,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #gdej  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #a1 #bjbj,mr4  
,crist 7for himself and ,mr4 ,posey7    
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on ,science1
 ,space1 and ,technology1 and in        
addition to the ,committee on ,natural  
,resources1 for a period to be          
subsequently determined by the ,speaker1
 in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the           
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,a ,,bill  ,to direct the ,secretary of 
,commerce1 acting through the ,national 
,oceanic and ,atmospheric               
,administration1 to designate           
organizations as ,national ,centers of  
,excellence in ,harmful ,algal ,bloom   
,research1 ,prevention1 ,response1 and  
,mitigation1 and for other purposes4    
#a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited
 as the ,prevent ,harmful ,algal ,blooms
 ,act4  #b4 ,centers of ,excellence in  
,harmful ,algal ,bloom ,research1       

,prevention1 ,response1 and ,mitigation 
7a7 ,establishment ,not later than one  
year after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 
acting through the ,administrator of the
 ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric    
,administration1 shall designate        
organizations as ,national ,centers of  
,excellence in ,harmful ,algal ,bloom   
,research1 ,prevention1 ,response1 and  
,mitigation4  7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose 
of the ,centers is-- 7#a7 to further    
understanding of harmful algal blooms2  
7#b7 to further understanding of the    
impacts of harmful algal blooms on      
public health1 including the health of  
at-risk populations2  7#c7 to further   
the ability to research1 forecast1 and  
monitor harmful algal blooms2  7#d7 to  
formalize and enhance existing          
partnerships and collaborations among   
institutions of higher education1       
research entities1 local1 ,state1       
territorial1 and tribal agencies1 and   
the ,federal ,government2  7#e7 to      

further the prevention1 control1 and    
mitigation of harmful algal blooms2     
7#f7 to transition harmful algal bloom  
research and forecasting from           
observational to operational use2 and   
7#g7 to address existing and emerging   
harmful algal bloom issues as the       
,administrator considers appropriate4   
7c7 ,eligibility for designations ,to be
 eligible for designation under this    
section1 an organization must-- 7#a7 be 
an institution of higher education1 as  
that term is defined in section #aja7;a7
 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife
 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a772 a ,state1   
territorial1 or tribal research agency2 
a nonprofit laboratory or other research
 entity2 or a consortium of such        
eligible institutions2  7#b7 have       
demonstrated expertise and success in   
harmful algal bloom research1           
monitoring1 forecasting1 prevention1 or 
response efforts2  7#c7 have            
demonstrated ability to collaborate with
 local1 ,state1 territorial1 and tribal 

governments and ,federal agencies on    
harmful algal blooms2 and  7#d7 be      
located in an area that is economically 
and environmentally impacted by harmful 
algal blooms4  7d7 ,requirements for    
designations ,in designating ,national  
,centers of ,excellence under this      
section the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 
consult with the ,inter-,agency ,task   
,force on ,harmful ,algal ,blooms and   
,hypoxia2  7#b7 ensure regional balance 
by designating ,national ,centers in a  
variety of locations throughout the     
,united ,states1 including the ,district
 of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of     
,puerto ,rico1 ,american ,samoa1 ,guam1 
the ,commonwealth of the ,northern      
,mariana ,islands1 the ,united ,states  
,virgin ,islands1 and other territories 
and possessions of the ,united ,states2 
and  7#c7 avoid duplication of other    
harmful algal bloom research4  7e7      
,effective period1 review1 and renewal  
,each designation of an organization as 
a ,national ,center of ,excellence under

 this section-- 7#a7 shall be effective 
for #e years2  7#b7 shall be reviewed by
 the ,secretary1 acting through the     
,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic
 and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in   
the fourth year of such effective       
period2  7#c7 following such review1 may
 be renewed for an additional #e-year   
period4  7f7 ,annual reports ,the       
,secretary shall require and publish an 
annual activity report from each        
,national ,center of ,excellence4  7g7  
,authorization of appropriations ,to    
carry out this section1 including for   
providing funding to ,national ,centers 
of ,excellence designated under this    
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated to the ,national ,oceanic  
and ,atmospheric ,administration        
#ab1ejj1jjj for each of fiscal years    
#bjba through #bjbe1 of which not more  
than #e percent may be available each   
fiscal year for administrative expenses4