[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 4174 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 873
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4174
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification
research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification
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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Ocean
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2008'' or the ``FOARAM
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Interagency subcommittee.
Sec. 5. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 6. NOAA ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 7. NSF ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 8. NASA ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The oceans help regulate atmospheric chemistry by
acting as the largest sink for carbon dioxide.
(2) The rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is
overwhelming the natural ability of the oceans to absorb this
gas.
(3) The influx of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and
the subsequent absorption by the oceans is changing surface
ocean carbon chemistry and lowering the pH. These changes in
ocean chemistry are detrimental to organisms including corals,
which support one of the richest habitats on Earth, marine
shellfish, and many other organisms that form the base of the
food chain for many fish and marine mammals.
(4) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms is an
important contribution to the national economy and the change
in ocean chemistry threatens tourism, our fisheries, and marine
environmental quality, and could result in significant social
and economic costs.
(5) Existing Federal programs support research in related
ocean chemistry, but gaps in funding, coordination, and
outreach have impeded national progress in addressing ocean
acidification.
(6) National investment in a coordinated program of
research and monitoring would improve the understanding of
ocean acidification effects on whole ecosystems, advance our
knowledge of the socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean
acidification, and strengthen the ability of marine resource
managers to assess and prepare for the harmful impacts of ocean
acidification on our marine resources.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide for--
(1) development and coordination of a comprehensive
interagency plan to--
(A) monitor and conduct research on the processes
and consequences of ocean acidification on marine
organisms and ecosystems; and
(B) establish an interagency research and
monitoring program on ocean acidification;
(2) assessment and consideration of regional and national
ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean
acidification; and
(3) research on adaptation strategies and techniques for
effectively conserving marine ecosystems as they cope with
increased ocean acidification.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Ocean acidification.--The term ``ocean acidification''
means the decrease in pH of the Earth's oceans and changes in
ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere,
including carbon dioxide.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3) Subcommittee.--The term ``Subcommittee'' means the
Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the
National Science and Technology Council.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE.
(a) Designation.--The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology of the National Science and Technology Council shall
coordinate Federal activities on ocean acidification.
(b) Duties.--The Subcommittee shall--
(1) develop the strategic research and monitoring plan to
guide Federal research on ocean acidification required under
section 5 of this Act and oversee the implementation of the
plan;
(2) oversee the development of--
(A) an assessment of the potential impacts of ocean
acidification on marine organisms and marine
ecosystems; and
(B) adaptation and mitigation strategies to
conserve marine organisms and ecosystems exposed to
ocean acidification;
(3) facilitate communication and outreach opportunities
with nongovernmental organizations and members of the
stakeholder community with interests in marine resources;
(4) coordinate the United States Federal research and
monitoring program with research and monitoring programs and
scientists from other nations; and
(5) establish or designate an Ocean Acidification
Information Exchange to make information on ocean acidification
developed through or utilized by the interagency ocean
acidification program accessible through electronic means,
including information which would be useful to policymakers,
researchers, and other stakeholders in mitigating or adapting
to the impacts of ocean acidification.
(c) Reports to Congress.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall transmit a
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science and
Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives that--
(A) includes a summary of federally funded ocean
acidification research and monitoring activities,
including the budget for each of these activities; and
(B) describes the progress in developing the plan
required under section 5 of this Act.
(2) Biennial report.--Not later than 2 years after the
delivery of the initial report under paragraph (1) and every 2
years thereafter, the Subcommittee shall transmit a report to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
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 Subcommittee under
section 5.
(3) Strategic research plan.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall
transmit the strategic research plan developed under section 5
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
A revised plan shall be submitted at least once every 5 years
thereafter.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Subcommittee shall develop a strategic plan for
Federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification that will
provide for an assessment of the impacts of ocean acidification on
marine organisms and marine ecosystems and the development of
adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and
marine ecosystems. In developing the plan, the Subcommittee shall
consider and use information, reports, and studies of ocean
acidification that have identified research and monitoring needed to
better understand ocean acidification and its potential impacts, and
recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences in the review
of the plan required under subsection (d).
(b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan shall--
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year
the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal
research and monitoring which will--
(A) advance understanding of ocean acidification
and its physical, chemical, and biological impacts on
marine organisms and marine ecosystems;
(B) improve the ability to assess the socioeconomic
impacts of ocean acidification; and
(C) provide information for the development of
adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine
organisms and marine ecosystems;
(2) describe specific activities, including--
(A) efforts to determine user needs;
(B) research activities;
(C) monitoring activities;
(D) technology and methods development;
(E) data collection;
(F) database development;
(G) modeling activities;
(H) assessment of ocean acidification impacts; and
(I) participation in international research
efforts;
(3) identify relevant programs and activities of the
Federal agencies that contribute to the interagency program
directly and indirectly and set forth the role of each Federal
agency in implementing the plan;
(4) consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports and
studies conducted by Federal agencies, the National Research
Council, or other entities;
(5) make recommendations for the coordination of the ocean
acidification research and monitoring activities of the United
States with such activities of other nations and international
organizations;
(6) outline budget requirements for Federal ocean
acidification research and monitoring and assessment activities
to be conducted by each agency under the plan;
(7) identify the monitoring systems and sampling programs
currently employed in collecting data relevant to ocean
acidification and prioritize additional monitoring systems that
may be needed to ensure adequate data collection and monitoring
of ocean acidification and its impacts; and
(8) describe specific activities designed to facilitate
outreach and data and information exchange with stakeholder
communities.
(c) Program Elements.--The plan shall include at a minimum the
following program elements:
(1) Monitoring of ocean chemistry and biological impacts
associated with ocean acidification at selected coastal and
open-ocean monitoring stations, including satellite-based
monitoring to characterize--
(A) marine ecosystems;
(B) changes in marine productivity; and
(C) changes in surface ocean chemistry.
(2) Research to understand the species specific
physiological response of marine organisms to ocean
acidification, impacts on marine food webs of ocean
acidification, and to develop environmental and ecological
indices that track marine ecosystem responses to ocean
acidification.
(3) Modeling to predict changes in the ocean carbon cycle
as a function of carbon dioxide and atmosphere-induced changes
in temperature, ocean circulation, biogeochemistry, ecosystem
and terrestrial input, and modeling to determine impacts on
marine ecosystems and individual marine organisms.
(4) Technology development and standardization of carbonate
chemistry measurements on moorings and autonomous floats.
(5) Assessment of socioeconomic impacts of ocean
acidification and development of adaptation and mitigation
strategies to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems.
(d) National Academy of Sciences Evaluation.--The Secretary shall
enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to review
the plan.
(e) Public Participation.--In developing the plan, the Subcommittee
shall consult with representatives of academic, State, industry and
environmental groups. Not later than 90 days before the plan, or any
revision thereof, is submitted to the Congress, the plan shall be
published in the Federal Register for a public comment period of not
less than 60 days.
SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
The Secretary shall conduct research and monitoring activities and
may establish a program on ocean acidification within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration consistent with the strategic
research plan developed by the Subcommittee under section 5 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 and national 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) as an integral part of the research programs
described in this Act, educational opportunities that
encourage an interdisciplinary and international
approach to exploring the impacts of ocean
acidification;
(E) as an integral part of the research programs
described in this Act, national public outreach
activities to improve the understanding of current
scientific knowledge of ocean acidification and its
impacts on marine resources; and
(F) coordination of ocean acidification monitoring
and impacts research 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 Marine Science Organization, and
others;
(2) provides grants for critical research projects that
explore the effects of ocean acidification on ecosystems and
the socioeconomic 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 process for
awarding grants 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.
SEC. 7. NSF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Research Activities.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall continue to carry out research activities on ocean
acidification which shall support competitive, merit-based, peer-
reviewed proposals for research and monitoring of ocean acidification
and its impacts, including--
(1) impacts on marine organisms and marine ecosystems;
(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine
biogeochemistry; and
(3) the development of methodologies and technologies to
evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts.
(b) Consistency.--The research activities shall be consistent with
the strategic research plan developed by the Subcommittee under section
5.
(c) Coordination.--The Director shall encourage coordination of the
Foundation's ocean acidification activities with such activities of
other nations and international organizations.
SEC. 8. NASA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Ocean Acidification Activities.--The Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in coordination with
other relevant agencies, shall ensure that space-based monitoring
assets are used in as productive a manner as possible for monitoring of
ocean acidification and its impacts.
(b) Program Consistency.--The Administrator shall ensure that the
Agency's research and monitoring activities on ocean acidification are
carried out in a manner consistent with the strategic research plan
developed by the Subcommittee under section 5.
(c) Coordination.--The Administrator shall encourage coordination
of the Agency's ocean acidification activities with such activities of
other nations and international organizations.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) NOAA.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the purposes of
this Act--
(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
(4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(b) NSF.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the National
Science Foundation to carry out the purposes of this Act--
(1) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
(4) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 873
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4174
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification
research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification
program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar