Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7450 To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to designate organizations as National Centers of Excellence in Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Prevention, Response, and Mitigation, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 1, 2020 Mr. CRIST (for himself and Mr. POSEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con- cerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to designate organizations as National Centers of Excellence in Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Prevention, Response, and Mitigation, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prevent Harmful Algal 4 Blooms Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7450.IH H7450 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7450 IH SEC. 2. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN HARMFUL ALGAL 1 BLOOM RESEARCH, PREVENTION, RESPONSE, 2 AND MITIGATION. 3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after 4 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 5 Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the Na- 6 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall des- 7 ignate organizations as National Centers of Excellence in 8 Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Prevention, Response, 9 and Mitigation. 10 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Centers is— 11 (1) to further understanding of harmful algal 12 blooms; 13 (2) to further understanding of the impacts of 14 harmful algal blooms on public health, including the 15 health of at-risk populations; 16 (3) to further the ability to research, forecast, 17 and monitor harmful algal blooms; 18 (4) to formalize and enhance existing partner- 19 ships and collaborations among institutions of higher 20 education, research entities, local, State, territorial, 21 and tribal agencies, and the Federal Government; 22 (5) to further the prevention, control, and miti- 23 gation of harmful algal blooms; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7450.IH H7450 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7450 IH (6) to transition harmful algal bloom research 1 and forecasting from observational to operational 2 use; and 3 (7) to address existing and emerging harmful 4 algal bloom issues as the Administrator considers 5 appropriate. 6 (c) ELIGIBILITY FOR DESIGNATIONS.—To be eligible 7 for designation under this section, an organization must— 8 (1) be an institution of higher education, as 9 that term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 10 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); a 11 State, territorial, or tribal research agency; a non- 12 profit laboratory or other research entity; or a con- 13 sortium of such eligible institutions; 14 (2) have demonstrated expertise and success in 15 harmful algal bloom research, monitoring, fore- 16 casting, prevention, or response efforts; 17 (3) have demonstrated ability to collaborate 18 with local, State, territorial, and tribal governments 19 and Federal agencies on harmful algal blooms; and 20 (4) be located in an area that is economically 21 and environmentally impacted by harmful algal 22 blooms. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7450.IH H7450 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 7450 IH (d) REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGNATIONS.—In desig- 1 nating National Centers of Excellence under this section 2 the Administrator shall— 3 (1) consult with the Inter-Agency Task Force 4 on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia; 5 (2) ensure regional balance by designating Na- 6 tional Centers in a variety of locations throughout 7 the United States, including the District of Colum- 8 bia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American 9 Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 10 Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, 11 and other territories and possessions of the United 12 States; and 13 (3) avoid duplication of other harmful algal 14 bloom research. 15 (e) EFFECTIVE PERIOD, REVIEW, AND RENEWAL.— 16 Each designation of an organization as a National Center 17 of Excellence under this section— 18 (1) shall be effective for 5 years; 19 (2) shall be reviewed by the Secretary, acting 20 through the Administrator of the National Oceanic 21 and Atmospheric Administration, in the fourth year 22 of such effective period; 23 (3) following such review, may be renewed for 24 an additional 5-year period. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7450.IH H7450 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 7450 IH (f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall require 1 and publish an annual activity report from each National 2 Center of Excellence. 3 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 4 out this section, including for providing funding to Na- 5 tional Centers of Excellence designated under this section, 6 there is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oce- 7 anic and Atmospheric Administration $12,500,000 for 8 each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, of which not more 9 than 5 percent may be available each fiscal year for ad- 10 ministrative expenses. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7450.IH H7450 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS