I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 988 
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 fol-
lowing 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 com-
mittee concerned 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Estuaries and 
Acidification Research Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘NEAR Act 
of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Ocean acidification impacts human health, 
natural resources, and the environmental, economic, 
and recreational uses of the coastline. 
(2) The current understanding of ocean acidifi-
cation impacts on estuarine ecosystems is inadequate 
to fully prepare and manage for changing environ-
mental conditions in nearshore locations. 
(3) While pH can be measured with high preci-
sion and accuracy in open ocean environments, more 
understanding of the carbonate system in estuarine 
ecosystems is needed for precise and accurate meas-
urements and observations. 
(4) The interaction of multiple stressors, includ-
ing salinity, pH, temperature, sea level rise, and nu-
trient input, within estuarine ecosystems is inad-
equately understood for managing the health, eco-
nomic, recreational, and environmental impacts driv-
en by these interactions. 
(5) A better understanding is needed of how 
anthropogenic influences in coastal environments af-
fect estuarine ecosystems. 
(6) More integration and coordination is needed 
among regional, national, and global environmental 
observations in estuarine environments, supporting 
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prior investments in related topics such as nutrient 
loading, hypoxia, ocean acidification, and harmful 
algae bloom research and observational systems. 
SEC. 3. STUDY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF OCEAN ACIDIFI-
CATION 
AND 
OTHER 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
STRESSORS ON ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall make appropriate arrangements with the Ocean 
Studies Board of the National Academies under which the 
Board shall conduct a study that— 
(1) examines the existing science of ocean acidi-
fication in estuarine environments; 
(2) examines the challenges to studying ocean 
acidification and ocean acidification’s interactions 
with other environment stressors in estuarine envi-
ronments; 
(3) provides recommendations for improving fu-
ture research with respect to ocean acidification in 
estuarine environments; and 
(4) identifies pathways for applying science in 
management and mitigation decisions relating to 
ocean acidification in estuarine environments. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF STUDY.—The study described 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
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(1) the current state of data collection, inter-
pretation, storage, and retrieval and observational 
infrastructure of abiotic and biotic parameters in es-
tuarine ecosystems; 
(2) how environmental and anthropogenic 
changes or disturbances could affect abiotic and bi-
otic processes within estuaries; 
(3) how estuarine biotic and abiotic processes 
will be affected under predicted environmental 
changes; 
(4) the behavior of the carbonate system within 
estuarine environments; 
(5) the interactions of the carbonate system 
with other biotic and abiotic characteristics of estua-
rine ecosystems; 
(6) the gaps that exist in understanding the 
socio-economic and health impacts of ocean acidifica-
tion in estuaries; 
(7) future directions for scientific research; and 
(8) pathways for applying science in manage-
ment and mitigation decisions. 
(c) REPORT.—In entering into an arrangement under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall request that the Board 
transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
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