I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 959
To improve the conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources 
by authorizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceano-
graphic programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2003
Mr. SAXTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve the conservation and management of coastal 
and ocean resources by authorizing National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration oceanographic pro-
grams.
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 Oceanography Amendments 
Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM. 
Section 201 of Public Law 102–567 (106 Stat. 4280) 
is amended by—
(1) striking the matter preceding ‘‘living marine 
resources’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 201. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘Administration’) a coastal ocean program. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The coastal ocean pro-
gram shall augment and integrate existing research capa-
bilities of the Administration with other Federal and non-
Federal research capabilities. Research shall be conducted 
under this program to improve predictions of trends in 
Great Lakes, estuarine, and coastal ocean resources, to 
improve the conservation and management of’’; and 
(2) striking subsections (d), (e), and (f). 
SEC. 3. LABORATORIES. 
Section 202 of Public Law 102–567 (106 Stat. 4281) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 202. LABORATORIES. 
‘‘There shall be in the Administration a Great Lakes 
Environmental Research Laboratory, a Pacific Marine 
Environmental Laboratory, and an Atlantic Oceano-
graphic and Meteorological Laboratory. These laboratories 
shall support the Administration in carrying out its pri-
mary missions specified in section 3(b). The Great Lakes 
Environmental Laboratory may support, in partnership 
with the University of Michigan, a Cooperative Institute 
for Limnology and Ecosystems Research.’’. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 203 of Public Law 102–567 (106 Stat. 4281) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 203. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Adminis-
tration a national undersea research program. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program is to 
increase scientific knowledge by—
‘‘(1) conducting undersea research related to 
the Administration’s coastal and ocean resource 
management missions; and 
‘‘(2) maintaining operational assets and exper-
tise, and developing technology necessary to support 
undersea research. 
‘‘(c) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary shall appoint as the 
Director of the National Undersea Research Program a 
qualified individual who has appropriate administrative ex-
perience and knowledge or expertise in fields related to 
undersea research.
covering and documenting knowledge regarding the 
ocean. 
‘‘(4) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean 
Program and the National Undersea Research Pro-
gram, to promote the development and application of 
new technologies for the exploration of the ocean. 
‘‘(5) To achieve a heightened scientific literacy 
and public appreciation of the oceans. 
‘‘(6) To facilitate ocean exploration data and 
information availability in a timely and consistent 
manner. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORITIES.—In carrying out the program 
under this section the Secretary may perform the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Conduct interdisciplinary exploration voy-
ages or other activities in conjunction with other 
Federal agencies or academic or educational institu-
tions, to survey little known areas of the marine en-
vironment, and inventory, monitor, and assess living 
and nonliving marine resources.
‘‘(2) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean 
Program and the National Undersea Research Pro-
gram, enhance the domestic technical capability of 
the marine science community by promoting the de-
velopment of improved oceanographic research, com-
munication, navigation, and data management and 
dissemination platforms, equipment, instruments, 
and techniques. 
‘‘(3) In conjunction with the National Sea 
Grant College Program and the National Science 
Foundation Centers for Ocean Science Education 
Excellence, conduct public education and outreach 
activities that improve the public understanding of 
ocean science, resources, and processes. 
‘‘(4) Accept donations of property, data, and 
equipment to be applied for the purpose of exploring 
the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans. 
‘‘SEC. 207. COASTAL OBSERVATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘coastal 
observation technology system’ means a system of marine 
sensors and other devices, personnel, and products, that—
‘‘(1) collects remotely sensed and in situ obser-
vations in the coastal waters of a given region or 
subregion in a routine manner, including continuous 
observations; 
‘‘(2) transmits the data to users including, as 
appropriate, in real time or near real time; 
‘‘(3) produces forecasts and other appropriate 
products representing ocean conditions for users; 
and
‘‘(4) manages the collected data to best prac-
tices for archiving and future use. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION OF UNITS.—Before designating a 
regional coastal observation technology system as a unit 
of the national coastal observation technology system 
under subsection (c), the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) establish, in consultation with the National 
Ocean Research Leadership Council, standards and 
protocols for the collection and distribution of data 
by regional coastal observation technology systems; 
‘‘(2) establish management, quality control, and 
assessment systems for data collected and distrib-
uted by regional coastal observation technology sys-
tems; and 
‘‘(3) determine that the regional coastal obser-
vation technology system has adequate technical ex-
pertise to collect and distribute data in accordance 
with standards and protocols established under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(c) DATA COLLECTION.—The Secretary may des-
ignate units of and coordinate a coastal observation tech-
nology system to collect data necessary to carry out the 
primary missions of the Administration. 
‘‘(d) DATA USE.—The Secretary shall, in conjunction 
with Federal, State, and local agencies and academic insti-
tutions, use data collected under subsection (b) to develop 
forecast models to support coastal and fishery manage-
ment, safe and efficient marine navigation, weather and 
climate prediction, and other appropriate activities. 
‘‘(e) ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter 
into contracts or cooperative agreements or make 
grants to units designated under subsection (c) to 
carry out coastal observation technology activities. 
‘‘(2) COST SHARE.—The Federal share of any 
assistance provided under paragraph (1) may not ex-
ceed 50 percent of the costs of those activities. 
‘‘SEC. 208. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘For operations, research, and facilities of the Ad-
ministration relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
research, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary the following: 
‘‘(1) For ARGO floats, $9,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2004 through 2008. 
‘‘(2) For ocean and coastal research activities 
of laboratories and joint institutes, other than activi-
ties related to the Great Lakes Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2008, of which up to
$3,000,000 may be expended each fiscal year for 
VENTS. 
‘‘(3) For activities related to the Great Lakes 
Environmental Research Laboratory and associated 
cooperative institutes, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2008. 
‘‘(4) For activities related to the coastal ocean 
program, $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 
through 2008. 
‘‘(5) For activities related to the national un-
dersea research program—
‘‘(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; 
‘‘(B) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; 
‘‘(C) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
‘‘(D) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
and 
‘‘(E) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(6) For activities related to the ocean explo-
ration program, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2004 through 2008. 
‘‘(7) For tsunami hazard mitigation activities, 
$3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 
2008. 
‘‘(8) For Arctic research partnership programs, 
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through
2008, of which up to $2,000,000 may used for the 
Study of Environmental Arctic Change. 
‘‘(9) For activities related to coastal environ-
mental 
health 
and 
biomolecular 
research, 
$11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 
2008. 
‘‘(10) For coastal observing technologies—
‘‘(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; 
‘‘(B) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2005; 
‘‘(C) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
‘‘(D) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
and 
‘‘(E) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘SEC. 209. SHORT TITLE. 
‘‘This title may be cited as the ‘National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric 
Administration 
Oceanography 
Act 
of 
2003’.’’. 
SEC. 6. OCEAN EXPLORATION REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this section, the National Ocean Research Leadership 
Council (established by section 7902 of title 10, United 
States Code) shall provide to the Committee on Resources, 
the Committee on Science, and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives, and to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the