National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008

        [Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 5618 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

H.R.5618

One Hundred Tenth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
the third day of January, two thousand and eight

An Act

To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``National Sea Grant College Program
Amendments Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

Except as otherwise expressly provided therein, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the National
Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.--Section 202(a) (33 U.S.C. 1121(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(D) encourage the development of preparation, forecast,
analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery systems for
coastal hazards;
``(E) understand global environmental processes and their
impacts on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and'';
(2) by striking ``program of research, education,'' in
paragraph (2) and inserting ``program of integrated research,
education, extension,''; and
(3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
``(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
through the national sea grant college program, offers the most
suitable locus and means for such commitment and engagement through
the promotion of activities that will result in greater such
understanding, assessment, development, management, utilization,
and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The
most cost-effective way to promote such activities is through
continued and increased Federal support of the establishment,
development, and operation of programs and projects by sea grant
colleges, sea grant institutes, and other institutions, including
strong collaborations between Administration scientists and
research and outreach personnel at academic institutions.''.
(b) Purpose.--Section 202(c) (33 U.S.C. 1121(c)) is amended by
striking ``to promote research, education, training, and advisory
service activities'' and inserting ``to promote integrated research,
education, training, and extension services and activities''.
(c) Terminology.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 202 (15 U.S.C.
1121(a) and (b)) are amended by inserting ``management,'' after
``development,'' each place it appears.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General.--Section 203 (33 U.S.C. 1122) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4) by inserting ``management,'' after
``development,'';
(2) in paragraph (11) by striking ``advisory services'' and
inserting ``extension services''; and
(3) in each of paragraphs (12) and (13) by striking ``(33
U.S.C. 1126)''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 307 of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide
for the designation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine
Sanctuary'' (Public Law 102-251; 106 Stat. 66) is repealed.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM.

(a) Program Elements.--Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is
amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) sea grant programs that comprise a national sea grant
college program network, including international projects conducted
within such programs and regional and national projects conducted
among such programs;'';
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) administration of the national sea grant college program
and this title by the national sea grant office and the
Administration;''; and
(3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) any regional or national strategic investments in fields
relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources developed in
consultation with the Board and with the approval of the sea grant
colleges and the sea grant institutes.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 204(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(2))
is amended by striking ``Within 6 months of the date of enactment of
the National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998,
the'' and inserting ``The''.
(c) Functions of Director of National Sea Grant College Program.--
Section 204(d) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``long range'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) by striking ``(A)(i) evaluate'' and inserting ``(A)
evaluate and assess'';
(B) by striking ``activities; and'' and inserting
``activities;''; and
(C) by striking clause (ii); and
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses
(iii) through (v), respectively, and by inserting after clause
(i) the following:
``(ii) encourage collaborations among sea grant
colleges and sea grant institutes to address regional and
national priorities established under subsection (c)(1);'';
(B) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated) by striking
``encourage'' and inserting ``ensure'';
(C) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(D) by inserting after clause (v) (as so redesignated) the
following:
``(vi) encourage cooperation with Minority Serving
Institutions to enhance collaborative research opportunities
and increase the number of such students graduating in NOAA
science areas; and''.

SEC. 6. PROGRAM OR PROJECT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

Section 205 (33 U.S.C. 1124) is amended--
(1) by striking ``204(c)(4)(F).'' in subsection (a) and
inserting ``204(c)(4)(F) or that are appropriated under section
208(b).''; and
(2) by striking the matter following paragraph (3) in
subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``The total amount that may be provided for grants under this
subsection during any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 5
percent of the total funds appropriated for such year under section
212.''.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION SERVICES BY SEA GRANT COLLEGES AND SEA GRANT
INSTITUTES.

Section 207(a) (33 U.S.C. 1126(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs
(2)(B) and (3)(B) by striking ``advisory services'' and inserting
``extension services''.

SEC. 8. FELLOWSHIPS.

Section 208(a) (33 U.S.C. 1127) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments
of 2002, and every 2 years thereafter,'' in subsection (a) and
inserting ``Every 2 years,''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Restriction on Use of Funds.--Amounts available for
fellowships under this section, including amounts accepted under
section 204(c)(4)(F) or appropriated under section 212 to implement
this section, shall be used only for award of such fellowships and
administrative costs of implementing this section.''

SEC. 9. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

(a) Redesignation of Sea Grant Review Panel as Board.--
(1) Redesignation.--The sea grant review panel established by
section 209 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33
U.S.C. 1128), as in effect before the date of the enactment of this
Act, is redesignated as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.
(2) Membership not affected.--An individual serving as a member
of the sea grant review panel immediately before date of the
enactment of this Act may continue to serve as a member of the
National Sea Grant Advisory Board until the expiration of such
member's term under section 209(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)).
(3) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to such sea
grant review panel is deemed to be a reference to the National Sea
Grant Advisory Board.
(4) Conforming amendments.--
(A) In general.--Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128) is amended by
striking so much as precedes subsection (b) and inserting the
following:

``SEC. 209. NATIONAL SEA GRANT ADVISORY BOARD.

``(a) Establishment.--There shall be an independent committee to be
known as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board.''.
(B) Definition.--Section 203(9) (33 U.S.C. 1122(9)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(9) The term `Board' means the National Sea Grant Advisory
Board established under section 209.'';
(C) Other provisions.--The following provisions are each
amended by striking ``panel'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Board'':
(i) Section 204 (33 U.S.C. 1123).
(ii) Section 207 (33 U.S.C. 1126).
(iii) Section 209 (33 U.S.C. 1128).
(b) Duties.--Section 209(b) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(b) Duties.--
``(1) In general.--The Board shall advise the Secretary and the
Director concerning--
``(A) strategies for utilizing the sea grant college
program to address the Nation's highest priorities regarding
the understanding, assessment, development, management,
utilization, and conservation of ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes resources;
``(B) the designation of sea grant colleges and sea grant
institutes; and
``(C) such other matters as the Secretary refers to the
Board for review and advice.
``(2) Biennial report.--The Board shall report to the Congress
every two years on the state of the national sea grant college
program. The Board shall indicate in each such report the progress
made toward meeting the priorities identified in the strategic plan
in effect under section 204(c). The Secretary shall make available
to the Board such information, personnel, and administrative
services and assistance as it may reasonably require to carry out
its duties under this title.''.
(c) Membership, Terms, and Powers.--Section 209(c)(1) (33 U.S.C.
1128(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``coastal management,'' after ``resource
management,''; and
(2) by inserting ``management,'' after ``development,''.
(d) Extension of Term.--Section 209(c)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1128(c)(3)) is
amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
``The Director may extend the term of office of a voting member of the
Board once by up to 1 year.''.
(e) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 209(c) (33 U.S.C.
1128(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(8) The Board may establish such subcommittees as are reasonably
necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (b). Such
subcommittees may include individuals who are not Board members.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 212 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33
U.S.C. 1131) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting the following:
``
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary to carry out this title--
``(A) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(B) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(C) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2011;
``(D) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2012;
``(E) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
``(F) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
(2) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) by striking ``fiscal years 2003 through 2008--'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2009 through 2014--'';
(B) by striking ``biology and control of zebra mussels and
other important aquatic'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting
``biology, prevention, and control of aquatic''; and
(C) by striking ``blooms, including Pfiesteria piscicida;
and'' in subparagraph (C) and inserting ``blooms; and'';
(3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``rating under section
204(d)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``performance assessments''; and
(4) by striking subsection (c)(2) and inserting the following:
``(2) regional or national strategic investments authorized under
section 204(b)(4);''.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.