IB 
Union Calendar No. 475 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4174 
[Report No. 110–749] 
To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification re-
search and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification pro-
gram within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 14, 2007 
Mr. ALLEN (for himself, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. 
EHLERS, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. HOLT, Mr. OLVER, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. 
KLEIN of Florida, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 
and Technology 
JULY 9, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. 
HINCHEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. FARR, and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON 
of Texas 
JULY 9, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 14, 2007] 
A BILL 
To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean 
acidification research and monitoring plan and to estab-
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lish an ocean acidification program within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act 
of 2008’’ or the ‘‘FOARAM Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Interagency subcommittee. 
Sec. 5. Strategic research plan. 
Sec. 6. NOAA ocean acidification activities. 
Sec. 7. NSF ocean acidification activities. 
Sec. 8. NASA ocean acidification activities. 
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The oceans help regulate atmospheric chem-
istry by acting as the largest sink for carbon dioxide. 
(2) The rapid increase in atmospheric carbon di-
oxide is overwhelming the natural ability of the 
oceans to absorb this gas. 
(3) The influx of carbon dioxide into the atmos-
phere and the subsequent absorption by the oceans is 
changing surface ocean carbon chemistry and low-
ering the pH. These changes in ocean chemistry are 
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detrimental to organisms including corals, which sup-
port one of the richest habitats on Earth, marine 
shellfish, and many other organisms that form the 
base of the food chain for many fish and marine 
mammals. 
(4) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms is 
an important contribution to the national economy 
and the change in ocean chemistry threatens tourism, 
our fisheries, and marine environmental quality, and 
could result in significant social and economic costs. 
(5) Existing Federal programs support research 
in related ocean chemistry, but gaps in funding, co-
ordination, and outreach have impeded national 
progress in addressing ocean acidification. 
(6) National investment in a coordinated pro-
gram of research and monitoring would improve the 
understanding of ocean acidification effects on whole 
ecosystems, advance our knowledge of the socio-
economic impacts of increased ocean acidification, 
and strengthen the ability of marine resource man-
agers to assess and prepare for the harmful impacts 
of ocean acidification on our marine resources. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to pro-
vide for— 
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(1) development and coordination of a com-
prehensive interagency plan to— 
(A) monitor and conduct research on the 
processes and consequences of ocean acidification 
on marine organisms and ecosystems; and 
(B) establish an interagency research and 
monitoring program on ocean acidification; 
(2) assessment and consideration of regional and 
national ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts of in-
creased ocean acidification; and 
(3) research on adaptation strategies and tech-
niques for effectively conserving marine ecosystems as 
they cope with increased ocean acidification. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) OCEAN
ACIDIFICATION.—The term ‘‘ocean 
acidification’’ means the decrease in pH of the 
Earth’s oceans and changes in ocean chemistry caused 
by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, including 
carbon dioxide. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. 
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(3) SUBCOMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Subcommittee’’ 
means the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 
Technology of the National Science and Technology 
Council. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean 
Science and Technology of the National Science and Tech-
nology Council shall coordinate Federal activities on ocean 
acidification. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Subcommittee shall— 
(1) develop the strategic research and monitoring 
plan to guide Federal research on ocean acidification 
required under section 5 of this Act and oversee the 
implementation of the plan; 
(2) oversee the development of— 
(A) an assessment of the potential impacts 
of ocean acidification on marine organisms and 
marine ecosystems; and 
(B) adaptation and mitigation strategies to 
conserve marine organisms and ecosystems ex-
posed to ocean acidification; 
(3) facilitate communication and outreach op-
portunities with nongovernmental organizations and 
members of the stakeholder community with interests 
in marine resources; 
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(4) coordinate the United States Federal research 
and monitoring program with research and moni-
toring programs and scientists from other nations; 
and 
(5) establish or designate an Ocean Acidification 
Information Exchange to make information on ocean 
acidification developed through or utilized by the 
interagency ocean acidification program accessible 
through electronic means, including information 
which would be useful to policymakers, researchers, 
and other stakeholders in mitigating or adapting to 
the impacts of ocean acidification. 
(c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) INITIAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sub-
committee shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives that— 
(A) includes a summary of federally funded 
ocean acidification research and monitoring ac-
tivities, including the budget for each of these ac-
tivities; and 
(B) describes the progress in developing the 
plan required under section 5 of this Act. 
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(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the delivery of the initial report under para-
graph (1) and every 2 years thereafter, the Sub-
committee shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives that includes— 
(A) a summary of federally funded ocean 
acidification research and monitoring activities, 
including the budget for each of these activities; 
and 
(B) an analysis of the progress made to-
ward achieving the goals and priorities for the 
interagency research plan developed by the Sub-
committee under section 5. 
(3) STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Subcommittee shall transmit the strategic research 
plan developed under section 5 to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives. A revised plan shall be sub-
mitted at least once every 5 years thereafter. 
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SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall de-
velop a strategic plan for Federal research and monitoring 
on ocean acidification that will provide for an assessment 
of the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms 
and marine ecosystems and the development of adaptation 
and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and 
marine ecosystems. In developing the plan, the Sub-
committee shall consider and use information, reports, and 
studies of ocean acidification that have identified research 
and monitoring needed to better understand ocean acidifi-
cation and its potential impacts, and recommendations 
made by the National Academy of Sciences in the review 
of the plan required under subsection (d). 
(b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.—The plan shall— 
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in 
the year the plan is submitted, the goals and prior-
ities for Federal research and monitoring which 
will— 
(A) advance understanding of ocean acidifi-
cation and its physical, chemical, and biological 
impacts on marine organisms and marine eco-
systems; 
(B) improve the ability to assess the socio-
economic impacts of ocean acidification; and 
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(C) provide information for the development 
of adaptation and mitigation strategies to con-
serve marine organisms and marine ecosystems; 
(2) describe specific activities, including— 
(A) efforts to determine user needs; 
(B) research activities; 
(C) monitoring activities; 
(D) technology and methods development; 
(E) data collection; 
(F) database development; 
(G) modeling activities; 
(H) assessment of ocean acidification im-
pacts; and 
(I) participation in international research 
efforts; 
(3) identify relevant programs and activities of 
the Federal agencies that contribute to the interagency 
program directly and indirectly and set forth the role 
of each Federal agency in implementing the plan; 
(4) consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports 
and studies conducted by Federal agencies, the Na-
tional Research Council, or other entities; 
(5) make recommendations for the coordination 
of the ocean acidification research and monitoring ac-
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tivities of the United States with such activities of 
other nations and international organizations; 
(6) outline budget requirements for Federal ocean 
acidification research and monitoring and assessment 
activities to be conducted by each agency under the 
plan; 
(7) identify the monitoring systems and sam-
pling programs currently employed in collecting data 
relevant to ocean acidification and prioritize addi-
tional monitoring systems that may be needed to en-
sure adequate data collection and monitoring of ocean 
acidification and its impacts; and 
(8) describe specific activities designed to facili-
tate outreach and data and information exchange 
with stakeholder communities. 
(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The plan shall include at 
a minimum the following program elements: 
(1) Monitoring of ocean chemistry and biological 
impacts associated with ocean acidification at selected 
coastal and open-ocean monitoring stations, including 
satellite-based monitoring to characterize— 
(A) marine ecosystems; 
(B) changes in marine productivity; and 
(C) changes in surface ocean chemistry. 
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(2) Research to understand the species specific 
physiological response of marine organisms to ocean 
acidification, impacts on marine food webs of ocean 
acidification, and to develop environmental and eco-
logical indices that track marine ecosystem responses 
to ocean acidification. 
(3) Modeling to predict changes in the ocean car-
bon cycle as a function of carbon dioxide and atmos-
phere-induced changes in temperature, ocean circula-
tion, biogeochemistry, ecosystem and terrestrial input, 
and modeling to determine impacts on marine eco-
systems and individual marine organisms. 
(4) Technology development and standardization 
of carbonate chemistry measurements on moorings 
and autonomous floats. 
(5) Assessment of socioeconomic impacts of ocean 
acidification and development of adaptation and 
mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms 
and marine ecosystems. 
(d) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES EVALUATION.— 
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences to review the plan. 
(e) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In developing the plan, 
the Subcommittee shall consult with representatives of aca-
demic, State, industry and environmental groups. Not later 
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than 90 days before the plan, or any revision thereof, is 
submitted to the Congress, the plan shall be published in 
the Federal Register for a public comment period of not 
less than 60 days. 
SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES. 
The Secretary shall conduct research and monitoring 
activities on ocean acidification within the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration consistent with the 
strategic research plan developed by the Subcommittee 
under section 5 that— 
(1) includes— 
(A) interdisciplinary research among the 
ocean and atmospheric sciences, and coordinated 
research and activities to improve understanding 
of ocean acidification; 
(B) the establishment of a long-term moni-
toring program of ocean acidification utilizing 
existing global and national ocean observing as-
sets, and adding instrumentation and sampling 
stations as appropriate to the aims of the re-
search program; 
(C) research to identify and develop adapta-
tion strategies and techniques for effectively con-
serving marine ecosystems as they cope with in-
creased ocean acidification; 
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(D) as an integral part of the research pro-
grams described in this Act, educational oppor-
tunities that encourage an interdisciplinary and 
international approach to exploring the impacts 
of ocean acidification; 
(E) as an integral part of the research pro-
grams described in this Act, national public out-
reach activities to improve the understanding of 
current scientific knowledge of ocean acidifica-
tion and its impacts on marine resources; and 
(F) coordination of ocean acidification 
monitoring and impacts research with other ap-
propriate international ocean science bodies such 
as the International Oceanographic Commission, 
the International Council for the Exploration of 
the Sea, the North Pacific Marine Science Orga-
nization, and others; 
(2) provides grants for critical research projects 
that explore the effects of ocean acidification on eco-
systems and the socioeconomic impacts of increased 
ocean acidification that are relevant to the goals and 
priorities of the strategic research plan; and 
(3) incorporates a competitive merit-based proc-
ess for awarding grants that may be conducted jointly 
with other participating agencies or under the Na-
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tional Oceanographic Partnership Program under 
section 7901 of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 7. NSF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall continue to carry out re-
search activities on ocean acidification which shall support 
competitive, merit-based, peer-reviewed proposals for re-
search and monitoring of ocean acidification and its im-
pacts, including— 
(1) impacts on marine organisms and marine 
ecosystems; 
(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine bio-
geochemistry; and 
(3) the development of methodologies and tech-
nologies to evaluate ocean acidification and its im-
pacts. 
(b) CONSISTENCY.—The research activities shall be 
consistent with the strategic research plan developed by the 
Subcommittee under section 5. 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Director shall encourage co-
ordination of the Foundation’s ocean acidification activi-
ties with such activities of other nations and international 
organizations. 
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SEC. 8. NASA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.—The Admin-
istrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, in coordination with other relevant agencies, shall en-
sure that space-based monitoring assets are used in as pro-
ductive a manner as possible for monitoring of ocean acidi-
fication and its impacts. 
(b) PROGRAM CONSISTENCY.—The Administrator shall 
ensure that the Agency’s research and monitoring activities 
on ocean acidification are carried out in a manner con-
sistent with the strategic research plan developed by the 
Subcommittee under section 5. 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Administrator shall encour-
age coordination of the Agency’s ocean acidification activi-
ties with such activities of other nations and international 
organizations. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) NOAA.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
to carry out the purposes of this Act— 
(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
(3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
(4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
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(b) NSF.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the National Science Foundation to carry out the purposes 
of this Act— 
(1) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
(4) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
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