ‘‘(E) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; and 

13 ‘‘(F) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020.’’; and 

14 (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol15 lows: 

16 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES.—In addition to the 

17 amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is au18 thorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 

19 2015 through 2020 $6,000,000 for competitive grants 

20 for the following: 

21 ‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 

22 prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative spe23 cies. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 2030 RS

1 ‘‘(B) University research on oyster diseases, 

2 oyster restoration, and oyster-related human 

3 health risks. 

4 ‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 

5 prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 

6 blooms. 

7 ‘‘(D) University research, education, train8 ing, and extension services and activities focused 

9 on coastal resilience and U.S. working water10 fronts and other regional or national priority 

11 issues identified in the strategic plan under sec12 tion 204(c)(1). 

13 ‘‘(E) University research on sustainable 

14 aquaculture techniques and technologies. 

15 ‘‘(F) Fishery extension activities conducted 

16 by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to 

17 enhance, and not supplant, existing core pro18 gram funding.’’. 

19 (b) LIMITATIONS.—Section 212(b)(1) (33 U.S.C. 

20 1131(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 

22 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There may not be used 

23 for administration of programs under this title 

24 in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the less25 er of— 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•S 2030 RS

1 ‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap2 propriated under this title for the fiscal 

3 year; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 

5 this title for the fiscal year. 

6 ‘‘(B) CRITICAL STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.— 

7 The Director shall use the authority under sub8 chapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 

9 Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement 

10 while implementing the activities authorized in 

11 this title. The costs associated with that exercise 

12 of authority shall not be counted toward the cap 

13 under subparagraph (A).’’. 

14 (c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 

16 1123(d)(3) is amended— 

17 (A) by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant 

18 colleges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting 

19 ‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant in20 stitutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 

21 projects’’; and 

22 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

23 ‘‘funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant 

24 institutes’’ and inserting ‘‘funding among sea 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•S 2030 RS

1 grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant 

2 programs, and sea grant projects’’. 

3 (2) EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 

4 1131) is amended— 

5 (A) by striking subsection (c); and 

6 (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) 

7 as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS

emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
Calendar No. 607 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2030 

[Report No. 113–279] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant 

College Program Act, and for other purposes. 

DECEMBER 1, 2014 

Reported with an amendment 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS