whale necropsies, particularly of endangered whale 
species such as the North Atlantic right whale; 
‘‘(3) an assessment of the direct and indirect 
effects of anthropogenic noise on whale distribution, 
behavior, and reproduction; 
‘‘(4) information on the impacts on reproduc-
tion and immune systems from chemical pollutants, 
including polybrominated diphenylethers, pthalates, 
bisphenol A, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; 
‘‘(5) information on ecosystem changes due to 
climate warming; 
‘‘(6) research and development of more risk 
averse fishing gear, fishing methods, and develop-
ment of effective fishing gear marking systems; and 
‘‘(7) the use of passive acoustic sonar and other 
technologies, including vessel design, to reduce mor-
tality of whales from vessel strikes. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—In designing these 
research initiatives, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Marine Mammal Commission and whale experts, including 
those from the Pacific Insular Area, that are knowledge-
able about regional issues relating to whale conservation 
and management. 
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‘‘(c) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit a bian-
nual report to the Congress on the progress and findings 
of the research initiatives established under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this Act: 
‘‘(1) 
AGREEMENT.—The 
term 
‘Agreement’ 
means the North Atlantic Whale Conservation 
Agreement. 
‘‘(2) CITES.—The term ‘CITES’ means the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 
‘‘(3) ICRW.—The term ‘ICRW’ means the 
International Convention for the Regulation of 
Whaling. 
‘‘(4) IMO.—The term ‘IMO’ means the Inter-
national Maritime Organization. 
‘‘(5) IMA.—The term ‘IMA’ means Inter-
national Marine Protected Areas. 
‘‘(6) IWC.—The term ‘IWC’ means the Inter-
national Whaling Commission. 
‘‘(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce or his designee. 
‘‘(8) WHALES.—The term ‘whales’ includes all 
species of whales but not any species of dolphin or 
porpoise. 
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‘‘SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2010 through 2015 to carry out the provisions of 
this Act, of which such sums as the Secretary determines 
are appropriate shall be made available annually for a 
competitive research grants program.’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTEC-
TION ACT OF 1972. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 101(f) of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(f)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘President’’; 
(2) in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking ‘‘or 
category of actions’’; 
(3) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by striking ‘‘2 
years’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘1 year’’; 
and 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Committee on Armed Services and 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives,’’ and by striking ‘‘Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate’’ and inserting ‘‘Com-
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mittee on Armed Services and Committee on Com-
merce, Science and Transportation in the Senate’’. 
Æ 
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