Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2017”.
National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2017
A BILL
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 References to the National Sea Grant College Program Act
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever 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 Modification of Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
In general— Section 208(b) (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) is amended by striking “may” and inserting “shall”.
Placements in Congress— Such section is further amended—
in the first sentence, by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(1) In general—The Secretary”
in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1) of this section, in the second sentence, by striking “A fellowship” and inserting the following:
“(2) Placement priorities
“(A) In general—In each year in which the Secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this subsection, when considering the placement of fellows, the Secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in the following:
“(i) Positions in offices of committees of Congress that have jurisdiction over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“(ii) Positions in offices of Members of Congress who are on such committees.
“(iii) Positions in offices of Members of Congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources.
“(B) Equitable distribution
“(i) Finding and recognition—Congress—
“(I) finds that both host offices and fellows benefit when fellows have the opportunity to choose from a range of host offices from different States and regions, both chambers of Congress, and both political parties; and
“(II) recognizes the steps taken by the National Sea Grant College Program to facilitate an equitable distribution of fellows among the political parties.
“(ii) In general—The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that fellows have the opportunity to choose from offices that are described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A) and that are equitably distributed among—
“(I) the political parties; and
“(II) the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“(3) Duration—A fellowship”
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sense of Congress concerning Federal hiring of former fellows— It is the sense of Congress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), and of the exceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should encourage participating Federal agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their fellowships for workforce positions appropriate for their education and experience.
Sec. 4 Modification of authority of Secretary of Commerce to accept donations for National Sea Grant College Program
In general— Section 204(c)(4)(E) (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)) is amended to read as follows:
“(E) accept donations of money and, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, of voluntary and uncompensated services;”
Priorities— The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall establish priorities for the use of donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)), and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of expanding the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship's placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative offices under section 208(b) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), in accordance with the recommendations under subsection (c) of this section.
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program, in consultation with the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and the Sea Grant Association, shall—
develop recommendations for the optimal use of any donations accepted under section 204(c)(4)(E) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(E)); and
submit to Congress a report on the recommendations developed under paragraph (1).
Construction— Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy fellowships under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)), including amounts—
accepted under section 204(c)(4)(F) of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1123(c)(4)(F)); or
appropriated under section 212 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 1131).
Sec. 5 Repeal of requirement for report on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities
Section 9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 857–20) is repealed.
Sec. 6 Reduction in frequency required for National Sea Grant Advisory Board report
Section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)) is amended—
in the heading, by striking “Biennial” and inserting “Periodic”; and
in the first sentence, by striking “The Board shall report to the Congress every two years” and inserting “Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the Board shall submit to Congress a report”.
Sec. 7 Modification of elements of National Sea Grant College Program
Section 204(b) (33 U.S.C. 1123(b)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “for research, education, extension, training, technology transfer, and public service” after “financial assistance”.
Sec. 8 Direct hire authority; Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
In general— During fiscal year 2017 and any fiscal year 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.
Qualified candidate— Subsection (a) applies with respect to a former recipient of a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) who—
earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in a field related to ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources or policy from an institution of higher education accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to section 496(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b(a));
received a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship under section 208(b) of the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1127(b)) within 5 years before the date the individual is appointed under this section; and
successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of the United States Government.
Sec. 9 Authorization of appropriations for National Sea Grant College Program
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
“(1) In general—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this title—
“(A) $75,600,000 for fiscal year 2018;
“(B) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2019;
“(C) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2020;
“(D) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2021;
“(E) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
“(F) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.”
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
“(2) Priority activities for fiscal years 2018 through 2023—In addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 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 United States 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.”
Modification of limitations on amounts for administration— Paragraph (1) of section 212(b) (33 U.S.C. 1131(b)) is amended to read 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 under this title.
“(ii) Exception from cap—For purposes of subparagraph (A), any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of authority described in clause (i) shall not be considered an amount used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year.”
Allocation of funding—
in the matter preceding 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
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding 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”.
Repeal of requirements concerning distribution of excess amounts— Section 212 (33 U.S.C. 1131) is amended—
by striking subsection (c); and
by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
Sec. 10 Technical corrections
The National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended—
in section 204(d)(3)(B) (33 U.S.C. 1123(d)(3)(B)), by moving clause (vi) 2 ems to the right; and
in section 209(b)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1128(b)(2)), as amended by section 6 of this Act, in the third sentence, by striking “The Secretary shall” and inserting the following:
“(3) Availability of resources of Department of Commerce—The Secretary shall”