Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9346 | Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie (D-ME)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collaborate with state, local, and tribal entities that are conducting or have completed community vulnerability assessments, research planning, climate action plans, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification and their impacts of ocean acidification on coastal communities.
NOAA must (1) support collaborative interagency relationships and information at the state, local , and tribal level; and (2) assist state, local, and tribal entities in improving existing systems and programs to better address ocean acidification and coastal acidification and identify whether such activities can be used as a model for other communities.

To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 
     2009 to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
 Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
 to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on 
  vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, research 
       planning, and similar activities, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal Communities Ocean 
Acidification Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And 
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(6) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            ``(7) United states.--The term `United States' means the 
        States, collectively.''.

SEC. 3. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COLLABORATION IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Ongoing Input Mechanism.--Section 12404(c)(2) of the Federal 
Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3703(c)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) establish and maintain an ongoing mechanism 
                to engage affected industry members, stakeholders, non-
                Federal resource managers, community acidification 
                networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific 
                experts not employed by the Federal Government to 
                provide input on research, data, and monitoring that is 
                necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision 
                making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification 
                and its impacts.''.
    (b) Collaboration on Vulnerability Assessments, Research Planning, 
and Similar Activities.--
            (1) Report.--Section 12404(e)(4)(A) of the Federal Ocean 
        Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
        3703(c)(4)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (ix) and (x) as 
                clauses (x) and (xi), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:
                            ``(ix) identifies the efforts of the 
                        Secretary to collaborate with State and local 
                        governments and Indian Tribes on community 
                        vulnerability assessments, research planning, 
                        and similar activities, pursuant to section 
                        12406(c);''.
            (2) Improving collaboration.--Section 12406 of the Federal 
        Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 
        U.S.C. 3705) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c)(2)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                        subparagraph (C);
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``or'' at the end; and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) on ocean acidification research, data, and 
                monitoring from affected industry members, coastal 
                stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, coastal 
                acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, 
                and scientists not employed by the Federal government; 
                or''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Better Collaboration on Vulnerability Assessments, Research 
Planning, and Similar Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, and in 
        support of vulnerability assessments transmitted under section 
        12404(e)(4) and recommendations included in the strategic 
        research plan described in section 12405(b)(10), the Secretary 
        shall build upon existing activities and collaborate with State 
        and local governments and Indian Tribes that are conducting or 
        have completed vulnerability assessments, research planning, 
        climate action plans, or other similar activities related to 
        ocean acidification and coastal acidification and their impacts 
        of ocean acidification on coastal communities, for the purpose 
        of--
                    ``(A) supporting collaborative interagency 
                relationships and information sharing at the State, 
                local, and Tribal levels; and
                    ``(B) assisting State and local governments and 
                Indian Tribes in--
                            ``(i) improving existing systems and 
                        programs to better address ocean acidification 
                        and coastal acidification; and
                            ``(ii) identifying whether such activities 
                        can be used as a model for other communities.
            ``(2) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall prioritize underserved populations and entities 
        in the use of resources of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.''.
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