,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #acib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #i1 #bjbe,ms4 ,murkowski 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,king1 and ,mr4 ,sullivan7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters to strengthen the coastal communities and ocean economy of the ,united ,states through technological research and development1 job training1 and cross-sector partnerships1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ocean ,regional ,opportunity and ,innovation ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,blue ,economy ,the term ,blue ,economy means the value and impact of sustainable industries related to the ,great ,lakes1 oceans1 bays1 estuaries1 and coasts on the economy of the ,united ,states1 including living resources1 marine construction1 marine transportation1 offshore energy development and siting including for renewable energy1 offshore mineral production1 ship and boat building1 tourism1 recreation1 subsistence1 commercial1 recreational1 and charter fishing1 seafood processing1 and other fishery-related businesses1 kelp and shellfish aquaculture1 coastal resilience1 and other industries the ,secretary of ,commerce considers appropriate4 7#b7 ,director of ,sea ,grant ,the term ,director of ,sea ,grant means the ,director of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program appointed under section #bjd7;d77#a7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;d77#a774 7#c7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#d7 ,native ,hawaiian organization ,the term ,native ,hawaiian organization has the meaning given the term in section #fbjg of the ,native ,hawaiian ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #geag74 7#e7 ,ocean ,innovation ,center for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration ,the term ,ocean ,innovation ,center for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration means a physical space for collaboration developed and managed in accordance with section #c7;i74 7#f7 ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster ,the term ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster means an eligible entity designated by the ,secretary of ,commerce under section #c4 #c4 ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters 7a7 ,designation ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development1 shall designate not fewer than #g eligible entities as ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible entity is an entity-- 7#a7 that is composed1 in a concentrated geographic region1 of #a or more-- 7,a7 business organizations2 7,b7 academic institutions1 including minority- and ,tribal-serving institutions2 7,c7 not-for-profit organizations2 7,d7 ,federal1 ,state1 or local governmental entities1 agencies1 or instrumentalities2 7,e7 ,indian ,tribes2 or 7,f7 ,native ,hawaiian organizations2 7#b7 that is led by a not-for-profit organization2 and 7#c7 that works to deliver services in the concentrated geographic region where the entity is located1 enhance collaboration1 promote innovation1 and contribute to the equitable and sustainable growth of the ,blue ,economy across all sectors4 7c7 ,priority ,in designating entities as ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall prioritize entities with a history of supporting cross-sector growth and development of the ,blue ,economy4 7d7 ,geographic diversity ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall designate not fewer than #a ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster under subsection 7a7 in-- 7#a7 each of the regions covered by the #e regional offices of the ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service2 7#b7 the ,great ,lakes region2 and 7#c7 the ,gulf of ,mexico region4 7e7 ,considerations ,in designating an eligible entity as an ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall consider the following3 7#a7 ,the economic development potential of the coastal community or region in which the entity is located4 7#b7 ,the ability of the entity to incorporate and bring growth and opportunity to broad geographic areas1 including urban1 rural1 and underserved areas4 7#c7 ,whether the entity serves a diverse1 multigenerational1 ocean-dependent population consisting of groups with different socioeconomic and educational attainment levels1 industries1 and ,indian ,tribes4 7#d7 ,the ability of the entity to cultivate and leverage partnerships with private industry1 academia1 nongovernmental organizations1 ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 and ,indian ,tribes to collaborate on shared outcomes4 7#e7 ,the relative potential for the designation of the entity as an ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster to reverse a decline1 or accelerate growth1 in ocean sector jobs4 7#f7 ,the ability of the entity to carry out projects that support economic and climate resilience through economic diversification and long-term recovery from natural disasters4 7#g7 ,the extent1 rural and underserved nature1 and economic underutilization of the coastline and ocean area that projects carried out by the entity could affect4 7f7 ,partnership management 7#a7 ,partnership liaisons 7,a7 ,designation ,the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development shall each designate #a partnership manager from within their respective agencies to serve as a partnership liaison between each ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster and ,sea ,grant1 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and the ,economic ,development ,administration1 respectively4 7,b7 ,function ,each partnership liaison designated under subparagraph 7,a7 shall ensure that ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters-- 7i7 have direct communication with the agency of the liaison2 and 7ii7 allow for collaboration and alignment with ,federal objectives in each region regarding the ,blue ,economy4 7#b7 ,interagency coordination 7,a7 ,secretary of ,commerce ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall coordinate with the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development1 the ,department of ,energy1 the ,maritime ,administration of the ,department of ,transportation1 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management of the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,coast ,guard1 and such other ,federal agencies1 including bureaus of the ,department of ,commerce1 as the ,secretary of ,commerce considers appropriate to increase technical knowledge exchange and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration with those agencies4 7,b7 ,secretary of ,energy ,with respect to matters relating to the nexus of the ,blue ,economy and the responsibilities and expertise of the ,department of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,energy-- 7i7 shall provide advice and recommendations to the ,secretary of ,commerce in order to increase technical knowledge exchange and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration2 and 7ii7 may provide such advice and recommendations without any formal request from the ,department of ,commerce4 7g7 ,development of economic impact metrics of ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,director of the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis of the ,department of ,commerce1 and the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies shall use and refine the ,marine ,economy ,satellite ,account to measure the value to and impact of ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters on the ,blue ,economy4 7h7 ,areas of focus ,the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development shall coordinate with each ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster in the following areas of focus3 7#a7 ,increasing pathways for new entrants into the ,blue ,economy for individuals and entities4 7#b7 ,intellectual property management4 7#c7 ,enhancing the sustainability of seafood supply chains1 including with respect to food1 transportation1 processing1 health and beauty products1 animal feed1 medical biotechnology1 bioplastics1 biofuels1 and other value-added products1 to strive for full use of harvested natural resources4 7#d7 ,providing significant and sustainable economic opportunity through advanced research1 cross-sector science1 and technology development4 7#e7 ,contributing new knowledge1 processes1 technology1 and support for stakeholders in the ,blue ,economy1 especially to advance sustainability in specific sectors4 7#f7 ,working with ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal agencies to clearly communicate laws1 regulations1 and agency practices affecting industry needs1 planning1 or growth opportunities4 7#g7 ,creating investable opportunities through the development of economies of scale to enhance growth opportunities1 job creation1 sustainability1 and expansion for small businesses within the ,blue ,economy4 7#h7 ,workforce development and training1 business planning1 identifying existing and needed technology and economic infrastructure1 and coordinated research and development among small businesses1 government1 and industry4 7#i7 ,research1 development1 and implementation of ocean energy1 bioprospecting1 and other innovative and sustainable ocean resource development endeavors4 7i7 ,ocean ,innovation ,centers for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration 7#a7 ,in general ,in order to foster collaboration and innovation and strengthen regional ocean sector economies while creating employment opportunities1 the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development shall collaborate with cross-sector partners to jointly develop or designate at least #a physical space for collaboration as an ,ocean ,innovation ,center for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration within each of the #g regions with an ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster4 7#b7 ,management ,an ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster or a group of ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters shall manage the ,ocean ,innovation ,center for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration of the region in which the ,cluster or ,clusters is located4 7#c7 ,functions ,each ,ocean ,innovation ,center for ,cross-,sector ,collaboration shall-- 7,a7 serve as a hub for partners within ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters to work toward the areas of focus in described in subsection 7h72 7,b7 support a community of entrepreneurs focused on strengthening vibrant marine-dependent communities and the ,blue ,economy2 7,c7 create workspaces and laboratories designed to promote collaboration1 including through shared meeting rooms1 access to technology1 common spaces1 and offices2 7,d7 strengthen relationships among industry sectors through shared scientific1 staffing1 and business resources2 7,e7 develop the critical networks with cross-sector partners that entrepreneurs need to grow effectively2 and 7,f7 develop the next generation of ,blue ,economy workers by providing internships1 apprenticeships1 or training1 as appropriate1 including for underrepresented and ,tribal communities and local trade schools4 #d4 ,grants for ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters ,the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ca4 ,grants for ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development1 may award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters for the purposes described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,purposes ,the ,secretary may award grants under subsection 7a7 for the operation and administration of one or more ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters under the ,ocean ,regional ,opportunity and ,innovation ,act of #bjbe1 with the goal that ,ocean ,innovation ,clusters will become membership-based1 self-sustaining entities4 7c7 ,input ,in awarding a grant under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall provide an opportunity for input from the ,director of ,sea ,grant1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,economic ,development4 7d7 ,term of grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the term of a grant awarded under subsection 7a7 shall be #b years4 7#b7 ,renewal ,the ,secretary may renew a grant awarded under subsection 7a7 for additional periods of such duration as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate and necessary for the ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster that received the grant to provide regional economic benefits4 7e7 ,limitations on grant amounts ,a grant awarded under subsection 7a7 may not exceed #aj1jjj1jjj4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to award grants under subsection 7a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,director of ,sea ,grant ,the term ,director of ,sea ,grant means the ,director of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program appointed under section #bjd7;d77#a7 of the ,national ,sea ,grant ,college ,program ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #aabc7;d77#a774 7#b7 ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster ,the term ,ocean ,innovation ,cluster has the meaning given that term in section #b of the ,ocean ,regional ,opportunity and ,innovation ,act of #bjbe4 4