117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3952 
AN ACT 
To strengthen the role of the Chief Scientist of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order to pro-
mote scientific integrity and advance the Administra-
tion’s world-class research and development portfolio. 
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 ‘‘NOAA Chief Scientist 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 
1970 RELATING TO CHIEF SCIENTIST OF THE 
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d) of section 2 of Re-
organization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(d)(1) There is in the Administration a Chief Sci-
entist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Chief Sci-
entist’), who shall be selected by the Administrator and 
compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for 
Level V of the Executive Schedule pursuant to section 
5316 of title 5, United States Code. In selecting a Chief 
Scientist, the Administrator shall give due consideration 
to any recommendations for candidates which may be sub-
mitted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Science Advisory Board, and other widely 
recognized, reputable, and diverse United States scientific 
or academic bodies, including minority serving institutions 
or other such bodies representing underrepresented popu-
lations. The Chief Scientist shall be the principal scientific
adviser to the Administrator on science and technology 
policy and strategy, as well as scientific integrity, and shall 
perform such other duties as the Administrator may di-
rect. The Chief Scientist shall be an individual who is, by 
reason of scientific education and experience, knowledge-
able in the principles of scientific disciplines associated 
with the work of the Administration, and who has pro-
duced work of scientific merit through an established 
record of distinguished service and achievement. 
‘‘(2) The Chief Scientist shall— 
‘‘(A) adhere to any agency or department sci-
entific integrity policy and— 
‘‘(i) provide written consent to all applica-
ble scientific integrity and other relevant 
science and technology policies of the Adminis-
tration prior to serving in such position, with 
such written consent to be made available on a 
publicly accessible website of the Administra-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) in conjunction with the Administrator 
and other members of Administration leader-
ship, undergo all applicable training programs 
of the Administration which inform employees 
of their rights and responsibilities regarding the 
conduct of scientific research and communica-
tion with the media and the public regarding 
scientific research; and 
‘‘(iii) in coordination with the Adminis-
trator and other members of Administration 
leadership, make all practicable efforts to en-
sure Administration employees and contractors 
who are engaged in, supervise, or manage sci-
entific activities, analyze or communicate infor-
mation resulting from scientific activities, or 
use scientific information in policy, manage-
ment, or regulatory decisions, adhere to estab-
lished scientific integrity policies of the Admin-
istration; 
‘‘(B) provide policy and program direction for 
science and technology priorities of the Administra-
tion and facilitate integration and coordination of re-
search efforts across line offices of the Administra-
tion, with other Federal agencies, and with the ex-
ternal scientific community, including through— 
‘‘(i) leading the development of a science 
and technology strategy of the Administration 
and issuing policy guidance to ensure that over-
arching Administration policy is aligned with 
science and technology goals and objectives;
‘‘(ii) chairing the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration Science Council and 
serving as a liaison to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory 
Board; 
‘‘(iii) providing oversight to ensure— 
‘‘(I) the Administration funds high 
priority and mission-aligned science and 
technology development, including through 
partnerships with the private sector, Coop-
erative Institutes, academia, nongovern-
mental organizations, and other Federal 
and non-Federal institutions; and 
‘‘(II) there is no unnecessary duplica-
tion of such science and technology devel-
opment; 
‘‘(iv) ensuring the Administration attracts, 
retains, and promotes world class scientists and 
researchers from diverse backgrounds, experi-
ences, and expertise; 
‘‘(v) promoting the health and professional 
development of the Administration’s scientific 
workforce, including by promoting efforts to re-
duce assault, harassment, and discrimination
that could hamper such health and develop-
ment; and 
‘‘(vi) ensuring coordination across the sci-
entific workforce and its conduct and applica-
tion of science and technology with the Admin-
istration’s most recent Diversity and Inclusion 
Strategic Plan; 
‘‘(C) under the direction of the Administrator, 
promote, communicate, and advocate for the Admin-
istration’s science and technology portfolio and 
strategy to the broad domestic, Tribal, and inter-
national communities and Congress, represent the 
Administration in promoting and maintaining good 
public and community relations, and provide the 
widest practical and appropriate dissemination of 
science and technology information concerning the 
full range of the Administration’s earth system au-
thorities; 
‘‘(D) manage an Office of the Chief Scientist— 
‘‘(i) which shall be staffed by Federal em-
ployees of the Administration detailed to the of-
fice on a rotating basis, in a manner that pro-
motes diversity of expertise, background, and to 
the extent practicable, ensures that each line of-