S.Amdt. 4867

SA 4867. Mr. KERRY (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens,
Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr.
Rockefeller, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Warner) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4825 proposed by Mrs.
Boxer (for herself, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Lieberman) to the bill S. 3036,
to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

DIVISION      --CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH

SEC. --000. TABLE OF CONTENTS

The table of contents for this division is as follows:

Sec.  --000.  Table of contents.

TITLE I--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH IMPROVEMENT

SUBTITLE A--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH

Sec. --111. Amendment of Global Change Research Act of 1990.
Sec. --112. Changes to findings and purpose.
Sec. --113. Changes in definitions.
Sec. --114. Change in committee name and structure.
Sec. --115. Change in National Global Change Research Plan.
Sec. --116. Integrated Program Office.
Sec. --117. Budget coordination.
Sec. --118. Research grants.
Sec. --119. Evaluation of information.
Sec. --120. Repeal of obsolete provision.
Sec. --121. Scientific communications.
Sec. --122. Aging workforce issues program.
Sec. --123. Authorization of appropriations.

SUBTITLE B--NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE

Sec. --131. Amendment of National Climate Program Act.
Sec. --132. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. --133. Purpose.
Sec. --134. Definitions.
Sec. --135. National Climate Service.
Sec. --136. Reauthorization.

SUBTITLE C--TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

Sec. --141. National Science and Technology Assessment Service.

SUBTITLE D--CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY

Sec. --151. NIST greenhouse gas functions.
Sec. --152. Development of new measurement technologies.
Sec. --153. Enhanced environmental measurements and standards.
Sec. --154. Technology development and diffusion.
Sec. --155. Authorization of appropriations.

SUBTITLE E--ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE

Sec. --161. Abrupt climate change research program.
Sec. --162. Purposes of program.
Sec. --163. Abrupt climate change defined.
Sec. --164. Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE II--CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Sec. --201  Short title.
Sec. --202.  Amendment of National Climate Program Act.
Sec. --203.  Definitions.
Sec. --204.  National climate program elements.
Sec. --205.  National climate strategy.
Sec. --206.  Coastal and ocean adaptation grants.
Sec. --207.  Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE III--OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

Sec. --301. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. --302. Purposes.
Sec. --303. Interagency committee on ocean acidification.
Sec. --304. Strategic research and implementation plan.
Sec. --305. NOAA ocean acidification program.
Sec. --306. Definitions.
Sec. --307. Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE I--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH IMPROVEMENT

SEC. --101. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Global Change Research
Improvement Act of 2008''.

SUBTITLE A--GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH

SEC. --111. AMENDMENT OF GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH ACT OF 1990.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
subtitle an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15
U.S.C. 2921 et seq.).

SEC. --112. CHANGES TO FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

Section 101 (15 U.S.C. 2931) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 101. PURPOSE.

``The purpose of this title is to provide for the
continuation and coordination of a comprehensive and
integrated United States observation, research, assessment,
and outreach program which will assist the Nation and the
world to better understand, assess, predict, mitigate, and
adapt to the effects of human-induced and natural processes
of global change.''.

SEC. --113. CHANGES IN DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 2 (15 U.S.C. 2921) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as
paragraphs (2) through (7), respectively;
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the
following:
``(1) Climate change.--The term `climate change' means any
change in climate over time, whether due to natural
variability or as a result of human activity.'';
(3) by striking ``Earth and Environmental Sciences'' in
paragraph (2), as redesignated and inserting ``Global Change
Research'';
(4) by striking ``Federal Coordinating Council on Science,
Engineering, and Technology;'' in paragraph (3), as
redesignated, and inserting ``National Science and Technology
Council established by Executive Order 12881, November 23,
1993.'';
(5) by striking paragraph (4), as redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(4) Global change.--The term `global change' means human-
induced or natural changes in the global environment
(including climate change and other phenomena affecting land
productivity, oceans and coastal areas, freshwater resources,
atmospheric chemistry, biodiversity, and ecological systems)
that may alter the capacity of Earth to sustain life.''; and
(6) by striking ``National Global Change Research Plan'' in
paragraph (5) and inserting ``National Global Change Research
and Assessment Plan''.
(b) Stylistic Conformity.--Section 2 (15 U.S.C. 2921) is
further amended--
(1) by striking ``As used in this Act, the term--'' and
inserting ``In this Act:'';
(2) by inserting after the designation of paragraphs (2),
(3), (5), (6), and (7), as redesignated--
(A) a heading, in a form consistent with the form of the
heading of this subsection, consisting of the term defined by
such paragraph; and
(B) ``The term''; and
(3) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraphs (2),
(3), and (5), as redesignated, and inserting a period; and
(4) by striking ``thereof; and'' in paragraph (6), as
redesignated, and inserting ``thereof.''.

SEC. --114. CHANGE IN COMMITTEE NAME AND STRUCTURE.

Section 102 (15 U.S.C. 2932) is amended--
(1) by striking ``EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.'' in
the section heading and inserting ``GLOBAL CHANGE
RESEARCH.'';
(2) by striking ``Earth and Environmental Sciences.'' in
subsection (a) and inserting ``Global Change Research.'';
(3) by striking ``under section 401 of the National Science
and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of
1976 (42 U.S.C. 6651)'' in subsection (a);
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (14) and (15) of subsection
(b) as paragraphs (15) and (16), respectively, and inserting
after paragraph (13) the following:
``(14) the National Institute of Standards and Technology
of the Department of Commerce;'';
(5) by striking the last sentence of subsection (b) and
inserting ``The representatives shall be the Deputy Secretary
or the Deputy Secretary's designee (or, in the case of an
agency other than a department, the deputy head of that
agency or the deputy's designee).'';
(6) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Subcommittees and Working Groups.--The Committee may
establish such additional subcommittees and working groups to
carry out its work as it sees fit.''; and
(7) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subsection
(e)(6); and
(8) by redesignating paragraph (7) of subsection (e) as
paragraph (8) and inserting after paragraph (6) the
following:
``(7) work with appropriate Federal, State, regional, and
local authorities to ensure that the Program is designed to
produce information needed to develop policies to reduce the
impacts of global change; and''.

SEC. --115. CHANGE IN NATIONAL GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PLAN.

Section 104 (15 U.S.C. 2934) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the
following:

``SEC. 104. NATIONAL GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT
PLAN.'' ;

[[Page S5226]]

(2) by redesignating subsections (a) through (f) as
subsections (b) through (g), respectively, and inserting
before subsection (b), as redesignated, the following:
``(a) Strategic Plan; Revised Implementation Plan.--The
Chairman of the Council, through the Committee, shall develop
a strategic plan for the United States Global Climate Change
Research Program for the 10-year period beginning in 2009 and
submit the plan to the Congress within 1 year after the date
of enactment of the Global Change Research Improvement Act of
2008. The strategic plan shall include a detailed plan for
research, assessment, information management, public
participation, outreach, and budget and shall be updated at
least once every 5 years.'';
(3) by inserting ``and Assessment'' after ``Research'' in
subsection (b), as redesignated;
(4) by striking ``research.'' in subsection (b), as
redesignated, and inserting ``research and assessment.'';
(5) by striking ``this title,'' in subsection (b), as
redesignated, and inserting ``the Global Change Research
Improvement Act of 2008,'';
(6) by inserting ``short-term and long-term'' before
``goals'' in paragraph (1) of subsection (c), as
redesignated;
(7) by striking ``usable information on which to base
policy decisions related to'' in paragraph (1) of subsection
(c), as redesignated, and inserting ``information relevant
and readily usable by local, State, and Federal
decisionmakers, as well as other end-users, for the
formulation of effective decisions and strategies for
measuring, predicting, mitigating, and adapting to'';
(8) by inserting ``development of regional scenarios,
assessment of model predictability, assessment of climate
change impacts,'' after ``predictive modeling,'' in paragraph
(2) of subsection (c), as redesignated;
(9) by striking ``priorities;'' in paragraph (2) of
subsection (c), as redesignated, and inserting ``priorities
and propose measures to address gaps and growing needs for
these activities;''
(10) by striking paragraphs (6) and (7) of subsection (c),
as redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(6) make recommendations for the coordination of the
global change research and assessment activities of the
United States with such activities of other Nations and
international organizations, including--
``(A) a description of the extent and nature of
international cooperative activities;
``(B) bilateral and multilateral efforts to provide
worldwide access to scientific data and information, and
proposals to improve such access and build capacity for its
use; and
``(C) improving participation by developing Nations in
international global change research and environmental data
collection;
``(7) detail budget requirements for Federal global change
research and assessment activities to be conducted under the
Plan;
``(8) include a process for identifying information needed
by appropriate Federal, State, regional, and local
decisionmakers to develop policies to plan for and address
projected impacts of global change;
``(9) identify and sustain the observing systems currently
employed in collecting data relevant to global and regional
climate change research and prioritize additional observation
systems that may be needed to ensure adequate data collection
and monitoring of global change;
``(10) identify existing capabilities and gaps in national,
regional, and local climate prediction and scenario-based
modeling capabilities for forecasting and projecting climate
impacts at local and regional levels, and propose measures to
address such gaps;
``(11) describe specific activities designed to facilitate
outreach and data and information exchange with regional,
State, and local governments and other user communities;
``(12) identify and describe ecosystems and geographic
regions of the United States that are likely to experience
similar impacts of global change or are likely to share
similar vulnerabilities to global change; and
``(13) include such additional matter as the Committee
deems appropriate.'';
(11) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d),
as redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(1) Global and regional research and measurements to
understand the nature of and interaction among physical,
chemical, biological, land use, and social processes
responsible for changes in the Earth system on all relevant
spatial and time scales.
``(2) Development of indicators, baseline databases, and
ongoing monitoring to document global change, including
changes in species distribution and behavior, changes in
oceanic and atmospheric chemistry, extent of ice sheets,
glaciers, and snow cover, shifts in water distribution and
abundance, and changes in sea level.'';
(12) by adding at the end of subsection (d), as
redesignated, the following:
``(6) Address emerging priorities for climate change
science, such as ice sheet melt and movement, the
relationship between climate change and hurricane and typhoon
development, including intensity, track, and frequency,
decreasing water levels in the Great Lakes, and droughts in
the western and southeastern United States.
``(7) Methods for integrating information to provide
predictive and other tools for planning and decisionmaking by
governments, communities and the private sector.'';
(13) by striking ``and'' in paragraph (2) of subsection
(e), as redesignated;
(14) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (e), as
redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(3) combine and interpret data from various sources to
produce information readily usable by local, State, and
Federal policymakers, and other end-users, attempting to
formulate effective decisions and strategies for mitigating
and adapting to the effects of global change; and'';
(15) by adding at the end of subsection (e), as
redesignated, the following:
``(4) establish a common assessment and modeling framework
that may be used in both research and operations to project,
predict, and assess the vulnerability of natural and managed
ecosystems and of human society in the context of other
environmental and social changes.''; and
(16) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(f) National Research Council Evaluation.--
``(1) Review of strategic plan.--The Chairman of the
Council shall enter into an agreement with the National
Research Council under which the National Research Council
shall--
``(A) evaluate the scientific content of the Plan;
``(B) provide information and advice obtained from United
States and international sources, and recommended priorities
for future global and regional climate research and
assessment; and
``(C) address such other studies on emerging priorities as
the Chairman determines to be warranted.
``(2) Additional national research council studies.--The
Chairman shall execute an agreement with the National
Research Council--
``(A) to examine existing research, potential risks
(including adverse impacts to the marine environment), and
the effectiveness of ocean iron fertilization or other
coastal and ocean carbon sequestration technologies; and
``(B) to identify domestic and international regulatory
mechanisms and regulatory gaps for controlling the deployment
of such technologies and provide recommendations for
addressing such regulatory gaps.''.

SEC. --116. INTEGRATED PROGRAM OFFICE.

Section 105 (15 U.S.C. 2935) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as
subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively; and
(2) by inserting before subsection (b), as redesignated,
the following:
``(a) Global Change Research Coordination Office.--
``(1) In general.--The President shall establish a Global
Change Research Coordination Office. The Office shall have a
director, who shall be a senior scientist or other qualified
professional with research expertise in climate change
science, as well as experience in policymaking, planning, or
resource management, and a fulltime staff. The Office shall--
``(A) manage, in conjunction with the Committee,
interagency coordination and program integration of global
change research activities and budget requests;
``(B) ensure that the activities and programs of each
Federal agency or department participating in the Program
address the goals and objectives identified in the strategic
research plan and interagency implementation plans;
``(C) ensure program and budget recommendations of the
Committee are communicated to the President and are
integrated into the strategic and implementation plans for
the Program;
``(D) review, solicit, identify, and arrange funding for
partnership projects that address critical research
objectives or operational goals of the Program, including
projects that would fill research gaps identified by the
Program, and for which project resources are shared among at
least 2 agencies participating in the Program;
``(E) review and provide recommendations, in conjunction
with the Committee, on all annual appropriations requests
from Federal agencies or departments participating in the
Program;
``(F) provide technical and administrative support to the
Committee;
``(G) serve as a point of contact on Federal climate change
activities for government organizations, academia, industry,
professional societies, State climate change programs,
interested citizen groups, and others to exchange technical
and programmatic information; and
``(H) conduct public outreach, including dissemination of
findings and recommendations of the Committee, as
appropriate.
``(2) Funding.--The Office may be funded through
interagency funding in accordance with section 631 of the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2003
(Pub. L. 108-7; 117 Stat. 471).
``(3) Report.--Within 90 days after the date of enactment
of the Global Change Research Improvement Act of 2008, the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on
Science and Technology on the funding of the Office. The
report shall include--
``(A) the amount of funding required to adequately fund the
Office; and

[[Page S5227]]

``(B) the adequacy of existing mechanisms to fund the
Office.''; and
(3) by striking ``Committee.'' in paragraph (2) of
subsection (c), as redesignated, and inserting ``Committee
and the Global Change Research Coordination Office.''.

SEC. --117. BUDGET COORDINATION.

Section 105 (15 U.S.C. 2935), as amended by section --116
of this division, is further amended by striking subsection
(d), as redesignated, and inserting the following:
``(d) Consideration in President's Budget.--
``(1) In general.--Before each annual budget submitted to
the Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States
Code, the President shall, in a timely fashion, provide an
opportunity to the Committee and the Global Change Research
Coordination Office to review and comment on the budget
estimate of each agency and department involved in global
change research in the context of the Plan. The Committee and
the Global Change Research Coordination Office shall transmit
a report containing the results of their reviews to the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
the House of Representatives Committee on Science and
Technology no later than the date on which the President
submits the annual budget to the Congress under section 1105
of title 31, United States Code.
``(2) Program items.--The President shall submit, at the
time of the annual budget request to Congress, an integrated
budget plan that would consolidate and highlight Program
priorities and include a description of those items in each
agency's annual budget which are elements of the Program.''.

SEC. --118. RESEARCH GRANTS.

Section 105 (15 U.S.C. 2935), as amended by sections --116
and --117 of this division, is further amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as
subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Research Grants.--
``(1) Committee to develop list of priority research
areas.--The Committee shall develop a list of priority areas
for research and development on climate change that are not
being adequately addressed by Federal agencies. In the list,
the Committee shall identify the appropriate agency to lead
the such areas of research funded under paragraph (3)(A).
``(2) Director of ostp to transmit list to nsf.--The
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
transmit the list to the National Science Foundation.
``(3) Funding through nsf.--
``(A) Budget request.--The National Science Foundation
shall include, as part of the annual request for
appropriations for the Science and Technology Policy
Institute, a request for appropriations to fund research in
the priority areas on the list developed under paragraph (1).
``(B) Authorization.--For fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal
year thereafter, there are authorized to be appropriated to
the National Science Foundation not less than $30,000,000, to
be made available through the Science and Technology Policy
Institute, for research in those priority areas.''.

SEC. --119. EVALUATION OF INFORMATION.

Section 106 (15 U.S.C. 2936) is amended--
(1) by striking ``SCIENTIFIC'' in the section heading;
(2) by striking ``On a periodic basis (not less frequently
than every 4 years), the Council, through the Committee,
shall prepare and submit to the President and the Congress an
assessment'' and inserting ``On a periodic basis (not less
frequently than every 4 years), the President shall submit to
Congress a single, integrated, comprehensive assessment'';
(3) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph
(2); and
(4) by striking ``years.'' in paragraph (3) and inserting
``years; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) evaluates the information being developed under this
title, considering in particular its usefulness to local,
State, and national decision makers, as well as to other
stakeholders such as the private sector, after providing a
meaningful opportunity for the consideration of the views of
such stakeholders on the effectiveness of the Program and the
usefulness of the information.''.

SEC. --120. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION.

Section 108(c) (15 U.S.C. 2938(c)) is amended by striking
``stratospheric ozone depletion or''.

SEC. --121. SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS.

The President shall establish guidelines and implement a
plan that requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies with
scientific research programs to adopt policies that ensure
the integrity of scientific communications. Such policies
shall include provisions regarding the approval of final text
and communications, and enable scientists to disseminate
research results and freely communicate with the Congress,
the media, and colleagues in a timely fashion.

SEC. --122. AGING WORKFORCE ISSUES PROGRAM.

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall implement a program to address aging
work force issues in climate science, global change, and
other focuses of NOAA research that--
(1) documents technical and management experiences before
senior employees leave the Administration, including--
(A) documenting lessons learned;
(B) briefing organizations;
(C) providing opportunities for archiving lessons in a
database; and
(D) providing opportunities for near-term retirees to
transition out early from their primary assignment in order
to document their career lessons learned and brief new
employees prior to their separation from the Administration;
(2) provides incentives for retirees to return and teach
new employees about their career lessons and experiences; and
(3) provides for the development of an award to recognize
and reward outstanding senior employees for their
contributions to knowledge sharing.

SEC. --123. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of
carrying out this title such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2009 through 2013. Of the amounts appropriated
for that fiscal year period--
(1) $4,000,000 shall be made available to the Global Change
Research Coordination Office through the Office of Science
and Technology Policy for each of such fiscal years; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary shall be made available
to--
(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for
each of such fiscal years;
(B) the National Science Foundation for each of such fiscal
years;
(C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for
each of such fiscal years; and
(D) other Federal agencies participating in the Program, to
the extent funds remain available after the application of
paragraph (1) and subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of this
paragraph, for each of such fiscal years.

SUBTITLE B--NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE

SEC. --131. AMENDMENT OF NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM ACT.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
subtitle an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the National Climate Program Act (15
U.S.C. 2901 et seq.).

SEC. --132. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Section 1 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2901 note) is amended to
read as follows:

``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `National
Climate Service Act of 2008'.
``(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
Act is as follows:

``Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
``Sec. 2. Purpose.
``Sec. 3. Definitions.
``Sec. 4. National Climate Program.
``Sec. 5. National Climate Service.
``Sec. 6. Contract and grant authority.
``Sec. 7. Annual report.
``Sec. 8. National strategic plan for climate change adaptation.
``Sec. 9. Ocean and coastal vulnerability and adaptation.
``Sec. 10. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. --133. PURPOSE.

Section 3 (15 U.S.C. 2902) is amended by striking ``man-
induced climate processes and their implications.'' and
inserting ``human-induced climate processes and their
implications and to establish a National Climate Service that
will advance the national interest and associated
international concerns in understanding, forecasting,
responding, adapting to, and mitigating the impacts of
natural and human-induced climate change and climate
variability.''.

SEC. --134. DEFINITIONS.

Section 4 (15 U.S.C. 2903), as amended by section --103 of
this division, is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

``In this Act:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
``(2) Advisory Council.--The term `Advisory Council' refers
to the Climate Services Advisory Council.
``(3) Climate change.--The term `climate change' means any
change in climate over time, whether due to natural
variability or as a result of human activity.
``(4) Coastal state.--The term `coastal state' has the
meaning given that term by section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(4)).
``(5) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
National Climate Service.
``(6) Global change research program.--The term `Global
Change Research Program' means the United States Global
Change Research Program established under section 103 of the
Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 2933).
``(7) Program.--The term `Program' means the National
Climate Program.
``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[[Page S5228]]

``(9) Service.--The term `Service' means the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climate
Service.''.

SEC. --135. NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE.

The Act is amended by striking sections 7 and 8 (15 U.S.C.
2906 and 2907, respectively) and inserting after section 5
the following:

``SEC. 6. NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE.

``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a National
Climate Service not later than a year after the date of the
enactment of the Global Change Research Improvement Act of
2008. The Service shall include a national center and a
network of regional and local facilities for operational
climate monitoring and prediction.
``(2) Duties.--The Service shall produce and deliver
authoritative, timely and usable information about climate
change, climate variability, trends, and impacts on local,
State, regional, national, and global scales.
``(3) Specific services.--The Service, at a minimum,
shall--
``(A) provide comprehensive and authoritative information
about the state of the climate and its effects, through
observations, monitoring, data, information, and products
that accurately reflect climate trends and conditions;
``(B) provide predictions and projections on the future
state of the climate in support of adaptation, preparedness,
attribution, and mitigation;
``(C) utilize appropriate research from the United States
Global Change Research Program activities and conduct focused
research, as needed, to enhance understanding, information
and predictions of the current and future state of the
climate and its impacts that is relevant to policy, planning,
and decision making;
``(D) utilize assessments from the Global Change Research
Program activities and conduct focused assessments as needed
to enhance understanding of the impacts of climate change and
climate variability;
``(E) assess and strengthen delivery mechanisms for
providing climate information to end users;
``(F) communicate climate data, conditions, predictions,
projections, indicators, and risks on an ongoing basis to
decisionmakers and policymakers, the private sector, and to
the public;
``(G) coordinate and collaborate on climate change, climate
variability, and impacts activities with municipal, state,
regional, national and international agencies and
organizations, as appropriate;
``(H) support the Department of State and international
agencies and organizations, as well as domestic agencies and
organizations, involved in assessing and responding to
climate change and climate variability;
``(I) establish an atmospheric monitoring and verification
program utilizing aircraft, satellite, ground sensors, ocean
and coastal observing systems, and modeling capabilities to
monitor, measure, and verify greenhouse gas levels, dates,
and emissions throughout the global oceans and atmosphere;
and
``(J) issue an annual report that identifies greenhouse
emission and trends on a local, regional, and national level
and identifies emissions or reductions attributable to
individual or multiple sources covered by the program
established under subparagraph (I).
``(b) Action Plan.--Within 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Global Change Research Improvement Act of
2008, the Secretary shall submit to the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of
Representatives Committee on Science and Technology a plan of
action for the National Climate Service. The plan, at a
minimum, shall--
``(1) provide for the interpretation and communication of
climate data, conditions, predictions, projections, and risks
on an on-going basis to decision and policy makers at the
local, regional, and national levels;
``(2) design, deploy, and operate an adequate national
climate observing system that closes gaps in existing
coverage;
``(3) support infrastructure and ability to archive and
quality ensure climate data, and make federally-funded model
simulations and other relevant climate information available
from the Global Change Research Program activities and other
sources (and related data from paleoclimate studies).
``(4) include a program for long-term stewardship, quality
control, development of relevant climate products, and
efficient access to all relevant climate data, products, and
model simulations;
``(5) establish--
``(A) a national coordinated computing strategy, including
establishing a new, or supplementing support for existing,
national climate computing capability to provide dedicated
computing capacity for modeling and forecasting, scenarios,
and planning resources, and a regular schedule of projections
on long- and short-term time horizons over a range of scales,
including regional scales; and
``(B) a mechanism to allow access to such capacity by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Science
Foundation sponsored researchers;
``(6) improve integrated modeling, assessment, and
predictive capabilities needed to document and predict
climate changes and impacts, and to guide national, regional,
and local planning and decision making;
``(7) provide a system of regular consultation and
coordination with Federal agencies, States, Indian tribes,
non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the
academic community to ensure--
``(A) that the information requirements of these groups are
well incorporated; and
``(B) timely and full sharing, dissemination and use of
climate information and services in risk preparedness,
planning, decision making, and early warning and natural
resources management, both domestically and internationally;
``(8) develop standards, evaluation criteria and
performance objectives to ensure that the Service meets the
evolving information needs of the public, policy makers and
decision makers in the face of a changing climate;
``(9) develop funding estimates to implement the plan; and
``(10) support competitive research programs that will
improve elements of the Service described in this Act through
the Climate Program Office within the Service headquarter
function.
``(c) Coordination With the USGCRP.--The Service shall
utilize appropriate research from Global Change Research
Program activities to enhance understanding, information and
predictions of the current and future state of the climate
and its impacts that is relevant to policy and decisions. The
Service shall provide appropriate information about the
current and future state of the climate and its impacts that
are useful for research purposes to relevant Global Change
Research Program activities. The Director of the Service will
serve as a liaison to the Global Change Research Program and
a member of the Global Change Research Program should serve
on the Advisory Council.
``(d) Director.--The Administrator shall appoint a director
of the Service, who shall oversee all processes associated
with managing the organization and executing the functions
and actions described in this Act. The Director will serve as
a liaison to the Global Change Research Program to ensure the
transition of research into services and to provide services
to meet the needs of research.
``(e) National Climate Service Advisory Council.--The
Administrator shall, in consultation with the chairmen and
ranking minority party members of the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of
Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, and the
National Academy of Sciences, appoint the membership of a
National Climate Service Advisory Council composed of 15
members, with members serving 4-year terms and include a
diverse membership from appropriate Federal, State and local
government, universities, non-government and private sectors
who use climate information and cover a range of sectors,
such as water, drought, fisheries, coasts, agriculture,
health, natural resources, transportation, and insurance. The
Council shall advise the Director of the Service of key
priorities in climate-related issues that require the
attention of the Service. The Council shall be responsible
for ensuring coordination across regional and national
concerns and the assessment of evolving information needs.

``SEC. 7. CONTRACT AND GRANT AUTHORITY.

``Functions vested in any Federal officer or agency by this
Act or under the Program may be exercised through the
facilities and personnel of the agency involved or, to the
extent provided or approved in advance in appropriation Acts,
by other persons or entities under contracts or grant
arrangements entered into by such officer or agency.

``SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORT.

``The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President
and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on
Science and Technology, as part of the annual report to meet
the requirements of section 102(e)(7) of the Global Change
Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 2932(e)(8)), a report on the
activities conducted pursuant to this Act during the
preceding fiscal year, including--
``(1) a summary of the achievements of the National Climate
Service during the previous fiscal year; and
``(2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the
goals and objectives of the Service.''.

SEC. --136. REAUTHORIZATION.

Subsection (a) of section 11 (15 U.S.C. 2908), as
redesignated and amended by section --105 and --107 of this
division, respectively, is amended to read as follows:
``(a) National Climate Service.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out sections 6, 7, and
8 of this Act--
``(1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(2) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(3) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(4) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
``(5) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.

SUBTITLE C--TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

SEC. --141. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
SERVICE.

The National Science and Technology Policy, Organization,
and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:

``TITLE VII--NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

``SEC. 701. ESTABLISHMENT.

``There is hereby created a Science and Technology
Assessment Service which shall be within and responsible to
the legislative branch of the Government.

[[Page S5229]]

``SEC. 702. COMPOSITION.

``The Service shall consist of a Science and Technology
Board which shall formulate and promulgate the policies of
the Service, and a Director who shall carry out such policies
and administer the operations of the Service.

``SEC. 703. FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.

``The Service shall coordinate and develop information for
Congress relating to the uses and application of technology
to address current national science and technology policy
issues. In developing such technical assessments for
Congress, the Service shall utilize, to the extent
practicable, experts selected in coordination with the
National Research Council.

``SEC. 704. INITIATION OF ACTIVITIES.

``Science and technology assessment activities undertaken
by the Service may be initiated upon the request of--
``(1) the Chairman of any standing, special, or select
committee of either House of the Congress, or of any joint
committee of the Congress, acting for himself or at the
request of the ranking minority member or a majority of the
committee members;
``(2) the Board; or
``(3) the Director.

``SEC. 705. ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT.

``The Director of the Science and Technology Assessment
Service shall be appointed by the Board and shall serve for a
term of 6 years unless sooner removed by the Board. The
Director shall receive basic pay at the rate provided for
level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of
title 5, United States Code. The Director shall contract for
administrative support from the Library of Congress.

``SEC. 706. AUTHORITY.

``The Service shall have the authority, within the limits
of available appropriations, to do all things necessary to
carry out the provisions of this section, including, but
without being limited to, the authority to--
``(1) make full use of competent personnel and
organizations outside the Office, public or private, and form
special ad hoc task forces or make other arrangements when
appropriate;
``(2) enter into contracts or other arrangements as may be
necessary for the conduct of the work of the Office with any
agency or instrumentality of the United States, with any
State, territory, or possession or any political subdivision
thereof, or with any person, firm, association, corporation,
or educational institution, with or without reimbursement,
without performance or other bonds, and without regard to
section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 51);
``(3) accept and utilize the services of voluntary and
uncompensated personnel necessary for the conduct of the work
of the Service and provide transportation and subsistence as
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code,
for persons serving without compensation; and
``(4) prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems
necessary governing the operation and organization of the
Service.

``SEC. 707. BOARD.

``The Board shall consist of 13 members as follows--
``(1) 6 Members of the Senate, appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate, 3 from the majority party and 3
from the minority party;
``(2) 6 Members of the House of Representatives appointed
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3 from the
majority party and 3 from the minority party; and
``(3) the Director, who shall not be a voting member.

``SEC. 708. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

``The Service shall submit to the Congress an annual report
which shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of
technology assessment techniques and identification, insofar
as may be feasible, of technological areas and programs
requiring future analysis. The annual report shall be
submitted not later than March 15 of each year.

``SEC. 709. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Service
such sums as are necessary to fulfill the requirements of
this title.''.

SUBTITLE D--CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY

SEC. --151. NIST GREENHOUSE GAS FUNCTIONS.

Section 2(c) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph
(21);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph (23); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (21) the following:
``(22) perform research to develop enhanced measurements,
calibrations, standards, and technologies which will enable
the reduced production in the United States of greenhouse
gases associated with global warming, including carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, perfluorocarbons,
hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride; and''.

SEC. --152. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGIES.

The Secretary of Commerce shall initiate a program to
develop, with technical assistance from appropriate Federal
agencies, innovative standards and measurement technologies
(including technologies to measure carbon changes due to
changes in land use cover) to calculate--
(1) greenhouse gas emissions and reductions from
sequestration, agriculture, forestry, and other land use
practices;
(2) noncarbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions from
transportation;
(3) greenhouse gas emissions from facilities or sources
using remote sensing technology; and
(4) any other greenhouse gas emission or reductions for
which no accurate or reliable measurement technology exists.

SEC. --153. ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS AND
STANDARDS.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 17 through 32 as sections 18
through 33, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 16 the following:

``SEC. 17. CLIMATE CHANGE STANDARDS AND PROCESSES.

``(a) In General.--The Director shall establish within the
Institute a program to perform and support research on global
climate change standards and processes, with the goal of
providing scientific and technical knowledge applicable to
the reduction of greenhouse gases.
``(b) Research Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Director is authorized to conduct,
directly or through contracts or grants, a global climate
change standards and processes research program.
``(2) Research projects.--The specific contents and
priorities of the research program shall be determined in
consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, including the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. The program generally shall include
basic and applied research--
``(A) to develop and provide the enhanced measurements,
calibrations, data, models, and reference material standards
which will enable the monitoring of greenhouse gases;
``(B) to develop and provide standards, measurements, and
innovative technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
in existing industries;
``(C) to develop and provide standards, measurements,
measurement tools, and calibrations that will enhance and
promote remote sensing technologies;
``(D) to assist in establishing a baseline reference point
for future trading in greenhouse gases and the measurement of
progress in emissions reduction;
``(E) to develop and provide standards, measurements,
measurement tools, calibrations, data, models, and other
innovative technologies to support the validation and
accreditation of a greenhouse gas trading industry;
``(F) to assist in developing improved industrial processes
designed to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases, including
the development of measurement tools and standards to
validate and accredit a carbon offset industry; and
``(G) that will be exchanged internationally as scientific
or technical information which has the stated purpose of
developing mutually recognized measurements, standards, and
procedures for reducing greenhouse gases.
``(c) National Measurement Laboratories.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Director shall utilize the collective skills of the National
Measurement Laboratories of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology to improve the accuracy of
measurements that will permit better understanding and
control of these industrial chemical processes and result in
the reduction or elimination of greenhouse gases.
``(2) Material, process, and building research.--The
National Measurement Laboratories shall conduct research
under this subsection that includes--
``(A) developing material and manufacturing processes which
are designed for energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions into the environment;
``(B) developing environmentally-friendly, `green' chemical
processes to be used by industry; and
``(C) enhancing building performance with a focus in
developing standards or tools which will help incorporate
low- or no-emission technologies into building designs.
``(3) Standards and tools.--The National Measurement
Laboratories shall develop standards and tools under this
subsection that include software to assist designers in
selecting alternate building materials, performance data on
materials, artificial intelligence-aided design procedures
for building subsystems and `smart buildings', and improved
test methods and rating procedures for evaluating the energy
performance of residential and commercial appliances and
products.
``(d) National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation
Program.--The Director shall utilize the National Voluntary
Laboratory Accreditation Program under this section to
establish a program to include specific calibration or test
standards and related methods and protocols assembled to
satisfy the unique needs for accreditation in measuring the
production of greenhouse gases. In carrying out this
subsection the Director may cooperate with other departments
and agencies of the Federal Government, State and local
governments, and private organizations.''.

SEC. --154. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION.

The Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, through the

[[Page S5230]]

Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, may develop a
program to support the implementation of new ``green''
manufacturing technologies and techniques by the more than
380,000 small business manufacturers.

SEC. --155. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology to carry
out this title and section 17 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act, as added by section --153 of
this title, $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through
2013.

SUBTITLE E--ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE

SEC. --161. ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

The Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and shall carry out, a
program of scientific research on abrupt climate change.

SEC. --162. PURPOSES OF PROGRAM.

The purposes of the program are--
(1) to develop a global array of terrestrial and
oceanographic indicators of paleoclimate in order to
sufficiently identify and describe past instances of abrupt
climate change;
(2) to improve understanding of thresholds and
nonlinearities in geophysical systems related to the
mechanisms of abrupt climate change;
(3) to incorporate such mechanisms into advanced
geophysical models of climate change; and
(4) to test the output of such models against an improved
global array of records of past abrupt climate changes.

SEC. --163. ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE DEFINED.

In this title, the term ``abrupt climate change'' means a
change in the climate that occurs so rapidly or unexpectedly
that human or natural systems have difficulty adapting to the
climate as changed.

SEC. --164. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department
of Commerce for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, to
remain available until expended, such sums as are necessary,
not to exceed $10,000,000, to carry out the research program
required by section --161 of this title.

TITLE II--CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

SEC. --201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Climate Change Adaptation
Act''.

SEC. --202. AMENDMENT OF NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM ACT.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the National Climate Program Act (15
U.S.C. 2901 et seq.).

SEC. --203. DEFINITIONS.

Section 4 (15 U.S.C. 2903) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as
paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Coastal state.--The term `coastal state' has the
meaning given that term by section 304((4) of the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(4)).''.

SEC. --204. NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM ELEMENTS.

Section 5 (15 U.S.C. 2904) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM.

``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a
National Climate Program.
``(b) Program Elements.--
``(1) In general.--The Program shall include--
``(1) a strategic planning process to address the impacts
of climate change within the United States; and
``(2) a National Climate Service to be established within
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(c) Duties.--The President shall--
``(1) develop the 5-year plans described in section 9;
``(2) define the roles in the Program of Federal officers,
departments, and agencies, including the Departments of
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Interior, State, and
Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Council on
Environmental Quality, the National Science Foundation, and
the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
``(3) provide for Program coordination.''.

SEC. --205. NATIONAL CLIMATE STRATEGY.

The Act is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 9 as section 11; and
(2) by inserting after section 8 the following:

``SEC. 9. NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION.

``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Climate Change Adaptation Act, the President
shall provide to the Congress a 5-year national strategic
plan to address the impacts of climate change within the
United States. The President shall provide a mechanism for
consulting with States and local governments, the private
sector, universities, and other nongovernmental entities in
developing the plan. The plan shall be updated at least every
5 years.
``(b) Contents of Plan.--The plan shall, at a minimum--
``(1) identify existing Federal requirements, protocols,
and capabilities for addressing climate change impacts on
federally managed resources and with respect to Federal
actions and policies;
``(2) identify measures to improve such capabilities and
the utilization of such capabilities;
``(3) include guidance for integrating the consideration of
the impacts of climate change on Federally-managed resources,
and in Federal actions and policies, consistent with existing
authorities;
``(4) address vulnerabilities and priorities identified
through the assessments carried out under the Global Change
Research Act of 1990 and this Act;
``(5) establish a mechanism for the exchange of information
related to addressing the impacts of climate change with, and
provide technical assistance to, State and local governments
and nongovernmental entities;
``(6) recommend specific partnerships with State and local
governments and nongovernmental entities to support and
coordinate implementation of the plan;
``(7) include implementation and funding strategies for
short-term and long-term actions that may be taken at the
national, regional, State, and local level, taking into
account existing planning and other requirements;
``(8) establish a process to develop more detailed agency
and department-specific plans;
``(9) identify opportunities to utilize observations from
both ground-based and remote sensing platforms and other
geospatial technologies to improve planning for adaptation to
climate change impacts;
``(10) identify existing legal authorities and additional
authorities necessary to implement the plan;
``(11) identify existing high resolution elevation data and
bathymetric data and develop a prioritized plan for filling
existing gaps; and
``(12) include appropriate steps for partnerships with
international organizations and foreign governments on
international activities to address climate change impacts,
including the sharing of technical assistance and capacity-
building expertise..
``(c) Interim activities.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent any Federal agency or department from
taking climate change impacts into account, consistent with
its existing authorities, before the requirements of this
section are implemented. Federal agencies are encouraged to
take climate change into account under all existing relevant
authorities to the maximum extent practicable and consistent
with those authorities.
``(d) Coordination.--The President shall ensure that the
mechanism to provide information related to addressing the
impacts of climate change to State and local governments and
nongovernmental entities is appropriately coordinated or
integrated with existing programs that provide similar
information on climate change predictions.
``(e) Relationship to Other Authorities.--Nothing in this
section supersedes any Federal authority in effect on the
date of enactment of the Climate Change Adaptation Act or
creates any new legal right of action.

``SEC. 10. OCEAN AND COASTAL VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION.

``(a) Coastal and Ocean Vulnerability.--
``(1) In general.--Within 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Climate Change Adaptation Act, the Secretary
shall, in consultation with the appropriate Federal, State,
and local governmental entities, coordinate and support
regional assessments of the vulnerability of coastal and
ocean areas and resources, including living marine resources,
to hazards associated with climate change, and ocean
acidification including--
``(A) variations in sea level including long-term sea level
rise;
``(B) fluctuation of Great Lakes water levels;
``(C) increases in severe weather events;
``(D) natural hazards and events including storm surge,
precipitation, flooding, inundation, drought, and fires;
``(E) changes in sea ice;
``(F) changes in ocean currents impacting global heat
transfer;
``(G) increased siltation due to coastal erosion;
``(H) shifts in the hydrological cycle; and
``(I) alteration of ecological communities, including at
the ecosystem or watershed levels.
``(2) Factors.--In preparing the regional coastal
assessments, the Secretary shall take into account the
information and assessments being developed pursuant to the
Global Change Research Program. The regional assessments
shall include an evaluation of--
``(A) observed and projected physical, biological, and
ecological impacts, such as coastal erosion, flooding and
loss of estuarine habitat, saltwater intrusion of aquifers
and saltwater encroachment, coral reef bleaching, impacts on
food web distribution, impacts on marine habitat and
ecosystem productivity, species migration, species abundance
and distribution, and changes in marine pathogens and
diseases;

[[Page S5231]]

``(B) social and cultural impacts associated with threats
to and potential losses of housing, communities, recreational
opportunities, aesthetic values, and infrastructure; and
``(C) economic impacts on local, State, and regional
economies, including the impact on abundance or distribution
of economically important living marine resources.
``(3) Updates.--The Secretary shall update such assessments
at least once every 5 years.
``(b) Coastal and Ocean Adaptation Plan.--The Secretary
shall, within 3 years after the date of enactment of the
Climate Change Adaptation Act, submit to the Congress an
agency-specific plan under section 9(b). The plan shall
include a national coastal and ocean adaptation plan,
composed of individual regional adaptation plans that
recommend targets and strategies to address coastal and ocean
impacts associated with climate change, ocean acidification,
and sea level rise. The plan shall be developed with the
participation of other Federal, State, and local government
agencies that will be critical in the implementation of the
plan at the State and local levels and shall take into
account the results of the regional assessments to be
conducted under subsection (a), the work of the Global Change
Research Program, and recommendations of the National Science
Board in its January 12, 2007, report entitled Hurricane
Warning: The Critical Need for a National Hurricane Research
Initiative and other relevant studies, and not duplicate
existing Federal and State hazard planning requirements. The
Plan shall include both short- and long-term adaptation
strategies and shall include, at a minimum, recommendations
regarding--
``(1) Federal flood insurance program modifications;
``(2) areas that have been identified as high risk through
mapping and assessment;
``(3) mitigation incentives such as rolling easements,
strategic retreat, State or Federal acquisition in fee simple
or other interest in land, construction standards,
infrastructure planning, and zoning;
``(4) land and property owner education;
``(5) economic planning for small communities dependent
upon affected coastal and ocean resources, including
fisheries;
``(6) coastal hazards protocols to reduce the risk of
damage to lives and property, and reduce threats to public
health and a process for evaluating the implementation of
such protocols;
``(7) strategies to address impacts on critical biological
and ecological processes, giving a priority to the most
vulnerable natural resources and communities;
``(8) proposals to integrate measures into the actions and
policies of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and other Federal agencies, as appropriate;
``(9) a plan for additional observations, research,
modeling, assessment and information products, environmental
data stewardship, and development of technologies and
capabilities to address such impacts;
``(10) a plan for data archive and access, and processes
for sharing data and information for addressing such impacts;
``(11) plans to pursue bilateral and multilateral
agreements necessary to effectively address such impacts;
``(12) partnerships with States and nongovernmental
organizations;
``(13) methods to mitigate the impacts identified,
including habitat protection and restoration measures; and
``(14) funding requirements and mechanisms.
``(c) Technical Planning Assistance.--The Secretary,
through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and in coordination with other Federal agencies with existing
authorities concerning hazard mitigation planning, shall
establish a coordinated program to provide technical planning
assistance and products to coastal States and local
governments as they develop and implement adaptation or
mitigation strategies and plans. Products, information, tools
and technical expertise generated from the development of the
regional coastal and ocean assessments and the coastal and
ocean adaptation plans will be made available to coastal
States for the purposes of developing their own State and
local plans.''.

SEC. --206. COASTAL AND OCEAN ADAPTATION GRANTS.

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et
seq.) is amended by added at the end the following:

``SEC. 320. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANS.

``(a) Grants.--The Secretary shall provide grants of
financial assistance to coastal states with federally
approved coastal zone management programs to develop and
begin implementing coastal and ocean adaptation programs.
``(b) Allocation of Funds.--The Secretary shall distribute
grant funds under subsection (a) among coastal States in
accordance with the formula established under section 306(c)
of this Act, adjusted in consultation with the States as
necessary to provide assistance to particularly vulnerable
coastlines.
``(c) Plan Content.--In order to receive financial
assistance under this section, a plan must be approved by the
Secretary, and be consistent with and further the goals of
the coastal and ocean adaptation plan to be developed
pursuant to section 10 of the National Climate Program Act,
and be consistent with such State's coastal management
program.
``(d) State hazard mitigitation plans.--Plans developed by
States pursuant to this section shall be consistent with
State hazard mitigation plans developed under State or
Federal law.''.

SEC. --207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 11 (15 U.S.C. 2908), as redesignated by section --
105 of this division, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) National Climate Service.--'' before
``There are authorized''; and
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following:
``(b) National Strategy.--In addition to any other funds
otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized
to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013
$25,000,000 to carry out section 9.
``(c) Coastal and Ocean Assessments.--In addition to any
other funds otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to
carry out section 10(a).
``(d) Coastal and Ocean Adaptation Plan.--In addition to
any other funds otherwise authorized to be appropriated,
there are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal
years 2009 through 2013 $150,000,000, of which 75 percent
shall be for State plans.''.

TITLE III--OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

SEC --301. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Federal Ocean
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2008'' or the
``FOARAM Act''.

SEC. --302. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this title are to provide for--
(1) development and coordination of a comprehensive
interagency plan to monitor and conduct research on the
processes and consequences of ocean acidification on marine
organisms and ecosystems and to establish an ocean
acidification program within the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
(2) assessment and consideration of regional and national
ecosystem and socio-economic impacts of increased ocean
acidification, and integration into marine resource
decisions; and
(3) research on adaptation strategies and techniques for
effectively conserving marine ecosystems as they cope with
increased ocean acidification.

SEC. --303. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The President shall establish or designate
an interagency committee on ocean acidification.
(2) Membership.--The committee shall be comprised of senior
representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States
Geological Survey, the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, and such other Federal agencies as the President
considers appropriate.
(3) Chairman.--The committee shall be chaired by the
representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. The chairman may create subcommittees chaired
by any member agency of the committee. Working groups may be
formed by the full committee to address issues that may
require more specialized expertise than is provided by
existing subcommittees.
(b) Purpose.--The committee shall oversee the planning,
establishment, and coordinated implementation of a plan
designed to improve the understanding of the role of
increased ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.
(c) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Strategic research and implementation plan.--The
committee shall submit the strategic research and
implementation plan established under section --304 to the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources.
(2) Triennial report.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act and every 3 years
thereafter, the committee shall transmit a report to the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
that includes--
(A) a summary of federally funded ocean acidification
research and monitoring activities, including the budget for
each of these activities; and
(B) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the
goals and priorities for the interagency research plan
developed by the committee under section --304 and
recommendations for future activities, including policy
recommendations developed as part of this research.

SEC. --304. STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

(a) In General.--Within 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the committee shall develop a
strategic research and implementation plan for coordinated
Federal activities. In developing the plan, the committee
shall consider reports and studies conducted by Federal
agencies and departments, the National Research Council, the
Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel, the Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean, Science, and Technology of the
National Science and Technology Council, the Joint Ocean
Commission Initiative, and other expert scientific bodies and
coordinate with

[[Page S5232]]

other relevant Federal interagency committees.
(b) Scope.--The plan shall--
(1) provide for interdisciplinary research among the ocean
sciences, and coordinated research and activities to improve
understanding of ocean acidification that will affect marine
ecosystems and to assess the potential and realized socio-
economic impact of ocean acidification, including--
(A) effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide on ocean
chemistry;
(B) biological impacts of ocean acidification, including
research on--
(i) species, including commercially and recreationally
important species, protected, endangered, or threatened
species, and ecologically important calcifiers that lie at
the base of the food chain; and
(ii) physiological changes in response to ocean
acidification;
(C) identification and assessment of ecosystems most at
risk from projected changes in ocean chemistry, including--
(i) coastal ecosystems, including Great Lakes ecosystems;
(ii) coral reef ecosystems, including deep sea coral
ecosystems; and
(iii) polar and subpolar ecosystems;
(D) modeling the changes in ocean chemistry driven by the
increases in ocean carbon levels, including ecosystem
forecasting;
(E) identifying feedback mechanisms resulting from the
ocean chemistry changes such as the decrease in calcification
rates in organisms;
(F) socio-economic impacts of ocean acidification,
including commercially and recreationally important fisheries
and coral reef communities; and
(G) identifying interactions between ocean acidification
and other oceanic changes including those associated with
climate change;
(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year
it is submitted, goals, priorities, and guidelines for
coordinated activities that will--
(A) most effectively advance scientific understanding of
the characteristics and impacts of ocean acidification;
(B) provide forecasts of changes in ocean acidification and
the consequent impacts on marine ecosystems; and
(C) provide a basis for policy decisions to reduce and
manage ocean acidification and its environmental impacts;
(3) provide an estimate of Federal funding requirements for
research and monitoring activities; and
(4) identify and strengthen relevant programs and
activities of the Federal agencies and departments that would
contribute to accomplishing the goals of the plan and prevent
unnecessary duplication of efforts, including making
recommendations for the use of observing systems and
technological research and development.
(c) Consultation.--In developing the plan, the committee
may consult with the academic community, States, industry,
environmental groups, and other relevant stakeholders.

SEC. --305. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and maintain
an ocean acidification program within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to implement activities
consistent with the strategic research and implementation
plan developed by the committee under section --304 that--
(1) includes--
(A) interdisciplinary research among the ocean and
atmospheric sciences, and coordinated research and activities
to improve understanding of ocean acidification;
(B) the establishment of a long-term monitoring program of
ocean acidification utilizing existing global ocean observing
assets and adding instrumentation and sampling stations as
appropriate to the aims of the research program;
(C) research to identify and develop adaptation strategies
and techniques for effectively conserving marine ecosystems
as they cope with increased ocean acidification;
(D) educational opportunities that encourage an
interdisciplinary and international approach to exploring the
impacts of ocean acidification;
(E) national public outreach activities to improve the
understanding of ocean acidification and its impacts on
marine resources; and
(F) coordination of ocean acidification research and
monitoring with other appropriate international ocean science
bodies such as the International Oceanographic Commission,
the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the
North Pacific and others;
(2) provides grants for critical research projects that
explore the effects of ocean acidification on ecosystems and
the socio-economic impacts of increased ocean acidification
that are relevant to the goals and priorities of the
strategic research plan; and
(3) incorporates a competitive merit-based grant process
that may be conducted jointly with other participating
agencies or under the National Oceanographic Partnership
Program under section 7901 of title 10, United States Code.
(b) Additional Authority.--In conducting the Program, the
Secretary may enter into and perform such contracts, leases,
grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to
carry out the purposes of this title on such terms as the
Secretary deems appropriate.

SEC. --306. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:
(1) Committee.--The term ``committee'' means the
interagency committee on ocean acidification established or
designated by the President under section --303(a)(1).
(2) Ocean acidification.--The term ``ocean acidification''
means the change in ocean chemistry that is driven by the
increase in ocean carbon levels, and the uptake of chemical
inputs from the atmosphere, including anthropogenic carbon
dioxide.
(3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Acidification
Program established under section --305.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. --307. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out this title--
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(2) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(4) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
(5) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
(b) Allocation.--Of the amounts appropriated to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under
subsection (a) for each fiscal year--
(1) 40 percent shall be available to, and retained by, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for use in
carrying out its responsibilities under this title; and
(2) 60 percent shall be transferred by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration in equal amounts to--
(A) the National Science Foundation;
(B) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(C) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(D) the United States Geological Survey.
(3) Of the amounts made available to carry out this title
for any fiscal year, the Secretary, and other departments and
agencies to which amounts are transferred under paragraph
(2), shall allocate at least 50 percent for competitive
grants.
______