(1) the oceans have for millennia been a source
of food, minerals and other natural products;
(2) molecular biology and biotechnology hold
tremendous potential to expand the range and in-
crease the utility of products from the oceans;
(3) marine biotechnology can improve the con-
dition of marine ecosystems by developing substitute
products that decrease the harvest pressure on living
resources, improving the production of aquaculture,
providing new tools for understanding ecological and
evolutionary processes, and improving the techniques
for remediation of environmental damage;
(4) the United States is currently preeminent in
marine biotechnology but its competitive edge is
threatened by inadequate public investment com-
pared with other leaders in this field; and
(5) in order to support job creation, stimulate
private sector investment, and maintain preeminence
in marine biotechnology, the United States should
establish a national program for marine bio-
technology within the National Sea Grant College
Program and greatly increase its investment in this
promising new area of research and development.
SEC. 3. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33
U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
205 the following:
‘‘SEC. 206A. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY.—As
used in this section, the term ‘marine biotechnology’
means the application of molecular and cellular biology to
marine and fresh water organisms for the purpose of iden-
tifying, developing, and enhancing products derived from
those organisms.
‘‘(b) MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.—The Na-
tional Sea Grant College Program provided for under sec-
tion 204 shall include a marine biotechnology program
under which the Secretary, acting through the Director,
shall—
‘‘(1) make grants and enter into contracts in
accordance with this section; and
‘‘(2) engage in other activities authorized under
this Act;
to further research, development, education and tech-
nology transfer in marine biotechnology
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out the marine
biotechnology program, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) coordinate the relevant activities of the di-
rectors of the sea grant colleges and the Marine Bio-
technology Review Panel established under sub-
section (e); and
‘‘(2) provide general oversight of the review
process under subsection (e)(1) to ensure that the
marine biotechnology program produces the highest
quality research, development, education, and tech-
nology transfer.
‘‘(d) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for grants
and contracts under this subsection shall be—
‘‘(A) made in such form and manner, and
include such content and submissions, as the
Secretary shall by regulation prescribe;
‘‘(B) forwarded through the appropriate
directors of sea grant colleges to the National
Sea Grant Office; and
‘‘(C) reviewed by the Marine Biotechnology
Review Panel in accordance with subsection (e).
‘‘(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Any reference
in the last sentence of subsection (a), or in sub-
section (d), of section 205 to grants and contracts
provided for under that section shall be treated, as
the context requires, as including any grant applied
for or made, or contract applied for or entered into,
under this section.
‘‘(3) AWARDING OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—
‘‘(A) 
PANEL
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The
Secretary shall award grants and contracts
under this section on the basis of the rec-
ommendations for award made by the Marine
Biotechnology Review Panel under subsection
(e); except that the Secretary may take excep-
tion to any recommendation of the Panel if the
Secretary determines that the recommendation
involves, in whole or part—
‘‘(i) a conflict of interest;
‘‘(ii) a failure to meet the require-
ments of this section; or
‘‘(iii) a failure to comply with relevant
governmental or institutional procedures
for the management of external grant or
contract programs.
The Secretary shall document, and promptly in-
form the Panel of, each exception taken under
this paragraph.
‘‘(B) FUNDING.—Grants made, and con-
tracts entered into, under this section shall be
funded with moneys available from appropria-
tions made pursuant to the authorization pro-
vided for under section 212(c), unless the
project under the grant or contract was consid-
ered and approved, in whole or part, under
grant or contract authority provided for under
section 205(a) or (b) or section 3 of the Sea
Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976.
‘‘(e) MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY REVIEW PANEL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.—The Di-
rector, in consultation with the directors of the sea
grant colleges, shall convene a panel, to be known as
the Marine Biotechnology Review Panel, that shall—
‘‘(A) review, on a competitive basis, the ap-
plications made under this section for grants
and contracts to determine their respective sci-
entific, technical, educational, and commercial
merits and likely contributions toward achieving
the purposes of this section; and
‘‘(B) on the basis of the review under sub-
paragraph (A), and with due regard for the
overall balance and coordination of the marine
biotechnology program, make recommendations
to the Secretary regarding the awarding of
grants and contracts under this section.
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The Marine Biotechnology
Review Panel shall—
‘‘(A) consist of not more than 15 individ-
uals with scientific or technical expertise in ma-
rine biotechnology or relevant related fields;
‘‘(B) reflect a balance among areas of ex-
pertise consistent with the purposes of this sec-
tion;
‘‘(C) not include Federal employees or di-
rectors of sea grant colleges; and
‘‘(D) reflect geographic balance, consistent
with the primary objectives of a high level ex-
pertise and balance among areas of expertise.
‘‘(3) ALLOWANCES.—Each member of the Ma-
rine Biotechnology Review Panel shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
‘‘(4) FACA NOT
APPLICABLE.—The Federal
Advisory Committee Act does not apply to the Ma-
rine Biotechnology Review Panel.’’.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Pro-
gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended—
(1) by striking out ‘‘209,’’ in subsection (b) and
inserting ‘‘209 but not including section 206A,’’;
(2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and
(e) as subsection (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(c) MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated to carry out the provi-
sions of section 206A (other than for administra-
tion) an amount—
‘‘(A) for each of fiscal years 1994 and
1995, not to exceed $20,000,000; and
‘‘(B) for each of fiscal year 1996 and
1997, not to exceed $25,000,000.
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—There is authorized to
be appropriated for the administration of section
206A, an amount—
‘‘(A) for each of fiscal years 1994 and
1995, not to exceed $200,000; and
‘‘(B) for each of fiscal years 1996 and
1997, not to exceed $250,000.’’.
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