National Ocean Exploration Act
- Last Action
- 2/15/2022
Actions
- 2022-02-15By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 117-76.
- 2022-02-15By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 117-76.
- 2021-12-16Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 195.
- 2021-12-16Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2021-12-16Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2021-04-28Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2021-02-23Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2021-02-23Introduced in Senate
CRS Summary
As of 2021-12-16 (25)
National Ocean Exploration Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council and revises several programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that support ocean and coastal mapping, hydrographic surveys, and spatial data collection.
The bill revises the national ocean exploration program to require NOAA to provide guidance to federal and state agencies, and others, on data standards, protocols for accepting data, and coordination of data collection, compilation, processing, archiving, and dissemination for data relating to ocean exploration and characterization. It also directs NOAA to conduct education and outreach efforts to disseminate information to the public on the discoveries made by the ocean exploration program and coordinate with the outreach strategies of other domestic or international ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization initiatives.
Additionally, the bill repeals the undersea research program of NOAA. It also modifies NOAA's ocean and coastal mapping program to include ecosystem approaches in decision-making for natural resource and habitat restoration, emergency response, and coastal resilience and adaptation.
NOAA must develop an integrated ocean and coastal mapping federal funding match opportunity to increase the coordinated acquisition, processing, stewardship, and archival of new ocean and coastal mapping data in U.S. waters.
The bill also revises and reauthorizes through FY2026 the hydrographic services program of NOAA.
Cosponsors (5)
- Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
- Brian Schatz (D-HI)
- Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
- Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Subjects
- Advanced technology and technological innovations
- Advisory bodies
- Congressional oversight
- Employment and training programs
- Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
- Environmental education
- Executive Office of the President
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Geography and mapping
- Government information and archives
- Hydrology and hydrography
- Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
- Performance measurement
- Research administration and funding
- Science and engineering education
- Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.