HR 6654 — CASC Act

and (ii) a Host Institution Director who shall-- (I) carry out the terms and conditions of the financial assistance award;

(II) lead the institutional consortium in each region;

and (III) oversee training and capacity building at the host and consortium institutions.

(C) Cooperative work.--Each Regional Federal Director and each Host Institution Director shall work cooperatively to further the mission of the relevant regional center.

(D) Administration.--The National Center and all regional centers shall be administered by the United States Geological Survey.

(b) Duties of the National Center.--In collaboration with Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific Islanders, and other partner organizations, the National Center shall-- (1) serve as the national office for the regional centers;

(3) develop and facilitate coordination among the Regionalregional Centers;centers;

(4) coordinate and collaborate with other Federal agencies working on similar research and activities;activities to-- (A) minimize, as much as possible, the duplication of research and effort;

and (B) use, as much as possible, existing data in the development of new or ongoing research;

(6) support Regionalregional Centerscenters that-- (A) are hosted at a university, or a consortium of universities or other research institutions, within the region of each Regionalregional Center;center;

(C) promote research, education, training, and advisory service activities andto broadstakeholders, Tribal governments, and promptthe disseminationpublic ofvia knowledgeinformational publications, trainings, and techniques;other outreach methods;

and (7) acting through the Chief of the National Center, with respect to the Regionalregional Centers--centers-- (A) evaluate and assess the performance of the programs of Regionalregional Centerscenters every five years, using the priorities, guidelines, and qualifications established by the Secretary under this section, and determine if the programs are well managed and carry out high-quality research, education, training, and advisory service activities;

and (B) subject to the availability of appropriations, allocate funding among Regionalregional Centerscenters so as to-- (i) conduct regionally relevant research, education, training, and advisory service activities in each of the regions;

(ii) encourage collaborations among Regionalregional Centerscenters to address regional and national priorities established under this section;

(iii) ensure successful implementation and operation of Regionalregional Centers;centers;

(iv) to the maximum extent consistent with other provisions of this Act, provide a stable base of funding in support of the Regionalregional Centers;centers on 5-year terms, with additional funds available annually subject to the availability of appropriations;

and (v) encourage and promote coordination and cooperation between the research, education, training, and advisory service activities of the Department and those of the host and consortium institutions.institutions;

and (vi) pay the official Federal Government negotiated overhead rate to the host institution and partners on the basic agreement establishing the location of the regional center.

and (2) operate and fund a network of not fewer than nine Regionalregional Centerscenters that shall address the impacts of climate trends and variability, including extreme weather events, on natural and cultural resources and ecosystem services.

(d) Designation of the Regional Centers.-- (1) Existing regional center designations.--Anydesignations.-- (A) In general.--Any institution or consortium of institutions designated as the host institution of a Regionalregional Centercenter before the date of the enactment of this Act,Act shall notparticipate havein toone reapplyfinal competition for designationits status as a Regionalregional Centercenter ifupon the Chiefconclusion of theits Nationalexisting Center5-year determinesterm to assure that the institutionhost orinstitutions consortiumand ofassociation consortium institutions meetsupdate proposals recognizing the guidelineslong-term establishedcommitment inas paragrapha (2).host.

(2)(B) ReviewsRecompetes.--After of the next competition for regional centers.--Thecenter Chiefafter the date of theenactment Nationalof Center,this inAct, consultationa withdesignated theregional Committee,center shall establishnot guidelineshave relatedto recompete on 5-year terms, but shall be subject to thereview activitieson and5-year responsibilitiesterms ofas thedescribed Regionalin Centers.paragraph (2).

SuchAfter guidelinescompeted, the final agreements shall include--only (A)be requirementsrecompeted forin the meritevent review of thea Regionalfailed Centers;review.

(B)(2) Reviews of the circumstancesregional bycenters.-- (A) The Chief of the National Center, in consultation with the Committee, shall establish guidelines for 5-year merit reviews of each regional center, which shall include guidelines for -- (i) the establishment of a statement of objectives, agreed upon by the National Center and regional host institutioninstitutions mayat notthe beginning of the 5-year term, that outline the expectations of activities or measures of success to be continuedcompleted asduring athe hostagreed institution;upon period;

(C)and the(ii) schedulean forindependent reviewsmerit accordingreview, toconducted by the criteriaNational inCenter, of the schedulehost forinstitution's reviews;activities as related to the statement of objectives.

and(B) (D)If a regional center does not meet the processrequirements included in the statement of objective as determined by the independent merit review referred to selectin asubparagraph new(A)(ii), the host institution.institution or consortium of institutions may not continue as a host of a regional center.

(3)(C) ChangesIf toa consortiumhost institutions.--Theinstitution Chiefor consortium of theinstitution Nationalfails Center,a inmerit consultationreview withreferred theto Federalin Directorsubparagraph and(A)(ii), Hostthe InstitutionChief Director of athe RegionalNational Center,Center may addgive orthe removehost consortiuminstitution institutionsor atconsortium anyof timeinstitutions toa addressprobationary regionalperiod andof nationalone prioritiesyear. established under this section.

(4)After FACA.--Committees,the subcommittees,one-year andprobationary workingperiod, groupsthe appointedChief by Federal Directors of the RegionalNational CentersCenter pursuantshall toundertake thisan subsectionadditional shallreview notreferred beto subjectin subparagraph (A)(ii) to determine if the Federalhost Advisoryinstitution Committeeor Actconsortium (5of U.S.C.institutions shall-- (i) continue as a host of a regional center;

or (ii) not continue as a host of a regional center, in which case the Chief of the National Center shall initiate a competitive process to select a new host institution .

(D) The Chief of the National Center shall ensure that reviews completed pursuant to this paragraph are publicly available.

(2) Changes to consortium institutions.--The Chief of the National Center, in consultation with the Federal Director and Host Institution Director of a regional center, may add or remove consortium institutions at any time to address regional and national priorities established under this section.

(3) FACA.--Committees, subcommittees, and working groups appointed by Federal Directors of the regional centers pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.

(e) Duties of the Regional Centers.--In collaboration with Federal and State natural resources agencies and departments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian organizations, Native American Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges or Universities, Historically Black Colleges or Universities, minority-serving institutions, universities, other research or educational institutions, and other partner organizations, Regionalregional Centerscenters shall develop research, education, training, and advisory service priorities regarding the impacts of climate trends and variability on natural and cultural resource management in their regions for the purpose of climate adaptation.

(f) Project Solicitation .--Subject to the availability of appropriations, each regional center shall undergo a project solicitation process annually that shall-- (1) include regionally identified science priority topics;

(2) work with science partners in the region to develop a scientific review process to assure the highest quality of proposals are selected;

and (3) final decisions on annual project selections shall be made by the Federal Directors of the regional centers.

(a) Authority.--The Director of the United States Geological Survey is authorized to enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and interagencycooperative agreements with a host institution or consortium institution to further the research, education, training, and advisory service activities of the Department or its partners relating to impacts of climate trends and variability.

(d) TitleApproval toRequired.--In Assets.--Theany Secretary,case actingwhere througha thecontract Directoris oflet theor Unitedgrant Statesmade Geologicalto Survey,an mayorganization vest title to expendableperform andservices nonexpendablebenefitting assets,more includingthan equipment,one supplies,Indian andTribe, other tangible personal property in the contractorapproval orof recipienteach when the contractor or recipient purchases such assetsIndian withTribe contract,shall grant,be cooperativea agreement,prerequisite orto interagency agreement funds and the Secretaryletting deemsor suchmaking vesting of titlesuch acontract furtheranceor ofgrant. the research, education, training, and advisory service objectives of the Department.

(e) Approval Required.--In any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefitting more than one Indian Tribe, the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant.

Each department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Federal Government, that is engaged in or concerned with, or that has authority over, matters relating to natural and cultural resources, ecosystem services, or climate variability or change, including all member agencies of the United States Global Change Research Program-- (1) mayshall, makeupon available,a onwritten arequest reimbursablefrom basisthe orSecretary, otherwise,furnish any personnelavailable (withdata their consent and without prejudice to their position and rating), service, or facilityother whichinformation thethat Chief of the NationalSecretary Center deems necessary to carry out any provision of section 3;

(2) shall,shall uponcooperate awith written request from the Secretary,National furnishCenter, anyregional availablecenters, dataand orduly otherauthorized informationofficials thatthereof; the Secretary deems necessary to carry out any provision of section 3;

(3) shallmay cooperatemake withavailable, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, any personnel (with their consent and without prejudice to their position and rating), service, or facility which the Chief of the National Center,Center Regionaldeems Centers,necessary andto dulycarry authorizedout officialsany thereof;provision of section 3;

and (4) may transfer budgetary resources or otherwise enter into interagency agreements, including funding, facilities, computational resources, data, or other tangible or intangible resources, between the National Center or Regionalregional Centerscenters to aid collaborative work among Federal agencies, when approved by the Chief of the National Center and their counterpart in the other Federal agency.

(a) Authority Toto Establish Committees.--The Chief of the National Center may establish committees or working groups and procedures to facilitate public participation in the advisory process, such as a national advisory committee for the National Center, stakeholder advisory committees and science implementation panels for the Regionalregional Centers,centers, and working groups for review of competitivecompetitive. or noncompetitive proposals.

App.), the Secretary shall establish an Advisory Committee on Climate and Natural Resource Sciences.Sciences to advise the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers on the following:

(2)(A) Members.--TheThe Committeecontents shallof havea notnational fewerstrategy thanidentifying 15key members,climate eachadaptation science priorities to advance the management of whomnatural isand ancultural employeeresources of--in (A)the anface Indianof Tribe;climate change.

(B) The nature, extent, and quality of relations with and facilitating engagement of key partners at the regional center level.

(C) The nature and effectiveness of mechanisms to effectively deliver science information and tools, and build capacity, to aid the natural and cultural resource management community and decision-makers in adapting to a changing climate.

(D) Mechanisms that may be employed by the National Center to ensure high standards of scientific quality and integrity in its products.

(E) The integration of equity, particularly for historically underserved communities, in the operation of the National Center and regional centers.

(2) Voting members.--The Committee shall have not fewer than 15 voting members who shall be appointed by the Secretary.

Each voting member shall be an employee of-- (A) an Indian Tribe;

(E) anongovernmental hostorganization institutionwhose ofprimary amission Regionalis Center;conservation and related scientific and advocacy activities;

(F) aan nongovernmentalacademic organization;institution;

or (G) another academicsectors, institution;environmental justice organizations, or private industry.

or(3) (H)Non-voting anmembers.--A organizationHost ofInstitution Director who is elected by the privatevarious sector.Host Institution Directors shall serve as a non-voting member of the Committee.

(3)No Chair.--Theindividual Directoris ofeligible theto Unitedbe Statesa Geologicalvoting Surveymember shallof appointthe a Committee Chairif fromthe amongindividual theis-- members(A) ofa theHost Committee.Institution Director;

(4)(B) Duties.--Thea Committeefull-time shallofficer identifyor andemployee recommend priorities for ongoing research needs on the issues described in section 3(e) to inform the research priorities of the NationalUnited Center.States;

(5)or Term(C) a voting member of office.--(A)the TheCommittee termwho ofis officean ofapplicant afor votingor memberbeneficiary of theany Committeegrant or contract under this Act shall beabstain notfrom morevoting thanwhen 3there years.is a conflict of interest.

(B)(4) NoChair.--The personDirector mayof servethe moreUnited thanStates twoGeological consecutiveSurvey termsshall asappoint a votingCommittee memberChair from among the members of the Committee.

(5) Vice chair.--The Committee shall select one voting member to serve as the Vice Chair, who shall act as Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair.

(6) Nominations.--Not less than once each year, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting nominations for membership on the Committee.

(7) Term of office.--(A) The term of office of a voting member of the Committee shall be not more than 3 years.

(B) No individual may serve more than two consecutive terms as a voting member of the Committee.

(E)(8) NotDuties.--The lessCommittee thanshall onceidentify eachand year,recommend thepriorities Secretaryfor shallongoing publishresearch aneeds noticeon the issues described in thesection Federal3(e) Registerto solicitinginform nominationsthe forresearch membershippriorities onof the Board.National Center.

(F)(9) TheEstimated number and frequency of meetings.--The Committee shall selectmeet approximately one voting member to servetwo astimes theannually, Viceand Chair,at whosuch shallother acttimes as Chairdesignated inby the absenceDirector or incapacity of the Chair.United States Geological Survey.

Working Groups.-- (1) In general.--At the direction of the Secretary, the Chief of the National Center may establish committees or working groups to provide input on the science priorities, implementation of science programs, review of competitive and noncompetitive proposals, and evaluation of processes, procedures, and outcomes of the National Center and the Regionalregional Centers.centers.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act not less than-- (1) $97,000,000$84,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $109,000,000$94,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $121,000,000$104,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $133,000,000$114,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

and (5) $145,000,000$124,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

<all>Union Calendar No.

435 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

R.

6654 [Report No.

117-602] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the effects of extreme weather events and climate trends, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________ December 7, 2022 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed