IB 
Union Calendar No. 284 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3952 
[Report No. 117–373, Part I] 
To strengthen the role of the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration in order to promote scientific integrity and 
advance the Administration’s world-class research and development port-
folio. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 16, 2021 
Ms. SHERRILL (for herself and Mr. FEENSTRA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 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 consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
JUNE 16, 2022 
Additional sponsors: Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 
SPANBERGER, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. LAMB, Ms. ROSS, Ms. MOORE of Wis-
consin, Mr. CASTEN, Mrs. FLETCHER, Mr. RUSH, and Mr. CARTER of 
Louisiana 
JUNE 16, 2022 
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an 
amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
JUNE 16, 2022 
Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed to the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 16, 2021] 
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A BILL 
To strengthen the role of the Chief Scientist of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order to pro-
mote scientific integrity and advance the Administra-
tion’s world-class research and development portfolio. 
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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 ‘‘NOAA Chief Scientist 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 
1970 RELATING TO CHIEF SCIENTIST OF THE 
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d) of section 2 of Reor-
ganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(d)(1) There is in the Administration a Chief Sci-
entist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Chief Sci-
entist’), who shall be selected by the Administrator and com-
pensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level 
V of the Executive Schedule pursuant to section 5316 of title 
5, United States Code. In selecting a Chief Scientist, the 
Administrator shall give due consideration to any rec-
ommendations for candidates which may be submitted by 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Med-
icine, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion Science Advisory Board, and other widely recognized, 
reputable, and diverse United States scientific or academic 
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bodies, including minority serving institutions or other 
such bodies representing underrepresented populations. The 
Chief Scientist shall be the principal scientific adviser to 
the Administrator on science and technology policy and 
strategy, as well as scientific integrity, and shall perform 
such other duties as the Administrator may direct. The 
Chief Scientist shall be an individual who is, by reason of 
scientific education and experience, knowledgeable in the 
principles of scientific disciplines associated with the work 
of the Administration, and who has produced work of sci-
entific merit through an established record of distinguished 
service and achievement. 
‘‘(2) The Chief Scientist shall— 
‘‘(A) adhere to any agency or department sci-
entific integrity policy and— 
‘‘(i) provide written consent to all applica-
ble scientific integrity and other relevant science 
and technology policies of the Administration 
prior to serving in such position, with such writ-
ten consent to be made available on a publicly 
accessible website of the Administration; 
‘‘(ii) in conjunction with the Administrator 
and other members of Administration leadership, 
undergo all applicable training programs of the 
Administration which inform employees of their 
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rights and responsibilities regarding the conduct 
of scientific research and communication with 
the media and the public regarding scientific re-
search; and 
‘‘(iii) in coordination with the Adminis-
trator and other members of Administration 
leadership, make all practicable efforts to ensure 
Administration employees and contractors who 
are engaged in, supervise, or manage scientific 
activities, analyze or communicate information 
resulting from scientific activities, or use sci-
entific information in policy, management, or 
regulatory decisions, adhere to established sci-
entific integrity policies of the Administration; 
‘‘(B) provide policy and program direction for 
science and technology priorities of the Administra-
tion and facilitate integration and coordination of re-
search efforts across line offices of the Administration, 
with other Federal agencies, and with the external sci-
entific community, including through— 
‘‘(i) leading the development of a science 
and technology strategy of the Administration 
and issuing policy guidance to ensure that over-
arching Administration policy is aligned with 
science and technology goals and objectives; 
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‘‘(ii) chairing the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration Science Council and 
serving as a liaison to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory 
Board; 
‘‘(iii) providing oversight to ensure— 
‘‘(I) the Administration funds high 
priority and mission-aligned science and 
technology development, including through 
partnerships with the private sector, Coop-
erative Institutes, academia, nongovern-
mental organizations, and other Federal 
and non-Federal institutions; and 
‘‘(II) there is no unnecessary duplica-
tion of such science and technology develop-
ment; 
‘‘(iv) ensuring the Administration attracts, 
retains, and promotes world class scientists and 
researchers from diverse backgrounds, experi-
ences, and expertise; 
‘‘(v) promoting the health and professional 
development of the Administration’s scientific 
workforce, including by promoting efforts to re-
duce assault, harassment, and discrimination 
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that could hamper such health and development; 
and 
‘‘(vi) ensuring coordination across the sci-
entific workforce and its conduct and applica-
tion of science and technology with the Adminis-
tration’s most recent Diversity and Inclusion 
Strategic Plan; 
‘‘(C) under the direction of the Administrator, 
promote, communicate, and advocate for the Adminis-
tration’s science and technology portfolio and strategy 
to the broad domestic, Tribal, and international com-
munities and Congress, represent the Administration 
in promoting and maintaining good public and com-
munity relations, and provide the widest practical 
and appropriate dissemination of science and tech-
nology information concerning the full range of the 
Administration’s earth system authorities; 
‘‘(D) manage an Office of the Chief Scientist— 
‘‘(i) which shall be staffed by Federal em-
ployees of the Administration detailed to the of-
fice on a rotating basis, in a manner that pro-
motes diversity of expertise, background, and to 
the extent practicable, ensures that each line of-
fice of the Administration is represented in the 
Office over time; 
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‘‘(ii) in which there shall be a Deputy Chief 
Scientist, to be designated by the Administrator 
or Acting Administrator from among the Assist-
ant Administrators on a rotational basis, as ap-
propriate to their backgrounds or expertise, who 
shall advise and support the Chief Scientist and 
perform the functions and duties of the Chief 
Scientist for not more than one year in the event 
the Chief Scientist is unable to carry out the du-
ties of the Office, or in the event of a vacancy 
in such position; and 
‘‘(iii) which may utilize contractors pursu-
ant to applicable laws and regulations, and offer 
opportunities to fellows under existing programs; 
and 
‘‘(E) not less frequently than once each year, in 
coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration Science Council, produce and 
make publicly available a report that— 
‘‘(i) describes the Administration’s imple-
mentation of the science and technology strategy 
and scientific accomplishments from the past 
year; 
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‘‘(iv) provides reporting on scientific integ-
rity actions, including by specifying the aggre-
gate number of scientific and research mis-
conduct cases, the number of consultations con-
ducted, the number of allegations investigated, 
the number of findings of misconduct, and a 
summary of actions in response to such findings. 
‘‘(3) Nothing in this subsection may be construed as 
impeding the ability of the Administrator to select any per-
son for the position of Chief Scientist the Administrator de-
termines is qualified to serve in such position.’’. 
(b) SAVING CLAUSE.—The individual serving as Chief 
Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
Act may continue to so serve until such time as the Admin-
istrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration selects such a Chief Scientist in accordance with 
subsection (d) of section 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 
of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App), as amended by subsection (a). 
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Union Calendar No. 284 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3952 
[Report No. 117–373, Part I] 
A BILL 
To strengthen the role of the Chief Scientist of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion in order to promote scientific integrity and 
advance the Administration’s world-class re-
search and development portfolio. 
JUNE 16, 2022 
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology with an amendment 
JUNE 16, 2022 
Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed 
to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
the Union and ordered to be printed 
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