IB 

Union Calendar No. 435 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6654 

[Report No. 117–602] 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers 

to respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 9, 2022 

Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. 

BLUMENAUER, Mr. CASTEN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, 

Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. CASE, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. JAYAPAL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. SCANLON, and Ms. 

MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

DECEMBER 7, 2022 

Additional sponsors: Ms. LEE of California, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. KAHELE, Mr. 

QUIGLEY, Mr. COHEN, Ms. STANSBURY, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. GARAMENDI, and Mr. NEGUSE

DECEMBER 7, 2022 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

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

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 9, 2022] 


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A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National 

Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate 

Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the effects 

of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for 

other purposes. 


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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 ‘‘Climate Adaptation 

5 Science Centers Act’’ or the ‘‘CASC Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADAPTATION.—The term ‘‘adaptation’’ 

9 means— 

10 (A) the process of adjustment to actual or 

11 expected climate and the effects of extreme weath12 er, climate trends, and climate variability; and 

13 (B) protection, management, and conserva14 tion efforts designed to maintain or enhance the 

15 ability of people, fish, wildlife, plants, land, eco16 systems, and water of the United States to with17 stand, adjust to, or recover from the effects of ex18 treme weather, climate trends, and climate vari19 ability. 

20 (2) ADVISORY SERVICE ACTIVITIES.—The term 

21 ‘‘advisory service activities’’ means activities includ22 ing— 

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1 gional Climate Adaptation Science Center re2 searchers, stakeholders, and other partners; 

3 (B) building collaborations between Na4 tional and Regional Climate Adaptation Science 

5 Center researchers, stakeholders, and other part6 ners; and 

7 (C) integrating climate adaptation science 

8 into natural and cultural resource management, 

9 decision-making and planning. 

10 (2) CULTURAL RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘cultural 

11 resources’’— 

12 (A) means those features and values related 

13 to cultural heritage; and 

14 (B) includes— 

15 (i) biological species with cultural her16 itage or ceremonial importance, and his17 toric and precontact sites, cultural land18 scapes, trails, structures, inscriptions, art, 

19 and artifacts on Federal lands or represent20 ative of the culture of Indian Tribes, Native 

21 Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific 

22 Islanders; and 

23 (ii) resources considered to be cultural 

24 resources according to the traditional 

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1 ians, and Native American Pacific Island2 ers. 

3 (3) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means 

4 the Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Re5 source Sciences established under section 6. 

6 (4) CONSORTIUM INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘con7 sortium institution’’ means college, university, State 

8 cooperative institution, State agency, Indian Tribe, 

9 Tribal College or University, Historically Black Col10 lege or University, Tribal organization, Native Ha11 waiian organization, minority-serving institution, or 

12 other educational institution or organization, Federal 

13 agency, public or private organization, or any other 

14 party within each regional center other than the 

15 United States Geological Survey and the host institu16 tion. 

17 (5) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

18 means the Department of the Interior. 

19 (6) ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.—The term ‘‘ecosystem 

20 services’’ means those benefits that ecosystems provide 

21 humans and human society, including clean air, 

22 clean water, and other economically important serv23 ices. 

24 (7) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNI25 VERSITIES.—The term ‘‘Historically Black Colleges 


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1 and Universities’’ has the same meaning given the 

2 term ‘‘part B institutions’’ in section 322 of the 

3 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 

4 (8) HOST INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘host institu5 tion’’ means the non-Federal lead organization within 

6 each regional center. 

7 (9) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

8 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In9 dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

10 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)). 

11 (10) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

12 term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means a His13 panic-serving institution, an Alaska Native-serving 

14 institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, a 

15 Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian American 

16 and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institu17 tion, or a Native American-serving nontribal institu18 tion (as described in section 371 of the Higher Edu19 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))). 

20 (11) NATIONAL CENTER.—The term ‘‘National 

21 Center’’ means the National Climate Adaptation 

22 Science Center established under section 3(a). 

23 (12) NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS.— 

24 The term ‘‘Native American Pacific Islanders’’ means 

25 any descendent of the aboriginal people of any island 


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1 in the Pacific Ocean that is a territory of the United 

2 States. 

3 (13) NATIVE HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘‘Native Ha4 waiian’’ means any individual who is a descendant 

5 of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied 

6 and exercised sovereignty in the area that now con7 stitutes the State of Hawaii. 

8 (14) NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATION.—The 

9 term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ means— 

10 (A) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; 

11 (B) Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i 

12 Nei; and 

13 (C) any other organization that— 

14 (i) serves and represents the interests of 

15 Native Hawaiians; 

16 (ii) has as a primary and stated pur17 pose the provision of services to Native Ha18 waiians; and 

19 (iii) has expertise in Native Hawaiian 

20 Affairs. 

21 (15) NATURAL RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘natural 

22 resources’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

23 11.14 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations. 

24 (16) REGIONAL CENTER.—The term ‘‘regional 

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1 tion Science Centers established under section 3(a) 

2 that provide support for specific geographic locations 

3 in the United States. 

4 (17) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

5 the Secretary of the Interior. 

6 (18) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 

7 (A) a State of the United States; 

8 (B) the District of Columbia; 

9 (C) American Samoa; 

10 (D) Guam; 

11 (E) the Commonwealth of the Northern 

12 Mariana Islands; 

13 (F) Puerto Rico; and 

14 (G) the Virgin Islands of the United States. 

15 (19) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.—The 

16 term ‘‘Tribal College or University’’ means an insti17 tution that— 

18 (A) qualifies for funding under the Tribally 

19 Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance 

20 Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the Nav21 ajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a 

22 note); or 

23 (B) is cited in section 532 of the Equity in 

24 Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 

25 U.S.C. 301 note). 


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1 (20) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 

2 organization’’ means— 

3 (A) the recognized governing body of any 

4 Indian Tribe; or 

5 (B) any legally established organization of 

6 Indians that is— 

7 (i) controlled, sanctioned, or chartered 

8 by the recognized governing body of an In9 dian Tribe; or 

10 (ii)(I) democratically elected by the 

11 adult members of the Indian community to 

12 be served by such organization; and 

13 (II) includes the maximum participa14 tion of Indians in all phases of its activi15 ties. 

16 (21) UNIVERSITY.—The term ‘‘university’’ has 

17 the meaning given to the term ‘‘institution of higher 

18 education’’ in section 101(a) of the Higher Education 

19 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

20 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collabora23 tion with States, Indian Tribes, and other partner or24 ganizations, shall establish a program to be known as 


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1 the ‘‘National and Regional Climate Adaptation 

2 Science Centers’’, which shall— 

3 (A) provide scientific expertise to agencies, 

4 organizations, individuals, Indian Tribes, tribal 

5 organizations, and Native Hawaiian organiza6 tions engaged in the management of natural re7 sources, cultural resources, and ecosystem serv8 ices for the purpose of informing decisions that 

9 aid adaptation to a changing climate and ex10 treme weather events; and 

11 (B) include a National Climate Adaptation 

12 Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation 

13 Science Centers. 

14 (2) CHIEF; DIRECTORS.— 

15 (A) CHIEF.—The Chief of the National Cen16 ter shall be a United States Geological Survey 

17 employee and shall be responsible for national18 scale and network-wide strategic initiatives, 

19 science direction, and partnerships. 

20 (B) DIRECTORS.—Each regional center 

21 shall have— 

22 (i) a Federal Director who shall— 

23 (I) be a United States Geological 

24 Survey employee; 


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1 (II) report directly to the Chief of 

2 the National Center; and 

3 (III) be responsible for region-spe4 cific and cross-regional strategic ini5 tiatives and implementation of climate 

6 science research agendas; and 

7 (ii) a Host Institution Director who 

8 shall— 

9 (I) carry out the terms and condi10 tions of the financial assistance award; 

11 (II) lead the institutional consor12 tium in each region; and 

13 (III) oversee training and capac14 ity building at the host and consor15 tium institutions. 

16 (C) COOPERATIVE WORK.—Each Regional 

17 Federal Director and each Host Institution Di18 rector shall work cooperatively to further the 

19 mission of the relevant regional center. 

20 (D) ADMINISTRATION.—The National Cen21 ter and all regional centers shall be administered 

22 by the United States Geological Survey. 

23 (b) DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL CENTER.—In collabo24 ration with Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal 

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1 nizations, Native American Pacific Islanders, and other 

2 partner organizations, the National Center shall— 

3 (1) serve as the national office for the regional 

4 centers; 

5 (2) provide leadership and guidance on adminis6 tration, partnerships, information management, and 

7 communications; 

8 (3) develop and facilitate coordination among 

9 the regional centers; 

10 (4) coordinate and collaborate with other Federal 

11 agencies working on similar research and activities 

12 to— 

13 (A) minimize, as much as possible, the du14 plication of research and effort; and 

15 (B) use, as much as possible, existing data 

16 in the development of new or ongoing research; 

17 (5) conduct research on cross-regional and na18 tional science priorities; 

19 (6) support regional centers that— 

20 (A) are hosted at a university, or a consor21 tium of universities or other research institu22 tions, within the region of each regional center; 

23 (B) are collaborations between the Federal 

24 Director and the Host Institution Director and 

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1 sion and goals as defined by the National Center 

2 in a manner that is relevant to its specific geo3 graphic region and in cooperation with State 

4 and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal or5 ganizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawai6 ian organizations, Native American Pacific Is7 landers, and other entities within that region; 

8 (C) promote research, education, training, 

9 and advisory service activities to stakeholders, 

10 Tribal governments, and the public via informa11 tional publications, trainings, and other out12 reach methods; and 

13 (D) receive funding at the host institution 

14 through cooperative agreements, contracts, and 

15 grants under section 4; and 

16 (7) acting through the Chief of the National Cen17 ter, with respect to the regional centers— 

18 (A) evaluate and assess the performance of 

19 the programs of regional centers every five years, 

20 using the priorities, guidelines, and qualifica21 tions established by the Secretary under this sec22 tion, and determine if the programs are well 

23 managed and carry out high-quality research, 

24 education, training, and advisory service activi25 ties; and 


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1 (B) subject to the availability of appropria2 tions, allocate funding among regional centers so 

3 as to— 

4 (i) conduct regionally relevant re5 search, education, training, and advisory 

6 service activities in each of the regions; 

7 (ii) encourage collaborations among re8 gional centers to address regional and na9 tional priorities established under this sec10 tion; 

11 (iii) ensure successful implementation 

12 and operation of regional centers; 

13 (iv) to the maximum extent consistent 

14 with other provisions of this Act, provide a 

15 stable base of funding in support of the re16 gional centers on 5-year terms, with addi17 tional funds available annually subject to 

18 the availability of appropriations; 

19 (v) encourage and promote coordina20 tion and cooperation between the research, 

21 education, training, and advisory service 

22 activities of the Department and those of the 

23 host and consortium institutions; and 

24 (vi) pay the official Federal Govern25 ment negotiated overhead rate to the host 


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1 institution and partners on the basic agree2 ment establishing the location of the re3 gional center. 

4 (c) AUTHORITIES OF THE NATIONAL CENTER.—The 

5 National Center may— 

6 (1) procure the services of appropriate public 

7 and private agencies and institutions and other 

8 qualified persons to conduct its work; and 

9 (2) operate and fund a network of not fewer than 

10 nine regional centers that shall address the impacts of 

11 climate trends and variability, including extreme 

12 weather events, on natural and cultural resources and 

13 ecosystem services. 

14 (d) DESIGNATION OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.— 

15 (1) EXISTING REGIONAL CENTER DESIGNA16 TIONS.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—Any institution or con18 sortium of institutions designated as a regional 

19 center before the date of enactment of this Act 

20 shall participate in one final competition for its 

21 status as a regional center upon the conclusion 

22 of its existing 5-year term to assure that the host 

23 institutions and association consortium institu24 tions update proposals recognizing the long-term 

25 commitment as a host. 


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1 (B) RECOMPETES.—After the next competi2 tion for regional center after the date of enact3 ment of this Act, a designated regional center 

4 shall not have to recompete on 5-year terms, but 

5 shall be subject to review on 5-year terms as de6 scribed in paragraph (2). After competed, the 

7 final agreements shall only be recompeted in the 

8 event of a failed review. 

9 (2) REVIEWS OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.— 

10 (A) The Chief of the National Center, in 

11 consultation with the Committee, shall establish 

12 guidelines for 5-year merit reviews of each re13 gional center, which shall include guidelines for 

14 — 

15 (i) the establishment of a statement of 

16 objectives, agreed upon by the National Cen17 ter and regional host institutions at the be18 ginning of the 5-year term, that outline the 

19 expectations of activities or measures of suc20 cess to be completed during the agreed upon 

21 period; and 

22 (ii) an independent merit review, con23 ducted by the National Center, of the host 

24 institution’s activities as related to the 

25 statement of objectives. 


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1 (B) If a regional center does not meet the 

2 requirements included in the statement of objec3 tive as determined by the independent merit re4 view referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii), the host 

5 institution or consortium of institutions may not 

6 continue as a host of a regional center. 

7 (C) If a host institution or consortium of 

8 institution fails a merit review referred to in 

9 subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chief of the National 

10 Center may give the host institution or consor11 tium of institutions a probationary period of one 

12 year. After the one-year probationary period, the 

13 Chief of the National Center shall undertake an 

14 additional review referred to in subparagraph 

15 (A)(ii) to determine if the host institution or 

16 consortium of institutions shall— 

17 (i) continue as a host of a regional 

18 center; or 

19 (ii) not continue as a host of a re20 gional center, in which case the Chief of the 

21 National Center shall initiate a competitive 

22 process to select a new host institution . 

23 (D) The Chief of the National Center shall 

24 ensure that reviews completed pursuant to this 

25 paragraph are publicly available. 


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1 (2) CHANGES TO CONSORTIUM INSTITUTIONS.— 

2 The Chief of the National Center, in consultation with 

3 the Federal Director and Host Institution Director of 

4 a regional center, may add or remove consortium in5 stitutions at any time to address regional and na6 tional priorities established under this section. 

7 (3) FACA.—Committees, subcommittees, and 

8 working groups appointed by Federal Directors of the 

9 regional centers pursuant to this subsection shall not 

10 be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

11 U.S.C. App.). 

12 (e) DUTIES OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.—In collabo13 ration with Federal and State natural resources agencies 

14 and departments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Na15 tive Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native 

16 American Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 

17 Historically Black Colleges or Universities, minority-serv18 ing institutions, universities, other research or educational 

19 institutions, and other partner organizations, regional cen20 ters shall develop research, education, training, and advi21 sory service priorities regarding the impacts of climate 

22 trends and variability on natural and cultural resource 

23 management in their regions for the purpose of climate ad24 aptation. 


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1 (f) PROJECT SOLICITATION .—Subject to the avail2 ability of appropriations, each regional center shall undergo 

3 a project solicitation process annually that shall— 

4 (1) include regionally identified science priority 

5 topics; 

6 (2) work with science partners in the region to 

7 develop a scientific review process to assure the high8 est quality of proposals are selected; and 

9 (3) final decisions on annual project selections 

10 shall be made by the Federal Directors of the regional 

11 centers. 

12 SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, 

13 GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND 

14 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. 

15 (a) AUTHORITY.—The Director of the United States 

16 Geological Survey is authorized to enter into contracts, 

17 grants, and cooperative agreements with a host institution 

18 or consortium institution to further the research, education, 

19 training, and advisory service activities of the Department 

20 or its partners relating to impacts of climate trends and 

21 variability. This authority supplements all other laws relat22 ing to the Department and is not to be construed as lim23 iting or repealing any existing authorities. 

24 (b) LEGAL INSTRUMENTS.—The Director of the United 

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1 ative agreement, or interagency agreement as the legal in2 strument reflecting a relationship between the Secretary 

3 and a host institution or consortium institution, to further 

4 the duties under section 3 without regard to— 

5 (1) any requirements for competition; 

6 (2) section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; 

7 or 

8 (3) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 

9 31, United States Code. 

10 (c) PARTICIPATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Not11 withstanding any other provision of law, any Federal agen12 cy may participate in any such cooperative agreement 

13 under this section by contributing funds through the Na14 tional Center or otherwise if it is mutually agreed that the 

15 objectives of the agreement shall further the authorized pro16 grams of the contributing agency. 

17 (d) APPROVAL REQUIRED.—In any case where a con18 tract is let or grant made to an organization to perform 

19 services benefitting more than one Indian Tribe, the ap20 proval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to 

21 the letting or making of such contract or grant. 

22 SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. 

23 Each department, agency, or other instrumentality of 

24 the Federal Government, that is engaged in or concerned 

25 with, or that has authority over, matters relating to natural 


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1 and cultural resources, ecosystem services, or climate varia2 bility or change, including all member agencies of the 

3 United States Global Change Research Program— 

4 (1) shall, upon a written request from the Sec5 retary, furnish any available data or other informa6 tion that the Secretary deems necessary to carry out 

7 any provision of section 3; 

8 (2) shall cooperate with the National Center, re9 gional centers, and duly authorized officials thereof; 

10 (3) may make available, on a reimbursable basis 

11 or otherwise, any personnel (with their consent and 

12 without prejudice to their position and rating), serv13 ice, or facility which the Chief of the National Center 

14 deems necessary to carry out any provision of section 

15 3; and 

16 (4) may transfer budgetary resources or other17 wise enter into interagency agreements, including 

18 funding, facilities, computational resources, data, or 

19 other tangible or intangible resources, between the Na20 tional Center or regional centers to aid collaborative 

21 work among Federal agencies, when approved by the 

22 Chief of the National Center and their counterpart in 

23 the other Federal agency. 


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1 SEC. 6. COMMITTEES. 

2 (a) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMITTEES.—The 

3 Chief of the National Center may establish committees or 

4 working groups and procedures to facilitate public partici5 pation in the advisory process, such as a national advisory 

6 committee for the National Center, stakeholder advisory 

7 committees and science implementation panels for the re8 gional centers, and working groups for review of competi9 tive. 

10 (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 

11 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and pursu13 ant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

14 App.), the Secretary shall establish an Advisory Com15 mittee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences to 

16 advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation 

17 Science Centers on the following: 

18 (A) The contents of a national strategy 

19 identifying key climate adaptation science prior20 ities to advance the management of natural and 

21 cultural resources in the face of climate change. 

22 (B) The nature, extent, and quality of rela23 tions with and facilitating engagement of key 

24 partners at the regional center level. 

25 (C) The nature and effectiveness of mecha26 nisms to effectively deliver science information 


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1 and tools, and build capacity, to aid the natural 

2 and cultural resource management community 

3 and decision-makers in adapting to a changing 

4 climate. 

5 (D) Mechanisms that may be employed by 

6 the National Center to ensure high standards of 

7 scientific quality and integrity in its products. 

8 (E) The integration of equity, particularly 

9 for historically underserved communities, in the 

10 operation of the National Center and regional 

11 centers. 

12 (2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Committee shall 

13 have not fewer than 15 voting members who shall be 

14 appointed by the Secretary. Each voting member shall 

15 be an employee of— 

16 (A) an Indian Tribe; 

17 (B) a Tribal organization; 

18 (C) a Native Hawaiian organization; 

19 (D) a State or local government; 

20 (E) nongovernmental organization whose 

21 primary mission is conservation and related sci22 entific and advocacy activities; 

23 (F) an academic institution; or 

24 (G) other sectors, environmental justice or25 ganizations, or private industry. 


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1 (3) NON-VOTING MEMBERS.—A Host Institution 

2 Director who is elected by the various Host Institu3 tion Directors shall serve as a non-voting member of 

4 the Committee. No individual is eligible to be a voting 

5 member of the Committee if the individual is— 

6 (A) a Host Institution Director; 

7 (B) a full-time officer or employee of the 

8 United States; or 

9 (C) a voting member of the Committee who 

10 is an applicant for or beneficiary of any grant 

11 or contract under this Act shall abstain from 

12 voting when there is a conflict of interest. 

13 (4) CHAIR.—The Director of the United States 

14 Geological Survey shall appoint a Committee Chair 

15 from among the members of the Committee. 

16 (5) VICE CHAIR.—The Committee shall select one 

17 voting member to serve as the Vice Chair, who shall 

18 act as Chair in the absence or incapacity of the 

19 Chair. 

20 (6) NOMINATIONS.—Not less than once each year, 

21 the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal 

22 Register soliciting nominations for membership on the 

23 Committee. 


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1 (7) TERM OF OFFICE.—(A) The term of office of 

2 a voting member of the Committee shall be not more 

3 than 3 years. 

4 (B) No individual may serve more than two con5 secutive terms as a voting member of the Committee. 

6 (C) The Chair may extend the term of office of 

7 a voting member of the Committee by up to 1 year. 

8 (D) Any individual appointed to a partial or 

9 full term may be reappointed for one additional full 

10 term. 

11 (8) DUTIES.—The Committee shall identify and 

12 recommend priorities for ongoing research needs on 

13 the issues described in section 3(e) to inform the re14 search priorities of the National Center. 

15 (9) ESTIMATED NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF

16 MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet approximately 

17 one to two times annually, and at such other times 

18 as designated by the Director of the United States Ge19 ological Survey. 

20 (c) COMMITTEES; WORKING GROUPS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—At the direction of the Sec22 retary, the Chief of the National Center may establish 

23 committees or working groups to provide input on the 

24 science priorities, implementation of science proVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:24 Dec 08, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6654.RH H6654

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1 grams, review of competitive proposals, and evalua2 tion of the National Center and the regional centers. 

3 (2) MEMBERS.—The committees or working 

4 groups shall, to the extent practicable, include mem5 bers from Federal and State government, universities, 

6 private sector, nongovernmental organizations, In7 dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Ha8 waiian organizations. 

9 (3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary may 

10 establish procedures to facilitate public participation 

11 in the advisory process, including providing advance 

12 notice of meetings, providing adequate opportunity 

13 for public input and comment, maintaining appro14 priate records, and making a record of the pro15 ceedings of meetings available for public inspection. 

16 (4) IMPLEMENTATION; AVAILABILITY OF

17 RECORDS.—The Secretary shall ensure that the proce18 dures described in paragraph (3) are adopted and im19 plemented and that the records described in para20 graph (3) are accurately maintained and available 

21 for public inspection. 

22 (5) FACA.—(A) The committees or working 

23 groups shall not be considered advisory committees 

24 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

25 App.). 


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•HR 6654 RH

1 (B) Seeking advice and input under subpara2 graph (A) shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 

3 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

4 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

5 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 

6 to carry out this Act not less than— 

7 (1) $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

8 (2) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

9 (3) $104,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

10 (4) $114,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and 

11 (5) $124,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. 


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Union Calendar No. 435 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6654 

[Report No. 117–602] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish 

poses. events and climate trends, and for other purters to respond to the effects of extreme weather and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Cena National Climate Adaptation Science Center 

DECEMBER 7, 2022 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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