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National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002

Public Law 107-299 · H.R. 3389 · 107th Congress · began in the House

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Nov 26, 2002 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD-1)

Cosponsors (113): Rep. Robert Underwood,

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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002 - Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to require the Secretary of Commerce to develop a strategic plan for the national sea grant college program at least quadrennially. Requires that such plan integrate with the strategic plans of the Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as balance local, regional, and national needs.

Revises requirements for evaluation of sea grant college and institute programs. Requires the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program to rate such programs according to their relative performance into at least five categories, with each of the two best-performing categories containing at most 25 percent of the programs.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate such rating system.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on efforts to ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to the graduate and post-graduate fellowship program.

Eliminates the postdoctoral fellowship program.

Increases from three years to four years the membership term for the sea grant review panel.

Authorizes appropriations for: (1) FY 2004 through 2008; (2) competitive grants for research on the biology and control of zebra mussels and other important aquatic nonnative species, on oyster health issues, on harmful algal blooms (including Pfiesteria piscicida); and (3) competitive grants for fishery extension activities to enhance (and not supplant) existing core program funding. Limits the percentage of funds available for administration.

Requires the Secretary to distribute any appropriations in excess of FY 2003 levels to any combination of: (1) sea grant programs, according to their performance rating; (2) national strategic investments; (3) sea grant program qualifying activities; and (4) sea grant colleges or institutes designated after this Act's enactment, but not yet evaluated.

Requires annual reports to specified congressional committees by: (1) the Secretary of Commerce on qualifying efforts of institutions to become a part of this program, including institutions in the territories and freely associated States; and (2) the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere jointly with the Director of the National Science Foundation on the coordination during the following fiscal year of the ocean and coastal research activities of NOAA (including the National Sea Grant College and Coastal Ocean Programs) and the National Science Foundation.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.

  1. Nov 26, 2002Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 107-299.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 15, 2002PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 12, 2002Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Hansen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3389.
  8. Oct 11, 2002FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  9. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  10. Jun 19, 2002FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 407 - 2 (Roll no. 237).House roll call 237
  12. FloorFloor · The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
  13. FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 446 passed House.
  14. Apr 15, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  15. Mar 20, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  16. Mar 14, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  18. Mar 11, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  19. Mar 7, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  21. Feb 27, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  22. Dec 6, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  24. Dec 5, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  25. Nov 30, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  26. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.