--- kind: "diff" citation: "S. 764" bill: "114-s-764" heading: "National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015" from: "rs" from_label: "Reported in Senate" to: "es" to_label: "Engrossed in Senate" sections_amended: 2 sections_added: 1 sections_removed: 0 url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/114/s/764/changes/es" --- # S. 764 — what changed S. 764, National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015 — 2 sections amended and 1 added between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate. Edits are marked `struck` and `inserted`. ## Sec. 8 Direct hire authority; Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship - (a) In general— Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended—During fiscal year 2016 and thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards. - (1) in paragraph (1)— - (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking “and” at the end; - (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting “;”; and - (C) by adding at the end the following: - “(G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; - “(H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; - “(I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; - “(J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; - “(K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; - “(L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and - “(M) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.” - (2) in the heading for paragraph (2), by inserting “for fiscal years 2009 through 2014” after “Priority activities”; and - (3) by adding at the end the following: - “(3) Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 2020—In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 for competitive grants for the following: - “(A) University research on the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species. - “(B) University research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks. - “(C) University research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms. - “(D) University research, education, training, and extension services and activities focused on coastal resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1). - “(E) University research on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies. - “(F) Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program funding.” - (b) Modification of limitations on amounts for administration—Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship— Paragraph (1) Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former recipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 212(b) 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read as follows:1127(b)) who— - (1) earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in a field related to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources or policy from an accredited institution of higher education; and - (2) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of the United States Government. - (c) Limitation— The direct hire authority under this section shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate not later than 2 years after the date that the candidate completed the fellowship. - “(1) Administration - “(A) In general—There may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of— - “(i) the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year; or - “(ii) the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year. - “(B) Critical staffing requirements - “(i) In general—The Director shall use the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement while carrying out the activities authorized in this title. - “(ii) Exception from cap—For purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of authority as described in clause (i) shall not be considered an amount used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year.” - (c) Allocation of funding— - (1) In general— Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) is amended— - (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking “With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes” and inserting “With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects”; and - (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter before clause (i), by striking “funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes” and inserting “funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects”. - (2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of excess amounts— Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— - (A) by striking subsection (c); and - (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. ## Sec. 9 Authorization of appropriations for National Sea Grant College Program - (a) In general— Section 212(a) (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended— - (1) in paragraph (1)— - (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking “and” at the end; - (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting “;”; and - (C) by adding at the end the following: - “(G) $72,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; - “(H) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2016; - “(I) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2017; - “(J) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2018; - “(K) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2019; - “(L) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2020; and - “(M) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.” - (2) in the heading for paragraph (2), by inserting “for fiscal years 2009 through 2014” after “Priority activities”; and - (3) by adding at the end the following: - “(3) Priority activities for fiscal years 2015 through 2020—In addition to the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020 for competitive grants for the following: - “(A) University research on the biology, prevention, and control of aquatic nonnative species. - “(B) University research on oyster diseases, oyster restoration, and oyster-related human health risks. - “(C) University research on the biology, prevention, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms. - “(D) University research, education, training, and extension services and activities focused on coastal resilience and U.S. working waterfronts and other regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section 204(c)(1). - “(E) University research on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies. - “(F) Fishery extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance, and not supplant, existing core program funding.” - The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— - (b) Modification of limitations on amounts for administration— in Paragraph (1) of section 204(d)(3)(B) 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) two ems 1131(b)) is amended to the right; andread as follows: - “(1) Administration - “(A) In general—There may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than 5.5 percent of the lesser of— - “(i) the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year; or - “(ii) the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year. - “(B) Critical staffing requirements - “(i) In general—The Director shall use the authority under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, to meet any critical staffing requirement while carrying out the activities authorized in this title. - “(ii) Exception from cap—For purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of authority as described in clause (i) shall not be considered an amount used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year.” - (c) Allocation of funding— - (1) In general— Section 204(d)(3) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)) is amended— - (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking “With respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes” and inserting “With respect to sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects”; and - (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter before clause (i), by striking “funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes” and inserting “funding among sea grant colleges, sea grant institutes, sea grant programs, and sea grant projects”. - (2) Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of excess amounts— Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended— - (A) by striking subsection (c); and - (B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. - (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended by section 6, in the third sentence, by striking “The Secretary shall” and inserting the following: - “(3) Availability of resources of Department of Commerce—The Secretary shall” ## Sec. 10 Technical corrections — added - The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended— - (1) in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) two ems to the right; and - (2) in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended by section 6, in the third sentence, by striking “The Secretary shall” and inserting the following: - “(3) Availability of resources of Department of Commerce—The Secretary shall”