I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 300 
To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2009 
Mr. EHLERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 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 ‘‘National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘Administration’’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
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(2) The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Commerce. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Department 
of Commerce an agency known as the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
(b) MISSION.—The mission of the Administration is 
to understand the systems of the Earth’s oceans and at-
mosphere and predict changes in the Earth’s oceans and 
atmosphere and the effects of such changes on the land 
environment, to conserve and manage coastal, ocean, and 
Great Lakes ecosystems to meet national economic, social, 
and environmental needs, and to educate the public about 
these topics. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Administra-
tion shall include— 
(1) collecting, through observation and other 
means, communicating, analyzing, processing, and 
disseminating comprehensive scientific data and in-
formation about weather and climate, solar and geo-
physical events on the Sun and in the space environ-
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ment, and about the coasts, oceans, Great Lakes, 
upper reaches of estuaries, and hydrologic systems; 
(2) operating and maintaining a system for the 
storage, retrieval, and dissemination of data relating 
to weather and climate, solar and geophysical events 
on the Sun and in the space environment, and about 
the coasts, oceans, Great Lakes, upper reaches of es-
tuaries, and hydrologic systems; 
(3) using observational data and technologies 
developed by other Federal agencies to improve the 
Administration’s operations; 
(4) conducting and supporting basic and ap-
plied research, development, and technology transfer 
as may be necessary to carry out the mission de-
scribed in subsection (b); 
(5) issuing weather, water, climate, space 
weather, tsunami, and other forecasts and warnings 
related to Earth’s oceans and atmosphere; 
(6) coordinating efforts of Federal agencies 
with respect to meteorological services; 
(7) understanding the science of Earth’s cli-
mate and related systems, and undertaking research 
and development to enhance society’s ability to plan 
for and respond to climate variability and change; 
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(8) protecting, restoring, and managing the use 
of, the coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes through eco-
system-based research, development, demonstration, 
and management; 
(9) administering public outreach and education 
programs and services to increase scientific and en-
vironmental literacy about weather and climate, 
solar and geophysical events on the Sun and in the 
space environment, and the coasts, oceans, Great 
Lakes, upper reaches of estuaries, and hydrologic 
systems; 
(10) providing, as appropriate and in coopera-
tion with the Secretary of State, representation at 
all international meetings and conferences relating 
to the mission of the Administration, including mete-
orological, climate, and Earth and ocean observing 
issues; 
(11) any other function assigned to the Admin-
istration by law; and 
(12) such other functions as are necessary to 
accomplish the mission described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP. 
(a) ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be, as the Ad-
ministrator of the Administration, an Under Sec-
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