article: TITLE I--NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``National Ocean Exploration Program Act''. SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION. The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall, in consultation with the National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that promotes collaboration with other Federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. To the extent appropriate, the Administrator shall seek to facilitate coordination of data and information management systems, outreach and education programs to improve public understanding of ocean and coastal resources, and development and transfer of technologies to facilitate ocean and undersea research and exploration. SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES. (a) In General.--In carrying out the program authorized under section 102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this title referred to as the ``Administrator'') shall-- (1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific activities of discovery in conjunction with other Federal agencies or academic or educational institutions, to explore and 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 deep water marine systems that hold potential for important scientific 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 and implement, in consultation with the National Science Foundation, a transparent, competitive process for merit-based peer-review and approval of proposals for activities to be conducted under this program, taking into consideration advice of the Board established under section 104; (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 and autonomous vehicles; and (6) 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. (b) Donations.--In carrying out the program authorized under section 102, the Administrator may accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans. SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD. (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant fields to-- (1) advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey and discovery; (2) assist the program in the development of a five-year strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great Lakes science, exploration, and discovery; (3) annually review the quality and effectiveness of the proposal review process established under section 103(4); and (4) provide other assistance and advice as requested by the Administrator. (b) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Board appointed under subsection (a). SEC. 105. APPLICATION WITH OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT. Nothing in this Act supersedes, or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.). SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title-- (1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009; (3) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010; (4) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011; (5) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012; (6) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013; and (7) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014. TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007''. SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION. The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct an undersea research, exploration, education, and technology development program and shall designate a Director of that program. SEC. 203. PURPOSE. The purpose of the program authorized under section 202 is to increase scientific knowledge essential for the informed management, use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The Director, in carrying out the program authorized in section 202, shall cooperate with institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science organizations, and shall make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support undersea research efforts by these organizations. The Director may also enter into partnerships, using existing authorities, with the private sector to achieve the goals of the program and to promote technological advancement of the marine industry. SEC. 204. PROGRAM. The program authorized under section 202 shall be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers that represent all relevant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. Overall direction of the program will be developed by the program director with a Council of Center Directors comprised of the directors of the extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. Draft program direction shall be published not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. The draft program direction shall be published in the Federal Register for a public comment period of not less than 120 days. Final program direction with Agency responses to the comments received shall be published in the Federal Register within 90 days after the close of the comment period. The program director shall update the program direction, with opportunity for public comment, at least every five years. SEC. 205. REGIONAL CENTERS AND INSTITUTE. (a) Programs.--The following research, exploration, education, and technology programs shall be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology: (1) Core research and exploration based on national and regional undersea research priorities. (2) Advanced undersea technology development to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research mission and programs. (3) Development, testing, and transition of advanced undersea technology associated with ocean observatories, submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and sensing technologies. (4) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the oceans and Great Lakes. (5) Discovery, study, and development of natural products from ocean and aquatic systems. (b) Operations.--Operation of the extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology shall leverage partnerships and cooperative research with academia and private industry. SEC. 206. COMPETITION. (a) Discretionary Fund.--The program shall allocate no more than 10 percent of its annual budget to a discretionary fund that may be used only for program administration and priority undersea research projects identified by the Director but not covered by funding available from centers. (b) Competitive Selection.--The Administrator shall conduct an initial competition to select the regional centers that will participate in the program 90 days after the publication of the final program direction required in section 204 and every five years thereafter. Funding for projects conducted through the regional centers shall be awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process on the basis of their relevance to the goals of the program and their technical feasibility. SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title-- (1) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; (3) $21,500,000 for fiscal year 2010; (4) $23,500,000 for fiscal year 2011; (5) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2012; (6) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2013; and (7) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2014. TITLE III--INTERAGENCY PLANNING AND COORDINATION SEC. 301. OCEAN EXPLORATION AND UNDERSEA RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE. (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the Department of the Navy, the Mineral Management Service, and relevant governmental, non- governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, shall convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force to develop and implement a strategy-- (1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration and undersea research technology to the programs authorized under titles I and II of this Act; (2) to improve availability of communications infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to such programs; (3) to develop an integrated, workable, and comprehensive data management information processing system that will make information on unique and significant features obtained by such programs available for research and management purposes; (4) to conduct public outreach activities that improve the public understanding of ocean science, resources, and processes, in conjunction with relevant programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies; and (5) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental entities that will assist in transferring exploration and undersea research technology and technical expertise to the programs. (b) Budget Coordination.--The task force shall coordinate the development of agency budgets and identify the items in their annual budget that support the activities identified in the strategy developed under subsection (a). Passed the House of Representatives February 14, 2008. Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, Clerk.
summary: Title I: National Ocean Exploration Program - National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 102) Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct a coordinated national ocean exploration program in NOAA that promotes collaboration with other federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. (Sec. 103) Sets forth program authorities, including authorizing the Administrator to accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans. (Sec. 104) Requires the NOAA Administrator to appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. (Sec. 105) Declares that nothing in this Act supersedes or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Undersea Research Program - National Undersea Research Program Act of 2007 - (Sec. 202) Requires the Administrator to conduct an undersea research, exploration, education, and technology development program to increase scientific knowledge regarding management, use, and preservation of oceanic, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. Requires the program's director to cooperate with institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science organizations and to make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support those organizations' undersea research. Authorizes the director to enter into partnerships with the private sector to achieve program goals and to promote marine industry technological advancement. (Sec. 204) Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers representing all NOAA regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. (Sec. 205) Specifies the research, exploration, education, and technology programs to be conducted through the network of extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. (Sec. 206) Allows not more than ten percent of the program's budget to be used for administration and for priority undersea research projects not covered by funding available from centers. Requires a competition every five years to select the regional centers that will participate in the program. Requires projects supported by the regional centers to be awarded using an open and competitive process. (Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Interagency Planning and Coordination - (Sec. 301) Requires the NOAA Administrator, and relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, to convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force. Requires that the task force coordinate the development of agency budgets.