,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abhi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ba1 #bjba ,ms4 ,cantwell introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,a bill to amend the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb to reauthorize and modify the ,john ,h4 ,prescott ,marine ,mammal ,rescue ,assistance ,grant ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,marine ,mammal ,research and ,response ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,data collection and dissemination ,section #djb of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by inserting or entangled after stranded2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7i7 by striking strandings1 and inserting strandings and entanglements1 including unusual mortality events12 7ii7 by inserting stranding before region2 and 7iii7 by striking marine mammals2 and and inserting marine mammals and entangled marine mammals to allow comparison of the causes of illness and deaths in stranded marine mammals and entangled marine mammals with physical1 chemical1 and biological environmental parameters2 and2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking analyses1 that would allow comparison of the causes of illness and deaths in stranded marine mammals with physical1 chemical1 and biological environmental parameters4 and inserting analyses42 and 7#b7 by striking subsection 7c7 and inserting the following3 7c7 ,information required ,to be submitted and collected 7#a7 ,in ,general ,after each response to a stranding or entanglement event1 the ,secretary shall collect 7including from any staff of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration that respond directly to such an event71 and shall require each stranding network participant who responds to that stranding or entanglement to submit to the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration-- 7,a7 data on the stranding event1 including ,,noaa ,form #hi-hfd 7,,omb #jfdh-jagh71 ,,noaa ,form #hi-hgh 7,,omb #jfdh-jagh71 similar successor forms1 or similar information in an appropriate format required by the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service for species under its management authority2 7,b7 supplemental data to the data described in subparagraph 7,a71 which may include1 as available1 relevant information about-- 7i7 weather and tide conditions2 7ii7 offshore human1 predator1 or prey activity2 7iii7 morphometrics2 7iv7 behavior2 7v7 health assessments2 7vi7 life history samples2 or 7vii7 stomach and intestinal contents2 and 7,c7 data and results from laboratory analysis of tissues1 which may include1 as appropriate and available-- 7i7 histopathology2 7ii7 toxicology2 7iii7 microbiology 7iv7 virology2 or 7v7 parasitology4 7#b7 ,timeline ,a stranding network participant shall submit-- 7,a7 the data described in paragraph 7#a77;,a7 not later than #cj days after the date of a response to a stranding or entanglement event2 7,b7 the compiled data described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 not later than #cj days after the date on which the data is available to the stranding network participant2 and 7,c7 the compiled data described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 not later than #cj days after the date on which the laboratory analysis has been reported to the stranding network participant4 7d7 ,availability of data 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop a program to make information1 including any data and metadata collected under paragraphs 7#c7 or 7#d7 of subsection 7b7 or subsection 7c71 available to researchers1 stranding network participants1 and the public-- 7,a7 to improve real-time coordination of response to stranding and entanglement events across geographic areas and between stranding coordinators2 7,b7 to identify and quickly disseminate information on potential public health risks2 7,c7 to facilitate integrated interdisciplinary research2 7,d7 to facilitate peer-reviewed publications2 7,e7 to archive regional data into #a national database for future analyses2 and 7,f7 for education and outreach activities4 7#b7 ,access to data ,the ,secretary shall ensure that any data or metadata collected under subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 by staff of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration that responded directly to a stranding or entanglement event is available to the public through the ,health ,,map and the ,observation ,system not later than #cj days after that data or metadata is collected by1 available to1 or reported to the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 by a stranding network participant that responded directly to a stranding or entanglement event is made available to the public through the ,health ,,map and the ,observation ,system #b years after the date on which that data is submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7c74 7#c7 ,exceptions 7,a7 ,written release ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b77;,b71 the ,secretary may make data described in paragraph 7#b77;,b7 publicly available earlier than #b years after the date on which that data is submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7c71 if the stranding network participant has completed a written release stating that such data may be made publicly available4 7,b7 ,law enforcement ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary may withhold data for a longer period than the period of time described in paragraph 7#b7 in the event of a law enforcement action or legal action that may be related to that data4 7e7 ,standards ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the marine mammal stranding community1 shall-- 7#a7 make publicly available guidance about uniform data and metadata standards to ensure that data collected in accordance with this section can be archived in a form that is readily accessible and understandable to the public through the ,health ,,map and the ,observation ,system2 and 7#b7 periodically update such guidance4 7f7 ,management policy ,in collaboration with the regional stranding networks1 the ,secretary shall develop1 and periodically update1 a data management and public outreach collaboration policy for stranding or entanglement events4 4 #c4 ,stranding or entanglement response agreements 7a7 ,in general ,section #djc of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading by inserting or entanglement before response2 7#b7 in subsection 7a71 by striking the period at the end and inserting or entanglement42 and 7#c7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 include a description of the data management and public outreach policy established under section #djb7;f74 4 7b7 ,table of contents amendment ,the table of contents in the first section of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7,public ,law #ib-ebb2 #hf ,stat4 #ajbg7 is amended by striking the item related to section #djc and inserting the following3 ,sec4 #djc4 ,stranding or entanglement response agreements4 4 #d4 ,unusual mortality event activity funding ,section #dje the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7b7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,uses ,amounts in the ,fund-- 7#a7 shall be available only for use by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and dispersed among claimants based on budgets approved by the ,secretary prior to expenditure-- 7,a7 to make advance1 partial1 or progress payments under contracts or other funding mechanisms for property1 supplies1 salaries1 services1 and travel costs incurred in acting in accordance with the contingency plan issued under section #djd7;b7 or under the direction of an ,onsite ,coordinator for an unusual mortality event designated under section #djd7;a77#b77;,b77iii72 7,b7 for reimbursing any stranding network participant for costs incurred in the collection1 preparation1 analysis1 and transportation of marine mammal tissues and samples collected with respect to an unusual mortality event for the ,tissue ,bank2 and 7,c7 for the care and maintenance of a marine mammal seized under section #ajd7;c77#b77;,d72 and 7#b7 shall remain available until expended4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 not more than #bej1jjj per year1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,commerce1 from sums collected as fines1 penalties1 or forfeitures of property by the ,secretary of ,commerce for violations of any provision of this ,act2 and 7#e7 sums received from emergency declaration grants for marine mammal conservation4 4 #e4 ,liability ,section #djf7;a7 of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;e7a77 is amended1 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a7-- 7#a7 by inserting or entanglement after to a stranding2 and 7#b7 by striking government and inserting ,government4 #f4 ,national ,marine ,mammal ,tissue ,bank and tissue analysis ,section #djg of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;f7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c77#b77;,a71 by striking the health of marine mammals and and inserting marine mammal health and mortality and the health of2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7d71 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by inserting public before access4 #g4 ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,response ,grant ,program and ,rapid ,response ,fund 7a7 ,in general ,section #djh of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;f-#a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the section heading and inserting ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,response ,grant ,program and ,rapid ,response ,fund2 7#b7 by striking subsections 7a7 through 7d7 and subsections 7f7 through 7h72 7#c7 by redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7f72 and 7#d7 by inserting before subsection 7f71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#c71 the following3 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,emergency assistance 7,a7 ,in ,general ,the term emergency assistance means-- 7i7 financial assistance provided to respond to1 or that results from1 a stranding event or entanglement event that-- 7,i7 causes an immediate increase in the cost of a response1 recovery1 or rehabilitation that is greater than the usual cost of a response1 recovery1 or rehabilitation2 7,,ii7 is cyclical or endemic2 or 7,,iii7 involves a marine mammal that is out of the normal range for that marine mammal2 or 7ii7 financial assistance provided to respond to1 or that results from1 a stranding event or an entanglement event that the appropriate ,secretary or ,state or ,tribal government considers to be an emergency4 7,b7 ,exclusions ,the term emergency assistance does not include financial assistance to respond to an unusual mortality event4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary has the meaning given that term in section #c7ab77;,a74 7#c7 ,stranding region ,the term stranding region means a geographic region designated by the applicable ,secretary for purposes of administration of this title4 7b7 ,john ,h4 ,prescott ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,response ,grant ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations or other funding1 the applicable ,secretary shall carry out a grant program1 to be known as the ,john ,h4 ,prescott ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,response ,grant ,program 7referred to in this section as the grant program71 to award grants to eligible stranding network participants or stranding network collaborators1 as described in this subsection4 7#b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the grant program are to provide for-- 7,a7 the recovery1 care1 or treatment of sick1 injured1 or entangled marine mammals2 7,b7 responses to marine mammal stranding events that require emergency assistance2 7,c7 the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or assessments regarding marine mammal health2 7,d7 facility operating costs that are directly related to activities described in subparagraph 7,a71 7,b71 or 7,c72 and 7,e7 development of stranding network capacity1 including training for emergency response1 where facilities do not exist or are sparse4 7#c7 ,contract1 grant1 and cooperative agreement authority 7,a7 ,in general ,the applicable ,secretary may enter into a contract1 grant1 or cooperative agreement with any eligible stranding network participant or stranding network collaborator1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate1 for the purposes described in paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,emergency award flexibility ,following a request for emergency award flexibility and analysis of the merits of and necessity for such a request1 the applicable ,secretary may-- 7i7 amend any contract1 grant1 or cooperative agreement entered into under this paragraph1 including provisions concerning the period of performance2 or 7ii7 waive the requirements under subsection 7f7 for grant applications submitted during the provision of emergency assistance4 7#d7 ,equitable distribution of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall ensure1 to the extent practicable1 that funds awarded under the grant program are distributed equitably among the stranding regions4 7,b7 ,considerations ,in determining priorities among the stranding regions under this paragraph1 the ,secretary may consider-- 7i7 equitable distribution within the stranding regions1 including the sub regions 7including1 but not limited to1 the ,gulf of ,mexico72 7ii7 any episodic stranding1 entanglement1 or mortality events1 except for unusual mortality events1 that occurred in any stranding region in the preceding year2 7iii7 any data with respect to average annual stranding1 entanglements1 and mortality events per stranding region2 7iv7 the size of the marine mammal populations inhabiting a stranding region2 7v7 the importance of the region's marine mammal populations to the well-being of indigenous communities2 and 7vi7 the conservation of protected1 depleted1 threatened1 or endangered marine mammal species4 7,c7 ,strandings ,for the purposes of this program1 priority is to be given to applications focusing on marine mammal strandings4 7#e7 ,application ,to be eligible for a grant under the grant program1 a stranding network participant shall-- 7,a7 submit an application in such form and manner as the applicable ,secretary prescribes2 and 7,b7 be in compliance with the data reporting requirements under section #djb7;d7 and any applicable reporting requirements of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service for species under its management jurisdiction4 7#f7 ,grant criteria ,the ,secretary shall1 in consultation with the ,marine ,mammal ,commission1 a representative from each of the stranding regions1 and other individuals who represent public and private organizations that are actively involved in rescue1 rehabilitation1 release1 scientific research1 marine conservation1 and forensic science with respect to stranded marine mammals under that ,department's jurisdiction1 develop criteria for awarding grants under their respective grant programs4 7#g7 ,limitations 7,a7 ,maximum grant amount ,no grant made under the grant program for a single award may exceed #aej1jjj in any #ab-month period4 7,b7 ,unexpended funds ,any funds that have been awarded under the grant program but that are unexpended at the end of the #ab-month period described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall remain available until expended4 7#h7 ,administrative costs and expenses ,the ,secretary's administrative costs and expenses related to reviewing and awarding grants under the grant program1 in any fiscal year may not exceed the greater of-- 7,a7 #f percent of the amounts made available each fiscal year to carry out the grant program2 or 7,b7 #hj1jjj4 7#i7 ,transparency ,the ,secretary shall make publicly available a list of grant proposals for the upcoming fiscal year1 funded grants1 and requests for grant flexibility under this subsection4 7c7 ,joseph ,r4 ,geraci ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,rapid ,response ,fund 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states an interest-bearing fund1 to be known as the ,joseph ,r4 ,geraci ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,rapid ,response ,fund 7referred to in this section as the ,rapid ,response ,fund74 7#b7 ,use of ,funds ,amounts in the ,rapid ,response ,fund shall be available only for use by the ,secretary to provide emergency assistance4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the grant program #g1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbf1 to remain available until expended1 of which for each fiscal year-- 7i7 #f1jjj1jjj shall be made available to the ,secretary of ,commerce2 and 7ii7 #a1jjj1jjj shall be made available to the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7,b7 ,derivation of funds ,funds to carry out the activities under this section shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 that are enacted after the date of enactment of the ,marine ,mammal ,research and ,response ,act of #bjba4 7#b7 ,joseph ,r4 ,geraci ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,rapid ,response ,fund ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,rapid ,response ,fund #ejj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbf4 7e7 ,acceptance of donations ,for the purposes of carrying out this section1 the ,secretary may solicit1 accept1 receive1 hold1 administer1 and use gifts1 devises1 and bequests without any further approval or administrative action4 4 7b7 ,table of contents amendment ,the table of contents in the first section of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7,public ,law #ib-ebb2 #hf ,stat4 #ajbg7 7as amended by section #c7;b77 is amended by striking the item related to section #djh and inserting the following3 ,sec4 #djh4 ,marine ,mammal ,rescue and ,response ,grant ,program and ,rapid ,response ,fund4 4 #h4 ,health ,,map 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iv of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #djh the following3 #djh;,a4 ,marine ,mammal ,health ,monitoring and ,analysis ,platform 7,health ,,map7 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,marine ,mammal ,research and ,response ,act of #bjba1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,marine ,mammal ,commission1 shall-- 7#a7 establish a marine mammal health monitoring and analysis platform 7referred to in this ,act as the ,health ,,map72 7#b7 incorporate the ,health ,,map into the ,observation ,system2 and 7#c7 make the ,health ,,map-- 7,a7 publicly accessible through the web portal of the ,observation ,system2 and 7,b7 interoperable with other national data systems or other data systems for management or research purposes1 as practicable4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,health ,,map are-- 7#a7 to promote-- 7,a7 interdisciplinary research among individuals with knowledge and experience in marine mammal science1 marine mammal veterinary and husbandry practices1 medical science1 and oceanography1 and with other marine scientists2 7,b7 timely and sustained dissemination and availability of marine mammal health1 stranding1 entanglement1 and mortality data2 7,c7 identification of spatial and temporal patterns of marine mammal mortality1 disease1 and stranding2 7,d7 evaluation of marine mammal health in terms of mortality1 as well as sublethal marine mammal health impacts2 7,e7 improved collaboration and forecasting of marine mammal and larger ecosystem health events2 7,f7 rapid communication and dissemination of information regarding marine mammal strandings that may have implications for human health1 such as those caused by harmful algal blooms2 and 7,g7 increased accessibility of data in a user friendly visual interface for public education and outreach2 and 7#b7 to contribute to an ocean health index that incorporates marine mammal health data4 7c7 ,requirements ,the ,health ,,map shall-- 7#a7 integrate in situ1 remote1 and other marine mammal health1 stranding1 and mortality data1 including visualizations and metadata1 collected by marine mammal stranding networks1 ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 private partners1 and academia2 and 7#b7 be designed-- 7,a7 to enhance data and information availability1 including data sharing among stranding network participants1 scientists1 and the public within and across stranding network regions2 7,b7 to facilitate data and information access across scientific disciplines1 scientists1 and managers2 7,c7 to facilitate public access to national and regional marine mammal health1 stranding1 entanglement1 and mortality data1 including visualizations and metadata1 through the national and regional data portals of the ,observation ,system2 and 7,d7 in collaboration with1 and with input from1 ,states and stranding network participants4 7d7 ,procedures and guidelines ,the ,secretary shall establish and implement policies1 protocols1 and standards for-- 7#a7 reporting marine mammal health data collected by stranding networks consistent with subsections 7c7 and 7d7 of section #djb2 7#b7 promptly transmitting health data from the stranding networks and other appropriate data providers to the ,health ,,map2 7#c7 disseminating and making publicly available data on marine mammal health1 stranding1 entanglement1 and mortality data in a timely and sustained manner2 and 7#d7 integrating additional marine mammal health1 stranding1 or other relevant data as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7e7 ,consultation ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall maintain and update the ,health ,,map in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,marine ,mammal ,commission4 7f7 ,contributions ,for purposes of carrying out this section1 the ,secretary may solicit1 accept1 receive1 hold1 administer1 and use gifts1 devises1 and bequests without any further approval or administrative action4 4 7b7 ,table of contents amendment ,the table of contents in the first section of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7,public ,law #ib-ebb2 #hf ,stat4 #ajbg7 7as amended by section #g7;b77 is amended by inserting after the item related to section #djh the following3 ,sec4 #djh;,a4 ,marine ,mammal ,health ,monitoring and ,analysis ,platform 7,health ,,map74 4 #i4 ,reports to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iv of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba et seq47 7as amended by section #h7;a77 is amended by inserting after section #djh;,a the following3 #djh;,b4 ,reports to ,congress 7a7 ,definition of appropriate committees of ,congress ,in this section1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#c7 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,health ,,map status report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b year after the date of enactment of the ,marine ,mammal ,research and ,response ,act of #bjba1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in consultation with the ,marine ,mammal ,commission1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and the ,national ,ocean ,research ,leadership ,council1 shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report describing the status of the ,health ,,map4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the report under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a detailed evaluation of the data made publicly available through the ,health ,,map2 7,b7 a detailed list of any gaps in data collected pursuant to the ,health ,,map1 a description of the reasons for those gaps1 and recommended actions to close those gaps2 7,c7 an analysis of the effectiveness of using the website of the ,observation ,system as the platform to collect1 organize1 visualize1 archive1 and disseminate marine mammal stranding and health data2 7,d7 a list of publications1 presentations1 or other relevant work product resulting from1 or produced in collaboration with1 the ,health ,,map2 7,e7 a description of emerging marine mammal health concerns and the applicability of those concerns to human health2 7,f7 an analysis of the feasibility of the ,observation ,system being used as an alert system during stranding events1 entanglement events1 and unusual mortality events for the stranding network1 ,observation ,system partners1 ,health ,,map partners1 ,federal and ,state agencies1 and local and ,tribal governments2 7,g7 an evaluation of the use of ,health ,,map data to predict broader ecosystem events and changes that may impact marine mammal or human health and specific examples of proven or potential uses of ,observation ,system data for those purposes2 and 7,h7 recommendations for the ,health ,,map with respect to-- 7i7 filling any identified data gaps2 7ii7 standards that could be used to improve data quality1 accessibility1 transmission1 interoperability1 and sharing2 7iii7 any other strategies that would contribute to the effectiveness and usefulness of the ,health ,,map2 and 7iv7 the funding levels needed to maintain and improve the ,health ,,map4 7c7 ,data gap analysis 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date on which the report required under subsection 7b77#a7 is submitted1 and every #aj years thereafter1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in consultation with the ,marine ,mammal ,commission and the ,secretary of ,commerce1 shall-- 7,a7 make publicly available a report on the data gap analysis described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of ,congress concerning that data gap analysis4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the data gap analysis under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 an overview of existing participants within a marine mammal stranding network2 7,b7 an identification of coverage needs and participant gaps within a network2 7,c7 an identification of data and reporting gaps from members of a network2 and 7,d7 an analysis of how stranding and health data are shared and made available to scientists1 academics1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 and the public4 7d7 ,marine mammal response capabilities in the ,arctic 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,marine ,mammal ,research and ,response ,act of #bjba1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 and the ,director of the ,united ,states ,geologic ,survey1 in consultation with the ,marine ,mammal ,commission and the ,secretary of the ,interior1 shall-- 7,a7 make publicly available a report describing the response capabilities for sick and injured marine mammals in the ,arctic regions of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of ,congress on that report4 7#b7 ,arctic ,the term ,arctic has the meaning given the term in section #aab of the ,arctic ,research and ,policy ,act of #aihd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #daaa74 7#c7 ,requirements ,the report under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a description1 developed in consultation with the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service of the ,department of the ,interior1 of all marine mammal stranding agreements in place for the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states1 including species covered1 response capabilities1 facilities and equipment1 and data collection and analysis capabilities2 7,b7 a list of ,state and local government agencies that have personnel trained to respond to marine mammal strandings in the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states2 7,c7 an assessment of potential response and data collection partners and sources of local information and knowledge1 including ,alaska ,native people and villages2 7,d7 an analysis of spatial and temporal trends in marine mammal strandings and unusual mortality events that are correlated with changing environmental conditions in the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states2 7,e7 a description of training and other resource needs to meet emerging response requirements in the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states2 7,f7 an analysis of oiled marine mammal response and rehabilitation capabilities in the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states1 including personnel1 equipment1 facilities1 training1 and husbandry capabilities1 and an assessment of factors that affect response and rehabilitation success rates2 and 7,g7 recommendations to address future stranding response needs for marine mammals in the ,arctic region of the ,united ,states4 4 7b7 ,table of contents amendment ,the table of contents in the first section of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7,public ,law #ib-ebb2 #hf ,stat4 #ajbg7 7as amended by section #h7;b77 is amended by inserting after the item related to section #djh;,a the following3 ,sec4 #djh;,b4 ,reports to ,congress4 4 #aj4 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #dji of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;g7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking #aiic and #aiid2 and inserting #bjba through #bjbf22 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking #aiic and #aiid2 and inserting #bjba through #bjbf22 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking fiscal year #aiic4 and inserting for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbf44 #aa4 ,definitions ,section #daj of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adba;h7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#f7 as paragraphs 7#b71 7#e71 7#f71 7#g71 7#h71 and 7#i71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,the term entangle or entanglement means an event in the wild in which a living or dead marine mammal has gear1 rope1 line1 net1 or other material wrapped around or attached to the marine mammal and is-- 7,a7 on lands under the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 including beaches and shorelines2 or 7,b7 in waters under the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 including any navigable waters4 2 7#c7 in paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 by striking ,the term and inserting ,except as used in section #djh1 the term2 7#d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#c7 ,the term ,health ,,map means the ,marine ,mammal ,health ,monitoring and ,analysis ,platform established under section #djh;,a7a77#a74 7#d7 ,the term ,observation ,system means the ,national ,integrated ,coastal and ,ocean ,observation ,system established under section #abcjd of the ,integrated ,coastal and ,ocean ,observation ,system ,act of #bjji 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjc74 4 #ab4 ,study on marine mammal mortality 7a7 ,in ,general ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,undersecretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere shall1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,marine ,mammal ,commission1 conduct a study evaluating the connections among marine heat waves1 frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms1 prey availability1 and habitat degradation1 and the impacts of these conditions on marine mammal mortality4 7b7 ,report ,the ,undersecretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,marine ,mammal ,commission1 shall prepare1 post to a publicly available website1 and brief the appropriate committees of ,congress on1 a report containing the results of the study described in subsection 7a74 ,the report shall identify priority research activities1 opportunities for collaboration1 and current gaps in effort and resource limitations related to advancing scientific understanding of how ocean heat waves1 harmful algae blooms1 availability of prey1 and habitat degradation impact marine mammal mortality4 ,the report shall include recommendations for policies needed to mitigate and respond to mortality events4