,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ccea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #i1 #bjba,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,wicker1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,whitehouse7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship and the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,coastal ,fellowships ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,coastal ,state ,the term coastal ,state-- 7,a7 means a ,state of the ,united ,states in1 or bordering on1 the ,atlantic1 ,pacific1 or ,arctic ,ocean1 the ,gulf of ,mexico1 the ,long ,island ,sound1 or one or more of the ,great ,lakes2 and 7,b7 includes ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and ,american ,samoa4 7#b7 ,fellow ,the term fellow means an individual awarded a fellowship under section #e4 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 #c4 ,establishment of ,coastal ,management ,fellowship 7a7 ,in general ,there is established a fellowship program1 to be known as the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship are-- 7#a7 to provide on-the-job training1 professional mentoring1 and educational opportunities in coastal management and policy to qualified individuals as described in section #e2 7#b7 to direct essential workforce assistance to coastal ,states to support coastal management efforts1 including building local-level capacity to adapt to coastal vulnerabilities2 and 7#c7 to encourage the next generation of coastal professionals to engage in public service work to help the ,united ,states better manage coastal resources and protect coastal communities4 #d4 ,establishment of ,digital ,coast ,fellowship 7a7 ,in general ,there is established a fellowship program1 to be known as the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship are-- 7#a7 to provide on-the-job training1 professional mentoring1 and educational opportunities in coastal management and policy to qualified individuals as described in section #e2 7#b7 to provide assistance to coastal ,states and partner organizations to help advance the goals of the ,digital ,coast program established under section #d of the ,digital ,coast ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adfg72 and 7#c7 to encourage the next generation of coastal professionals to engage in public service work to help the ,united ,states better manage coastal resources and protect coastal communities4 #e4 ,fellowships 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award fellowships under the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship and the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,qualifications 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award fellowships under this section to individuals selected from among individuals who-- 7,a7 have successfully completed a covered degree or will complete a covered degree before the start of the fellowship2 and 7,b7 have demonstrated-- 7i7 an interest in pursuing a career in coastal or marine-- 7,i7 science2 7,,ii7 policy2 7,,iii7 management2 or 7,,iv7 law2 7ii7 outstanding potential for such a career2 7iii7 leadership potential or experience2 7iv7 a commitment to or significant interest in public service2 7v7 proficient skills in writing and oral communication2 and 7vi7 such other attributes as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7#b7 ,definition of covered degree ,in this subsection1 the term covered degree means a graduate degree from an accredited ,united ,states institution1 the curriculum for which covers topics relevant to coastal management1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,requirement of geographic balance ,the ,secretary shall award fellowships under this section in a manner that is geographically balanced4 7d7 ,term of fellowship ,a fellowship awarded under this section shall be for a term of not more than #b years4 7e7 ,stipend 7#a7 ,in general ,each fellow shall receive an annual stipend of not less than #dg1jjj1 which the ,secretary shall regularly review and periodically adjust1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 to be commensurate with other similar fellowships2 and 7,b7 to account for changes in cost of living and inflation4 7#b7 ,locality pay ,the ,secretary shall include a pay adjustment as part of the stipends described in paragraph 7#a7 that is comparable to the locality pay adjustment for the locality pay area in which the host office of the fellow is located1 as determined under section #eca4fjc of title #e1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 7f7 ,status of fellows ,except as provided in subsection 7h77#c71 fellows shall not be considered to be ,federal employees4 7g7 ,direct hire authority 7#a7 ,in general ,during fiscal year #bjbb 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 candidate who meets the qualifications described in paragraph 7#b7 directly to a position with the ,federal agency for which the candidate meets ,office of ,personnel ,management qualification standards4 7#b7 ,qualifications ,paragraph 7#a7 applies with respect to a former fellow who has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship4 7#c7 ,limitation ,the direct hire authority under paragraph 7#a7 shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate not later than #b years after the date on which the candidate completed a fellowship awarded under this section4 7h7 ,use of funds ,amounts authorized to be appropriated under section #f shall be used for-- 7#a7 the award of fellowships under this section1 including stipends paid to fellows and other relevant benefits offered to fellows1 including health insurance1 as identified by the ,secretary2 7#b7 administrative costs associated with the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship and the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship2 7#c7 relocation and travel expenses paid to fellows1 who shall be considered to be ,federal employees for purposes of section #ccge of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#d7 professional development opportunities for fellows1 including costs associated with trainings1 certifications1 classes1 or other opportunities to advance-- 7,a7 the professional skills of each fellow2 or 7,b7 the ability of each fellow to support the needs of the host office2 and 7#e7 such other costs of the ,coastal ,management ,fellowship and the ,digital ,coast ,fellowship as the ,secretary may identify4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary for the uses described in section #e7;h7 #a1iaj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4