#aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #iaj ,,an ,,act ,to reauthorize and amend the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,amendments ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,references to the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act ,except as otherwise expressly provided1 wherever in this ,act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to1 or repeal of1 a section or other provision1 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaba et seq474 #c4 ,modification of ,dean ,john ,a4 ,knauss ,marine ,policy ,fellowship 7a7 ,in general ,section #bjh7;b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabg7;b77 is amended by striking may and inserting shall4 7b7 ,placements in ,congress ,such section is further amended-- 7#a7 in the first sentence1 by striking ,the ,secretary and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary 2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71 as designated by paragraph 7#a71 in the second sentence1 by striking ,a fellowship and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,placement priorities 7,a7 ,in general ,in each year in which the ,secretary awards a legislative fellowship under this subsection1 when considering the placement of fellows1 the ,secretary shall prioritize placement of fellows in the following3 7i7 ,positions in offices of1 or with ,members on1 committees of ,congress that have jurisdiction over the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7ii7 ,positions in offices of ,members of ,congress that have a demonstrated interest in ocean1 coastal1 or ,great ,lakes resources4 7,b7 ,equitable distribution ,in placing fellows in offices described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that placements are equitably distributed among the political parties4 7#c7 ,duration ,a fellowship 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the first calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,sense of ,congress concerning ,federal hiring of former fellows ,it is the sense of ,congress that in recognition of the competitive nature of the fellowship under section #bjh7;b7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabg7;b771 and of the exceptional qualifications of fellowship awardees1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 acting through the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 should encourage participating ,federal agencies to consider opportunities for fellowship awardees at the conclusion of their fellowships for workforce positions appropriate for their education and experience4 #d4 ,modification of authority of ,secretary of ,commerce to accept donations for ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #bjd7;c77#d77;,e7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;c77#d77;,e77 is amended to read as follows3 7,e7 accept donations of money and1 notwithstanding section #acdb of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 of voluntary and uncompensated services2 4 7b7 ,priorities ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 acting through the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 shall establish priorities for the use of donations accepted under section #bjd7;c77#d77;,e7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;c77#d77;,e771 and shall consider among those priorities the possibility of expanding the ,dean ,john ,a4 ,knauss ,marine ,policy ,fellowship's placement of additional fellows in relevant legislative offices under section #bjh7;b7 of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabg7;b771 in accordance with the recommendations under subsection 7c7 of this section4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program1 in consultation with the ,national ,sea ,grant ,advisory ,board and the ,sea ,grant ,association1 shall-- 7#a7 develop recommendations for the optimal use of any donations accepted under section #bjd7;c77#d77;,e7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;c77#d77;,e772 and 7#b7 submit to ,congress a report on the recommendations developed under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect any other amounts available for marine policy fellowships under section #bjh7;b7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabg7;b771 including amounts-- 7#a7 accepted under section #bjd7;c77#d77;,f7 of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;c77#d77;,f772 or 7#b7 appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under section #bab of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca74 #e4 ,reduction in frequency required for ,national ,sea ,grant ,advisory ,board report ,section #bji7;b77#b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabh7;b77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the paragraph heading1 by striking ,biennial and inserting ,periodic2 7#b7 by striking the first sentence and inserting the following3 ,the ,board shall report to ,congress at least once every four years on the state of the national sea grant college program and shall notify ,congress of any significant changes to the state of the program not later than two years after the submission of such a report42 and 7#c7 in the second sentence1 by adding before the end period the following3 and provide a summary of research conducted under the program4 #f4 ,modification of elements of ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,section #bjd7;b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;b77 is amended1 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by inserting for research1 education1 extension1 training1 technology transfer1 and public service after financial assistance4 #g4 ,designation of new national sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes ,section #bjg7;b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabf7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the subsection heading1 by striking existing designees and inserting ,additional designations2 and 7#b7 by striking ,any institution and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,notification to ,congress of designations 7,a7 ,in general ,not less than #cj days before designating an institution1 or an association or alliance of two or more such institutions1 as a sea grant college or sea grant institute under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall notify ,congress in writing of the proposed designation4 ,the notification shall include an evaluation and justification for the designation4 7,b7 ,effect of joint resolution of disapproval ,the ,secretary may not designate an institution1 or an association or alliance of two or more such institutions1 as a sea grant college or sea grant institute under subsection 7a7 if1 before the end of the #cj-;day period described in subparagraph 7,a71 a joint resolution disapproving the designation is enacted4 7#b7 ,existing designees ,any institution 4 #h4 ,direct hire authority2 ,dean ,john ,a4 ,knauss ,marine ,policy ,fellowship 7a7 ,in general ,during fiscal year #bjai and any fiscal year thereafter1 the head of any ,federal agency may appoint1 without regard to the provisions of subchapter ,i of chapter #cc of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 other than sections #ccjc and #ccbh of that title1 a qualified candidate described in subsection 7b7 directly to a position with the ,federal agency for which the candidate meets ,office of ,personnel ,management qualification standards4 7b7 ,dean ,john ,a4 ,knauss ,marine ,policy ,fellowship ,subsection 7a7 applies with respect to a former recipient of a ,dean ,john ,a4 ,knauss ,marine ,policy ,fellowship under section #bjh7;b7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabg7;b77 who-- 7#a7 earned a graduate or post-graduate degree in a field related to ocean1 coastal1 and ,great ,lakes resources or policy from an accredited institution of higher education2 and 7#b7 successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship within the executive or legislative branch of the ,united ,states ,government4 7c7 ,limitation ,the direct hire authority under this section shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate not later than #b years after the date that the candidate completed the fellowship described in subsection 7b74 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations for ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #bab7;a7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending paragraph 7#a7 to read as follows3 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this title-- 7,a7 #hg1ebj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj2 7,b7 #ia1ijj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba2 7,c7 #if1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb2 7,d7 #aja1cbe1jjj for fiscal year #bjbc2 and 7,e7 #aje1gjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbd4 2 and 7#b7 by amending paragraph 7#b7 to read as follows3 7#b7 ,priority activities for fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd ,in addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under paragraph 7#a71 there are authorized to be appropriated #f1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd for competitive grants for the following3 7,a7 ,university research on the biology1 prevention1 and control of aquatic nonnative species4 7,b7 ,university research on oyster diseases1 oyster restoration1 and oyster-related human health risks4 7,c7 ,university research on the biology1 prevention1 and forecasting of harmful algal blooms4 7,d7 ,university research1 education1 training1 and extension services and activities focused on coastal resilience and ,united ,states working waterfronts and other regional or national priority issues identified in the strategic plan under section #bjd7;c77#a74 7,e7 ,university research and extension on sustainable aquaculture techniques and technologies4 7,f7 ,fishery research and extension activities conducted by sea grant colleges or sea grant institutes to enhance1 and not supplant1 existing core program funding4 4 7b7 ,modification of limitations on amounts for administration ,paragraph 7#a7 of section #bab7;b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca7;b77 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,administration 7,a7 ,in general ,there may not be used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year more than #e4e percent of the lesser of-- 7i7 the amount authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year2 or 7ii7 the amount appropriated under this title for the fiscal year4 7,b7 ,critical staffing requirements 7i7 ,in general ,the ,director shall use the authority under subchapter ,,vi of chapter #cc of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 and under section #baj of this title1 to meet any critical staffing requirement while carrying out the activities authorized under this title4 7ii7 ,exception from cap ,for purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 any costs incurred as a result of an exercise of authority as described in clause 7i7 shall not be considered an amount used for administration of programs under this title in a fiscal year4 4 7c7 ,allocation of funding 7#a7 ,in general ,section #bjd7;d77#c7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;d77#c77 is amended-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,with respect to sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes and inserting ,with respect to sea grant colleges1 sea grant institutes1 sea grant programs1 and sea grant projects2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 in the matter preceding clause 7i71 by striking funding among sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes and inserting funding among sea grant colleges1 sea grant institutes1 sea grant programs1 and sea grant projects4 7#b7 ,repeal of requirements concerning distribution of excess amounts ,section #bab 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaca7 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subsections 7d7 and 7e7 as subsections 7c7 and 7d71 respectively4 #aj4 ,repeal of requirement for report on coordination of oceans and coastal research activities ,section #i of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act ,amendments of #bjjb 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #heg-bj7 is repealed4 #aa4 ,technical corrections ,the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aaba et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #bjd7;d77#c77;,b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;d77#c77;,b771 by moving clause 7vi7 #b ems to the right2 and 7#b7 in section #bji7;b77#b7 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabh7;b77#b771 as amended by section #e1 in the third sentence1 by striking ,the ,secretary shall and inserting the following3 7#c7 ,availability of resources of ,department of ,commerce ,the ,secretary shall 4 ,passed the ,senate ,september #cj 7legislative day1 ,september #bi71 #bjbj4,secretary