(B) is caused by a marine disease or envi-
ronmental stressor; 
(C) is likely to threaten the sustainability 
of a marine species or the health of a marine 
ecosystem; and 
(D) is likely to expand in geographic scope. 
(7) MARINE
ENVIRONMENT.—The term ‘‘ma-
rine environment’’ means those areas of coastal, 
ocean, and estuarine waters over which the United 
States has jurisdiction, including the exclusive eco-
nomic zone, consistent with international law. 
(8) MARINE SPECIES.—The term ‘‘marine spe-
cies’’— 
(A) except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), means marine reptiles, finfish, mollusks, 
and crustaceans, and all other forms of marine 
animal and plant life; and 
(B) does not include aquacultured animals 
of any species, marine mammals, and birds. 
(9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(10) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
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Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, 
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and any 
other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States, and each federally recognized Indian 
tribe. 
(11) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘Working 
Group’’ means the Marine Disease Emergency 
Working Group established under section 4. 
SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF MARINE DISEASE EMERGENCY 
AND RESPONSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may declare a ma-
rine disease emergency in accordance with subsection (b). 
(b) DECLARATION PROCEDURE.—After receiving no-
tice that a marine disease emergency may be occurring, 
the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable— 
(1) not later than 24 hours after receiving such 
notice, contact members of the Working Group for 
guidance on whether the event is a marine disease 
emergency; and 
(2) not later than 7 days after receiving such 
notice, declare whether the event is a marine disease 
emergency. 
(c) EFFECT OF DECLARATION.— 
(1) POWERS OF SECRETARY.—Upon declaring a 
marine disease emergency under this section, and 
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subject to the availability of appropriations, the Sec-
retary may take such actions as may be appropriate 
to respond to the emergency, including making 
grants, providing awards for expenses, entering into 
contracts and conducting and supporting investiga-
tions into the cause, treatment, or prevention of the 
emergency. 
(2) RESPONSE
ACTIVITIES.—As soon as pos-
sible after declaring a marine disease emergency, the 
Secretary shall carry out the activities described in 
subsections (d) and (e) with respect to the emer-
gency. 
(d) DESIGNATION OF COORDINATOR.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate an individual to coordinate the response to 
each marine disease emergency declared under this 
section. 
(2) DUTIES
OF
COORDINATOR.—The coordi-
nator, under the supervision of the Secretary, shall 
lead a response to the emergency that may include 
Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, non-
governmental organizations, and other persons as 
appropriate. 
(3) COORDINATOR ASSISTANTS.—The Secretary 
may designate one or more individuals to assist the 
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coordinator in carrying out the duties described in 
paragraph (2). 
(e) DEVELOPMENT OF RESPONSE PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 28 days after 
declaring a marine disease emergency under this sec-
tion the Secretary shall, in consultation with the 
Task Force, develop a written response plan for such 
emergency based on sound science. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The plan described in para-
graph (1) shall include, at minimum— 
(A) a list of persons at appropriate Fed-
eral, regional, State, and local agencies who can 
assist the Secretary in implementing a coordi-
nated and effective response to the marine dis-
ease emergency; 
(B) a description of the steps necessary to 
diagnose the cause of the marine disease emer-
gency; 
(C) training, mobilization, and utilization 
procedures for personnel, facilities, and other 
resources necessary to conduct a rapid and ef-
fective response to the marine disease emer-
gency; 
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(D) an assessment of the potential effects 
of the marine disease emergency on populations 
of marine species; 
(E) strategies to minimize morbidity and 
mortality in marine species and minimize trans-
mission of the disease; and 
(F) provisions to protect other populations 
of aquacultured animals, plants, marine mam-
mals, and birds that could be directly or indi-
rectly impacted by the marine disease emer-
gency or response actions. 
(3) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 21 days 
after declaring a marine disease emergency under 
this section the Secretary shall publish a summary 
of the plan on a publicly accessible Internet website 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration. 
(f) TERMINATION
OF
MARINE
DISEASE
EMER-
GENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A marine disease emergency 
declared under this section shall terminate on the 
date on which the Secretary declares that the emer-
gency no longer exists, or upon the expiration of the 
120-day period beginning on the date on which such 
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declaration is made by the Secretary, whichever oc-
curs first. 
(2) RENEWAL
OF
DECLARATION.—A declara-
tion that terminates under paragraph (1) may be re-
newed by the Secretary. The time limitations in 
paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to each such 
renewal. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the termi-
nation of a marine disease emergency declared under this 
section, the Secretary shall— 
(1) submit to Congress a report describing— 
(A) the presumptive cause and environ-
mental impact of the marine disease emergency; 
(B) the response to the marine disease 
emergency and recommendations, if any, for 
improving responses to future marine disease 
emergencies; and 
(C) recommendations, if any, for pre-
venting future marine disease emergencies; and 
(2) publish the report on a publicly accessible 
Internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
SEC. 4. MARINE DISEASE EMERGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a work-
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(B) The Administrator of the United 
States Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service or the Administrator’s designee. 
(C) The Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service or the Director’s designee. 
(D) The Director of the United States Ge-
ological Survey or the Director’s designee. 
(E) 3 members, appointed by the Presi-
dent, who have specialized knowledge and ex-
pertise in— 
(i) marine animal and plant health, 
marine animal and plant disease assess-
ments, and responding to disease out-
breaks or ecological disasters; and 
(ii) marine veterinary science, bacteri-
ology, 
virology 
or 
immunology, 
histopathology, 
genetics, 
epidemiology, 
ecology, or microbiology. 
(2) LIMITATION.—A member appointed under 
paragraph (1)(E) shall not be an employee of an 
agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United 
States Code). If any such member becomes an em-
ployee of an agency, that member may continue as 
a member for not longer than the 30-day period be-
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ginning on the date the member becomes an em-
ployee of an agency. 
(3) TEMPORARY
MEMBERS.—The Secretary 
may appoint additional members to the Working 
Group to serve during a marine disease emergency 
declared under section 3. 
(4) TERMS.— 
(A) NON-AGENCY MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall be 
appointed for a term of 2 years and may be re-
appointed thereafter by the President. 
(B) TEMPORARY MEMBERS.—The term of 
each member appointed under paragraph (3) 
shall expire 90 days after the date on which the 
marine disease emergency for which that mem-
ber was appointed is terminated under section 
3(f). 
(5) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Working 
Group shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(6) PROHIBITION ON COMPENSATION OF FED-
ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Working Group 
who are full-time officers or employees of the United 
States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or 
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benefits by reason of their service on the Working 
Group. 
(7) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, each member of the Work-
ing Group shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(8) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary, or a des-
ignee of the Secretary, shall be the Chairperson of 
the Working Group. 
(9) MEETINGS.—The Secretary shall convene 
the Working Group not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. Thereafter, the 
Working Group shall meet not less than annually 
and may also meet at the call of the Chairperson or 
a majority of its members. 
(d) STAFFING
AND ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall make available to the Working Group any staff, in-
formation, administrative services, or assistance the Sec-
retary considers reasonably required to enable the Work-
ing Group to carry out its duties. 
(e) TERMINATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with 
respect to the Working Group. 
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SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF MARINE DISEASE EMERGENCY 
FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury a fund to be known as the ‘‘Marine Disease 
Emergency Fund’’, which shall be administered by the 
Secretary. Amounts in the Fund shall be made available 
without fiscal year limitation, and subject to appropria-
tions, to carry out this Act. 
(b) AMOUNTS.—The Fund shall consist of— 
(1) amounts appropriated to the Fund; and 
(2) amounts received by the Secretary as dona-
tions, gifts, or contributions for the purpose of ad-
dressing marine disease emergencies. 
(c) USE OF FUND.—Amounts in the Fund shall be 
used only to respond to a marine disease emergency de-
clared under section 3. 
(d) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts from 
the Fund shall be used to supplement and not supplant 
other Federal, State, regional, and local public funds pro-
vided for activities under this Act. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL DATA REPOSITORY FOR MARINE DIS-
EASES RESEARCH AND SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research 
and Services. Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an entity 
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eligible under subsection (c) to develop and administer 
such repository. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Data Repository 
shall be to— 
(1) collect, store, and disseminate information 
regarding research, data, findings, and technical as-
sistance materials related to marine diseases; 
(2) facilitate the development, coordination, and 
rapid dissemination of research on marine diseases; 
and 
(3) collect epidemiological, environmental im-
pact, timeline, global positioning system registered 
location, and ecological consequence data regarding 
marine diseases, linking different datasets across the 
country to assist researchers in developing strategies 
for addressing marine diseases. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for the contract 
under subsection (a), an entity shall— 
(1) be a public or private nonprofit entity; 
(2) have experience— 
(A) collecting data; 
(B) developing systems to store data in a 
secure manner; 
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