---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 2932"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "2932"
heading: "Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/2932"
units:
  - "Chapter 56A — Global Change Research"
  - "Subchapter I — United States Global Change Research Program"
---

# §2932. Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences

- (a) **Establishment—** The President, through the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2), shall establish a [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) on Earth and Environmental Sciences. The [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) shall carry out [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2) functions under [section 6651 of title 42](/usc/42/6651.md) relating to [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4), for the purpose of increasing the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4) efforts.
- (b) **Membership—** The [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) shall consist of at least one representative from—
  - (1) the National Science Foundation;
  - (2) the National Aeronautics and Space [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of the Department of Commerce;
  - (4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
  - (5) the Department of Energy;
  - (6) the Department of State;
  - (7) the Department of Defense;
  - (8) the Department of the Interior;
  - (9) the Department of Agriculture;
  - (10) the Department of Transportation;
  - (11) the Office of Management and Budget;
  - (12) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
  - (13) the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2) on Environmental Quality;
  - (14) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health; and
  - (15) such other agencies and departments of the United States as the President or the Chairman of the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2) considers appropriate.

  Such representatives shall be high ranking officials of their agency or department, wherever possible the head of the portion of that agency or department that is most revelant[^1] to the purpose of the subchapter described in [section 2931(b) of this title](/usc/15/2931.md?p=b).

- (c) **Chairperson—** The Chairman of the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2), in consultation with the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1), biennially shall select one of the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) members to serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the [administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of scientific research [programs](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6), and shall be a representative of an agency that contributes substantially, in terms of scientific research capability and budget, to the [Program](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6).
- (d) **Support personnel—** An Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1), with the approval of the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1). The Executive Secretary shall be a permanent employee of one of the agencies or departments represented on the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1), and shall remain in the employ of such agency or department. The Chairman of the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2) shall have the authority to make personnel decisions regarding any employees detailed to the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2) for purposes of working on business of the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) pursuant to [section 6651 of title 42](/usc/42/6651.md).
- (e) **Functions relative to global change—** The [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2), through the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1), shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the [Program](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6). In carrying out this responsibility, the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) serve as the forum for developing the Plan and for overseeing its implementation;
  - (2) improve cooperation among Federal agencies and departments with respect to [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4) activities;
  - (3) provide budgetary advice as specified in [section 2935 of this title](/usc/15/2935.md);
  - (4) work with academic, [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2), industry, and other groups conducting [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4), to provide for periodic public and peer review of the [Program](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6);
  - (5) cooperate with the Secretary of State in—
    - (A) providing representation at international meetings and conferences on [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4) in which the United States participates; and
    - (B) coordinating the Federal activities of the United States with [programs](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6) of other nations and with international [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4) activities such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere [Program](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6);
  - (6) consult with actual and potential users of the results of the [Program](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6) to ensure that such results are useful in developing national and international policy responses to [global change](/usc/15/2921.md?p=3); and
  - (7) report at least annually to the President and the Congress, through the Chairman of the [Council](/usc/15/2921.md?p=2), on Federal [global change research](/usc/15/2921.md?p=4) priorities, policies, and [programs](/usc/15/2921.md?p=6).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “relevant”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–606, title I, § 102, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3097.)