116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 988 
AN ACT 
To provide for a study by the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examining the im-
pact of ocean acidification and other stressors in estua-
rine 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’’. 
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 
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 National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘National Academies’’) under 
which the National Academies 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— 
(1) the behavior of the carbonate system within 
estuarine environments; 
(2) the interactions of the carbonate system 
with other biotic and abiotic characteristics of estua-
rine ecosystems; 
(3) how environmental and anthropogenic 
changes or disturbances could affect abiotic and bi-
otic processes within estuaries; 
(4) how estuarine biotic and abiotic processes 
will be affected under predicted environmental 
changes; 
(5) the current state of data collection, inter-
pretation, storage, and retrieval and observational 
infrastructure of abiotic and biotic parameters in es-
tuarine 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 Na-
tional Academies transmit to Congress a report on the re-
sults of the study not later than 24 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$1 million. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 5, 2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 988 
AN ACT 
To provide for a study by the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine exam-
ining the impact of ocean acidification and other 
stressors in estuarine environments.