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 ‘‘Exploration of the Seas
Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) During the past 100 years, scientists work-
ing with marine fossils, both underwater and high in
the mountains, have traced the origins of life on
Earth to the sea, beginning approximately 3 billion
years ago. Today, life on our planet remains depend-
ent on the vitality of the sea.
(2) More than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface
is covered by water, with oceans and inland seas ac-
counting for almost 140 million square miles.
(3) The United Nations forecasts a worldwide
population of 8.9 billion by the year 2050, a 50 per-
cent increase from 5.9 billion in 1999. As this trend
in population growth continues, increasing demands
will be placed on ocean and coastal resources, not
only as a result of population growth in coastal re-
gions, but also from the need to harvest increasing
amounts of marine life as a source of food to satisfy
world protein requirements, and from the mining of
energy-producing materials from offshore resource
deposits.
(4) The ocean remains one of the Earth’s last
unexplored frontiers. It has stirred our imaginations
over the millennia, led to the discovery of new lands,
immense mineral deposits, and reservoirs of other
resources, and produced startling scientific findings.
Recognizing the importance of the marine environ-
ment, the need for scientific exploration to expand
our knowledge of the world’s oceans is crucial if we
are to ensure that the marine environment will be
managed sustainably.
(5) The seas possess enormous economic and
environmental importance. Some ocean resources,
such as fisheries and minerals, are well recognized.
Oil use has increased dramatically in recent times,
and the sea bed holds large deposits of largely undis-
covered reserves. Other ocean resources offer prom-
ise for the future. In addition to fossil fuels, the
ocean floor contains deposits of gravel, sand, man-
ganese crusts and nodules, tin, gold, and diamonds.
Marine mineral resources are extensive, yet poorly
understood.
(6) The oceans also offer rich untapped poten-
tial for medications. Marine plants and animals pos-
sess inestimable potential in the treatment of human
illnesses. Coral reefs, sometimes described as the
rain forests of the sea, contain uncommon chemicals
that may be used to fight diseases for which sci-
entists have not yet found a cure, such as cancer,
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and
diabetes. While the number of new chemical com-
pounds that can be derived from land based plants
and microbial fermentation is limited, scientists have
only just begun to explore the sea’s vast molecular
potential.
(7) In spite of the development of new tech-
nologies, comparatively little of the ocean has been
studied. The leadership role of the United States has
been eroded by a gradual decrease in funding sup-
port, even while public opinion surveys indicate that
ocean exploration is at least as important as space
exploration.
(8) The National Academy of Sciences has the
means by which to study and make determinations
regarding the adoption and establishment of a co-
ordinated oceanography program for the exploration
of the seas, in which the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration could participate in a role
similar to that of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration with regard to the Inter-
national Space Station.
SEC. 3. COORDINATED OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM ADVI-
SORY PANEL.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act and subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce shall
contract with the National Academy of Sciences to estab-
lish the Coordinated Oceanography Program Advisory
Panel (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Panel’’), comprised
of experts in ocean studies, including individuals with aca-
demic experience in oceanography, marine biology, marine
geology, ichthyology, and ocean related economics.
(b) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Panel shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson.
(c) TERMINATION.—The Panel shall cease to exist 30
days after submitting its final report and recommenda-
tions pursuant to section 4.
SEC. 4. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—No later than 18 months after its
establishment, the Panel shall report to the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate on the feasibility and social value of a coordinated
oceanography program. In preparing its report, the Panel
shall examine existing oceanographic efforts and the level
of coordination or cooperation between and among partici-
pating countries and institutions.
(b) INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP.—To assist in mak-
ing its feasibility determination under subsection (a), the
Panel shall convene an international workshop with par-
ticipation from interested nations and a broad range of
persons representing scientists, engineers, policy makers,
regulators, industry, and other interested parties.
(c) FINAL REPORT.—The Panel shall include in its
final report recommendations for a national oceans explo-
ration strategy, which will—
(1) define objectives and priorities, and note im-
portant scientific, historic, and cultural sites;
(2) promote collaboration among research orga-
nizations;
(3) examine the potential for new ocean explo-
ration technologies;
(4) describe those areas of study in which na-
tional or international oceanographic cooperation is
currently being undertaken;
(5) identify areas of study in which knowledge
of the oceans is inadequate;
(6) ensure coordination with the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Pro-
tected Area Center;
(7) ensure that newly discovered organisms
with medicinal or commercial potential are identified
for possible research and development; and
(8) identify countries and organizations that
would be likely to participate in a coordinated ocean-
ography program.
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—If the Panel determines that
a coordinated oceanography program is feasible and has
significant value for advancing mankind’s knowledge of
the ocean, the Panel shall include in its final report rec-
ommendations for implementing such program, including
recommendations regarding—
(1) the institutional arrangements, treaties, or
laws necessary to implement a coordinated oceanog-
raphy program;
(2) the methods and incentives needed to secure
cooperation and commitments from participating na-
tions to ensure that the benefit that each nation that
is a party to any international agreement estab-
lishing a coordinated oceanography program receives
is contingent upon meeting the nation’s obligations
(financial and otherwise) under such an agreement;
(3) the costs associated with establishing a co-
ordinated oceanography program;
(4) the types of undersea vehicles, ships, ob-
serving systems, or other equipment that would be
necessary to operate a coordinated oceanography
program; and
(5) how utilization of aboriginal observational
data and other historical information may be best
incorporated into a coordinated oceanography pro-
gram.
SEC. 5. OBTAINING DATA.
Subject to national security restrictions, the Panel
may obtain from any department or agency of the United
States information necessary to enable it to carry out this
Act. Upon request of the chairperson of the Panel, the
head of any department or agency shall furnish that infor-
mation at no cost to the Panel.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated for the pur-
poses of carrying out this Act, and to remain available
until expended, $1,500,000.
Passed the House of Representatives September 12,
2000.
Attest:
Clerk.