A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program 
Amendments Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES

    Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever in this 
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National 
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1) 
        and inserting the following:
                    ``(D) encourage the development of preparation, 
                forecast, analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery 
                systems for coastal hazards;
                    ``(E) understand global environmental processes and 
                their impacts on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
                resources; and'';
            (2) by striking ``program of research, education,'' in 
        paragraph (2) and inserting ``program of integrated research, 
        education, extension,''; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
            ``(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        through the national sea grant college program, offers the most 
        suitable locus and means for such commitment and engagement 
        through the promotion of activities that will result in greater 
        such understanding, assessment, development, management, and 
        conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The 
        most cost-effective way to promote such activities is through 
        continued and increased Federal support of the establishment, 
        development, and operation of programs and projects by sea 
        grant colleges, sea grant institutes, and other institutions, 
        including strong collaborations between Administration 
        scientists and research and outreach personnel at academic 
        institutions.''.
    (b) Purpose.--Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended by 
striking ``to promote research, education, training, and advisory 
service activities'' and inserting ``to promote integrated research, 
education, training, and extension services and activities''.
    (c) Terminology.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 (15 U.S.C. 
1121(a) and (b)) are amended by striking ``utilization,'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``management,''.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4) by striking ``utilization,'' and 
        inserting ``management,'';
            (2) in paragraph (11) by striking ``advisory services'' and 
        inserting ``extension services'';
            (3) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ``(33 
        U.S.C. 1126)''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(17) The term `regional research and information plan' 
        means a plan developed by one or more sea grant colleges or sea 
        grant institutes that identifies regional priorities.''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

    (a) Program Elements.--Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending in paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant 
        college program network, including international projects 
        conducted within such programs and regional and national 
        projects conducted among such programs;'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) administration of the national sea grant college 
        program and this title by the national sea grant office and the 
        Administration;''; and
            (3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) any regional or national strategic investments in 
        fields relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources 
        developed in consultation with the Board and with the approval 
        of the sea grant colleges and the sea grant institutes.''.
    (b) Technical Correction.--Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(2)) 
is amended by striking ``Within 6 months of the date of enactment of 
the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, 
the'' and inserting ``The''.
    (c) Functions of Director of National Sea Grant College Program.--
Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``long range'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A)(i) evaluate'' and inserting 
                ``(A) evaluate and assess'';
                    (B) by striking ``activities; and'' and inserting 
                ``activities;''; and
                    (C) by striking clause (ii); and
            (3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as 
                clauses (iii) through (v), respectively, and by 
                inserting after clause (i) the following:
                            ``(ii) encourage collaborations among sea 
                        grant colleges and sea grant institutes to 
                        address regional and national priorities 
                        established under subsection (c)(1);''; and
                    (B) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated) by 
                striking ``encourage'' and inserting ``ensure''.

SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

    Section 205 (33 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``States or regions.'' in subsection (a)(2) 
        and inserting ``States, regions, or the Nation.''; and
            (2) by striking the matter following paragraph (3) in 
        subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``The total amount that may be provided for grants under this 
subsection and subsection 208(b) during any fiscal year shall not 
exceed an amount equal to 5 percent of the total funds appropriated for 
such year under section 212.''.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT 
              INSTITUTES.

    Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs 
(2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ``advisory services'' and inserting 
``extension services''.

SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS.

    Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
        Amendments of 2002, and every 2 years thereafter,'' in 
        subsection (a) and inserting ``Every 2 years,''; and
            (2) by striking ``year.'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
        ``year and is not subject to Federal cost share requirements''.

SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Redesignation of Sea Grant Review Panel as Board.--
            (1) Redesignation.--The sea grant review panel established 
        by section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
        (33 U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, is redesignated as the National Sea Grant Advisory 
        Board.
            (2) Membership not affected.--An individual serving as a 
        member of the sea grant review panel immediately before the 
        enactment of this Act may continue to serve as a member of the 
        National Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of such 
        member's term under section 209(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 
        1128(c).
            (3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
        document, paper, or other record of the United States to such 
        sea grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the 
        National Sea Grant Advisory Board.
            (4) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is 
                amended by striking so much as precedes subsection (b) 
                and inserting the following:

``SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There shall be an independent committee to be 
known as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.''.
                    (B) Definition.--Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9)) 
                is amended to read as follows:
            ``(9) The term `Board' means the National Sea Grant 
        Advisory Board established under section 209.'';
                    (C) Other provisions.--The following provisions are 
                each amended by striking ``panel'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``Board'':
                            (i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123).
                            (ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126).
                            (iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128).
    (b) Duties.--Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Board shall advise the Secretary and 
        the Director concerning--
                    ``(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant 
                college program to address the Nation's highest 
                priorities regarding the understanding, assessment, 
                development, management, and conservation of ocean, 
                coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
                    ``(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea 
                grant institutes; and
                    ``(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to 
                the Board for review and advice.
            ``(2) Biennial report.--The Board shall report to the 
        Congress every two years on the state of the national sea grant 
        college program. The Board shall indicate in each such report 
        the progress made toward meeting the priorities identified in 
        the strategic plan in effect under section 204(c). The 
        Secretary shall make available to the Board such information, 
        personnel, and administrative services and assistance as it may 
        reasonably require to carry out its duties under this title.''.
    (c) Membership, Terms, and Powers.--Section 209(c)(1) (33 U.S.C. 
1128(c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``coastal management,'' after ``resources 
        management,''; and
            (2) by striking ``utilization,'' and inserting 
        ``management,''.
    (d) Extension of Term.--Section 209(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(2)) is 
amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) The term of office of a voting member of the Board 
        shall be 4 years. The Director may extend the term of office of 
        a voting member of the Board once by up to 1 year.''.
    (e) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 209(c) (33 U.S.C. 
1128(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are reasonably 
necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (b). Such 
subcommittees may include individuals who are not Board members.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 
U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting the 
        following: ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title--
            ``(A) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(B) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(C) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(D) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(E) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(F) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``biology and control of zebra 
                mussels and other important aquatic'' in subparagraph 
                (A) and inserting ``biology, prevention, and control of 
                aquatic''; and
                    (B) by striking ``blooms, including Pfiesteria 
                piscicida; and'' in subparagraph (C) and inserting 
                ``blooms; and'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``rating under section 
        204(d)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``performance assessments'';
            (4) by striking subsection (c)(2) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(2) regional or national strategic investments authorized under 
section 204(b)(4);''.

SEC. 11. REPEAL OF ANNUAL COORDINATION REPORT REQUIREMENT.

    Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments 
of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857-20) is repealed.

Summary: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to: (1) substitute "management" for "utilization" in the definition of "field related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources"; (2) substitute "extension services" for "advisory services" in the definition of "project"; and (3) add a definition for "regional research and information plan."

(Sec. 5) Adds regional and national projects as elements of the national sea grant college program. Removes a reference to the sea grant review panel from provisions relating to the administration of the program. Refers to regional or national (under current law, national) strategic investments being developed with the approval of sea grant colleges and the sea grant institutes (under current law, with the approval of the sea grant review panel and the colleges and institutes). Revises the program director's duties.

 Requires that sea grants or contracts be responsive to the needs or problems of the nation, as well as to individual states and regions.

(Sec. 6) Limits the special grant and graduate fellowship amounts that may be provided to 5% (under current law, 1%) of the amount appropriated for the National Sea Grant College Program.

(Sec. 7) Requires that sea grant colleges provide extension (under current law, advisory) services.

(Sec. 8) Exempts marine policy fellowships from federal cost sharing requirements.

(Sec. 9) Redesignates the sea grant review panel as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and modifies it's duties and powers and various administrative matters.

(Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act. Allows any appropriated amounts exceeding the amounts appropriated for FY2003 to be distributed (among other places) to certain regional or national (under current law, national) strategic investments.

(Sec. 11) Repeals a National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 provision requiring an annual report to the House Committee on Resources and Science and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the Coastal Ocean Program and the National Sea Grant College Program, and the National Science Foundation.