Congress 108 - HR 1856 - Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amendments Act of 2004

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Algal blooms Aquatic ecology Asian American ethnic groups Authorization Black colleges Coastal zone Congress Congressional reporting requirements Cost effectiveness Department of Commerce Ecological research Economic impact statements Economic research Economics and Public Finance Education Environmental assessment Environmental education Environmental monitoring Environmental Protection Estuaries Federal advisory bodies Federal aid to research Federal aid to water pollution control Federal-Indian relations Federal-local relations Federal-state relations Freshwater resources conservation Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Government publicity Great Lakes Higher education Hispanic Americans Indian education Laboratories Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Marine ecology Marine resources conservation Minorities Minority education Oceanographic research Oxygen Pollution measurement Public Lands and Natural Resources Science, Technology, Communications Scientific instruments and apparatus Technology transfer Water Resources Development

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Summary

Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amendments Act of 2004 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (HABHRCA) to repeal the President's authority to disestablish the Interagency Task Force (thus retaining the Task Force).

(Sec. 3) Directs the Task Force to complete by specified deadlines, and submit to Congress, scientific assessments of: (1) harmful algal blooms (HABs) (first on marine HABs and subsequently on both marine and freshwater HABs, including those in the Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries); (2) current knowledge of freshwater HABs and coordination of related Federal research; and (3) hypoxia in U.S. coastal waters, including the Great Lakes.

Directs the Task Force to develop, and submit to Congress, a plan for a comprehensive and coordinated national research program to develop and demonstrate prevention, control, and mitigation methods to reduce the impacts of HABs on coastal ecosystems (including the Great Lakes), public health, and the economy. Requires such plan to include to the maximum extent practicable diverse institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and those serving large proportions of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and other underrepresented populations.

Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish a research, development, demonstration, and technology transfer program that meets the priorities and guidelines established under the Task Force's research plan; (2) ensure that research program results are communicated to State, Indian tribe, and local governments, and to the general public; and (3) do so in conjunction with other appropriate Federal agencies.

Requires the Task Force to work with the appropriate State, Indian tribe, and local governments to ensure that the assessments and research plan fulfill requirements of this Act.

Requires the Secretary to provide for local and regional scientific assessments of hypoxia or HABs. Directs the Secretary to do so in coordination with the Task Force and appropriate State, Indian tribe, and local governments and at the request of such governments.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2007 to the Secretary for research, education, monitoring, demonstration, and technology transfer activities related to the prevention, reduction, and control of HABs and hypoxia.

Requires that specified amounts of such funds be used for: (1) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research and assessment activities, including procurement of necessary research equipment, at research laboratories of the National Ocean Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service; (2) the Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) project, with a specified portion for research on freshwater HABs; (3) the HABHRCA national research program to develop methods to reduce impacts of HABs; (4) the Monitoring and Event Response for HABs (MERHAB) project; (5) activities related to research and monitoring on hypoxia; and (6) the HABHRCA local and regional scientific assessments of hypoxia or HABs.

Actions

Jul 8, 2004

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 7, 2004

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 7, 2004

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5215-5216)
Jul 7, 2004

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5215-5216)
Jul 7, 2004

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1856.
Jul 7, 2004

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5215-5218)
Jul 7, 2004

Mr. Ehlers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Apr 2, 2004

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 264.
Apr 2, 2004

Committee on Transportation discharged.
Apr 2, 2004

Committee on Resources discharged.
Feb 26, 2004

Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jan 31, 2004

House Committee on Resources Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than April 2, 2004.
Jan 31, 2004

House Committee on Transportation Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than April 2, 2004.
Nov 21, 2003

House Committee on Resources Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 31, 2004.
Nov 21, 2003

House Committee on Transportation Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 31, 2004.
Nov 7, 2003

Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for a period ending not later than Nov. 21, 2003 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(q), rule X.
Nov 7, 2003

House Committee on Resources Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Nov. 21, 2003.
Oct 31, 2003

House Committee on Resources Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Nov. 7, 2003.
Oct 24, 2003

House Committee on Resources Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Oct. 31, 2003.
Oct 24, 2003

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-326, Part I.
Jul 22, 2003

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 22, 2003

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 5, 2003

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jun 5, 2003

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 2, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards.
May 2, 2003

Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.
May 2, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Apr 30, 2003

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E806-807)
Apr 29, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on 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 concerned.
Apr 29, 2003

Introduced in House

Amendments

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