Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2023
Floor Speech
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 676) to amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, research planning, and similar activities, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 676
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (4);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;
(3) by inserting before paragraph (3), as so redesignated, the following:
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).'';
(4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by inserting ``an increase of'' before ``carbon dioxide''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Subcommittee.--The term `Subcommittee' means the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.
``(7) United states.--The term `United States' means the States, collectively.''. SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENT OF COLLABORATION ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION.
(a) Ongoing Input Mechanism.--Section 12404(c)(2) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) maintain or establish an ongoing mechanism (such as a liaison or other contact of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, standing meetings, or an online platform) to engage affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, fishery management councils and commissions, indigenous knowledge groups, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring that is necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification and the impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification.''.
(b) Advisory Board Membership.--Section 12404(c)(3) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(3)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) through (Q) as subparagraphs (H) through (R), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:
``(G) Two representatives from Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (H), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking ``Six'' and inserting ``Four''.
(c) Appointment of Advisory Board Members.--Section 12404(c)(4)(C) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(4)(C)) is amended by striking ``State and local'' and inserting ``State, local, and Tribal''.
(d) Engagement and Coordination With Indian Tribes.-- Paragraph (9) of section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(9) Engagement and coordination with indian tribes.--
``(A) Policy required.--Not later than one year after the date on which the Advisory Board is established, the Advisory Board shall develop and commence maintaining a policy for engagement and coordination with Indian Tribes affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.
``(B) Consultation.--In developing the policy under subparagraph (A), the Advisory Board shall consult with Indian Tribes affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.''.
(e) Collaboration on Vulnerability Assessments, Research Planning, and Similar Activities.--Section 12404(e)(4)(A) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(e)(4)(A)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (ix) and (x) as clauses (x) and (xi), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:
``(ix) identifies the efforts of the Secretary to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on community vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities, pursuant to section 12406(e);''.
(f) Contents of Strategic Research Plan.--Section 12405(b) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``section 12404(c)(4)'' and inserting ``section 12404(e)(4)''; and
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking ``potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and commissions, Tribal governments, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts'' and inserting ``affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, fishery management councils and commissions, indigenous knowledge groups, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government''.
(g) Improving Collaboration on NOAA Ocean Acidification Activities.--Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``maximize'' and inserting ``take into consideration'';
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by adding a semicolon at the end; and
(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``Tribal governments'' and inserting ``Indian Tribes''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal resource managers, community acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific experts'' and inserting ``affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, fishery management councils and commissions, indigenous knowledge groups, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``State, local, and Tribal governments'' and inserting ``State and local governments, Indian Tribes,''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) on ocean acidification and coastal acidification research, data, and monitoring from affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, fishery management councils and commissions, indigenous knowledge groups, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government; or''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by clause (ii), by striking ``State governments, local governments, Tribal governments'' and inserting ``State and local governments, Indian Tribes'';
(3) in subsection (d)(1)(C), by striking ``Tribes or Tribal governments'' and inserting ``Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Better Collaboration on Vulnerability Assessments, Research Planning, and Similar Activities.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a), and in support of vulnerability assessments transmitted under section 12404(e)(4) and recommendations included in the strategic research plan described in section 12405(b)(10), the Secretary shall build upon existing activities and collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes that are conducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, research planning, climate action plans, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification and the impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification on coastal communities, for the purpose of--
``(A) supporting collaborative interagency relationships and information sharing at the State, local, and Tribal levels; and
``(B) assisting State and local governments and Indian Tribes in--
``(i) improving existing systems and programs to better address ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and
``(ii) identifying whether such activities can be used as a model for other communities.
``(2) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize underserved populations and entities in the use of resources of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.''. SEC. 4. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
The Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 12402(1) (33 U.S.C. 3701(1)), by striking ``development coordination and implementation'' and inserting ``development, coordination, and implementation'';
(2) in section 12404 (33 U.S.C. 3703)--
(A) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;
(B) in subsection (c)(2)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``subsection (d)(2)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)(2)''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``subsection (d)(3)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)(3)'';
(C) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``this section'' and inserting ``this subsection''; and
(D) in subsection (e)--
(i) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``interagency'' and inserting ``the''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``years until 2031 thereafter'' and inserting ``years thereafter until 2031''; and
(3) in section 12406(d)(2) (33 U.S.C. 3705(d)(2)), by striking ``The Secretary to,'' and inserting ``The Secretary, to''.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. 676, the bill now under consideration.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 676, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act. This bill contains simple and straightforward tweaks to an important program and existing working group. It ensures the participation of Indian Tribes and affected communities in ocean and coastal acidification activities.
Over a decade ago, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to increase their focus on ocean and coastal acidification--the process in which the chemistry of oceans is altered and made more acidic after absorbing carbon dioxide.
To do this, NOAA established an interagency working group with State and local governments, industry, academia, and other representatives. They also stood up a research program and published a strategic plan for coordinated Federal activities on acidification. Yet, while not excluded from these activities, there was no direct mention of the inclusion of Indian Tribes and communities affected by ocean and coastal acidification. This bill remedies that oversight by including specific language to coordinate vulnerability assessments and research planning with State, local, and Tribal Governments.
This bill also ensures that two representatives from Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Tribal consortia affected by ocean acidification are on the Ocean Acidification Advisory Board with the other members of industry, academia, and subject matter experts.
When it comes to acidification, it is a common misconception that only communities touching the ocean see the effects. In fact, the most recent ocean acidification research plan found that the Great Lakes are projected to become more acidic at a rate similar to that of the oceans.
This finding raises concerns for me because part of my district in Ohio sits on the southern shore of Lake Erie and benefits from the $7 billion annual economic value that the Great Lakes provide.
Luckily, NOAA recognizes the tremendous asset that the region offers and has a dedicated laboratory, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, to conduct scientific research on the Great Lakes and their coastal ecosystems.
Madam Speaker, that is why I support the all-hands-on-deck approach this bill ensures. Smaller or overlooked communities like Indian Tribes have direct knowledge of the effects of acidification, both on the coast and inland, and can be an important resource. It only makes sense that they have a seat at the table to provide input on research, assessments, and mitigation that will benefit all of us.
I thank the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz) for introducing this bill, and their many cosponsors for supporting it.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate my support for this bill, H.R. 676. Despite the title, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act has the potential to benefit more than just coastal communities and oceans.
The Great Lakes basin is home to approximately 43 million people, 8 percent of the United States population, and supports $62 billion in wages. This region and my constituents in Ohio are a small piece of the $1 billion United States shellfish industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that are affected by ocean and coastal acidification.
Increasing the involvement of Indian Tribes with ongoing NOAA ocean acidification work will protect this critical economic pillar and lead to solutions that the entire country can benefit from.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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