Title: Coastal Resilience Research and Education Act
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Coastal Resilience Research and Education Act
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate public institutions of higher education as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Resilience Research and Education.
NOAA shall designate as a center only a public institution of higher education that, among other things (1) has demonstrated proven expertise in the physical, engineering, and environmental sciences, particularly research and education on the impacts of sea-level rise, coastal flooding, or shoreline erosion; (2) has demonstrated a commitment to understanding the socioeconomic impacts of climate change; and (3) is in a state that frequently experiences coastal flooding or shoreline erosion in connection with sea-level rise, severe coastal storms, or seawater intrusion into groundwater supplies.
NOAA must review reports from the centers to ensure that their recommendations and guidance regarding sea-level rise, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and related issues are communicated to relevant federal agencies.
In carrying out this bill, NOAA may use (1) the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, (2) the Coastlines and People initiative, and (3) the National Sea Grant College Program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5102 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5102

 To designate public colleges and universities that provide research, 
 data, and recommendations on physical and biological science, social 
science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, 
  predicting, and planning for sea-level rise and associated coastal 
  flooding and shoreline erosion as National Centers of Excellence in 
   Coastal Resilience Research and Education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 14, 2019

   Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Rouda, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. 
   Carbajal, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Richmond) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, 
 and Armed Services, 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 designate public colleges and universities that provide research, 
 data, and recommendations on physical and biological science, social 
science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, 
  predicting, and planning for sea-level rise and associated coastal 
  flooding and shoreline erosion as National Centers of Excellence in 
   Coastal Resilience Research and Education, 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 Resilience Research and 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL RESILIENCE RESEARCH 
              AND EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall designate public institutions of 
higher education as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal 
Resilience Research and Education (in this section referred to as 
``National Centers of Excellence''). The Administrator shall make the 
first such designation by not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of such designation are the following:
            (1) To recognize institutions of higher education that have 
        exhibited national leadership in research and education in 
        coastal climate change adaptation and mitigation.
            (2) To identify such National Centers of Excellence as 
        sources of expert advice and guidance for Federal agencies 
        engaged in research and education related to coastal climate 
        change resilience.
            (3) To formalize and enhance existing collaborations and 
        partnerships between public institutions of higher education 
        and Federal agencies, with the goal of ensuring information and 
        recommendations are communicated effectively between such 
        entities.
    (c) Criteria for Designation.--The Administrator shall designate as 
a National Center of Excellence only a public institution of higher 
education that--
            (1) has demonstrated proven expertise in the physical, 
        engineering, and environmental sciences, particularly research 
        and education focused on the impacts of sea-level rise, coastal 
        flooding, or shoreline erosion;
            (2) has demonstrated a commitment to understanding the 
        socioeconomic impacts of climate change;
            (3) is located in a State that frequently experiences 
        coastal flooding or shoreline erosion in connection with sea-
        level rise, severe coastal storms, or seawater intrusion into 
        groundwater supplies;
            (4) has previously partnered with, or is receiving funds 
        from, Federal agencies for research on coastal flooding or 
        shoreline erosion issues;
            (5) has collaborated with State agencies or State 
        legislators as technical and scientific advisory entities with 
        respect to coastal flooding or shoreline erosion;
            (6) can demonstrate institutional collaboration in coastal 
        flooding or shoreline erosion research and education with other 
        public institutions of higher education, including minority-
        serving institutions, within the same State; and
            (7) can demonstrate a history of convening local, State, or 
        Federal entities to develop plans for coastal flooding or 
        shoreline erosion.

SEC. 3. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION; REVIEWS AND 
              ADDITIONAL DESIGNS.

    (a) Annual Report.--The Administrator shall annually submit to 
Congress and the President a report describing the activities, 
partnership and collaborations, Federal policy recommendations, 
previous and continuing budgets, and findings of, and any other 
applicable information from, the National Centers of Excellence, and 
make such reports available to the public in an easily accessible 
format on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.
    (b) Review of Reports From National Centers of Excellence.--The 
Administrator shall review reports from National Centers of Excellence 
to ensure that recommendations and guidance of such Centers regarding 
sea-level rise, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and related issues 
are communicated to relevant Federal agencies.
    (c) Review of National Centers of Excellence and Potential 
Designees.--The Administrator shall periodically review each National 
Center of Excellence and potential new designees as such Centers, to--
            (1) ensure that each National Center of Excellence 
        continues to meet the criteria for designation under this Act; 
        and
            (2) designate additional National Centers of Excellence in 
        accordance with this Act.
    (d) Revocation.--If the Secretary determines under subsection (c) 
that a National Center for Excellence does not meet the criteria for 
such designation, the Secretary shall revoke such designation by such 
process as the Secretary determines appropriate.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.

    In carrying out this Act, the Administrator may use--
            (1) the National Oceanographic Partnership Program 
        established by section 8931 of title 10, United States Code, as 
        a venue for collaboration and coordination to leverage 
        partnerships between public institutions of higher education 
        and Federal agencies;
            (2) the Coastlines and People initiative under the National 
        Science Foundation as a tool to use ongoing interdisciplinary 
        research; and
            (3) the National Sea Grant College Program as a resource to 
        help foster collaboration between public institutions of higher 
        education and Federal agencies.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (2) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution of higher education 
        eligible to receive funds under section 371(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
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