National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008
PL 110-394 (H.R.5618), enacted 10/13/2008

122 STAT. 4205 
PUBLIC LAW 110–394—OCT. 13, 2008 
Public Law 110–394 
110th Congress 
An Act 
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Sea Grant College 
Program Amendments Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the ref-
erence shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision 
of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 
et seq.). 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph 
(1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) encourage the development of preparation, fore-
cast, analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery systems 
for coastal hazards; 
‘‘(E) understand global environmental processes and 
their impacts on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; 
and’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘program of research, education,’’ in para-
graph (2) and inserting ‘‘program of integrated research, edu-
cation, extension,’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
through the national sea grant college program, offers the most 
suitable locus and means for such commitment and engagement 
through the promotion of activities that will result in greater 
such understanding, assessment, development, management, 
utilization, and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
resources. The most cost-effective way to promote such activities 
is through continued and increased Federal support of the 
establishment, development, and operation of programs and 
projects by sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, and other 
institutions, including strong collaborations between Adminis-
tration scientists and research and outreach personnel at aca-
demic institutions.’’. 
National Sea 
Grant College 
Program 
Amendments Act 
of 2008. 
33 USC 1121 
note. 
Oct. 13, 2008 
[H.R. 5618] 
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122 STAT. 4206 
PUBLIC LAW 110–394—OCT. 13, 2008 
(b) PURPOSE.—Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘to promote research, education, training, and advisory 
service activities’’ and inserting ‘‘to promote integrated research, 
education, training, and extension services and activities’’. 
(c) TERMINOLOGY.—Subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 (15 
U.S.C. 1121(a) and (b)) are amended by inserting ‘‘management,’’ 
after ‘‘development,’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4) by inserting ‘‘management,’’ after 
‘‘development,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (11) by striking ‘‘advisory services’’ and 
inserting ‘‘extension services’’; and 
(3) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ‘‘(33 
U.S.C. 1126)’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 307 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide 
for the designation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine 
Sanctuary’’ (Public Law 102–251; 106 Stat. 66) is repealed. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant 
college program network, including international projects con-
ducted within such programs and regional and national projects 
conducted among such programs;’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) administration of the national sea grant college pro-
gram and this title by the national sea grant office and the 
Administration;’’; and 
(3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) any regional or national strategic investments in fields 
relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources developed 
in consultation with the Board and with the approval of the 
sea grant colleges and the sea grant institutes.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL
CORRECTION.—Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 
1123(c)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘Within 6 months of the date 
of enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthor-
ization Act of 1998, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
(c) FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE 
PROGRAM.—Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘long range’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(A)(i) evaluate’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) 
evaluate and assess’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘activities; and’’ and inserting ‘‘activi-
ties;’’; and 
(C) by striking clause (ii); and 
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses 
(iii) through (v), respectively, and by inserting after clause 
(i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) encourage collaborations among sea grant col-
leges and sea grant institutes to address regional and 
national priorities established under subsection (c)(1);’’; 
33 USC 1122. 
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122 STAT. 4207 
PUBLIC LAW 110–394—OCT. 13, 2008 
(B) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated) by striking 
‘‘encourage’’ and inserting ‘‘ensure’’; 
(C) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(D) by inserting after clause (v) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(vi) encourage cooperation with Minority Serving 
Institutions to enhance collaborative research opportunities 
and increase the number of such students graduating in 
NOAA science areas; and’’. 
SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. 
Section 205 (33 U.S.C. 1124) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘204(c)(4)(F).’’ in subsection (a) and inserting 
‘‘204(c)(4)(F) or that are appropriated under section 208(b).’’; 
and 
(2) by striking the matter following paragraph (3) in sub-
section (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘The total amount that may be provided for grants under 
this subsection during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount 
equal to 5 percent of the total funds appropriated for such year 
under section 212.’’. 
SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA 
GRANT INSTITUTES. 
Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of para-
graphs (2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ‘‘advisory services’’ and inserting 
‘‘extension services’’. 
SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS. 
Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program 
Act Amendments of 2002, and every 2 years thereafter,’’ in 
subsection (a) and inserting ‘‘Every 2 years,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) Restriction on Use of Funds.—Amounts available for fellow-
ships under this section, including amounts accepted under section 
204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated under section 212 to implement this 
section, shall be used only for award of such fellowships and 
administrative costs of implementing this section.’’ 
SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) REDESIGNATION OF SEA GRANT REVIEW PANEL AS BOARD.— 
(1) REDESIGNATION.—The sea grant review panel estab-
lished by section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, is redesignated as the National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP NOT AFFECTED.—An individual serving as 
a member of the sea grant review panel immediately before 
date of the enactment of this Act may continue to serve as 
a member of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board until 
the expiration of such member’s term under section 209(c) 
of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)). 
(3) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to such 
33 USC 1128 
note. 
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122 STAT. 4208 
PUBLIC LAW 110–394—OCT. 13, 2008 
sea grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the 
National Sea Grant Advisory Board. 
(4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is 
amended by striking so much as precedes subsection (b) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be an independent committee 
to be known as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.’’. 
(B) DEFINITION.—Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(9) The term ‘Board’ means the National Sea Grant 
Advisory Board established under section 209.’’; 
(C) OTHER PROVISIONS.—The following provisions are 
each amended by striking ‘‘panel’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Board’’: 
(i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123). 
(ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126). 
(iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128). 
(b) DUTIES.—Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall advise the Secretary 
and the Director concerning— 
‘‘(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant college pro-
gram to address the Nation’s highest priorities regarding 
the understanding, assessment, development, management, 
utilization, and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great 
Lakes resources; 
‘‘(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant 
institutes; and 
‘‘(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to 
the Board for review and advice. 
‘‘(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—The Board shall report to the Con-
gress every two years on the state of the national sea grant 
college program. The Board shall indicate in each such report 
the progress made toward meeting the priorities identified in 
the strategic plan in effect under section 204(c). The Secretary 
shall make available to the Board such information, personnel, 
and administrative services and assistance as it may reasonably 
require to carry out its duties under this title.’’. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP, TERMS, AND POWERS.—Section 209(c)(1) (33 
U.S.C. 1128(c)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘coastal management,’’ after ‘‘resource 
management,’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘management,’’ after ‘‘development,’’. 
(d) 
EXTENSION
OF
TERM.—Section 
209(c)(3) 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1128(c)(3)) is amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 
the following: ‘‘The Director may extend the term of office of a 
voting member of the Board once by up to 1 year.’’. 
(e) ESTABLISHMENT
OF SUBCOMMITTEES.—Section 209(c) (33 
U.S.C. 1128(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are reason-
ably necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (b). Such 
subcommittees may include individuals who are not Board mem-
bers.’’. 
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122 STAT. 4209 
PUBLIC LAW 110–394—OCT. 13, 2008 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5618 (S. 3160): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110–701, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources) and Pt. 2 
(Comm. on Science and Technology). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 110–508 accompanying S. 3160 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008): 
July 14, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 26, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 29, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘ 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to carry out this title— 
‘‘(A) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(B) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(C) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(D) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(E) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(F) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2003 through 2008—’’ and 
inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2009 through 2014—’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘biology and control of zebra mussels 
and other important aquatic’’ in subparagraph (A) and 
inserting ‘‘biology, prevention, and control of aquatic’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘blooms, including Pfiesteria piscicida; 
and’’ in subparagraph (C) and inserting ‘‘blooms; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ‘‘rating under section 
204(d)(3)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘performance assessments’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (c)(2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) regional or national strategic investments authorized under 
section 204(b)(4);’’. 
Approved October 13, 2008. 
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