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(1) conduct, develop, support, promote, and co-
ordinate ocean exploration activities under this sec-
tion; 
(2) support expeditions, exploration projects, 
and related field campaigns for the purpose of dis-
covery and documentation of ocean voyages; and 
(3) enhance public awareness and under-
standing of the science and stewardship missions of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion. 
(b) PLANNING AND EXECUTION.—In planning activi-
ties under this title, the Administrator shall consult with 
the Subcommittee established under section 702. In car-
rying out exploration activities, the Administrator may 
enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, re-
source sharing agreements, or interagency financing with 
Federal, State, and regional agencies, Indian tribes, com-
mercial organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit 
organizations, or other persons. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish an Office of Ocean Exploration within the Ocean 
and Atmospheric Research and Data Services Office to 
provide interagency and intraagency coordination of the 
ocean exploration activities of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and to ensure full participa-
120 
tion in the Subcommittee established under section 702. 
The Office of Ocean Exploration shall— 
(1) lead and coordinate efforts in ocean dis-
covery; 
(2) explore and inventory the living and non-
living resources of the oceans under jurisdiction of 
the United States, and throughout the world’s 
oceans; 
(3) support and promote interdisciplinary ap-
proaches to ocean investigations; 
(4) engage in education and outreach to in-
crease public awareness and understanding of the 
oceans, in coordination with the Office of Education; 
(5) provide new resources and facilities for ac-
cess by researchers; 
(6) provide a multidisciplinary archive of ocean 
data to serve as a source of basic data upon which 
to develop hypotheses for further investigation and 
to capitalize on the wide array of available data; 
(7) create and implement effective approaches 
to disseminate agency products and ocean informa-
tion to the general public; 
(8) identify areas that are infrequently ex-
plored;
121 
(9) develop ocean and coastal mapping strate-
gies that identify priority coastal and ocean mapping 
needs, and cost-effective strategies to map those pri-
ority areas; 
(10) map the physical, biological, chemical, and 
archaeological aspects of the ocean; 
(11) develop sensors and systems to promote 
United States leadership in ocean technology; and 
(12) conduct hypothesis-driven science to un-
derstand deep ocean ecosystem patterns, processes, 
and mechanisms. 
SEC. 702. SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEAN EXPLORATION. 
(a) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
Committee 
on 
Ocean 
Science, Education, and Operations shall establish a Sub-
committee on Ocean Exploration. Each member of the 
Committee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations 
may designate a senior representative with expertise in 
ocean exploration to serve on the Subcommittee. The Com-
mittee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations shall 
select a Chair and 1 or more Vice Chairs for the Sub-
committee from the membership of the Subcommittee. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Subcommittee shall— 
(1) support and advise the Committee on Ocean 
Science, Education, and Operations, the Committee 
on Ocean Policy, and the National Oceanic and At-
122 
mospheric Administration Office of Ocean Explo-
ration on matters related to ocean exploration for 
the purpose of increasing the overall effectiveness 
and productivity of Federal ocean exploration ef-
forts; 
(2) provide recommendations on ocean explo-
ration goals and priorities for and implementation of 
the National Strategy for Ocean and Coastal Science 
developed under section 502 and guidance for ocean 
exploration investments; 
(3) coordinate with the Subcommittee on Ocean 
Education to provide for ocean exploration funding 
and educational opportunities for students at all lev-
els 
including 
undergraduate, 
graduate, 
and 
postdoctoral levels; 
(4) identify and work to establish linkages 
among Federal programs and those of States, aca-
demic institutions, State Sea Grant programs, muse-
ums and aquaria, industry, foundations, and other 
nongovernmental organizations; 
(5) coordinate with the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Office of Ocean Explo-
ration and other Federal agency efforts to work with 
minority-serving institutions and historically Black 
colleges and universities, and also with traditionally
123 
majority-serving institutions, to ensure that students 
of underrepresented groups have access to ocean ex-
ploration educational opportunities; 
(6) lead development of effective strategies with 
common perspectives and messages for formal and 
informal ocean exploration efforts; and 
(7) carry out such other activities as the Com-
mittee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations 
and the Committee on Ocean Policy request. 
SEC. 703. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry 
out this title— 
(1) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 
through 2011; and 
(2) $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 
through 2017. 
TITLE VIII—OCEAN AND GREAT 
LAKES 
CONSERVATION 
TRUST FUND 
SEC. 801. ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF FUND.—There is estab-
lished in the Treasury of the United States a fund which 
shall be known as the ‘‘Ocean and Great Lakes Conserva-
tion Trust Fund’’, in this title referred to as the ‘‘Fund’’.