SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant 
College Program Amendments Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, when-
ever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in 
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other 
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to 
a section or other provision of the National Sea Grant Col-
lege Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) 
is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1)(D) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(D) encourage the development of prepa-
ration, forecast, analysis, mitigation, response, 
and recovery systems for coastal hazards;’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘program of 
research, education,’’ and inserting ‘‘program of in-
tegrated research, education, extension,’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(6) The National Ocean Research Priorities 
Plan and Implementation Strategy issued by the Na-
tional Science and Technology Council’s Joint Sub-
committee on Ocean Science and Technology on 
January 26, 2007, identifies research priorities for 
compelling areas of interaction between society and 
the ocean, and calls for the engagement of a broad 
array of ocean science sectors (government, aca-
demia, industry, and non-government entities) to ad-
dress the areas of greatest research need and oppor-
tunity. 
‘‘(7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, through the national sea grant col-
lege program, offers the most suitable locus and 
means for such commitment and engagement 
through the promotion of activities that will result in 
greater such understanding, assessment, develop-
ment, utilization, and conservation. The most cost- 
effective way to promote such activities is through 
continued and increased Federal support of the es-
tablishment, development, and operation of pro-
grams and projects by sea grant colleges, sea grant 
institutes, and other institutions, including strong 
collaborations between Administration scientists and 
research and outreach personnel at academic institu-
tions.’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘to promote research, education,
training, and advisory service activities’’ and inserting ‘‘to 
promote integrated research, education, training, and ex-
tension activities’’. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (11) by striking ‘‘advisory 
services’’ and inserting ‘‘extension services’’; 
(2) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by 
striking ‘‘(33 U.S.C. 1126)’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(17) The term ‘regional research and informa-
tion plan’ means a plan developed by one or more 
sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes that identi-
fies regional priorities to implement the National 
Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation 
Strategy. 
‘‘(18) The term ‘National Ocean Research Pri-
orities Plan and Implementation Strategy’ means 
such plan and strategy issued by the National 
Science and Technology Council’s Joint Sub-
committee on Ocean Science and Technology on 
January 26, 2007.’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 307 of the Act entitled ‘‘An 
Act to provide for the designation of the Flower Garden
Banks National Marine Sanctuary’’ (Public Law 102– 
251; 106 Stat. 66) is repealed. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM, GEN-
ERALLY. 
(a) PROGRAM
ELEMENTS.—Section 204(b) (33 
U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended— 
(1) by amending in paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) sea grant programs that comprise a na-
tional sea grant college program network, including 
international projects conducted within such pro-
grams and regional and national projects conducted 
among such programs;’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) administration of the national sea grant 
college program and this title by the national sea 
grant office and the Administration;’’; and 
(3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(4) any regional or national strategic invest-
ments in fields relating to ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes resources developed in consultation with the 
board and with the approval of the sea grant col-
leges and the sea grant institutes.’’.
(b) TECHNICAL
CORRECTION.—Section 204(c)(2) 
(33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘Within 
6 months of the date of enactment of the National Sea 
Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, the’’ 
and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
(c) FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SEA 
GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.—Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 
1123(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘long- 
range’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(A)(i) evaluate’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(A) evaluate and assess’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘activities; and’’ and in-
serting ‘‘activities;’’; and 
(C) by striking clause (ii); and 
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through 
(iv) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively, 
and by inserting after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) encourage collaborations among 
sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes 
to address regional and national priorities 
established under subsection (c)(1);
‘‘(iii) encourage cooperation with Mi-
nority Serving Institutions— 
‘‘(I) to enhance collaborative re-
search opportunities for faculty and 
students in the areas of atmospheric, 
oceanic, and environmental sciences, 
and remote sensing; 
‘‘(II) to improve opportunities 
for, and retention of, students and 
faculty from Minority Serving Institu-
tions in the NOAA related sciences; 
and 
‘‘(III) to increase the number of 
such students graduating in NOAA 
science areas;’’; and 
(B) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by 
striking ‘‘encourage’’ and inserting ‘‘ensuring’’. 
SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. 
(a) EXEMPTION
FROM
LIMITATION
ON
COST 
SHARE.—Section 205(a) (33 U.S.C. 1124(a)) is amended 
in the matter following paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or 
that are appropriated under section 208(b)’’ before the pe-
riod at the end. 
(b) SPECIAL GRANTS; MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Section 
205(b) (33 U.S.C. 1124(b)) is amended by striking the
and every 2 years thereafter,’’ and inserting ‘‘Every 2 
years,’’. 
SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) REDESIGNATION OF SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL 
AS BOARD.— 
(1) REDESIGNATION.—The sea grant review 
panel established by section 209 of the National Sea 
Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1128), as in 
effect before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
is redesignated as the National Sea Grant Advisory 
Board. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP
NOT
AFFECTED.—An indi-
vidual serving as a member of the sea grant review 
panel immediately before the enactment of this Act 
may continue to serve as a member of the National 
Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of 
such member’s term under section 209(c) of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c). 
(3) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, 
map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of 
the United States to such sea grant review panel is 
deemed to be a reference to the National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board. 
(4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 
1128) is amended by striking so much as pre-
cedes subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be an inde-
pendent committee to be known as the National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board.’’. 
(B) DEFINITION.—Section 203(9) (33 
U.S.C. 1122(9)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(9) The term ‘Board’ means the National Sea 
Grant Advisory Board established under section 
209.’’; 
(C) OTHER
PROVISIONS.—The following 
provisions are each amended by striking 
‘‘panel’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘Board’’: 
(i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123). 
(ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126). 
(iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128). 
(b) DUTIES.—Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall advise the 
Secretary and the Director concerning—
‘‘(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant 
college program to address the Nation’s highest 
priorities regarding the understanding, assess-
ment, development, utilization, and conservation 
of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; 
‘‘(B) the designation of sea grant colleges 
and sea grant institutes; and 
‘‘(C) such other matters as the Secretary 
refers to the Board for review and advice. 
‘‘(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—The Board shall re-
port to the Congress every two years on the state of 
the national sea grant college program. The Board 
shall indicate in each such report the progress made 
toward meeting the priorities identified in the stra-
tegic plan in effect under section 204(c). The Sec-
retary shall make available to the Board such infor-
mation, personnel, and administrative services and 
assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out 
its duties under this title.’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF TERM.—Section 209(c)(2) (33 
U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is amended by striking the second sen-
tence and inserting the following: ‘‘The Director may ex-
tend the term of office of a voting member of the Board 
once by up to 1 year.’’.
(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES.—Section 
204(c) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as 
are reasonably necessary to carry out its duties under sub-
section (b). Such subcommittees may include individuals 
who are not Board members.’’. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 
1131(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title— 
‘‘(1) $66,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(2) $72,800,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(3) $79,600,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(4) $86,400,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(5) $93,200,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(6) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 
(b) REPEAL OF DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT.—Sec-
tion 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended by striking sub-
section (c), and by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) 
as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 14, 2008. 
Attest: 
Clerk.