---
kind: "diff"
citation: "S. 129"
bill: "115-s-129"
heading: "National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2017"
from: "rs"
from_label: "Reported in Senate"
to: "es"
to_label: "Engrossed in Senate"
sections_amended: 4
sections_added: 0
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/115/s/129/changes/es"
---

# S. 129 — what changed

S. 129, National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2017 — 4 sections amended between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.

Edits are marked `<del>struck</del>` and `<ins>inserted</ins>`.

## Sec. 5 Reduction in frequency required for National Sea Grant Advisory Board report

- Section <del>9 of the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 </del><ins>209(b)(2) </ins>(33 U.S.C. <del>857–20) </del><ins>1128(b)(2)) </ins>is <del>repealed.</del><ins>amended—</ins>
- (1) <ins>in the heading, by striking “Biennial” and inserting “Periodic”;</ins>
- (2) <ins>by striking the first sentence and inserting the following: “The Board shall report to Congress at least once every four years on the state of the national sea grant college program and shall notify Congress of any significant changes to the state of the program not later than two years after the submission of such a report.”; and</ins>
- (3) <ins>in the second sentence, by adding before the end period the following: “and provide a summary of research conducted under the program”.</ins>

## Sec. 6 Modification of elements of National Sea Grant College Program

- Section <del>209(b)(2) </del><ins>204(b) </ins>(33 U.S.C. <del>1128(b)(2)) </del><ins>1123(b)) </ins>is <del>amended—</del><ins>amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “for research, education, extension, training, technology transfer, and public service” after “financial assistance”.</ins>
- (1) <del>in the heading, by striking “Biennial” and inserting “Periodic”; and</del>
- (2) <del>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”.</del>

## Sec. 7 Designation of new national sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes

- Section <del>204(b) </del><ins>207(b) </ins>(33 U.S.C. <del>1123(b)) </del><ins>1126(b)) </ins>is <del>amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “for research, education, extension, training, technology transfer, and public service” after “financial assistance”.</del><ins>amended—</ins>
- (1) <ins>in the subsection heading, by striking “existing designees” and inserting “Additional designations”; and</ins>
- (2) <ins>by striking “Any institution” and inserting the following:</ins>
  - <ins>“(1) Notification to Congress of designations</ins>
  - <ins>“(A) In general—Not less than 30 days before designating an institution, or an association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a sea grant college or sea grant institute under subsection (a), the Secretary shall notify Congress in writing of the proposed designation. The notification shall include an evaluation and justification for the designation.</ins>
  - <ins>“(B) Effect of joint resolution of disapproval—The Secretary may not designate an institution, or an association or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a sea grant college or sea grant institute under subsection (a) if, before the end of the 30-day period described in subparagraph (A), a joint resolution disapproving the designation is enacted.</ins>
  - <ins>“(2) Existing designees—Any institution”</ins>

## 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) 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 2017;
    - “(B) $79,380,000 for fiscal year 2018;
    - “(C) $83,350,000 for fiscal year 2019;
    - “(D) $87,520,000 for fiscal year 2020;
    - “(E) $91,900,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
    - “(F) $96,500,000 for fiscal year 2022.”
  - (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
    - “(2) Priority activities for fiscal years 2017 through 2022—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 2017 through 2022 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 <ins>and extension </ins>on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies.
    - “(F) Fishery <ins>research and </ins>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— 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, <ins>and under section 210 of this title, </ins>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 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 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
    - (B) 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”.
  - (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.