IB 

Union Calendar No. 57 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 988 

[Report No. 116–82, Part I] 

To provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies 

of Science examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors 

in estuarine environments. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 6, 2019 

Mr. POSEY (for himself, Ms. BONAMICI, and Mr. MAST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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 

MAY 23, 2019 

Additional sponsors: Mr. CRIST, Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Mr. 

WALTZ, Mr. CLOUD, and Ms. JOHNSON of Texas 

MAY 23, 2019 

Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with 

amendments 

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

MAY 23, 2019 

Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed to the Committee of 

the Whole House on the State of the Union 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 6, 2019] 


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•HR 988 RH

A BILL 

To provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board of 

the National Academies of Science examining the impact 

of ocean acidification and other stressors in estuarine 

environments. 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
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•HR 988 RH

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 Estuaries and 

5 Acidification Research Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘NEAR Act of 

6 2019’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

8 Congress finds the following: 

9 (1) Ocean acidification impacts human health, 

10 natural resources, and the environmental, economic, 

11 and recreational uses of the coastline. 

12 (2) The current understanding of ocean acidifi13 cation impacts on estuarine ecosystems is inadequate 

14 to fully prepare and manage for changing environ15 mental conditions in nearshore locations. 

16 (3) While pH can be measured with high preci17 sion and accuracy in open ocean environments, more 

18 understanding of the carbonate system in estuarine 

19 ecosystems is needed for precise and accurate meas20 urements and observations. 

21 (4) The interaction of multiple stressors, includ22 ing salinity, pH, temperature, sea level rise, and nu23 trient input, within estuarine ecosystems is inad24 equately understood for managing the health, ecoVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:22 May 24, 2019 Jkt 034408 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H988.RH H988

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•HR 988 RH

1 nomic, recreational, and environmental impacts driv2 en by these interactions. 

3 (5) A better understanding is needed of how an4 thropogenic influences in coastal environments affect 

5 estuarine ecosystems. 

6 (6) More integration and coordination is needed 

7 among regional, national, and global environmental 

8 observations in estuarine environments, supporting 

9 prior investments in related topics such as nutrient 

10 loading, hypoxia, ocean acidification, and harmful 

11 algae bloom research and observational systems. 

12 SEC. 3. STUDY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF OCEAN ACIDIFI13 CATION AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL 

14 STRESSORS ON ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

16 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce 

17 shall make appropriate arrangements with the Ocean Stud18 ies Board of the National Academies under which the Board 

19 shall conduct a study that— 

20 (1) examines the existing science of ocean acidifi21 cation in estuarine environments; 

22 (2) examines the challenges to studying ocean 

23 acidification and ocean acidification’s interactions 

24 with other environment stressors in estuarine environ25 ments; 


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•HR 988 RH

1 (3) provides recommendations for improving fu2 ture research with respect to ocean acidification in es3 tuarine environments; and 

4 (4) identifies pathways for applying science in 

5 management and mitigation decisions relating to 

6 ocean acidification in estuarine environments. 

7 (b) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—The study described under 

8 subsection (a) shall include— 

9 (1) the behavior of the carbonate system within 

10 estuarine environments; 

11 (2) the interactions of the carbonate system with 

12 other biotic and abiotic characteristics of estuarine 

13 ecosystems; 

14 (3) how environmental and anthropogenic 

15 changes or disturbances could affect abiotic and biotic 

16 processes within estuaries; 

17 (4) how estuarine biotic and abiotic processes 

18 will be affected under predicted environmental 

19 changes; 

20 (5) the current state of data collection, interpre21 tation, storage, and retrieval and observational infra22 structure of abiotic and biotic parameters in estua23 rine ecosystems; 


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•HR 988 RH

1 (6) the gaps that exist in understanding the 

2 socio-economic and health impacts of ocean acidifica3 tion in estuaries; 

4 (7) future directions for scientific research; and 

5 (8) pathways for applying science in manage6 ment and mitigation decisions. 

7 (c) REPORT.—In entering into an arrangement under 

8 subsection (a), the Secretary shall request that the Board 

9 transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study 

10 not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this 

11 Act. 

12 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 

13 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

14 $1,000,000. 

Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to provide for 

a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors in estuarine environments.’’. 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS

pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 57 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 988 

[Report No. 116–82, Part I] 

A BILL 

To provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board 

stressors in estuarine environments. the impact of ocean acidification and other of the National Academies of Science examining 

MAY 23, 2019 

Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology with amendments 

MAY 23, 2019 

Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed 

the Union to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 


pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS