United States ocean waters and marine ecosystem 
health. 
SEC. 302. STAFFING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Advisor, without regard to 
the civil service laws and regulations governing employ-
ment in the competitive service, may employ such officers 
and employees as may be necessary to carry out the func-
tions of the National Oceans Advisor under this Act. 
(b) VOLUNTARY AND UNCOMPENSATED SERVICES.— 
The Advisor may accept, employ, and terminate voluntary 
and uncompensated services in furtherance of the pur-
poses of the Advisor. 
Subtitle B—Committee on Ocean 
Policy 
SEC. 311. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE; MISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Executive Office of the President a Committee on Ocean 
Policy (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’), 
which succeeds the Committee on Ocean Policy established 
on December 17, 2004, by Executive Order 13366 and 
shall continue the activities of that committee as it was 
in existence on the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Committee shall—
(1) facilitate interagency coordination on Fed-
eral agency covered actions related to United States 
ocean waters and marine ecosystem health and the 
implementation of this Act; 
(2) review and appraise the various programs 
and activities of the Federal Government for consist-
ency with the policy set forth in section 101 and 
make recommendations to the President with respect 
thereto no later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act; 
(3) resolve interagency disputes regarding ma-
rine ecosystem health and in particular the imple-
mentation of this Act; 
(4) coordinate and certify agency ocean budgets 
regarding their sufficiency to achieve the policy set 
forth in section 101; 
(5) submit to the President and publish at least 
once every 2 years a report on the condition of 
United States ocean waters; and 
(6) obtain and provide information to facilitate 
and advance ecosystem-based management of Re-
gional Ocean Partnerships in accordance with title 
IV. 
(c) RESOURCES.—In carrying out its functions under 
this Act, the Committee may secure directly from any
Federal agency or department any information it con-
siders to be necessary to carry out its functions under this 
Act. Each such agency or department may cooperate with 
the Committee and, to the extent permitted by law, shall 
furnish such information (other than information de-
scribed in section 552(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States 
Code) to the Committee, upon request of the Committee. 
SEC. 312. CHAIR; MEMBERSHIP; FUNCTIONS. 
(a) CHAIR.—The Secretary of Commerce shall be the 
Chair of the Committee. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall have 
20 voting members, as follows: 
(A) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(B) The Secretary of State. 
(C) The Secretary of the Interior. 
(D) The Secretary of Defense. 
(E) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(F) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(G) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(H) The Secretary of Education. 
(I) The Secretary of Energy. 
(J) The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services.
(K) The Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(L) The Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget. 
(M) The Director of the National Science 
Foundation. 
(N) Four State Governors appointed by 
the National Governors Association, who shall 
represent State and local interests. 
(O) The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(P) The Chair of the National Research 
Council Governing Board. 
(Q) The Chair of the Council on Environ-
mental Quality. 
(2) STATE GOVERNOR MEMBERS.— 
(A) TERMS.—Of the members appointed 
under paragraph (1)(N)— 
(i) except as provided in clause (iii), 
their term as a member shall be 3 years; 
(ii) one member shall be appointed to 
an initial 3-year term that begins in a Fed-
eral election year in which there occurs an 
election of the President;
(iii) one member shall be appointed to 
an initial 3-year term that begins in a Fed-
eral election year in which there does not 
occur an election of the President; and 
(iv) at least 2 shall be Governors of 
coastal States. 
(B) LIMITATION
ON
APPOINTMENT.—A 
Governor of a State may not be appointed 
under paragraph (1)(N) to a term on the Com-
mittee that begins before the end of the 3-year 
period that begins upon the expiration of a 
prior term on the Committee served by a Gov-
ernor of the State. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair, without regard 
to the civil service laws and regulations, may employ 
and terminate such employees as may be necessary 
to carry out its function under this Act. 
(2) VOLUNTARY AND UNCOMPENSATED SERV-
ICES.—The Chair may accept, employ, and termi-
nate voluntary and uncompensated services in fur-
therance of the purposes of the Committee.