sion, 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. MODIFICATION OF DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS MARINE 
POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’. 
(b) PLACEMENTS
IN CONGRESS.—Such section is 
further amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1), as designated by para-
graph (1) of this section, in the second sentence, by 
striking ‘‘A fellowship’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each year in which 
the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship 
under this subsection, when considering the 
placement of fellows, the Secretary shall 
prioritize placement of fellows in the following: 
‘‘(i) Positions in offices of committees 
of Congress that have jurisdiction over the 
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration. 
‘‘(ii) Positions in offices of Members 
of Congress who are on such committees. 
‘‘(iii) Positions in offices of Members 
of Congress that have a demonstrated in-
terest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes re-
sources. 
‘‘(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(i) FINDING
AND
RECOGNITION.— 
Congress— 
‘‘(I) finds that both host offices 
and fellows benefit when fellows have 
the opportunity to choose from a 
range of host offices from different 
States and regions, both chambers of 
Congress, and both political parties; 
and 
‘‘(II) recognizes the steps taken 
by the National Sea Grant College 
Program to facilitate an equitable dis-
tribution of fellows among the political 
parties. 
‘‘(ii) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
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ticable, that fellows have the opportunity 
to choose from offices that are described in 
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph 
(A) and that are equitably distributed 
among— 
‘‘(I) the political parties; and 
‘‘(II) the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—A fellowship’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar 
year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL 
HIRING OF FORMER FELLOWS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the 
fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant 
College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the ex-
ceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary 
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should encour-
age participating Federal agencies to consider opportuni-
ties for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their fel-
lowships for workforce positions appropriate for their edu-
cation and experience. 
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SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 
COMMERCE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 
1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(E) accept donations of money and, not-
withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated 
services;’’. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—The Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of dona-
tions accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National 
Sea 
Grant 
College 
Program 
Act 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities 
the possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Ma-
rine Policy Fellowship’s placement of additional fellows in 
relevant legislative offices under section 208(b) of that Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance with the recommenda-
tions under subsection (c) of this section. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the Na-
tional Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Asso-
ciation, shall— 
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(1) develop recommendations for the optimal 
use of any donations accepted under section 
204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Pro-
gram Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and 
(2) submit to Congress a report on the rec-
ommendations developed under paragraph (1). 
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts 
available for marine policy fellowships under section 
208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts— 
(1) accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or 
(2) appropriated under section 212 of that Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1131). 
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT ON CO-
ORDINATION OF OCEANS AND COASTAL RE-
SEARCH ACTIVITIES. 
Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program 
Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed. 
SEC. 6. REDUCTION IN FREQUENCY REQUIRED FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD RE-
PORT. 
Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘BIENNIAL’’ and 
inserting ‘‘PERIODIC’’; and 
(2) in the first sentence, 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 re-
port’’. 
SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SEA 
GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in 
the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘for re-
search, education, extension, training, technology transfer, 
and public service’’ after ‘‘financial assistance’’. 
SEC. 8. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY; DEAN JOHN A. KNAUSS 
MARINE POLICY FELLOWSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal year 2017 and any 
fiscal year thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may 
appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I 
of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than 
sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate 
described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the 
Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of 
Personnel Management qualification standards. 
(b) QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.—Subsection (a) applies 
with respect to a former recipient of a Dean John A. 
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Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of 
the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) who— 
(1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree 
in a field related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes 
resources or policy from an institution of higher edu-
cation accredited by an agency or association recog-
nized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to sec-
tion 496(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1099b(a)); 
(2) received a Dean John A. Knauss Marine 
Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of the Na-
tional Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
1127(b)) within 5 years before the date the indi-
vidual is appointed under this section; and 
(3) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the 
fellowship within the executive or legislative branch 
of the United States Government. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA-
TIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 
1131(a)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
title— 
‘‘(A) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(B) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(C) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(D) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(E) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(F) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’; 
and 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY ACTIVITIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 
2018 THROUGH 2023.—In addition to the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), 
there are authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 for com-
petitive 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. 
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‘‘(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.’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS 
FOR ADMINISTRATION.—Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) 
(33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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, 
to meet any critical staffing requirement 
while carrying out the activities authorized 
under this title. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION
FROM
CAP.—For 
purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs 
incurred as a result of an exercise of au-
thority described in clause (i) shall not be 
considered an amount used for administra-
tion of programs under this title in a fiscal 
year.’’. 
(c) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 
204(d)(3) 
(33 
U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘With respect to sea grant col-
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leges and sea grant institutes’’ and inserting 
‘‘With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant 
institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant 
projects’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter 
preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘funding 
among sea grant colleges and sea grant insti-
tutes’’ and inserting ‘‘funding among sea grant 
colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant pro-
grams, and sea grant projects’’. 
(2) REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING 
DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS AMOUNTS.—Section 212 
(33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); and 
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) and 
(e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
SEC. 10. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) 
in 
section 
204(d)(3)(B) 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the 
right; and 
(2) 
in 
section 
209(b)(2) 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1128(b)(2)), as amended by section 6 of this Act, in 
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the third sentence, by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES OF DEPART-
MENT OF COMMERCE.—The Secretary shall’’. 
Æ 
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