‘‘(C) identify the ocean acidification im-
pacts that might harm those communities, in-
cluding impacts from changes in ocean and 
coastal marine resources that are not managed 
by the Federal Government; 
‘‘(D) identify key knowledge gaps where 
research could be devoted to better understand 
the possible impacts of ocean acidification on 
those communities, the risks and threats facing 
those communities, and possible adaptation 
strategies for those communities; and 
‘‘(E) be conducted in collaboration with ex-
perts, indigenous knowledge groups, and stake-
holders who are familiar with the unique eco-
nomic, social, ecological, geographic, and re-
source concerns of coastal communities in the 
United States, including representatives of— 
‘‘(i) the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and the Office for Coastal Manage-
ment of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration; 
‘‘(ii) National Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System regional infor-
mation coordination entities established 
under section 12304(c)(4) of the Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System 
Act 
of 
2009 
(33 
U.S.C. 
3603(c)(4)); 
‘‘(iii) regional ocean acidification net-
works; and 
‘‘(iv) State sea grant programs (as de-
fined in section 203 of the National Sea 
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1122)). 
‘‘(c) SUPPORT
FOR STATE
AND LOCAL VULNER-
ABILITY
ASSESSMENTS
AND
STRATEGIC
RESEARCH 
PLANNING.—In carrying out the program established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate with 
State, local, and tribal government entities that are con-
ducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, stra-
tegic research planning, or other similar activities related 
to ocean acidification and its impacts on coastal commu-
nities, for the purpose of— 
‘‘(1) determining whether such activities can be 
used as a model for other communities; and 
‘‘(2) identifying opportunities for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other 
relevant Federal agencies to support such activi-
ties.’’.
(b) 
ONGOING
INPUT
MECHANISM.—Section 
12404(b)(5) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 
And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(b)(5)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘including information’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘including— 
‘‘(A) information’’; 
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) an ongoing mechanism that allows af-
fected industry members, coastal stakeholders, 
non-Federal resource managers, community 
acidification networks, indigenous knowledge 
groups, and scientific experts not employed by 
the Federal Government to provide input on re-
search, data, and monitoring that is necessary 
to support on-the-ground management, deci-
sionmaking, and adaptation related to ocean 
acidification and its impacts.’’. 
(c) STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Section 12405 of 
the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring 
Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) make recommendations for research that 
should be conducted, including in the social sciences 
and economics, to address the key knowledge gaps 
identified in the community vulnerability assessment 
report conducted under section 12406(b).’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘, tribal gov-
ernments, indigenous knowledge groups,’’ after ‘‘in-
dustry’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
12409(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 
And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3708(a)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) NOAA.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to carry out the purposes of this subtitle $2.7 mil-
lion for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
(e) REPORT ON SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL 
VULNERABILITY
ASSESSMENTS
AND
STRATEGIC
RE-
SEARCH PLANNING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall submit to Congress a report on the efforts of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to sup-
port State, local, and tribal community vulnerability as-
sessments, strategic research and planning, and moni-
toring needs, pursuant to section 12406(c) of the Federal 
Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 
(as added by subsection (a) of this section). 
Passed the House of Representatives June 5, 2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1716 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, to conduct 
coastal community vulnerability assessments re-
lated to ocean acidification, and for other pur-
poses.