[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2280 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2280
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program within
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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 Ocean Exploration Program
Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall, in consultation
with the National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal
agencies, establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the program are the following:
(1) To explore the physical, biological, chemical,
geological, archaeological, temporal, and other related
characteristics of the oceans to benefit, inform, and inspire
the American people.
(2) To create missions and scientific activities of
discovery that will improve our understanding, appreciation,
and stewardship of the unique marine ecosystems, organisms,
chemistry, and geology of the world's oceans, and to enhance
knowledge of submerged maritime historical and archaeological
sites.
(3) To facilitate discovery of marine natural products from
these ecosystems that may have potential beneficial uses,
including those that may help combat disease or provide
therapeutic benefits.
(4) To communicate such discoveries and knowledge to
policymakers, regulators, researchers, educators, and
interested nongovernmental entities in order to support policy
decisions and to spur additional scientific research and
development.
(5) To maximize effectiveness by integrating multiple
scientific disciplines, employing the diverse resources of the
ocean science community, and making ocean exploration data and
information available in a timely and consistent manner.
(6) To achieve heightened education, environmental
literacy, public understanding and appreciation of the oceans.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES.
In carrying out the program the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall--
(1) conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages or other
scientific activities in conjunction with other Federal
agencies or academic or educational institutions, to survey
little known areas of the marine environment, inventory,
observe, and assess living and nonliving marine resources, and
report such findings;
(2) give priority attention to deep ocean regions, with a
focus on surveying deep water marine systems that hold
potential for important scientific and medical discoveries,
such as hydrothermal vent communities and seamounts;
(3) conduct scientific voyages to locate, define, and
document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites, and other ocean
exploration activities that combine archaeology and
oceanographic sciences;
(4) develop, in consultation with the National Science
Foundation, a transparent process for reviewing and approving
proposals for activities to be conducted under this program;
(5) enhance the technical capability of the United States
marine science community by promoting the development of
improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation, and
data collection systems, as well as underwater platforms and
sensors;
(6) conduct public education and outreach activities that
improve the public understanding of ocean science, resources,
and processes, in conjunction with relevant educational
programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the National Science Foundation, and other
agencies;
(7) accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be
applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing
knowledge of the oceans; and
(8) establish an ocean exploration forum to encourage
partnerships and promote communication among experts and other
stakeholders in order to enhance the scientific and technical
expertise and relevance of the national program.
SEC. 5. EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Naval Research, and relevant
governmental, non-governmental, academic, and other experts, shall
convene an ocean technology and infrastructure task force to develop
and implement a strategy--
(1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration technology to
the program;
(2) to improve availability of communications
infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to the
program;
(3) to develop an integrated, workable and comprehensive
data management information processing system that will make
information on unique and significant features obtained by the
program available for research and management purposes; and
(4) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with
governmental and non-governmental entities that will assist in
transferring exploration technology and technical expertise to
the program.
SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY FINANCING.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies involved in the program,
are authorized to participate in interagency financing and share,
transfer, receive and spend funds appropriated to any federal
participant the program for the purposes of carrying out any
administrative or programmatic project or activity under this section.
Funds may be transferred among such departments and agencies through an
appropriate instrument that specifies the goods, services, or space
being acquired from another Federal participant and the costs of the
same.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the program--
(1) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010;
and
(2) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016.
Passed the Senate November 16, 2004.
Attest:
Secretary.
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2280
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program within
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.