National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998
Public Law 105-160 · S. 927 · 105th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Mar 6, 1998 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Cosponsors (27): Sen. Fritz Hollings, Sen. Judd Gregg,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
National Sea Grant College Program Reauthorization Act of 1998 - Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to add or modify various definitions.
(Sec. 5) Replaces provisions establishing and administering the National Sea Grant College Program with provisions maintaining such a program and setting forth its elements and the Program duties of the Secretary of Commerce.
(Sec. 6) Repeals provisions authorizing grants and contracts regarding specified international activities, including research, education, and technology transfer.
(Sec. 7) Replaces provisions providing for the designation of sea grant colleges and regional consortia with provisions setting forth the criteria for designation as a sea grant college or institute and designee duties.
(Sec. 8) Modifies requirements regarding the sea grant review panel.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the Act and for competitive grants for university research on: (1) the zebra mussel; (2) oyster diseases and oyster-related human health risks; and (3) Pfiesteria piscicida and other harmful algal blooms. Mandates notice to specified congressional committees before certain reprogramming of funds and major reorganizations.
(Sec. 10) Allows, with respect to any marine resource conservation law or regulation administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), all adjudicatory functions that are required by Federal law relating to administrative procedures to be performed by an Administrative Law Judge to be performed by the Coast Guard on a reimbursable basis. Allows the Coast Guard, if it needs the detail of an Administrative Law Judge for such purposes, to request temporary or occasional assistance form the Office of Personnel Management.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Mar 6, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-160.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Feb 25, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Feb 12, 1998Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Feb 11, 1998FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Saxton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Nov 13, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Nov 9, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 19, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 17, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.