Oceans and Human Health Act

Bill: 108-s-1218
Sponsor: Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC]
Introduced: 2003-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Algal blooms
Animal diseases
Animals
Aquaculture
Bioaccumulation
Biological diversity
Biomedical engineering
Chemical research
Chemistry
Climate
Coastal zone
Commerce
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Drugs
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Environmental Protection
Environmental estrogens
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Fishery management
Fishes
Food safety
Genetic engineering
Genetics
Geodesy
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Great Lakes
Health
Higher education
Hydrology
Immunology and vaccination
Legislation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine biology
Marine mammals
Marine pollution
Marine resources conservation
Medical research
Medical statistics
Meteorological research
Meteorology
Microbiology
Oceanographic research
Oceanography
Pharmaceutical research
Research centers
Research grants
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Scientists
Seafood
Statistics
Technological innovations
Water Resources Development
Weather
Weather forecasting

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: 
Oceans and Human Health Act - Provides for coordination and support of Federal interagency ocean science programs, including research and monitoring on the oceans' role in human health.
 
Amends the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 with respect to the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
 
Directs NSTC to: (1)coordinate and support a national research program on Oceans and Human Health (interagency OHH); and (2) establish a Committee on OHH. Directs the NSTC Chair, through the Committee on OHH, to submit to Congress a program implementation plan containing certain required program activities, including coordination with the National Ocean Research Leadership Council.
 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), as part of the interagency OHH, to establish an OHH Program to coordinate and implement NOAA research and activities related to OHH, including an advisory panel. Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to: (1) one or more national centers of excellence to strengthen NOAA's OHH programs and activities; and (2) support distinguished scholars from academic institutions, industry, or State governments for collaborative work with NOAA scientists and facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide grants for critical research and projects on OHH; and (2) establish an OHH traineeship program for scientists at the beginning of their careers.
 
Directs the Secretary to design and implement a national public information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks, including those associated with seafood. Directs the Secretary to assess health risks related to seafood, with comparisons based on harvesting and processing (domestic or imported; commercial or recreational) and on contamination originating from practices prior to and after sale.
 


action_date: 2003-11-19
text: 
Oceans and Human Health Act - Provides for coordination and support of Federal interagency ocean science programs, including research on and monitoring of the role of oceans in human health (OHH).
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the President, through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), to coordinate and support an interagency national research program on OHH. 
 
Directs NSTC to establish a Committee on OHH, with at least one representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and other institutes within the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and such other agencies and departments as the Council deems appropriate.
 
Directs the NSTC Chair, through the Committee on OHH, to submit to Congress a program implementation plan containing certain required program activities, including coordination with the National Ocean Research Leadership Council.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), as part of the interagency OHH, to establish an OHH Initiative to coordinate and implement NOAA research and activities related to OHH, including an advisory panel. Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to: (1) one or more national centers of excellence to strengthen NOAA's OHH programs and activities; and (2) support distinguished scholars from academic institutions, industry, or State governments for collaborative work with NOAA scientists and facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide grants for critical research and projects on OHH; and (2) establish an OHH traineeship program for scientists at the beginning of their careers.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to design and implement a national public information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks, including those associated with seafood. Directs the Secretary to perform a coordinated assessment of risks and benefits associated with seafood handling and consumption. Requires the Secretary to carry out such program and such assessment in consultation with the CDC, FDA, and EPA.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for: (1) FY 2004 through 2008, for the NOAA OHH Initiative; and (2) FY 2004 through 2007, for the public information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks.

action_date: 2004-03-24
text: 
Oceans and Human Health Act - (Sec. 2) Provides for coordination and support of Federal interagency ocean science programs, including research on and monitoring of the role of oceans in human health.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the President, through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), to coordinate and support a national interagency oceans in human health research program to improve understanding of the role of oceans in human health. 
 
Directs the NSTC to submit to Congress a plan for coordinated action under the national research program. Requires the NSTC to report annually to the President and Congress on program activities. 
 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), as part of the interagency program , to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative to coordinate and implement NOAA research and activities related to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an advisory panel. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to: (1) one or more national centers of excellence to strengthen NOAA's oceans and human health programs and activities; and (2) support distinguished scholars from academic institutions, industry, State governments, or other Federal agencies for collaborative work with NOAA scientists and facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide grants for critical research and projects on oceans and human health; and (2) establish an oceans in human health traineeship program for scientists at the beginning of their careers.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to design and implement a national information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks, including those associated with seafood.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for: (1) FY 2005 through 2008, for the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative; and (2) FY 2005 through 2007, for the public information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-03-24
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-03-24
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-03-24
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-03-24
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3110-3115; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S3110-3113)
action_date: 2003-11-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 403.
action_date: 2003-11-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-203.
action_date: 2003-11-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-203.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7623-7625)
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7621-7623)
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate