To authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bill: 110-hr-1834
Sponsor: Rep. Saxton, Jim [R-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2007-03-29 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Archaeology
Coastal zone
Commerce
Communication satellites
Data banks
Department of Commerce
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal officials
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Great Lakes
Higher education
History
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine biology
Marine ecology
Marine resources conservation
Marine safety
Navigational aids
Ocean
Oceanography
Offshore structures
Public-private partnerships
Remote sensing
Research and development
Research and development facilities
Research centers
Robots
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Strategic planning
Submarines
Surveying
Technology assessment
Technology transfer
Transportation and Public Works
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: 
National Ocean Exploration Program Act - Requires a coordinated national ocean exploration program in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Requires NOAA to: (1) appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board; and (2) convene an ocean technology and infrastructure task force. 
 
NOAA Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - Requires an undersea research program that shall be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and a national technology institute.
 
Authorizes NOAA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of the Navy, and other federal agencies involved in programs under this Act to participate in interagency financing and share, transfer, receive, and spend funds appropriated to any federal participant in the program.

action_date: 2007-08-04
text: 

Title I: National Ocean Exploration Program - 
National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 102) Requires the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that promotes collaboration with existing NOAA programs.
 
(Sec. 103) Sets forth program authorities.
 
 (Sec. 104) Requires the NOAA Administrator to appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. 
 
(Sec. 105) Declares that nothing in this title or title II of this Act supersedes or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
 
(Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Undersea Research Program - 
National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to conduct an undersea research program to increase scientific knowledge regarding management, use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and large lake resources.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and a national technology institute.
 
(Sec. 205) Specifies the research, exploration, education, and technology programs to be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
 
(Sec. 206) Requires, except for a small discretionary fund for rapid response activities, that external projects supported by the regional centers be managed using an open and competitive process.
 
(Sec. 207)Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title III: Interagency Financing, Planning, and Coordination - 
(Sec. 301) Authorizes NOAA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of the Navy, and other federal agencies involved in programs under this Act to participate in interagency financing and share, transfer, receive, and spend funds appropriated to any federal participant in the program.
 
(Sec. 302) Requires the NOAA Administrator to convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force.

action_date: 2007-12-18
text: 

Title I: National Ocean Exploration Program - 
National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 102) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program in NOAA that promotes collaboration with other federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. 
 
(Sec. 103) Sets forth program authorities, including authorizing the Administrator to accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans.
 
 (Sec. 104) Requires the NOAA Administrator to appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. 
 
(Sec. 105) Declares that nothing in this Act supersedes or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
 
(Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Undersea Research Program - 
National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to conduct an undersea research, exploration, education, and technology development program to increase scientific knowledge regarding management, use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. Requires the program's director to cooperate with institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science organizations and to make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support those organizations' undersea research. Authorizes the director to enter into partnerships with the private sector to achieve program goals and to promote marine industry technological advancement.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and a national technology institute.
 
(Sec. 205) Specifies the research, exploration, education, and technology programs to be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
 
(Sec. 206) Allows not more than ten percent of the program's budget to be used for administration and for priority undersea research projects not covered by funding available from centers. Requires a competition every five years to select the regional centers that will participate in the program. Requires projects supported by the regional centers to be awarded using an open and competitive process.
 
(Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title III: Interagency Financing, Planning, and Coordination - 
(Sec. 301) Authorizes NOAA the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of the Navy, and other federal agencies involved in programs under this Act to participate in interagency financing and share, transfer, receive, and spend funds appropriated to any federal participant in the program.
 
(Sec. 302) Requires the NOAA Administrator, and relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, to convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force.

action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 

Title I: National Ocean Exploration Program - 
National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 102) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program in NOAA that promotes collaboration with other federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. 
 
(Sec. 103) Sets forth program authorities, including authorizing the Administrator to accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans.
 
 (Sec. 104) Requires the NOAA Administrator to appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. 
 
(Sec. 105) Declares that nothing in this Act supersedes or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
 
(Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Undersea Research Program - 
National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to conduct an undersea research, exploration, education, and technology development program to increase scientific knowledge regarding management, use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. Requires the program's director to cooperate with institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science organizations and to make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support those organizations' undersea research. Authorizes the director to enter into partnerships with the private sector to achieve program goals and to promote marine industry technological advancement.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
 
(Sec. 205) Specifies the research, exploration, education, and technology programs to be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.
 
(Sec. 206) Allows not more than ten percent of the program's budget to be used for administration and for priority undersea research projects not covered by funding available from centers. Requires a competition every five years to select the regional centers that will participate in the program. Requires projects supported by the regional centers to be awarded using an open and competitive process.
 
(Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title III: Interagency Planning and Coordination - 
(Sec. 301) Requires the NOAA Administrator, and relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, to convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force. Requires that the task force coordinate the development of agency budgets.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 581.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 49 (Roll no. 62). (text: CR H963-964)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 352 - 49 (Roll no. 62).(text: CR H963-964)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H963-965)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: By unanimous consent, the text of H.R. 1834, as proposed to be adopted under suspension of the rules, was modified by an amendment placed at the desk.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1834.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H896-900; text of measure as reported in House: CR H896-898)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Mr. Lipinski moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 304.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Committee on Armed Services discharged.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Committee on Armed Services discharged.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-311, Part II.
action_date: 2007-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-311, Part II.
action_date: 2007-10-24
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-10-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-10-10
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-10-10
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-08-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-311, Part I.
action_date: 2007-08-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-311, Part I.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-06-19
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-06-19
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-06-05
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.
action_date: 2007-04-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Science 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.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Science 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.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Science 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.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Science 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.
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-29
text: Introduced in House