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H.R. 9346 (117th): Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022


The text of the bill below is as of Nov 17, 2022 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.


I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9346

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 17, 2022

(for herself, Mr. Waltz, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Roybal-Allard, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A BILL

To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, research planning, and similar activities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022.

2.

Definitions

Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(6)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

(7)

United States

The term United States means the States, collectively.

.

3.

Ocean acidification collaboration improvement

(a)

Ongoing input mechanism

Section 12404(c)(2) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

establish and maintain an ongoing mechanism to engage affected industry members, stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, community acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring that is necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its impacts.

.

(b)

Collaboration on vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities

(1)

Report

Section 12404(e)(4)(A) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(4)(A)) is amended—

(A)

by redesignating clauses (ix) and (x) as clauses (x) and (xi), respectively; and

(B)

by inserting after clause (viii) the following:

(ix)

identifies the efforts of the Secretary to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on community vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities, pursuant to section 12406(c);

.

(2)

Improving collaboration

Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (c)(2)—

(i)

by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);

(ii)

in subparagraph (A), by striking or at the end; and

(iii)

by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

(B)

on ocean acidification research, data, and monitoring from affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, coastal acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientists not employed by the Federal government; or

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Better collaboration on vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities

(1)

In general

In carrying out the Program, and in support of vulnerability assessments transmitted under section 12404(e)(4) and recommendations included in the strategic research plan described in section 12405(b)(10), the Secretary shall build upon existing activities and collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes that are conducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, research planning, climate action plans, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification and their impacts of ocean acidification on coastal communities, for the purpose of—

(A)

supporting collaborative interagency relationships and information sharing at the State, local, and Tribal levels; and

(B)

assisting State and local governments and Indian Tribes in—

(i)

improving existing systems and programs to better address ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and

(ii)

identifying whether such activities can be used as a model for other communities.

(2)

Priority

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize underserved populations and entities in the use of resources of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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