SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry 
out this title— 
(1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
(2) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
(3) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
(4) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(5) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
(6) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
(7) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
(8) $59,436,000 for fiscal year 2013; 
(9) $65,379,000 for fiscal year 2014; and 
(10) $71,917,000 for fiscal year 2015. 
TITLE II—UNDERSEA RESEARCH 
PROGRAM 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘NOAA Undersea Re-
search Program Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT. 
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration shall establish and maintain an 
undersea research program and shall designate a Director 
of that program.
SEC. 203. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of the program established under section 
202 is to increase scientific knowledge essential for the 
informed management, use and preservation of oceanic, 
coastal, and large lake resources through undersea re-
search, exploration, education, and technology develop-
ment. The program shall be part of National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration’s undersea research, edu-
cation, and technology development efforts, and shall 
make available the infrastructure and expertise to service 
the undersea science needs of the academic community. 
SEC. 204. PROGRAM. 
The program established under section 202 shall be 
conducted through a national headquarters, a network of 
regional undersea research centers, and a national tech-
nology institute. Overall direction of the program will be 
provided by the program director with advice from a Coun-
cil of Center Directors comprised of the directors of the 
regional centers and the national technology institute. 
SEC. 205. REGIONAL CENTERS AND TECHNOLOGY INSTI-
TUTE. 
The following research, exploration, education, and 
technology programs shall be conducted through the net-
work of regional centers and the national technology insti-
tute:
(1) Core research and exploration based on na-
tional and regional undersea research priorities. 
(2) Advanced undersea technology development 
to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s research mission and programs, in-
cluding advanced undersea technology associated 
with seafloor observatories such as LEO–15 and the 
Aquarius habitat, remotely operated vehicles, auton-
omous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and 
sensing technologies. 
(3) Undersea science-based education and out-
reach programs to enrich ocean science education 
and public awareness of the oceans and Great 
Lakes. 
(4) Discovery, study, and development of nat-
ural products from ocean and aquatic systems. 
SEC. 206. COMPETITIVENESS. 
Except for a small discretionary fund for rapid re-
sponse activities, for which no more than 10 percent of 
the program budget shall be set aside, and for National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-related service 
projects, the external projects supported by the regional 
centers shall be managed using an open and competitive 
process to evaluate scientific merit, relevance to the Na-