National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere Act
PL 95-63 (H.R.3849), enacted 07/05/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-63—JULY 5, 1977 
91 STAT. 265 
Public Law 95-63 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To establish qualifications for individuals appointed to the National Advisory 
Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere and to authorize appropriations for 
the Committee for fiscal year 1978. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepresentativies 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmos-
phere Act of 1977". 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is hereby established a committee of 18 members to be known 
as the Natipnal Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Committee"). 
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP, TERMS, AND DUTIES. 
(a) MEMBERSHIP.—The members of the Committee, who may not 
be full-time officers or employees of the United States, shall be 
appointed by the President. Members shall be appointed only from 
among individuals who are eminently qualified by way of knowledge 
and expertise in the following areas of direct concern to the 
Committee— 
(1) one or more of the disciplines and fields included in marine 
science and technology, marine industry, marine-related State 
and local governmental functions, coastal zone management, or 
other fields directly appropriate for consideration of matters of 
( 
ocean policy; or 
1 
(2) one or more of the disciplines and fields included in atmos-
pheric science, atmospheric-related State and local governmental 
functions, or other fields directly appropriate for consideration 
of matters of atmospheric policy. 
(b) TERMS.—(1) The term of office of a member of the Committee 
shall be 3 years; except that, of the original appointees, 6 shall be 
appointed for a term of 1 year, 6 shall be appointed for a term of 
2 years, and 6 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. 
(2) Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before 
the expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was 
appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. 
No individual may be reappointed to the Committee for more than 
one additional 3-year term. A member may serve after the date of 
the expiration of the term of office for which appointed until his or 
her successor has taken office, or until 90 days after such date, which-
ever is earlier. The terms of office for members first appointed after 
the date of enactment of this Act shall be^in on July 1, 1977. 
(c) CHAIRMAN.—The President shall designate one of the members 
of the Committee as the Chairman and one of the members as the Vice 
Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence 
or incapacity- of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of, the 
Chairman. 
July 5, 1977 
[H.R. 38491 
National 
Advisory 
Committee on 
Oceans and 
Atmosphere Act 
of 1977. 
33 use 857-13 
note. 
33 use 857-13. 
33 use 857-14. 
Vacancies. 
91 STAT. 266 
PUBLIC LAW 95-63—JULY 5, 1977 
33 use 857-15. 
Submittal to 
President and 
Congress. 
33 use 857-16. 
33 use 857-17. 
Senior policy 
official. 
(d) DUTIES.—^The<:!ommittee shall— 
^
^ 
• 
f i r * 
(1) undertake a continuing review, on a selective basis, of 
national ocean policy, coastal zone management, and the status 
of the marine and atmospheric science and service programs of the 
United States; and 
(2) advise the Secretary of Commerce with respect to the 
carrying out of the programs administered by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
SEC. 4. REPORTS. 
(a) I N GENERAL.—The Committee shall submit an annual report 
to the President and to the Congress setting forth an assessment, on a 
selective basis, of the status of the Nation's marine and atmospheric 
activities, and shall submit such other reports as may from time to 
time be requested by the President or the Congress. 
(b) REVIEW BY SECRETARY.—Each annual report shall also be sub-
mitted to the Secretary of Commerce, who shall, within 60 day& after 
receipt thereof, transmit his or her comments and recommendations 
to the President and to the Congress. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTAL.—The annual report required under 
subsection (a) shall be submitted on or before June 30 of each year, 
beginning with June 30,1978. 
SEC. 5. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES. 
Members of the Committee shall each be entitled to receive com-
pensation of $100 per day for each day (including traveltime) during 
which they are engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the 
Committee. In addition, while away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of the duties of the Committee, each 
member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under 
section 5703(b) of title 5 of the United States Code. 
SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE. 
(a) LIAISON.—The head of each department or agency of the Fed-
eral Government concerned with marine and atmospheric matters 
shall desi^ate a senior policy official to participate as observer in the 
work of the Committee and offer necessary assistance. 
(b) AGENCY ASSISTANCE.—The Committee is authorized to request 
from the head of any department, agency, or independent instru-
mentality of the Federal Government any information and assistance 
it deems necessary to carry out the functions assigned under this Act. 
The head of each such department, agency, or instrumentality is 
authorized to cooperate with the Committee, and, to the extent per-
mitted by law, to furnish such information and assistance to the 
Committee upon request made by the Chairman, without reimburse-
ment for such services and assistance. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Commerce shall 
make available to the Committee such staff, information, personnel, 
and administrative services and assistance as may reasonably be 
required to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-63—JULY 5, 1977 
91 STAT. 267 
SEC. 7. REPEAL AND TRANSFER. 
(a) EEPEAL.—The Act of August 16,1971 (establishing an advisory 
committee on oceans and atmosphere) (33 U.S.C. 857-6 et seq.) is 
hereby repealed. 
(b) TRANSFER.—All personnel, positions, records, and unexpended 33 USC 857-13 
balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, ^°^^-
used, held, available, or to be made available in connection with the 
functions specified by the Act of August 16, 1971 (establishing an 
advisory committee on oceans and atmosphere), are hereby transferred 
to the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere 
established by this Act. The personnel transferred under this sub-
section shall be so transferred without reduction in classification or 
compensation except, that after such transfer, such personnel shall be 
subject to reductions in classification or compensation in the same 
manner, to the same extent, and according to the same procedure as 
other employees of the United States classified and compensated 
according to the General Schedule in title 5, United States Code. 
5 USC 5332 note. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS. 
33 USC 857-18. 
There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying 
out the provisions of this Act not to exceed $520,000 for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1978. Such sums as may be appropriated under 
this section shall remain available until expended. 
Approved July 5, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-297 (Coram, on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-211 accompanying S. 1347 (Coram, on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
May 16, considered and passed House. 
May 23, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1347. 
June 21, House concurred in Senate amendment with amendments. 
June 22, Senate concurred in House amendments.