I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1834 
To authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national under-
sea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 29, 2007 
Mr. SAXTON (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. 
PALLONE, Mr. FARR, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and 
Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources and 
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the national ocean exploration program and 
the national undersea research program within the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—NATIONAL OCEAN 
EXPLORATION PROGRAM 
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Ocean Explo-
ration Program Act’’. 
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SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION. 
The Secretary of Commerce, through the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, shall, in consultation with the National Science 
Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, con-
duct a coordinated national ocean exploration program 
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion that promotes collaboration with existing programs 
of the Administration, including those authorized in title 
II. 
SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES. 
In carrying out the program authorized under section 
102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration (in this title referred to as the 
‘‘Administrator’’) shall— 
(1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other 
scientific activities of discovery in conjunction with 
other Federal agencies or academic or educational 
institutions, to explore and survey little known areas 
of the marine environment, inventory, observe, and 
assess living and nonliving marine resources, and re-
port such findings; 
(2) give priority attention to deep ocean re-
gions, with a focus on deep water marine systems 
that hold potential for important scientific discov-
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eries, such as hydrothermal vent communities and 
seamounts; 
(3) conduct scientific voyages to locate, define, 
and document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites, 
and other ocean exploration activities that combine 
archaeology and oceanographic sciences; 
(4) develop and implement, in consultation with 
the National Science Foundation, a transparent 
process for merit-based peer-review and approval of 
proposals for activities to be conducted under this 
program; 
(5) enhance the technical capability of the 
United States marine science community by pro-
moting the development of improved oceanographic 
research, communication, navigation, and data col-
lection systems, as well as underwater platforms and 
sensors and autonomous vehicles; 
(6) accept donations of property, data, and 
equipment to be applied for the purpose of exploring 
the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans; 
and 
(7) establish an ocean exploration forum to en-
courage partnerships and promote communication 
among experts and other stakeholders in order to 
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enhance the scientific and technical expertise and 
relevance of the national program. 
SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall ap-
point an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board composed of 
experts in relevant fields to— 
(1) advise the Administrator on priority areas 
for survey and discovery; 
(2) assist the program in the development of a 
five-year strategic plan for exploration and dis-
covery; 
(3) annually review the quality and effectiveness 
of the proposal review process established under sec-
tion 103(4); and 
(4) provide other assistance and advice as re-
quested by the Administrator. 
(b) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. 
(2) COMPLIANCE.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1), the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board shall be 
appointed and operate in a manner consistent with 
all provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
with respect to— 
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(A) the balance of membership; 
(B) provisions of public notice regarding 
activities of the Ocean Exploration Advisory 
Board; 
(C) open meetings; and 
(D) public access to documents created by 
the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. 
SEC. 105. OCEAN EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRA-
STRUCTURE TASK FORCE. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, in coordination with the National Science Founda-
tion, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the United States Geological Survey, the Department of 
the Navy, the Mineral Management Service, and relevant 
governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and 
other experts, shall convene an ocean exploration tech-
nology and infrastructure task force to develop and imple-
ment a strategy— 
(1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration 
technology to the program authorized under section 
102; 
(2) to improve availability of communications 
infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to the 
program; 
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