‘‘(3) The Secretary of Commerce, under the Coastal 
Ocean Science Program established under section 201(c) of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Au-
thorization Act of 1992, and in conjunction with other ap-
propriate Federal agencies, shall establish a research pro-
gram that meets the priorities and guidelines established 
under paragraph (2)(A). The Secretary shall ensure, 
through consultation with Sea Grant Programs, that the 
results and findings of the research program are commu-
nicated to State, Indian tribe, and local governments, and 
to the general public. 
‘‘(e) SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS OF HYPOXIA.—(1) Not 
less than once every 5 years the Task Force shall complete 
and submit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a scientific assessment 
of hypoxia in United States coastal waters including the 
Great Lakes. The first such assessment shall be completed 
not less than 12 months after the date of enactment of the 
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amendments 
Act of 2003. 
‘‘(2) The assessments under this subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) examine the causes and ecological con-
sequences, and the economic costs, of hypoxia;
‘‘(B) describe the potential ecological and eco-
nomic costs and benefits of possible policy and man-
agement actions for preventing, controlling, and miti-
gating hypoxia; 
‘‘(C) evaluate progress made by, and the needs 
of, Federal research programs on the causes, charac-
teristics, and impacts of hypoxia, including rec-
ommendations of how to eliminate significant gaps in 
hypoxia modeling and monitoring data; and 
‘‘(D) identify ways to improve coordination and 
to prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among 
Federal agencies and departments with respect to re-
search on hypoxia. 
‘‘(f) LOCAL
AND
REGIONAL
SCIENTIFIC
ASSESS-
MENTS.—(1) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination 
with the Task Force and appropriate State, Indian tribe, 
and local governments, shall provide for local and regional 
scientific assessments of hypoxia or harmful algal blooms, 
as requested by State, Indian tribe, or local governments, 
or for affected areas as identified by the Secretary. If the 
Secretary receives multiple requests, the Secretary shall en-
sure, to the extent practicable, that assessments under this 
subsection cover geographically and ecologically diverse lo-
cations with significant ecological and economic impacts 
from hypoxia or harmful algal blooms. The Secretary shall
establish a procedure for reviewing requests for local and 
regional assessments. The Secretary shall ensure, through 
consultation with Sea Grant Programs, that the findings 
of the assessments are communicated to the appropriate 
State, Indian tribe, and local governments, and to the gen-
eral public. 
‘‘(2) The scientific assessments under this subsection 
shall examine— 
‘‘(A) the causes and ecological consequences, and 
the economic costs, of hypoxia or harmful algal 
blooms in that area; 
‘‘(B) methods to prevent, control, and mitigate 
hypoxia or harmful algal blooms in that area and the 
potential ecological and economic costs and benefits of 
such methods; and 
‘‘(C) other topics the Task Force considers appro-
priate.’’. 
SEC. 4. PREDICTION AND RESPONSE PLAN. 
Section 603 of such Act is further amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(g) PREDICTION AND RESPONSE PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amendments Act 
of 2003, the President, in conjunction with the chief
executive officers of the States, shall develop and sub-
mit to the Congress a plan to protect the environment 
and public health from impacts of harmful algal 
blooms. In developing the plan, the President shall 
consult with the Task Force, the coastal States, In-
dian tribes, local governments, industry, academic in-
stitutions, and nongovernmental organizations with 
appropriate expertise. 
‘‘(2) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The plan shall— 
‘‘(A) review techniques for prediction of the 
onset, course, and impacts of harmful algal 
blooms, including an evaluation of their accu-
racy and utility in protecting the environment 
and public health and an assessment of the re-
sources required for their implementation; and 
‘‘(B) identify innovative response measures 
for the prevention, control, and mitigation of 
harmful algal blooms and identify steps needed 
for their development and implementation. 
‘‘(3) PUBLICATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COM-
MENT.—At least 90 days before submitting the plan 
to Congress, the President shall publish a summary of 
the proposed plan in the Federal Register for a public 
comment period of not less than 60 days.’’.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 605 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 605. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce for research, education, and monitoring 
activities related to the prevention, reduction, and control 
of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, $29,200,000 for fiscal 
year 2004, $30,700,000 for fiscal year 2005, and 
$31,200,000 for fiscal year 2006, to remain available until 
expended. The Secretary shall consult with the States on 
a regular basis regarding the development and implementa-
tion of the activities authorized under this title. Of such 
amounts for each fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004, 
2005, and 2006 shall be used to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry 
out research and assessment activities, including pro-
curement of necessary research equipment, at research 
laboratories of the National Ocean Service and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service; 
‘‘(2) $10,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2004, 
2005, and 2006 shall be used to carry out the Ecology 
and 
Oceanography 
of 
Harmful 
Algal 
Blooms 
(ECOHAB) project under the Coastal Ocean Science 
Program established under section 201(c) of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Au-