Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-936
Sponsor: Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Animal and plant health
Aquatic ecology
Department of Commerce
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to declare and respond to a marine disease emergency that: (1) is caused by a marine disease or environmental stressor, (2) is likely to threaten the sustainability of a marine species or the health of a marine ecosystem, and (3) is likely to expand in geographic scope. &quot;Marine species&quot; does not include aquacultured animals, marine mammals, or birds. NOAA may take appropriate actions to respond to the emergency, including making grants, entering into contracts, and investigating the cause, treatment, or prevention of the emergency.
 
Upon declaring an emergency, NOAA must: (1) designate an individual to coordinate the response to the emergency, (2) develop a response plan within 28 days of the declaration, and (3) publish a summary of the plan within 21 days of the declaration.
 
The emergency terminates when NOAA declares that the emergency no longer exists or 120 days after the declaration was made, whichever occurs first. NOAA may renew a declaration.
 
The Marine Disease Emergency Working Group is established in NOAA to provide advice on assessing, declaring, and responding to emergencies. 
 
The Marine Disease Emergency Fund is established to respond to emergencies. 
 
NOAA must establish a National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services to collect, store, and disseminate information on marine diseases and facilitate the development and rapid dissemination of research.
 
Sea star wasting syndrome is deemed to be a marine disease emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
action_date: 2015-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1052)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2015-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2015-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in House