National Oceans Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3314
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Animals
Atmosphere
Biological diversity
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coastal zone
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Commerce
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Education
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental research
Executive Office of the President
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Higher education
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine ecology
Marine pollution
Marine resources conservation
Minorities
Minority education
National Sea Grant Program
Nonpoint source pollution
Ocean
Oceanography
Postage stamps
Presidential appointments
Public service advertising
Recruiting of employees
Restoration ecology
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Strategic planning
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-23
text: 
National Oceans Protection Act of 2008 - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to secure for future U.S. generations a full range of benefits of healthy marine ecosystems.

Specifies a national ocean policy and related principles. Requires each federal agency, as possible and not inconsistent with other laws, to interpret and administer policies, regulations and laws in accordance with such policy. 
 
Ernest &quot;Fritz&quot; Hollings National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act - Reestablishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). States that: (1) it shall be a civilian agency administered by an Administrator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and (2) there shall be transferred to the Administrator any authority that, before the date of the enactment of this Act, was vested in the Secretary of Commerce and pertains to the functions of NOAA. 
 
Establishes: (1) a National Ocean Advisor and a Council on Ocean Stewardship in the Executive Office of the President; and (2) a Presidential Panel of Advisers on Oceans and Climate.

Designates nine ocean regions to promote coordinated regional efforts to implement the national ocean policy. Requires the NOAA Administrator to establish or designate a Regional Ocean Partnership for each region and requires each Partnership to prepare a Regional Ocean Strategic Plan.

Establishes: (1) the Committee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations; (2) a marine biodiversity research program; (3) a network of regional Ocean Ecosystem Resource Information Systems; (4) a national interagency ocean and coastal public education program; (5) the National Ocean Science and Technology Scholarship Program; (6) the NOAA Office of Education; and (7) an educational partnership with minority-serving institutions.

Requires a national mass media campaign to increase public awareness of oceans.

Establishes the Ocean and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund.

Requires payments to coastal states for Regional Ocean Strategic Plan activities.

Requires the United States Postal Service (USPS) to print a special postage stamp to enable the public to help protect, maintain, and restore marine ecosystems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate