I 
107TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5395
To establish marine and freshwater research, development, and demonstration 
programs to support efforts to prevent, control, and eradicate invasive 
species, as well as to educate citizens and stakeholders and restore 
ecosystems. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2002
Mr. EHLERS (for himself, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. KIRK, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. KIL-
DEE, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. BAIRD, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. CAMP, Ms. 
SLAUGHTER, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. 
HOEKSTRA, Mr. BONIOR, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. 
LATOURETTE, Mr. FARR of California, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. EHRLICH, 
Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SCOTT, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. 
CARDIN, Mr. KIND, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. DICKS, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. 
GREENWOOD, 
Ms. 
RIVERS, 
Mr. 
ALLEN, 
Mr. 
PALLONE, 
Mr. 
BLUMENAUER, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. 
WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. UPTON, Mr. ORTIZ, and Ms. MCCOLLUM) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Science, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infra-
structure, Resources, and House Administration, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish marine and freshwater research, development, 
and demonstration programs to support efforts to pre-
vent, control, and eradicate invasive species, as well as 
to educate citizens and stakeholders and restore eco-
systems.
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 ‘‘Aquatic Invasive Spe-
cies Research Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Aquatic invasive species damage infrastruc-
ture, disrupt commerce, outcompete native species, 
reduce biodiversity, and threaten human health. 
(2) The direct and indirect costs of aquatic 
invasive species to our Nation’s economy number in 
the billions of dollars per year. In the Great Lakes 
region, approximately $3,000,000,000 dollars have 
been spent in the past 10 years to mitigate the dam-
age caused by one invasive species, the zebra mussel. 
(3) Recent studies have shown that, in addition 
to economic damage, invasive species cause enor-
mous environmental damage, and have cited invasive 
species as the second leading threat to endangered 
species. 
(4) Over the past 200 years, the rate of de-
tected marine and freshwater invasions in North 
America has increased exponentially.
(5) The rate of invasions continues to grow 
each year. 
(6) Marine and freshwater research underlies 
every aspect of detecting, preventing, controlling, 
and eradicating invasive species, educating citizens 
and stakeholders, and restoring ecosystems. 
(7) Current Federal efforts, including research 
efforts, have focused primarily on controlling estab-
lished invasive species, which is both costly and often 
unsuccessful. An emphasis on research, development, 
and demonstration to support efforts to prevent 
invasive species or eradicate them upon entry into 
United States waters would likely result in a more 
cost-effective and successful approach to combating 
invasive species through preventing initial introduc-
tion. 
(8) Research, development, and demonstration 
to support prevention and eradication includes moni-
toring of both pathways and ecosystems to track the 
introduction and establishment of nonnative species, 
and development and testing of technologies to pre-
vent introduction through known pathways. 
(9) Therefore, Congress finds that it is in the 
United States interest to conduct a comprehensive 
and thorough research, development, and demonstra-
tion program on aquatic invasive species in order to 
better understand how aquatic invasive species are 
introduced and become established and to support 
efforts to prevent the introduction and establishment 
of, and to eradicate, these species. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM.—The term ‘‘aquatic 
ecosystem’’ means a freshwater, marine, or estuarine 
environment in the United States or shared by the 
United States and other nations. 
(2) INVASION.—The term ‘‘invasion’’ means the 
introduction and establishment of an invasive species 
into an ecosystem beyond its historic range. 
(3) INVASIVE
SPECIES.—The term ‘‘invasive 
species’’ means a species—
(A) that is nonnative to the ecosystem 
under consideration; and 
(B) whose introduction causes or may 
cause harm to the economy, the environment, or 
human health. 
(4) PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘pathway’’ means a 
route by which invasive species are imported and in-
troduced into new environments.
(5) SPECIES.—The term ‘‘species’’ means a cat-
egory of taxonomic classification ranking below a 
genus or subgenus and consisting of related orga-
nisms capable of interbreeding.
(6) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘‘Task Force’’ 
means the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force es-
tablished under section 1201 of the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 
1990 (16 U.S.C. 4721). 
(7) TYPE
APPROVAL.—The term ‘‘type ap-
proval’’ means an approval procedure which certifies 
that a type of system meets a standard in regulation 
or law for a particular application. 
SEC. 4. ECOLOGICAL AND PATHWAY RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Smithsonian Environmental 
Research Center, the United States Geological Survey, 
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion (including the Great Lakes Environmental Research 
Laboratory), in consultation with the Task Force, other 
appropriate Federal and State agencies, and academic re-
searchers, shall develop and conduct a marine and fresh-
water research program which shall include ecological and 
pathway surveys and experimentation to assess rates and 
patterns of introductions of nonnative aquatic species in 
aquatic ecosystems. The goal of this marine and fresh-
water research program shall be to support efforts to pre-
vent the introduction of, detect, and eradicate invasive 
species through informing early detection and rapid re-
sponse efforts, informing relevant policy decisions, and as-
sessing the effectiveness of implemented policies. Surveys 
and experiments under this subsection shall be commenced 
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT.—The Smithsonian 
Environmental Research Center, the United States Geo-
logical Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (including the Great Lakes Environmental 
Research Laboratory), in consultation with the Task 
Force, other appropriate Federal and State agencies, and 
academic researchers, shall establish standardized proto-
cols for conducting ecological and pathway surveys of non-
native aquatic species, and shall recommend a standard-
ized approach for classifying species. Two protocols shall 
be developed, one to support early detection surveys that 
may be conducted by Federal, State, or local agencies in-
volved in the management of invasive species, and a sec-
ond marine and freshwater protocol to support the surveys 
conducted under subsection (a). Upon the development of 
protocols to support early detection surveys, the Task 
Force shall make appropriate efforts to disseminate the
protocols to appropriate Federal, State, and local entities. 
In developing the protocols under this subsection, the 
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the United 
States Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (including the Great Lakes 
Environmental Research Laboratory) shall draw on the 
recommendations gathered at the workshop under sub-
section (f). The research protocols shall be peer reviewed. 
Protocols shall be completed within 9 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(c) ECOLOGICAL AND PATHWAY SURVEY REQUIRE-
MENTS.—(1) Each ecological survey conducted under this 
section shall, at a minimum—
(A) document baseline ecological information of 
the aquatic ecosystem including, to the extent prac-
ticable, a comprehensive inventory of native species, 
nonnative species, and species of unknown origin 
present in the ecosystem, as well as the chemical 
and physical characteristics of the water and under-
lying substrate; 
(B) for nonnative species, identify their life his-
tory, environmental requirements and tolerances, the 
historic range of their native ecosystems, and their 
history of spreading from their native ecosystems;
(C) track the establishment of nonnative species 
including, to the extent practicable, information 
about the estimated population of nonnative orga-
nisms in order to allow an analysis of the probable 
date of introduction of the species; and 
(D) identify, when possible, the likely pathway 
of entry of nonnative species. 
(2) Each pathway survey conducted under this sec-
tion shall, at a minimum—
(A) identify what nonnative aquatic species are 
being introduced or may be introduced through the 
pathways under consideration; 
(B) determine the quantities of organisms being 
introduced through the pathways under consider-
ation; and 
(C) determine the practices that contributed to 
or could contribute to the introduction of nonnative 
aquatic species. 
(d) NUMBER AND LOCATION OF SURVEY SITES.—
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the 
United States Geological Survey, and the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration (including the Great 
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory) shall des-
ignate the number and location of survey sites necessary 
to carry out marine and freshwater research required
under this section. In conducting the surveys, the above 
agencies shall contract with academic institutions, as ap-
propriate, through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. In 
establishing such sites, emphasis shall be on both the qual-
ity of the proposal and the geographic diversity of sites, 
as well as the diversity of the human uses and biological 
characteristics of sites. 
(e) 
SHIP
PATHWAY
SURVEYS.—Section 
1102(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 
4712(b)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(ii) examine other potential modes 
for the introduction of nonnative aquatic 
species by ship, including hull fouling.’’. 
(f) WORKSHOP.—In order to support the develop-
ment of the protocols and design for the surveys under 
subsections (b) and (c), the Task Force shall convene a 
workshop with appropriate researchers from Federal and 
State agencies and academic institutions to gather rec-
ommendations. The Task Force shall make the results of 
the workshop widely available to the public. The workshop 
shall be held within 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(g) EXPERIMENTATION.—The United States Geologi-
cal Survey, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Cen-
ter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(including the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab-
oratory), and other appropriate Federal agencies, in con-
sultation with the Task Force, using academic researchers 
as appropriate, shall conduct laboratory and field-based
marine and freshwater research experiments on a range 
of taxonomic groups to identify the relationship between 
the introduction and establishment of nonnative aquatic 
species, including those legally introduced, and the cir-
cumstances necessary for those species to survive and 
thrive. 
(h) NATIONAL PATHWAY AND ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS 
DATABASE.—Section 1102(f) of the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 
U.S.C. 4712(f)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) NATIONAL PATHWAY AND ECOLOGICAL SUR-
VEYS DATABASE.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall de-
velop, maintain, and update, in consultation and co-
operation with the Smithsonian Environmental Re-
search Center, the United States Geological Survey, 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion (including the Great Lakes Environmental Re-
search Laboratory), and the Task Force, a central, 
national database of information concerning—
‘‘(A) ballast water management and deliv-
ery practices for ships entering United States 
ports; 
‘‘(B) ballast water treatment methods 
under use and development; and 
‘‘(C) information collected under section 4 
of the Aquatic Invasive Species Research Act of 
2002. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The database shall be 
widely available to the public, and shall be updated 
not less than once a year. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—In consultation and cooperation 
with the Task Force and the Smithsonian Institu-
tion (acting through the Smithsonian Environmental 
Research Center), the Secretary shall prepare and 
submit to the Task Force and the Congress, on a bi-
ennial basis, a report that synthesizes and analyzes 
the data referred to in this section relating to—
‘‘(A) ballast water delivery and manage-
ment patterns; and 
‘‘(B) compliance by vessels with regula-
tions promulgated under this section.’’. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this sec-
tion and section 1102(b)(2) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic
Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 
4712(b)(2)) for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 
2007 $20,000,000. 
SEC. 5. ANALYSIS. 
(a) INVASION ANALYSIS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and every year 
thereafter, the Smithsonian Environmental Research 
Center, the United States Geological Survey, and the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
(including the Great Lakes Environmental Research 
Laboratory), in consultation with the Task Force 
and other Federal agencies, using academic re-
searchers as appropriate, shall analyze data collected 
under section 4 and other relevant research on the 
rates and patterns of invasions by aquatic invasive 
species in waters of the United States. The purpose 
of this analysis shall be to use the data collected 
under section 4 and other relevant research to sup-
port efforts to prevent the introduction of, detect, 
and eradicate invasive species through informing 
early detection and rapid response efforts, informing 
relevant policy decisions, and assessing the effective-
ness of implemented policies to prevent the introduc-
tion and spread of invasive species.
(2) CONTENTS.—The analysis required under 
paragraph (1) shall include with respect to aquatic 
invasive species—
(A) an analysis of pathways, including— 
(i) identifying, and characterizing as 
high, medium, or low risk, pathways re-
gionally and nationally; 
(ii) identifying new and expanding 
pathways; 
(iii) identifying handling practices 
that contribute to the introduction of spe-
cies in pathways; and 
(iv) assessing the risk that species le-
gally introduced into the United States 
pose for introduction into aquatic eco-
systems; 
(B) patterns and rates of invasion and sus-
ceptibility to invasion of various bodies of 
water; 
(C) how the risk of establishment through 
a pathway is related to the identity and number 
of organisms transported; 
(D) rates of spread and numbers and types 
of pathways of spread of new populations of the 
aquatic invasive species;
(E) documentation of factors that influ-
ence an ecosystem’s vulnerability to a nonnative 
aquatic species becoming invasive; 
(F) a description of the potential for, and 
impacts of, pathway management programs on 
invasion rates; 
(G) recommendations for improvements on 
the effectiveness of pathway management; 
(H) to the extent practical, a determina-
tion of the level of reduction in live organisms 
of various taxonomic groups required to reduce 
the risk of establishment to receiving aquatic 
ecosystems to an acceptable level; and 
(I) an evaluation of the effectiveness of a 
standard at reducing species introductions and 
establishment. 
(c) RESEARCH TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL OF THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF INTRODUCED SPECIES.—Within 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the United 
States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration (including the Great Lakes En-
vironmental Research Laboratory) and other appropriate 
Federal agencies, using academic researchers as appro-
priate, shall develop a profile of the general characteristics
of invasive species, in order to predict, to the extent prac-
tical, whether a species planned for importation is likely 
to invade a particular aquatic ecosystem if introduced. In
developing the profile, the above agencies shall analyze the 
research conducted under section 4, and other research 
as necessary, to determine general species and ecosystem 
characteristics (taking into account the opportunity for in-
troduction into any ecosystem) and circumstances that can 
lead to establishment. Based on the profile, the Task 
Force shall make recommendations to the Invasive Species 
Council as to what planned importations of nonnative 
aquatic organisms should be restricted. This profile shall 
be peer-reviewed. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for carrying out this section. 
SEC. 6. DISSEMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Invasive Species Council, in 
coordination with the Task Force, the United States Geo-
logical Survey, and the Smithsonian Environmental Re-
search Center, shall be responsible for disseminating the 
information collected under this Act to Federal, State, and 
local entities, including relevant policymakers, and private 
researchers with responsibility over or interest in aquatic 
invasive species.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Invasive 
Species Council shall report actions and findings under 
section 5 to the Congress, and shall update this report 
once every 3 years thereafter, or more often as necessary. 
(c) RESPONSE STRATEGY.—The Invasive Species 
Council, in coordination with the Task Force and other 
appropriate Federal and State agencies, shall develop and 
implement a national strategy for how information col-
lected under this Act will be shared with Federal, State, 
and local entities with responsibility for determining re-
sponse to the introduction of potentially harmful non-
native aquatic species, to enable those entities to better 
and more rapidly respond to such introductions. 
(d) PATHWAY PRACTICES.—The Invasive Species 
Council, in coordination with the Task Force, shall dis-
seminate information to, and develop an ongoing edu-
cational program for, pathway users (including vendors 
and customers) on how their practices could be modified 
to prevent the intentional or unintentional introduction of 
nonnative aquatic species into aquatic ecosystems.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for carrying out this section.
SEC. 7. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRA-
TION. 
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDNESS SCREENING AND 
IMPROVEMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Environmental Protection 
Agency, in consultation with the Army Corps of Engi-
neers, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Ma-
rine Fisheries Service, shall establish a marine and fresh-
water research, development, and demonstration program 
to develop a wider set of environmentally sound methods 
and treatment tools for detecting, preventing, controlling, 
and eradicating aquatic invasive species. 
(b) DISPERSAL BARRIER RESEARCH PROGRAM.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the As-
sistant Secretary of the Army for the Corps of Engi-
neers, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife 
Service and other appropriate Federal agencies and 
academic researchers, shall establish a research, de-
velopment, and demonstration program to study en-
vironmentally sound methods and technologies to re-
duce dispersal of aquatic invasive species through 
interbasin waterways and assess the potential for 
using those methods and technologies in other wa-
terways.
(2) ADDITIONAL WATERWAYS.—The Corps of 
Engineers in consultation with the Fish and Wildlife 
Service and other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
identify additional waterways suitable for further 
dispersal barrier research, development, and dem-
onstration projects. 
(c) SHIP
PATHWAY
TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRA-
TION.—
(1) REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.—Section 
1301(e) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 
4741(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘$2,500,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2003 through 2007’’. 
(2) EXPANSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 1104(b) 
of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 
and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4712(b)) is 
amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and 
(5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL
PURPOSES.—The Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce may 
also demonstrate technologies under this subsection
to monitor and control pathways of organism trans-
port on ships other than through ballast water.’’. 
(3) WORKSHOP.—The National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall hold an annual 
workshop of principal investigators funded under 
section 1104 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 
4714) and researchers conducting research directly 
related to ship pathway technology development, for 
information exchange, and shall make the pro-
ceedings widely available to the public. 
SEC. 8. RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE SETTING AND IMPLE-
MENTATION OF SHIP PATHWAY STANDARDS. 
(a) RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The Coast Guard and the 
Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with 
the Task Force and other appropriate Federal agencies 
and academic researchers, shall develop a research pro-
gram to support the promulgation and implementation of 
standards to prevent the introduction and spread of 
invasive species by ships that shall include—
(1) characterizing physical, chemical, and bio-
logical harbor conditions relevant to ballast dis-
charge into United States waters to inform the de-
sign and implementation of ship vector control tech-
nologies and practices;
(2) identifying existing and research new ap-
proaches to shipboard evaluation and monitoring of 
ship vector control technologies and practices;
(3) researching and demonstrating methods for 
mitigating the spread of invasive species by coastal 
voyages, including exploring the effectiveness of al-
ternative exchange zones in the near coastal areas 
and other methods proposed to reduce transfers of 
organisms; 
(4) verifying the practical effectiveness of any 
type approval process to ensure that the process pro-
duces repeatable and accurate assessments of treat-
ment effectiveness; and 
(5) evaluating the effectiveness and residual 
risk and environmental impacts associated with any 
standard set with respect to the ship pathway 
through experimental research. 
(b) PERFORMANCE TEST.—Within 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Coast Guard, in 
conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and the Maritime Administration, shall design 
a performance test for ballast water exchange such as a 
dye study to measure the effectiveness of ballast water ex-
change.
(c) BEST PRACTICES.—Within 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Great Lakes Environ-
mental Research Laboratory shall identify best practices 
that can improve the effectiveness of ballast water ex-
change and shall report its conclusions to the Invasive 
Species Council. 
(d) NATIONAL ACADEMY STUDY.—The Secretary of 
the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall enter into an arrangement with the National Acad-
emy of Sciences under which the Academy shall—
(1) identify the relative risk of transfer of var-
ious taxonomic groups by different ship modes; 
(2) assess the extent to which a ballast water 
standard that virtually eliminates the risk of intro-
duction of invasive species by ballast water may re-
late to the risk of introductions by all ship modes, 
and explain the degree of uncertainty in such assess-
ment; and 
(3) recommend methods for reducing organism 
transfers by ships by addressing all parts and sys-
tems of ships and all related modes of transport of 
living organisms, and identify the research, develop-
ment, and demonstration needed to improve the in-
formation base to support such methods, including 
economic information.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall transmit to the Congress 
a report on the results of the study under this subsection. 
(e) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than the later of 
1 year after the date of submission of the report under 
subsection (d), or 3 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Task Force, in conjunction with the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency, the Smithsonian Environ-
mental Research Center, the United States Geological 
Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (including the Great Lakes Environmental Re-
search Laboratory), and other appropriate Federal and 
State agencies and academic researchers, shall submit to 
the Coast Guard a report that describes recommendations 
for—
(1) a ship pathway treatment standard that in-
corporates all potential modes of transfer by ships; 
and 
(2) methods for type approval and accurate 
monitoring of treatment performance that are simple 
and streamlined. 
(f) WORKING GROUP.—Not later than 2 years after 
the issuance by the Coast Guard of any standard relating 
to the introduction by ships of invasive species, the Coast
Guard shall convene a working group including the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency, the United States Geologi-
cal Survey, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Cen-
ter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, and other appropriate Federal and State agencies 
and academic researchers, to evaluate the effectiveness of 
that standard. The duties of the working group shall, at 
a minimum, include—
(1) as possible, reviewing the effectiveness of 
the standard in reducing the establishment of 
invasive species in aquatic ecosystems, taking into 
consideration the data collected under section 4; and 
(2) developing recommendations to the Coast 
Guard for the revision of such standard and type ap-
proval process to ensure effectiveness in reducing in-
troductions and accurate shipboard monitoring of 
treatment performance that is simple and stream-
lined, which shall be made widely available to the 
public. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 9. RESEARCH IN SYSTEMATICS AND TAXONOMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Science Foundation 
shall establish a program to award grants to institutions
of higher education to carry out research programs in 
systematices and taxonomy. 
(b) MERIT REVIEW.—Grants shall be awarded under 
this section on a merit-reviewed competitive basis. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this sec-
tion $500,000 each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2007.
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