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Managing America: Education

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Week Ending July 18, 2008

H.R.5618 To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.

Established in 1966, the National Sea Grant College Program when the National Sea Grant College Act was passed. The goal is to improve marine resource conservation, management and utilization. Authorization for appropriations expires in October 2008.

The program has a network of 30 Sea Grant College programs that sponsor and conduct applied and basic marine science research, education, training and technical assistance programs all directed to the understanding and utilization of the ocean, coastal and Great Lake resources.

Sea Grant colleges must have demonstrated a superior record in marine resource programs for a minimum of three years, a well-developed relationship with federal, State and local governments and agencies, business and industry and other educational institutions, and a degree of productivity commensurate with the length of its Sea Grant operations and their ability to obtain matching funds from non-federal sources.

Grant applications may be for up to 2.3rds of the project cost with one third coming from non-federal matching funds.

The bill would refine the Act to modestly expand and clarify the scope and purposes of the program. The Review panel would provide oversight and accountability and for providing advise to the Secretary of Commerce.

The percentage of funds exempt from the non-federal match requirement from the current are increased from 1% to 5%. A biannual report must demonstrate the effort to include minorities in the program.

Sponsor:  Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (Guam)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 14, 2008. Passed Senate amended September 27, 2008. Passed House September 29, 2008.

Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that spending for the program from those appropriations would total $316 million over the 2009-2013 period, in addition to $51 million from funding provided in previous years. An additional $182 million would be spent after 2013, including $100 million authorized to be appropriated for 2014. Enacting H.R. 5618 would not affect direct spending or revenues.”

Earmark Certification:   H.R. 5618 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.

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MORE INFORMATION

Section 1. Short title

Section 1 cites this Act as the `National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008.'

Section 2. References

Section 2 clarifies that all amendment references in the legislation are to the National Sea Grant College Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

Section 3. Findings and purposes

Section 3 amplifies the extension aspects of the Sea Grant program and cites the relevance of the National Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy to the Sea Grant Program.

Section 4. Definitions

Section 4 defines key terms included within the text of the proposed legislation, including `regional research and information plan' and `National Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy' where they appear in the bill.

Section 5. National Sea Grant College Program, generally

Section 5 makes minor amendments to the Sea Grant program and augments the functions of the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program to include encouraging collaborations among Sea Grant colleges and institutions. Section 5 also amends the Sea Grant program performance review standards. Adopted as part of the 2002 amendments, the review requirements have had the unintended consequence of creating a disincentive for programs to work cooperatively or form partnerships. Implementation of new measures for program review combined with policies aimed at advancing `continuous program improvement' should ensure effective program assessments.

Section 6. Program or project grants and contracts

Section 6 exempts the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program from having to match grant awards in order to achieve parity between fellows placed in Congressional offices with those fellows placed in federal agencies.

This section also increases the percentage of funds exempt from the non-federal match requirement from the current 1% to 5%.

Section 7. Extension services by Sea Grant Colleges and Sea Grant Institutes

Section 7 clarifies that one of the requirements for designation includes an extension program (as opposed to an `advisory service').

Section 8. Technical correction relating to fellowships

This section updates the statutory language requiring a report every two years on efforts to include minority and economically disadvantaged students.

Section 9. National Sea Grant Advisory Board

Section 9 expands the responsibilities of the National Sea Grant Review Panel, renaming the panel as the `National Sea Grant Advisory Board' to more appropriately and accurately describe its purpose and function.

Section 10. Authorization of appropriations

Section 10 authorizes funding levels from $66 million to $100 million for the period between Fiscal Year 2009 through Fiscal Year 2014.

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