109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5450
AN ACT 
To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘Administration’’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(2) The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Commerce. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Department 
of Commerce an agency known as the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
(b) MISSION.—The mission of the Administration is 
to understand the systems of the Earth’s oceans and at-
mosphere and predict changes in the Earth’s oceans and 
atmosphere and the effects of such changes on the land 
environment, to conserve and manage coastal, ocean, and 
Great Lakes ecosystems to meet national economic, social, 
and environmental needs, and to educate the public about 
these topics.
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Administra-
tion shall include—
(1) collecting, through observation and other 
means, communicating, analyzing, processing, and 
disseminating comprehensive scientific data and in-
formation about weather and climate, solar and geo-
physical events on the Sun and in the space environ-
ment, and about the coasts, oceans, Great Lakes, 
upper reaches of estuaries, and hydrologic systems; 
(2) operating and maintaining a system for the 
storage, retrieval, and dissemination of data relating 
to weather and climate, solar and geophysical events 
on the Sun and in the space environment, and about 
the coasts, oceans, Great Lakes, upper reaches of es-
tuaries, and hydrologic systems; 
(3) using observational data and technologies 
developed by other Federal agencies to improve the 
Administration’s operations; 
(4) conducting and supporting basic and ap-
plied research, development, and technology transfer 
as may be necessary to carry out the mission de-
scribed in subsection (b); 
(5) issuing weather, water, climate, space 
weather, tsunami, and other forecasts and warnings 
related to Earth’s oceans and atmosphere;
(6) coordinating efforts of Federal agencies 
with respect to meteorological services; 
(7) understanding the science of Earth’s cli-
mate and related systems, and undertaking research 
and development to enhance society’s ability to plan 
for and respond to climate variability and change; 
(8) protecting, restoring, and managing the use 
of, the coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes through eco-
system-based research, development, demonstration, 
and management; 
(9) administering public outreach and education 
programs and services to increase scientific and en-
vironmental literacy about weather and climate, 
solar and geophysical events on the Sun and in the 
space environment, and the coasts, oceans, Great 
Lakes, upper reaches of estuaries, and hydrologic 
systems; 
(10) providing, as appropriate and in coopera-
tion with the Secretary of State, representation at 
all international meetings and conferences relating 
to the mission of the Administration, including mete-
orological, climate, and Earth and ocean observing 
issues; 
(11) any other function assigned to the Admin-
istration by law; and
(12) such other functions as are necessary to 
accomplish the mission described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP. 
(a) ADMINISTRATOR.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be, as the Ad-
ministrator of the Administration, an Under Sec-
retary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 
The Administrator shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate. The Administrator shall be paid at the rate of 
basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Administrator shall be 
responsible for—
(A) general management; 
(B) policy development and guidance; 
(C) budget formulation, guidance, and exe-
cution; 
(D) serving as the Department of Com-
merce official for all ocean and atmosphere 
issues with other elements of the Department of 
Commerce and with other Federal agencies, 
State, tribal, and local governments, and the 
public; and 
(E) such other duties with respect to the 
Administration as the Secretary may prescribe.
(3) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—The Admin-
istrator may, except as otherwise prohibited by 
law—
(A) delegate any functions, powers, or du-
ties of the Administrator to such officers and 
employees of the Administration as the Admin-
istrator may designate; and 
(B) authorize such successive redelegations 
of such functions, powers, or duties within the 
Administration as the Administrator considers 
necessary or appropriate. 
(4) AUTHORITIES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—As may be necessary or 
proper to carry out the Administration’s func-
tions under this Act or as otherwise provided by 
law, the Administrator may—
(i) promulgate rules and regulations; 
(ii) enter into and perform contracts, 
leases, grants, and cooperative agreements 
with Federal agencies, State and local gov-
ernments, Indian tribes, international or-
ganizations, foreign governments, edu-
cational institutions, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and commercial organizations;