[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2734 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2734
To provide for ocean acidification collaborative research grant
opportunities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 20, 2023
Mr. Carbajal (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon, and
Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for ocean acidification collaborative research grant
opportunities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ocean Acidification Research
Partnerships Act''.
SEC. 2. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.
The Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009
(enacted as subtitle D of part II of title XII of the Omnibus Public
Land Management Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.; Public Law 111-
11)) is amended by inserting after section 12406 (33 U.S.C. 3705) the
following new section:
``SEC. 12406A. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Academic community.--The term `academic community'
includes faculty and other representatives of institutions of
higher education and other schools, researchers, scientists,
and natural resource managers.
``(2) Seafood industry.--The term `seafood industry'
includes shellfish growers, shellfish harvesters, commercial
fishermen, recreational fishermen, other members of the seafood
harvesting or supply chain, and organizations representing any
of such groups.
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall provide grants for collaborative
research projects on ocean acidification developed and conducted
through partnerships between the seafood industry and the academic
community.
``(c) Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may not provide a grant
for a project under this section unless the project is--
``(1) consistent with the themes identified under the
strategic research plan developed by the Subcommittee under
section 12405; and
``(2) designed to--
``(A) develop and support partnerships,
communications, and shared understanding between the
seafood industry and the academic community;
``(B) include the seafood industry in research on
ocean acidification;
``(C) deliver research, monitoring, or adaptation
results which will benefit both the seafood industry
and the academic community;
``(D) incorporate into the research agenda the
expertise of both the seafood industry, including their
unique understanding of the natural environment, and
the academic community;
``(E) promote better understanding of seafood
industry research questions and priorities within the
academic community;
``(F) promote wider understanding of ocean
acidification among the academic community, the seafood
industry, and other stakeholders as appropriate; and
``(G) include appropriately balanced support from
both the seafood industry and the academic community.
``(d) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize funding under this
section to projects which--
``(1) address ecosystems and communities vulnerable to the
impacts of ocean acidification;
``(2) demonstrate support from local stakeholders, such as
representatives of States or other governmental jurisdictions,
community organizations, tribes, or educational institutions,
as appropriate, located within the region in which the project
will be undertaken; or
``(3) utilize seafood industry assets as research and
monitoring platforms.
``(e) Implementation Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in collaboration
with the Subcommittee, shall issue implementation guidelines under this
section, including criteria and priorities for grants. Those guidelines
shall be developed in consultation, as appropriate, with the following:
``(1) State, regional, and local decisionmakers with ocean
acidification experience.
``(2) The seafood industry and other marine-dependent
industries.
``(3) Formal and informal educators, including both those
within academia and those who are not.
``(4) Tribes.
``(5) Nongovernmental organizations involved in ocean
acidification research, prevention, or adaptation.
``(6) Any other appropriate community stakeholders.
``(f) Contents of Proposals.--Each proposal for a grant under this
section shall include the following:
``(1) A description of the qualifications of the
individuals or entities who will conduct the project.
``(2) A plan for ensuring full participation and engagement
of both industry and academic community participants, including
a description of how each partner will contribute expertise to
the project in terms of design, execution, and interpretation
of results.
``(3) A plan for the dissemination of the results of the
research project, which may include the following:
``(A) Educational programs.
``(B) Presentations to members of the seafood
industry, the academic community, and community
stakeholders.
``(C) Scientific publication.
``(D) Delivery to appropriate representatives of
States or other government jurisdictions who would use
the information.
``(4) A description of how the project is consistent with
the program elements described in section 12405(c).
``(5) Any other information the Secretary considers
necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the project for
funding under this section.
``(g) Alternative Participants.--The Secretary may make a grant
under this section to a partnership in which a marine-dependent
industry is substituted for the seafood industry if the proposed
project serves the purposes of this section. In such a case, the
participation and interests of that marine-dependent industry shall be
substituted for those of the seafood industry in applying the
requirements of this section.
``(h) Project Reporting.--Each grantee under this section shall
provide periodic reports as required by the Secretary. Each such report
shall include all information required by the Secretary for evaluating
the progress and success of the project.
``(i) Matching Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
total amount of Federal funding for a collaborative research
project supported under this section may not exceed 85 percent
of the total cost of such project. For purposes of this
paragraph, the non-Federal share of project costs may be
provided by in-kind contributions and other noncash support.
``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the
matching requirement under paragraph (1) if the Secretary
determines that no reasonable means are available through which
applicants can meet the matching requirement and the probable
benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such
matching requirement.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $5,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.''.
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