Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-5081
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2024-09-18
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6146-6147)

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5081 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 18, 2024 Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the Arctic Research Policy Act of 1984 to improve the Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024 . 2. Long title amendment The Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4101 et seq. ) is amended in the long title by striking provide and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting provide a comprehensive national policy on national research needs and objectives in the Arctic, for programs necessary to carry out that policy, including Federal programs of advanced materials research and technology, and for other purposes. . 3. Findings and purposes Section 102(a) of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4101(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting and homeland after national ; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking weather patterns and must be understood in order to promote better agricultural management throughout the United States and inserting weather and climate patterns and must be better understood to address their impacts, challenges, and opportunities ; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (17), as paragraphs (7) through (19), respectively; (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) a rapidly changing climate reshapes the economic, social, cultural, political, environmental, and security landscape of the region; (6) sustained, robust, coordinated, and appropriately funded Arctic research is required to inform United States and international Arctic policy; ; and (5) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by inserting and climate after weather . 4. Arctic Research Commission Section 103 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4102 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking seven and inserting eight ; (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking are representatives of and inserting represents ; (II) by striking who live in areas and inserting who lives in an area ; and (III) by striking and after the semicolon; (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (D) one non-voting member appointed by the Governor of Alaska from among individuals familiar with Alaska and the Arctic region. ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking chairperson and inserting Chair ; and (2) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: A member of the Commission not presently employed for compensation shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission, not to exceed 90 days of service each year, or in the case of the Chair, not to exceed 120 days of service each year. ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking Chairman and inserting Chair . 5. Duties of the Commission Section 104 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4103 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by inserting Duties of the Commission .— before The Commission ; (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as paragraphs (5) through (12), respectively; (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) hold an annual joint meeting with the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee to discuss national Arctic research policy; (4) work with the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee to identify research infrastructure priorities and develop a joint research infrastructure plan with a single budget to fund the research infrastructure activities of both the Commission and the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee; ; and (D) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by inserting , Tribal, after State ; (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Commission awards for excellence in research (1) In general Each year, the Commission may make a cash award to any person in recognition of excellence in Arctic research conducted by such person or outstanding support of Arctic research provided by such person. (2) Amount The amount of a cash award made to a person under paragraph (1) shall be fixed by the Commission and shall not exceed $10,000. (3) Ineligibility of commission members An individual who is or has been a member of the Commission shall be ineligible to receive an award under paragraph (1). ; and (4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting Report .— before Not later than . 6. Administration of the Commission Section 106 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4105 ) is amended— (1) by striking The Commission may and inserting the following: (a) In general The Commission may ; (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) enter into agreements with the General Services Administration, or, at the discretion of the Commission, such other Federal agency or private entity that reaches an agreement with the Commission, for the procurement of necessary financial and administrative services, for which payment shall be made in advance or by reimbursement from funds of the Commission in amounts to be agreed upon by the Chair or Executive Director of the Commission and the authorized representative of the General Services Administration or other Federal agency or private entity that will provide the services; ; (3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6) expend for representation and reception expenses each fiscal year not more than 1 percent of the amounts made available to the Commission under section 111 for such fiscal year. ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (b) Applicable regulations With respect to agreements entered into under subsection (a)(4), if a Federal agency affords the services described in such subsection, the regulations of that agency for the collection of indebtedness of personnel resulting from erroneous payments required under section 5514(b) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the collection of erroneous payments made to or on behalf of a Commission employee and regulations of that agency for the administrative control of funds, as required under sections 1513(d) and 1514 of title 31, United States Code, shall apply to appropriations of the Commission. The Commission shall not be required to prescribe such regulations. . 7. Lead agency and Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee Section 107(b)(2) of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4106(b)(2) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (P); (2) in subparagraph (K), by striking and after the semicolon; and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following: (L) the Department of Agriculture; (M) the Marine Mammal Commission; (N) the Smithsonian Institution; (O) the Denali Commission; and . 8. Consultation Section 108(a) of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4107(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (9)(B), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) hold an annual joint meeting with the full Commission to discuss national Arctic research policy; (11) work with the Commission to identify research infrastructure priorities and develop a joint research infrastructure plan with a single budget to fund the research infrastructure activities of both the Commission and the Interagency Committee; and . 9. Arctic research plan Section 109(a) of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4108(a) ) is amended by striking The Plan and inserting Notwithstanding section 3003 of the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 ( 31 U.S.C. 1113 note), the plan . 10. Coordination and review of budget requests Section 110 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 ( 15 U.S.C. 4109 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and (2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following: (a) Budget request of Interagency Committee The Interagency Committee shall submit budget requests specifying and commensurate with the resources needed to meet the obligations of the Interagency Committee included in the Arctic Research Plan under section 109. .