I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4394 
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 25, 2016 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College 
Program Act, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Opportunities in Coop-
erative Education And New Research Partnerships Act’’ 
or the ‘‘OCEAN Research Partnerships Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT REFERENCES. 
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a provision, the ref-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
erence shall be considered to be made to a provision of 
the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1121 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF COORDINATION REQUIREMENT. 
Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 
Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM OBJECTIVES.—Section 202(b) (33 
U.S.C. 1121(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘for research, 
education, extension services, training, technology trans-
fer, and public service’’ after ‘‘assistance’’. 
(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING TO SEA GRANT PRO-
GRAMS AND PROJECTS.—Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 
1123(d)(3)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘sea grant colleges and sea grant insti-
tutes’’ and inserting ‘‘sea grant colleges, sea grant 
institutes, sea grant programs, and projects,’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘sea grant 
colleges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting ‘‘sea 
grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant pro-
grams, and projects,’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POLICY FELLOW-
SHIPS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 208(b) (16 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary may’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, shall’’; 
(2) by inserting after ‘‘Government.’’ the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.—In placing fel-
lows in the legislative branch each year under this 
section the Secretary shall give priority to— 
‘‘(A) positions in offices of, or with Mem-
bers on, committees of Congress that have ju-
risdiction over the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration; or 
‘‘(B) positions in offices of Members of 
Congress that have a demonstrated interest in 
ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—During fiscal year 
2016 and thereafter, the head of any Federal 
agency may, subject to the availability of appro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
priations, appoint, without regard to the provi-
sions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, 
United States Code, other than sections 3303 
and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) directly to a posi-
tion with any Federal agency for which the can-
didate meets Office of Personnel Management 
qualification standards. 
‘‘(B) DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE POL-
ICY FELLOWS.—An individual shall be a quali-
fied candidate described in subparagraph (B) if 
the individual is a former recipient of a fellow-
ship under this subsection who— 
‘‘(i) earned a graduate or post-
graduate degree, including a professional 
degree, in a field related to ocean, coastal, 
or Great Lakes science, resource manage-
ment, law, or policy from an accredited in-
stitution of higher education; and 
‘‘(ii) successfully fulfilled the require-
ments of the fellowship. 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE FOR EXERCISE OF DIRECT 
APPOINTMENT
AUTHORITY.—The head of a 
Federal agency may not exercise direct appoint-
ment authority under this paragraph with re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
spect to a specific qualified candidate after the 
end of the 3-year period beginning on the date 
the candidate completes fulfillment of the re-
quirements of the candidate’s fellowship under 
this subsection.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION OF PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.—The 
amendment made by subsection (a)(2) of this section shall 
apply beginning with respect to the first calendar year be-
ginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD REPORTS. 
Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘BIENNIAL’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘The Board shall report to the 
Congress every two years’’ and inserting ‘‘Not less 
frequently than once every 3 years, the Board shall 
submit to Congress a report’’; and 
(3) by inserting before the last sentence the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART-
MENT OF COMMERCE.—’’. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this sub-
chapter— 
‘‘(A) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(B) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(C) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(D) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(E) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(F) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 
2016 THROUGH 2021.—In addition to the amounts 
authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized 
to be appropriated $18,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2016 through 2021 for competitive grants for 
the following: 
‘‘(A) University research on the biology, 
prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative 
species. 
‘‘(B) University research on oyster dis-
eases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related 
human health risks. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) University research on the biology, 
prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal 
blooms. 
‘‘(D) University research, education, train-
ing, and extension services and activities fo-
cused on coastal resilience and United States 
working waterfronts and other regional or na-
tional priority issues identified in the strategic 
plan under section 204(c)(1). 
‘‘(E) University research on sustainable 
aquaculture techniques and technologies. 
‘‘(F) Fishery extension activities conducted 
by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to 
enhance, and not supplant, existing core pro-
gram funding.’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—There may not be 
used for administration of programs under this 
title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of 
the lesser of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) the amount authorized to be ap-
propriated under this title for the fiscal 
year; or 
‘‘(ii) the amount appropriated under 
this title for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) 
CRITICAL
STAFFING
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall 
use the authority under subchapter VI of 
chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 
and section 1129 of this title, to meet any 
critical staffing requirement while carrying 
out the activities authorized in this title. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION
FROM
CAP.—For 
purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs 
incurred as a result of an exercise of au-
thority as described in clause (i) shall not 
be considered an amount used for adminis-
tration of programs under this title in a 
fiscal year.’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating 
subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), 
respectively; and 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) striking ‘‘The amount’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount’’; and 
(B) adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR PRIZE COMPETITION.— 
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), funds for an-
nounced prizes otherwise authorized shall remain 
available, without fiscal year limitation, until the 
prize is claimed or the offer is withdrawn.’’. 
SEC. 8. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) 
in 
section 
202(a)(6) 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1121(a)(6)), by striking ‘‘management, manage-
ment,’’ and inserting ‘‘management,’’; and 
(2) 
in 
section 
204(d)(3)(B) 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) two ems to 
the right. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:20 Jan 25, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4394.IH
H4394
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS