101st CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 169
AMENDMENTS
S 169 EAH
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
October 26, 1990.
Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 169) entitled `An Act to amend
the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities
Act of 1976 in order to provide for improved coordination of national
scientific research efforts and to provide for a national plan to improve
scientific understanding of the Earth system and the effect of changes
in that system on climate and human well-being', do pass with the following
AMENDMENTS:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

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This Act may be cited as the `Global Change Research Act of 1990'.

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As used in this Act, the term--
(1) `Committee' means the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences
established under section 102;
(2) `Council' means the Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering,
and Technology;
(3) `global change' means changes in the global environment (including
alterations in climate, land productivity, oceans or other water resources,
atmospheric chemistry, and ecological systems) that may alter the capacity
of the Earth to sustain life;
(4) `global change research' means study, monitoring, assessment, prediction,
and information management activities to describe and understand--
(A) the interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes that
regulate the total Earth system;
(B) the unique environment that the Earth provides for life;
(C) changes that are occurring in the Earth system; and
(D) the manner in which such system, environment, and changes are influenced
by human actions;
(5) `Plan' means the National Global Change Research Plan developed under
section 104, or any revision thereof; and
(6) `Program' means the  United States Global Change Research Program
established under section 103.

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(a) FINDINGS- The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities, coupled with
an expanding world population, are contributing to processes of global
change that may significantly alter the Earth habitat within a few human
generations.
(2) Such human-induced changes, in conjunction with natural fluctuations,
may lead to significant global warming and thus alter world climate patterns
and increase global sea levels. Over the next century, these consequences
could adversely affect world agricultural and marine production, coastal
habitability, biological diversity, human health, and global economic and
social well-being.
(3) The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other stratospheric
ozone-depleting substances is rapidly reducing the ability of the atmosphere
to screen out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which could adversely affect
human health and ecological systems.
(4) Development of effective policies to abate, mitigate, and cope with
global change will rely on greatly improved scientific understanding
of global environmental processes and on our ability to distinguish
human-induced from natural global change.
(5) New developments in interdisciplinary Earth sciences, global observing
systems, and computing technology make possible significant advances in
the scientific understanding and prediction of these global changes and
their effects.
(6) Although significant Federal global change research efforts are underway,
an effective Federal research program will require efficient interagency
coordination, and coordination with the research activities of State,
private, and international entities.
(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this title is to provide for development and
coordination of a comprehensive and integrated  United States research
program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess,
predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.

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TITLE I

-UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The President, through the Council, shall establish
a Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences. The Committee shall
carry out Council functions under section 401 of the National Science and
Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42  U.S.C. 6651)
relating to global change research, for the purpose of increasing the overall
effectiveness and productivity of Federal global change research efforts.
(b) MEMBERSHIP- The Committee shall consist of at least one representative
from--
(1) the National Science Foundation;
(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department
of Commerce;
(4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(5) the Department of Energy;
(6) the Department of State;
(7) the Department of Defense;
(8) the Department of the Interior;
(9) the Department of Agriculture;
(10) the Department of Transportation;
(11) the Office of Management and Budget;
(12) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(13) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(14) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National
Institutes of Health; and
(15) such other agencies and departments of the United States as the
President or the Chairman of the Council considers appropriate.
Such representatives shall be high ranking officials of their agency or
department, wherever possible the head of the portion of that agency or
department that is most revelant to the purpose of the title described in
section 101(b).
(c) CHAIRPERSON- The Chairman of the Council, in consultation with the
Committee, biennially shall select one of the Committee members to serve
as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be knowledgeable and experienced
with regard to the administration of scientific research programs, and
shall be a representative of an agency that contributes substantially,
in terms of scientific research capability and budget, to the Program.
(d) SUPPORT PERSONNEL- An Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the
Chairperson of the Committee, with the approval of the Committee. The
Executive Secretary shall be a permanent employee of one of the agencies or
departments represented on the Committee, and shall remain in the employ
of such agency or department. The Chairman of the Council shall have the
authority to make personnel decisions regarding any employees detailed to
the Council for purposes of working on business of the Committee pursuant
to section 401 of the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization,
and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6651).
(e) FUNCTIONS RELATIVE TO GLOBAL CHANGE- The Council, through the Committee,
shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Program. In carrying
out this responsibility, the Committee shall--
(1) serve as the forum for developing the Plan and for overseeing its
implementation;
(2) improve cooperation among Federal agencies and departments with respect
to global change research activities;
(3) provide budgetary advice as specified in section 105;
(4) work with academic, State, industry, and other groups conducting
global change research, to provide for periodic public and peer review of
the Program;
(5) cooperate with the Secretary of State in--
(A) providing representation at international meetings and conferences on
global change research in which the United States participates; and
(B) coordinating the Federal activities of the United States with programs
of other nations and with international global change research activities
such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program;
(6) consult with actual and potential users of the results of the Program to
ensure that such results are useful in developing national and international
policy responses to global change; and
(7) report at least annually to the President and the Congress, through
the Chairman of the Council, on Federal global change research priorities,
policies, and programs.

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The president shall establish an interagency United States Global Change
Research Program to improve understanding of global change. The Program
shall be implemented by the Plan developed under section 104.

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(a) IN GENERAL- The Chairman of the Council, through the Committee, shall
develop a National Global Change Research Plan for implementation of the
Program. The Plan shall contain recommendations for national global change
research. The Chairman of the Council shall submit the Plan to the Congress
within one year after the date of enactment of this title, and a revised
Plan shall be submitted at least once every three years thereafter.
(b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN- The Plan shall--
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year the Plan is
submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal global change research
which most effectively advance scientific understanding of global change
and provide usable information on which to base policy decisions relating
to global change;
(2) describe specific activities, including research activities, data
collection and data analysis requirements, predictive modeling, participation
in international research efforts, and information management, required
to achieve such goals and priorities;
(3) identify and address, as appropriate, relevant programs and activities
of the Federal agencies and departments represented on the Committee that
contribute to the Program;
(4) set forth the role of each Federal agency and department in implementing
the Plan;
(5) consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports and studies conducted
by Federal agencies and departments, the National Research Council, or
other entities;
(6) make recommendations for the coordination of the global change research
activities of the  United States with such activities of other nations
and international organizations, including--
(A) a description of the extent and nature of necessary international
cooperation;
(B) the development by the Committee, in consultation when appropriate
with the National Space Council, of proposals for cooperation on major
capital projects;
(C) bilateral and multilateral proposals for improving worldwide access
to scientific data and information; and
(D) methods for improving participation in international global change
research by developing nations; and
(7) estimate, to the extent practicable, Federal funding for global change
research activities to be conducted under the Plan.
(c) RESEARCH ELEMENTS- The Plan shall provide for, but not be limited to,
the following research elements:
(1) Global measurements, establishing worldwide observations necessary to
understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes responsible
for changes in the Earth system on all relevant spatial and time scales.
(2) Documentation of global change, including the development of mechanisms
for recording changes that will actually occur in the Earth system over
the coming decades.
(3) Studies of earlier changes in the Earth system, using evidence from
the geological and fossil record.
(4) Predictions, using quantitative models of the Earth system to identify
and simulate global environmental processes and trends, and the regional
implications of such processes and trends.
(5) Focused research initiatives to understand the nature of and interaction
among physical, chemical, biological, and social processes related to
global change.
(d) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT- The Plan shall provide recommendations for
collaboration within the Federal Government and among nations to--
(1) establish, develop, and maintain information bases, including necessary
management systems which will promote consistent, efficient, and compatible
transfer and use of data;
(2) create globally accessible formats for data collected by various
international sources; and
(3) combine and interpret data from various sources to produce information
readily usable by policymakers attempting to formulate effective strategies
for preventing, mitigating, and adapting to the effects of global change.
(e) NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL EVALUATION- The Chairman of the Council
shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council under
which the National Research Council shall--
(1) evaluate the scientific content of the Plan; and
(2) provide information and advice obtained from  United States and
international sources, and recommended priorities for future global change
research.
(f) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- In developing the Plan, the Committee shall
consult with academic, State, industry, and environmental groups and
representatives. Not later than 90 days before the Chairman of the Council
submits the Plan, or any revision thereof, to the Congress, a summary of
the proposed Plan shall be published in the Federal Register for a public
comment period of not less than 60 days.

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(a) COMMITTEE GUIDANCE- The Committee shall each year provide general
guidance to each Federal agency or department participating in the Program
with respect to the preparation of requests for appropriations for activities
related to the Program.
(b) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS WITH AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS- (1) Working
in conjunction with the Committee, each Federal agency or department
involved in global change research shall include with its annual request
for appropriations submitted to the President under section 1108 of title
31,  United States Code, a report which--
(A) identifies each element of the proposed global change research activities
of the agency or department;
(B) specifies whether each element (i) contributes directly to the Program
or (ii) contributes indirectly but in important ways to the Program; and
(C) states the portion of its request for appropriations allocated to each
element of the Program.
(2) Each agency or department that submits a report under paragraph (1)
shall submit such report simultaneously to the Committee.
(c) CONSIDERATION IN PRESIDENT'S BUDGET- (1) The President shall, in a
timely fashion, provide the Committee with an opportunity to review and
comment on the budget estimate of each agency and department involved in
global change research in the context of the Plan.
(2) The President shall identify in each annual budget submitted to the
Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, those items
in each agency's or department's annual budget which are elements of
the Program.

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On a periodic basis (not less frequently than every 4 years), the Council,
through the Committee, shall prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress an assessment which--
(1) integrates, evaluates, and interprets the findings of the Program and
discusses the scientific uncertainties associated with such findings;
(2) analyzes the effects of global change on the natural environment,
agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources,
transportation, human health and welfare, human social systems, and
biological diversity; and
(3) analyzes current trends in global change, both human-inducted and
natural, and projects major trends for the subsequent 25 to 100 years.

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(a) GENERAL- Each year at the time of submission to the Congress of
the President's budget, the Chairman of the Council shall submit to the
Congress a report on the activities conducted by the Committee pursuant
to this title, including--
(1) a summary of the achievements of the Program during the period covered
by the report and of priorities for future global change research;
(2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals of the Plan;
(3) expenditures required by each agency or department for carrying out
its portion of the Program, including--
(A) the amounts spent during the fiscal year most recently ended;
(B) the amounts expected to be spent during the current fiscal year; and
(C) the amounts requested for the fiscal year for which the budget is
being submitted.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS- The report required by subsection (b) shall include
recommendations by the President concerning--
(1) changes in agency or department roles needed to improve implementation
of the Plan; and
(2) additional legislation which may be required to achieve the purposes
of this title.

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(a) NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM RESEARCH ACTIVITIES- The President, the Chairman
of the Council, and the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that relevant
research activities of the National Climate Program, established by the
National Climate Program Act (15 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.), are considered in
developing national global change research efforts.
(b) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS- The President, the Chairman of
the Council, and the heads of the agencies and departments represented on
the Committee, shall ensure that the research findings of the Committee,
and of Federal agencies and departments, are available to--
(1) the Environmental Protection Agency for use in the formulation of a
coordinated national policy on global climate change pursuant to section
1103 of the Global Climate Protection Act of 1987 (15 U.S.C. 2901 note); and
(2) all Federal agencies and departments for use in the formulation of
coordinated national policies for responding to human-induced and natural
processes of global change pursuant to other statutory responsibilities
and obligations.
(c) EFFECT ON FEDERAL RESPONSE ACTIONS- Nothing in this title shall be
construed, interpreted, or applied to preclude or delay the planning or
implementation of any Federal action designed, in whole or in part, to
address the threats of stratospheric ozone depletion or global climate
change.

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This title may be cited as the `International Cooperation in Global Change
Research Act of 1990'.

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TITLE II

-INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH

(a) FINDINGS- The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Pooling of international resources and scientific capabilities will
be essential to a successful international global change program.
(2) While international scientific planning is already underway, there
is currently no comprehensive intergovernmental mechanism for planning,
coordinating, or implementing research to understand global change and to
mitigate possible adverse effects.
(3) An international global change research program will be important in
building future consensus on methods for reducing global environmental
degradation.
(4) The United States, as a world leader in environmental and Earth
sciences, should help provide leadership in developing and implementing
an international global change research program.
(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this title are to--
(1) promote international, intergovernmental cooperation on global change
research;
(2) involve scientists and policymakers from developing nations in such
cooperative global change research programs; and
(3) promote international efforts to provide technical and other assistance
to developing nations which will facilitate improvements in their domestic
standard of living while minimizing damage to the global or regional
environment.

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(a) GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH- The President should direct the Secretary of
State, in cooperation with the Committee, to initiate discussions with
other nations leading toward international protocols and other agreements
to coordinate global change research activities. Such discussions should
include the following issues:
(1) Allocation of costs in global change research programs, especially
with respect to major capital projects.
(2) Coordination of global change research plans with those developed by
international organizations such as the International Council on Scientific
Unions, the World Meteorological Organization, and the  United Nations
Environment Program.
(3) Establishment of global change research centers and training programs
for scientists, especially those from developing nations.
(4) Development of innovative methods for management of international
global change research, including--
(A) use of new or existing intergovernmental organizations for the
coordination or funding of global change research; and
(B) creation of a limited foundation for global change research.
(5) The prompt establishment of international projects to--
(A) create globally accessible formats for data collected by various
international sources; and
(B) combine and interpret data from various sources to produce information
readily usable by policymakers attempting to formulate effective strategies
for preventing, mitigating, and adapting to possible adverse effects of
global change.
(6) Establishment of international offices to disseminate information
useful in identifying, preventing, mitigating, or adapting to the possible
effects of global change.
(b) ENERGY RESEARCH- The President should direct the Secretary of State
(in cooperation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Commerce,
the United States Trade Representative, and other appropriate members of
the Committee) to initiate discussions with other nations leading toward an
international research protocol for cooperation on the development of energy
technologies which have minimally adverse effects on the environment. Such
discussions should include, but not be limited to, the following issues:
(1) Creation of an international cooperative program to fund research
related to energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy sources,
and passively safe and diversion-resistant nuclear reactors.
(2) Creation of an international cooperative program to develop low-cost
energy technologies which are appropriate to the environmental, economic,
and social needs of developing nations.
(3) Exchange of information concerning environmentally safe energy
technologies and practices, including those described in paragraphs (1)
and (2).

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Not more than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
President shall, in consultation with the Committee and all relevant  Federal
agencies, establish an Office of Global Change Research Information. The
purpose of the Office shall be to disseminate to foreign governments,
businesses, and institutions, as well as the citizens of foreign countries,
scientific research information available in the  United States which
would be useful in preventing, mitigating, or adapting to the effects of
global change. Such information shall include, but need not be limited to,
results of scientific research and development on technologies useful for--
(1) reducing energy consumption through conservation and energy efficiency;
(2) promoting the use of solar and renewable energy sources which reduce
the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere;
(3) developing replacements for chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and other
ozone-depleting substances which exhibit a significantly reduced potential
for depleting stratospheric ozone;
(4) promoting the conservation of forest resources which help reduce the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;
(5) assisting developing countries in ecological pest management practices
and in the proper use of agricultural and industrial chemicals; and
(6) promoting recycling and source reduction of pollutants in order to
reduce the volume of waste which must be disposed of, thus decreasing
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

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(a) The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a study of the implications
and potential consequences of growth and development on urban, suburban,
and rural communities. Based upon the findings of the study, the Secretary
shall produce a decision aid to assist State and local authorities in
planning and managing urban, suburban, and rural growth and development
while preserving community character.
(b) The Secretary of Commerce shall consult with other appropriate Federal
departments and agencies as necessary in carrying out this section.
(c) The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Congress a report
containing the decision aid produced under subsection (a) no later than
January 30, 1992. The Secretary shall notify appropriate State and local
authorities that such decision aid is available on request.
Amend the title so as to read: `An Act to require the establishment of
a United States Global Change Research Program aimed at understanding
and responding to global change, including the cumulative effects of
human activities and natural processes on the environment, to promote
discussions toward international protocols in global change research,
and for other purposes.'.
Attest:
Clerk.
S 169 EAH----2

Global Change Research Act of 1990

Other Sections

TITLE I

TITLE II

TITLE III

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