IB 
Union Calendar No. 435 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6654 
[Report No. 117–602] 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate Adapta-
tion Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers 
to respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2022 
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. 
BLUMENAUER, Mr. CASTEN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, 
Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. CASE, Ms. CAS-
TOR of Florida, Ms. JAYAPAL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. SCANLON, and Ms. 
MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources 
DECEMBER 7, 2022 
Additional sponsors: Ms. LEE of California, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. KAHELE, Mr. 
QUIGLEY, Mr. COHEN, Ms. STANSBURY, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. 
ESPAILLAT, Mr. GARAMENDI, and Mr. NEGUSE 
DECEMBER 7, 2022 
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 February 9, 2022] 
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A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National 
Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the effects 
of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for 
other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Climate Adaptation 
Science Centers Act’’ or the ‘‘CASC Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
ADAPTATION.—The 
term 
‘‘adaptation’’ 
means— 
(A) the process of adjustment to actual or 
expected climate and the effects of extreme weath-
er, climate trends, and climate variability; and 
(B) protection, management, and conserva-
tion efforts designed to maintain or enhance the 
ability of people, fish, wildlife, plants, land, eco-
systems, and water of the United States to with-
stand, adjust to, or recover from the effects of ex-
treme weather, climate trends, and climate vari-
ability. 
(2) ADVISORY SERVICE ACTIVITIES.—The term 
‘‘advisory service activities’’ means activities includ-
ing— 
(A) sharing climate science and climate ad-
aptation knowledge between National and Re-
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gional Climate Adaptation Science Center re-
searchers, stakeholders, and other partners; 
(B) building collaborations between Na-
tional and Regional Climate Adaptation Science 
Center researchers, stakeholders, and other part-
ners; and 
(C) integrating climate adaptation science 
into natural and cultural resource management, 
decision-making and planning. 
(2) CULTURAL RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘cultural 
resources’’— 
(A) means those features and values related 
to cultural heritage; and 
(B) includes— 
(i) biological species with cultural her-
itage or ceremonial importance, and his-
toric and precontact sites, cultural land-
scapes, trails, structures, inscriptions, art, 
and artifacts on Federal lands or represent-
ative of the culture of Indian Tribes, Native 
Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific 
Islanders; and 
(ii) resources considered to be cultural 
resources 
according 
to 
the 
traditional 
knowledge of Indian Tribes, Native Hawai-
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ians, and Native American Pacific Island-
ers. 
(3) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means 
the Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Re-
source Sciences established under section 6. 
(4) CONSORTIUM INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘con-
sortium institution’’ means college, university, State 
cooperative institution, State agency, Indian Tribe, 
Tribal College or University, Historically Black Col-
lege or University, Tribal organization, Native Ha-
waiian organization, minority-serving institution, or 
other educational institution or organization, Federal 
agency, public or private organization, or any other 
party within each regional center other than the 
United States Geological Survey and the host institu-
tion. 
(5) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of the Interior. 
(6) ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.—The term ‘‘ecosystem 
services’’ means those benefits that ecosystems provide 
humans and human society, including clean air, 
clean water, and other economically important serv-
ices. 
(7) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES.—The term ‘‘Historically Black Colleges 
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and Universities’’ has the same meaning given the 
term ‘‘part B institutions’’ in section 322 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(8) HOST INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘host institu-
tion’’ means the non-Federal lead organization within 
each regional center. 
(9) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)). 
(10) 
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means a His-
panic-serving institution, an Alaska Native-serving 
institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, a 
Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian American 
and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institu-
tion, or a Native American-serving nontribal institu-
tion (as described in section 371 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))). 
(11) NATIONAL
CENTER.—The term ‘‘National 
Center’’ means the National Climate Adaptation 
Science Center established under section 3(a). 
(12) NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS.— 
The term ‘‘Native American Pacific Islanders’’ means 
any descendent of the aboriginal people of any island 
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in the Pacific Ocean that is a territory of the United 
States. 
(13) NATIVE HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘‘Native Ha-
waiian’’ means any individual who is a descendant 
of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied 
and exercised sovereignty in the area that now con-
stitutes the State of Hawaii. 
(14) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ means— 
(A) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; 
(B) Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i 
Nei; and 
(C) any other organization that— 
(i) serves and represents the interests of 
Native Hawaiians; 
(ii) has as a primary and stated pur-
pose the provision of services to Native Ha-
waiians; and 
(iii) has expertise in Native Hawaiian 
Affairs. 
(15) NATURAL RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘natural 
resources’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
11.14 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(16) REGIONAL
CENTER.—The term ‘‘regional 
center’’ means one of the Regional Climate Adapta-
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tion Science Centers established under section 3(a) 
that provide support for specific geographic locations 
in the United States. 
(17) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(18) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State of the United States; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) American Samoa; 
(D) Guam; 
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; 
(F) Puerto Rico; and 
(G) the Virgin Islands of the United States. 
(19) TRIBAL
COLLEGE
OR
UNIVERSITY.—The 
term ‘‘Tribal College or University’’ means an insti-
tution that— 
(A) qualifies for funding under the Tribally 
Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance 
Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the Nav-
ajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a 
note); or 
(B) is cited in section 532 of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 301 note). 
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(20) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
organization’’ means— 
(A) the recognized governing body of any 
Indian Tribe; or 
(B) any legally established organization of 
Indians that is— 
(i) controlled, sanctioned, or chartered 
by the recognized governing body of an In-
dian Tribe; or 
(ii)(I) democratically elected by the 
adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization; and 
(II) includes the maximum participa-
tion of Indians in all phases of its activi-
ties. 
(21) UNIVERSITY.—The term ‘‘university’’ has 
the meaning given to the term ‘‘institution of higher 
education’’ in section 101(a) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in collabora-
tion with States, Indian Tribes, and other partner or-
ganizations, shall establish a program to be known as 
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the ‘‘National and Regional Climate Adaptation 
Science Centers’’, which shall— 
(A) provide scientific expertise to agencies, 
organizations, individuals, Indian Tribes, tribal 
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organiza-
tions engaged in the management of natural re-
sources, cultural resources, and ecosystem serv-
ices for the purpose of informing decisions that 
aid adaptation to a changing climate and ex-
treme weather events; and 
(B) include a National Climate Adaptation 
Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation 
Science Centers. 
(2) CHIEF; DIRECTORS.— 
(A) CHIEF.—The Chief of the National Cen-
ter shall be a United States Geological Survey 
employee and shall be responsible for national- 
scale and network-wide strategic initiatives, 
science direction, and partnerships. 
(B) DIRECTORS.—Each regional center 
shall have— 
(i) a Federal Director who shall— 
(I) be a United States Geological 
Survey employee; 
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(II) report directly to the Chief of 
the National Center; and 
(III) be responsible for region-spe-
cific and cross-regional strategic ini-
tiatives and implementation of climate 
science research agendas; and 
(ii) a Host Institution Director who 
shall— 
(I) carry out the terms and condi-
tions of the financial assistance award; 
(II) lead the institutional consor-
tium in each region; and 
(III) oversee training and capac-
ity building at the host and consor-
tium institutions. 
(C) COOPERATIVE
WORK.—Each Regional 
Federal Director and each Host Institution Di-
rector shall work cooperatively to further the 
mission of the relevant regional center. 
(D) ADMINISTRATION.—The National Cen-
ter and all regional centers shall be administered 
by the United States Geological Survey. 
(b) DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL CENTER.—In collabo-
ration with Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal 
organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian orga-
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nizations, Native American Pacific Islanders, and other 
partner organizations, the National Center shall— 
(1) serve as the national office for the regional 
centers; 
(2) provide leadership and guidance on adminis-
tration, partnerships, information management, and 
communications; 
(3) develop and facilitate coordination among 
the regional centers; 
(4) coordinate and collaborate with other Federal 
agencies working on similar research and activities 
to— 
(A) minimize, as much as possible, the du-
plication of research and effort; and 
(B) use, as much as possible, existing data 
in the development of new or ongoing research; 
(5) conduct research on cross-regional and na-
tional science priorities; 
(6) support regional centers that— 
(A) are hosted at a university, or a consor-
tium of universities or other research institu-
tions, within the region of each regional center; 
(B) are collaborations between the Federal 
Director and the Host Institution Director and 
their staffs to address the broad scientific mis-
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sion and goals as defined by the National Center 
in a manner that is relevant to its specific geo-
graphic region and in cooperation with State 
and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal or-
ganizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawai-
ian organizations, Native American Pacific Is-
landers, and other entities within that region; 
(C) promote research, education, training, 
and advisory service activities to stakeholders, 
Tribal governments, and the public via informa-
tional publications, trainings, and other out-
reach methods; and 
(D) receive funding at the host institution 
through cooperative agreements, contracts, and 
grants under section 4; and 
(7) acting through the Chief of the National Cen-
ter, with respect to the regional centers— 
(A) evaluate and assess the performance of 
the programs of regional centers every five years, 
using the priorities, guidelines, and qualifica-
tions established by the Secretary under this sec-
tion, and determine if the programs are well 
managed and carry out high-quality research, 
education, training, and advisory service activi-
ties; and 
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(B) subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, allocate funding among regional centers so 
as to— 
(i) conduct regionally relevant re-
search, education, training, and advisory 
service activities in each of the regions; 
(ii) encourage collaborations among re-
gional centers to address regional and na-
tional priorities established under this sec-
tion; 
(iii) ensure successful implementation 
and operation of regional centers; 
(iv) to the maximum extent consistent 
with other provisions of this Act, provide a 
stable base of funding in support of the re-
gional centers on 5-year terms, with addi-
tional funds available annually subject to 
the availability of appropriations; 
(v) encourage and promote coordina-
tion and cooperation between the research, 
education, training, and advisory service 
activities of the Department and those of the 
host and consortium institutions; and 
(vi) pay the official Federal Govern-
ment negotiated overhead rate to the host 
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institution and partners on the basic agree-
ment establishing the location of the re-
gional center. 
(c) AUTHORITIES OF THE NATIONAL CENTER.—The 
National Center may— 
(1) procure the services of appropriate public 
and private agencies and institutions and other 
qualified persons to conduct its work; and 
(2) operate and fund a network of not fewer than 
nine regional centers that shall address the impacts of 
climate trends and variability, including extreme 
weather events, on natural and cultural resources and 
ecosystem services. 
(d) DESIGNATION OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.— 
(1) EXISTING
REGIONAL
CENTER
DESIGNA-
TIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Any institution or con-
sortium of institutions designated as a regional 
center before the date of enactment of this Act 
shall participate in one final competition for its 
status as a regional center upon the conclusion 
of its existing 5-year term to assure that the host 
institutions and association consortium institu-
tions update proposals recognizing the long-term 
commitment as a host. 
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(B) RECOMPETES.—After the next competi-
tion for regional center after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, a designated regional center 
shall not have to recompete on 5-year terms, but 
shall be subject to review on 5-year terms as de-
scribed in paragraph (2). After competed, the 
final agreements shall only be recompeted in the 
event of a failed review. 
(2) REVIEWS OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.— 
(A) The Chief of the National Center, in 
consultation with the Committee, shall establish 
guidelines for 5-year merit reviews of each re-
gional center, which shall include guidelines for 
— 
(i) the establishment of a statement of 
objectives, agreed upon by the National Cen-
ter and regional host institutions at the be-
ginning of the 5-year term, that outline the 
expectations of activities or measures of suc-
cess to be completed during the agreed upon 
period; and 
(ii) an independent merit review, con-
ducted by the National Center, of the host 
institution’s activities as related to the 
statement of objectives. 
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(B) If a regional center does not meet the 
requirements included in the statement of objec-
tive as determined by the independent merit re-
view referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii), the host 
institution or consortium of institutions may not 
continue as a host of a regional center. 
(C) If a host institution or consortium of 
institution fails a merit review referred to in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chief of the National 
Center may give the host institution or consor-
tium of institutions a probationary period of one 
year. After the one-year probationary period, the 
Chief of the National Center shall undertake an 
additional review referred to in subparagraph 
(A)(ii) to determine if the host institution or 
consortium of institutions shall— 
(i) continue as a host of a regional 
center; or 
(ii) not continue as a host of a re-
gional center, in which case the Chief of the 
National Center shall initiate a competitive 
process to select a new host institution . 
(D) The Chief of the National Center shall 
ensure that reviews completed pursuant to this 
paragraph are publicly available. 
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(2) CHANGES TO CONSORTIUM INSTITUTIONS.— 
The Chief of the National Center, in consultation with 
the Federal Director and Host Institution Director of 
a regional center, may add or remove consortium in-
stitutions at any time to address regional and na-
tional priorities established under this section. 
(3) FACA.—Committees, subcommittees, and 
working groups appointed by Federal Directors of the 
regional centers pursuant to this subsection shall not 
be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.). 
(e) DUTIES OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS.—In collabo-
ration with Federal and State natural resources agencies 
and departments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Na-
tive Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native 
American Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
Historically Black Colleges or Universities, minority-serv-
ing institutions, universities, other research or educational 
institutions, and other partner organizations, regional cen-
ters shall develop research, education, training, and advi-
sory service priorities regarding the impacts of climate 
trends and variability on natural and cultural resource 
management in their regions for the purpose of climate ad-
aptation. 
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(f) PROJECT SOLICITATION .—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, each regional center shall undergo 
a project solicitation process annually that shall— 
(1) include regionally identified science priority 
topics; 
(2) work with science partners in the region to 
develop a scientific review process to assure the high-
est quality of proposals are selected; and 
(3) final decisions on annual project selections 
shall be made by the Federal Directors of the regional 
centers. 
SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS, 
GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND 
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Director of the United States 
Geological Survey is authorized to enter into contracts, 
grants, and cooperative agreements with a host institution 
or consortium institution to further the research, education, 
training, and advisory service activities of the Department 
or its partners relating to impacts of climate trends and 
variability. This authority supplements all other laws relat-
ing to the Department and is not to be construed as lim-
iting or repealing any existing authorities. 
(b) LEGAL INSTRUMENTS.—The Director of the United 
States Geological Survey may use a contract, grant, cooper-
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ative agreement, or interagency agreement as the legal in-
strument reflecting a relationship between the Secretary 
and a host institution or consortium institution, to further 
the duties under section 3 without regard to— 
(1) any requirements for competition; 
(2) section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; 
or 
(3) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 
31, United States Code. 
(c) PARTICIPATION
OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, any Federal agen-
cy may participate in any such cooperative agreement 
under this section by contributing funds through the Na-
tional Center or otherwise if it is mutually agreed that the 
objectives of the agreement shall further the authorized pro-
grams of the contributing agency. 
(d) APPROVAL REQUIRED.—In any case where a con-
tract is let or grant made to an organization to perform 
services benefitting more than one Indian Tribe, the ap-
proval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to 
the letting or making of such contract or grant. 
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. 
Each department, agency, or other instrumentality of 
the Federal Government, that is engaged in or concerned 
with, or that has authority over, matters relating to natural 
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and cultural resources, ecosystem services, or climate varia-
bility or change, including all member agencies of the 
United States Global Change Research Program— 
(1) shall, upon a written request from the Sec-
retary, furnish any available data or other informa-
tion that the Secretary deems necessary to carry out 
any provision of section 3; 
(2) shall cooperate with the National Center, re-
gional centers, and duly authorized officials thereof; 
(3) may make available, on a reimbursable basis 
or otherwise, any personnel (with their consent and 
without prejudice to their position and rating), serv-
ice, or facility which the Chief of the National Center 
deems necessary to carry out any provision of section 
3; and 
(4) may transfer budgetary resources or other-
wise enter into interagency agreements, including 
funding, facilities, computational resources, data, or 
other tangible or intangible resources, between the Na-
tional Center or regional centers to aid collaborative 
work among Federal agencies, when approved by the 
Chief of the National Center and their counterpart in 
the other Federal agency. 
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SEC. 6. COMMITTEES. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMITTEES.—The 
Chief of the National Center may establish committees or 
working groups and procedures to facilitate public partici-
pation in the advisory process, such as a national advisory 
committee for the National Center, stakeholder advisory 
committees and science implementation panels for the re-
gional centers, and working groups for review of competi-
tive. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and pursu-
ant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.), the Secretary shall establish an Advisory Com-
mittee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences to 
advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation 
Science Centers on the following: 
(A) The contents of a national strategy 
identifying key climate adaptation science prior-
ities to advance the management of natural and 
cultural resources in the face of climate change. 
(B) The nature, extent, and quality of rela-
tions with and facilitating engagement of key 
partners at the regional center level. 
(C) The nature and effectiveness of mecha-
nisms to effectively deliver science information 
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and tools, and build capacity, to aid the natural 
and cultural resource management community 
and decision-makers in adapting to a changing 
climate. 
(D) Mechanisms that may be employed by 
the National Center to ensure high standards of 
scientific quality and integrity in its products. 
(E) The integration of equity, particularly 
for historically underserved communities, in the 
operation of the National Center and regional 
centers. 
(2) VOTING
MEMBERS.—The Committee shall 
have not fewer than 15 voting members who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary. Each voting member shall 
be an employee of— 
(A) an Indian Tribe; 
(B) a Tribal organization; 
(C) a Native Hawaiian organization; 
(D) a State or local government; 
(E) nongovernmental organization whose 
primary mission is conservation and related sci-
entific and advocacy activities; 
(F) an academic institution; or 
(G) other sectors, environmental justice or-
ganizations, or private industry. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:24 Dec 08, 2022
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