PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 799.
Congressional Research Service
Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Nov 10, 2004
Fritz Hollings National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act - Title I: National Ocean Policy - Sets forth a national ocean policy.
Title II: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Sec. 201) Reestablishes in the Department of Commerce (what already exists under Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), headed and administered by the Administrator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(Sec. 207) Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress a plan and budget that sets forth a proposal for NOAA programs and NOAA's reorganization that considers the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and that will provide improved services to the Nation.
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(Sec. 208) Directs the Administrator to develop a 20-year integrated research plan for NOAA that sets forth its scientific goals and priorities.
(Sec. 209) Establishes within NOAA a Science Advisory Board which shall provide advice to the Administrator and, upon request, Congress on long-range and short-range strategies for research, education, and the application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction.
(Sec. 210) Repeals Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.
(Sec. 211) Directs the Administrator to report biennially to Congress on the status and condition of the Nation's ocean and atmospheric environments, including current and foreseeable trends in the quality, management and utilization of such environments and their effects on the social, economic, ecological, and other requirements of the Nation.
Title III: Federal Coordination and Advice - Subtitle A: Council on Ocean Stewardship - (Sec. 301) Establishes in the Executive Office of the President a Council on Ocean Stewardship which shall provide a forum for improving Federal coordination and action, particularly with respect to nonpoint source pollution, ecosystem-based conservation and management, ocean education, and monitoring, research and technology development for oceans and the atmosphere.
(Sec. 305) Directs the President to report biennially to Congress on all Federal ocean and atmospheric programs, priorities, and accomplishments.
(Sec. 306) Authorizes the President to establish a Presidential Panel of Advisers on Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Change which shall advise the President and the Chairman of the Ocean Stewardship Council in identifying and fostering policies to protect, manage, and restore ocean and atmospheric environments and resources, both on a regional and national level.
(Sec. 307) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2010.
Subtitle B: Interagency Science Coordination - (Sec. 321) Establishes a National Ocean Science Committee to: (1) improve cooperation among Federal agencies with respect to ocean science budgets, programs, operations, facilities, and personnel; and (2) coordinate U.S. government activities with those of other nations and with international ocean observing efforts, research and technology and education.
(Sec. 322) Directs the Chair of the National Science and Technology Council to develop, and to submit to Congress, a National Strategy for Ocean Science, Education and Technology which shall establish for a ten-year period the scientific goals and priorities for research, technology, education, outreach, and operations which most effectively advance knowledge and provide usable information for ocean policy decisions.
Subtitle C: Federal Programs - (Sec. 341) Directs the President to submit to Congress recommendations on, and a plan and proposed schedule for: (1) the transfer of relevant oceanic or atmospheric programs, functions, and associated resources to NOAA from other Federal agencies; and (2) NOAA's reorganization.
People & committees
Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC] · D–SC
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 799.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/11/04 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-407.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/11/04 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-407.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8039-8045)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8038-8039)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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