National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015 2. References to the National Sea Grant College Program Act Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq. 3. Modification of Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship (a) In general Section 208(b) ( 33 U.S.C. 1127(b) may shall (b) Placements in Congress Such section is further amended— (1) in the first sentence, by striking The Secretary (1) In general The Secretary ; and (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1), in the second sentence, by striking A fellowship (2) Placement priorities (A) In general In each year in which the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this subsection, when considering the placement of fellows, the Secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in the following: (i) Positions in offices of, or with members on, committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (ii) Positions in offices of members of Congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. (B) Equitable distribution In placing fellows in offices described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum degree practicable, that placements are equitably distributed among the political parties. (3) Duration A fellowship . (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Sense of Congress concerning Federal hiring of former fellows It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1127(b) 4. Modification of authority of Secretary of Commerce to accept donations for National Sea Grant College Program (a) In general Section 204(c)(4)(E) ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E) (E) accept donations of money and, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated services; . (b) Priorities The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E) 33 U.S.C. 1127(b) (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Association, shall— (1) develop recommendations for the optimal use of any donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E) (2) submit to Congress a report on the recommendations developed under paragraph (1). (d) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1127(b) (1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F) (2) appropriated under section 212 of that Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1131 5. Repeal of requirement for report on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 ( 33 U.S.C. 857–20 6. Reduction in frequency required for National Sea Grant Advisory Board report Section 209(b)(2) ( 33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2) (1) in the heading, by striking Biennial Periodic (2) in the first sentence, by striking The Board shall report to the Congress every two years Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the Board shall submit to Congress a report 7. Modification of elements of National Sea Grant College Program Section 204(b) ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(b) for research, education, extension, training, technology transfer, and public service financial assistance 8. Authorization of appropriations for National Sea Grant College Program (a) In general Section 212(a) ( 33 U.S.C. 1131(a) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; (H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; (I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; (J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; (K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; (L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and (M) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021. ; (2) in the heading for paragraph (2), by inserting for fiscal years 2009 through 2014 Priority activities (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 for competitive grants for the following: (A) University research on the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species. (B) University research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks. (C) University research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms. (D) University research, education, training, and extension services and activities focused on coastal resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1). (E) University research on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies. (F) Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program funding. . (b) Modification of limitations on amounts for administration Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) ( 33 U.S.C. 1131(b) (1) Administration (A) In general There may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of— (i) the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year; or (ii) the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year. (B) Critical staffing requirements (i) In general The Director shall use the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 (ii) Exception from cap For purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of authority as described in clause (i) shall not be considered an amount used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year. . (c) Allocation of funding (1) In general Section 204(d)(3) ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3) (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter before clause (i), by striking funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects (2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of excess amounts Section 212 ( 33 U.S.C. 1131 (A) by striking subsection (c); and (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 9. Technical corrections The National Sea Grant College Program Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq. (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) ( 33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B) (2) in section 209(b)(2) ( 33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2) The Secretary shall (3) Availability of resources of Department of Commerce The Secretary shall .

Summary: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015 This bill amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to reauthorize through FY2021 the National Sea Grant College Program. The bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to award Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships. Currently, NOAA may give fellowships. Those fellowships support graduate students in fields related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources in positions with the executive and legislative branches. NOAA must give priority placement of those fellows placed in the legislative branch in: (1) offices or committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over NOAA; and (2) offices of Members of Congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. NOAA must attempt to ensure that placements are equitably distributed among political parties. NOAA must establish priorities for the use of donations given for the National Sea Grant College Program. The bill authorizes through FY2020 grants for university research on: (1) the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species; (2) oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks; (3) the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms; and (4) sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies. The bill also authorizes through FY2020 grants for: (1) fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance existing core program funding, and (2) priority issues identified in the National Sea Grant College Program's strategic plan.