Oceans and Human Health Act

OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH ACT

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 1218, the Oceans and Human Health Act, legislation being considered by the Senate today. This bill, which Senator STEVENS and I introduced last year, was reported unanimously from the Commerce Committee, will spur the development of an exciting new field of research, one that explores the role of the oceans in human health. Senators INOUYE, BREAUX, KERRY, CANTWELL, BILL NELSON, LAUTENBERG, DEWINE, LEVIN, and KENNEDY have all lent their considerable support to the bill as cosponsors. I am also pleased to have worked closely with the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HELP, Committee, Senators JUDD GREGG and TED KENNEDY, in crafting the final manager's amendment to the bill.

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, established pursuant to the Oceans Act of 2000, is poised to issue its draft report with recommendations for a new national ocean policy. The draft report is likely to recommend increased Federal support for integrated and innovative ocean research initiatives such as in oceans and human health in order to focus attention on the increasingly complex interaction between humans and the sea. The Cceans and Human Health Act would establish a national interagency program that will coordinate research into oceans and human health and ensure the availability of an adequate Federal investment in this critical area. It also would authorize such a program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to strengthen its work in this important field of study.

Throughout history, society has turned to the oceans for food, transport, commerce and recreation. This tremendous resource has enriched and sustained our existence. It is no coincidence that today, over 50 percent of the U.S. population lives in the coastal zone, and this number is increasing. In addition, over 95 percent of U.S. overseas trade moves through our Nation's ports and this volume is expected to more than double by 2020. Our oceans are inextricably linked to our personal and economic well-being.

In recent years, the rich biodiversity of the world's seas has generated considerable interest. Scientists believe the oceans represent a promising source of novel compounds with therapeutic and/or disease-fighting capabilities. A 1999 National Research Council report, "From Monsoons to Microbes," noted that nature has been the traditional source of new pharmaceuticals and found that over half of marketed drugs are extracted or produced from natural sources. Our oceans account for over 80 percent of the planet's biological productivity, yet little of it has been catalogued or studied. At present, there are only three marine compounds in clinical use-and these were developed in the 1950s. While there are some new compounds in the pipeline, we need to speed research efforts to ensure we get more products approved.

I am encouraged by research suggesting that sea sponges contain compounds which show promise in treating pancreatic cancer. And recently, a scientist analyzing a water sample from the Sargasso Sea, off Bermuda, discovered at least 1,800 new microbial species and more than 1.2 million genes in that sample. Imagine what new drug discoveries await researchers and the medical community.

Pioneering scientists are also needed to tackle marine environmental issues that affect human and marine life alike, such as ocean pollution and marine pathogens. Our marine resources are under growing environmental stresses. Signs of these stresses include "dead zones," loss of coastal wetlands, changes in ocean salinity, contamination of fish and marine life, and increases in extreme weather events associated with global climate change. Over the past 2 weeks, over 60 dolphin carcasses have been found along Florida's panhandle beaches and bays. Preliminary test results point to one or more biotoxins that are associated with red tides. Certain biotoxins have been known to produce eye and respiratory irritation in humans. Dolphins are an important indicator species of environmental pollution and their unusually high mortality rates in Florida raise the issue of potential risks to human health.

Because oceans act as a route of exposure for human disease through ingestion of contaminated seafood or direct contact with saltwater containing toxins and disease-causing organisms, it is vital that we learn more about how public health is affected by the marine environment. We must ensure that the sea maintains its capacity to sustain itself without becoming a "dead zone." We must find ways to monitor and reduce the occurrence of ocean toxins that kill marine mammals and taint seafood. As with cancer, our goal must be understanding and prevention, rather than relying exclusively on treatment.

Many research programs and laboratories perform research and related activities that could contribute significantly to a national research effort, but such efforts have not always realized their potential. To be successful, research into oceans and human health must integrate disciplines, bringing together oceanographers and biomedical researchers to better understand marine processes, reduce public health risks and enhance our biomedical capabilities.

The Oceans and Human Health initiative recently established at NOAA, and a joint program between the National Science Foundation, NSF, and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS, already show tremendous promise, and this legislation provides further support for a coordinated Federal effort. The NIEHS and NSF initiative provides $6 million annually to establish centers of excellence focusing on harmful algal blooms, water and vectorborne diseases, and marine pharmaceuticls and probes. In addition, we provided NOAA with appropriations of $8 million in Fiscal Year 2003 and $10 million in Fiscal Year 2004 for an oceans and human health initiative focused on strengthening important oceans and human health research within NOAA's areas of focus, including health coasts and marine life.

Within NOAA, an interdisciplinary and medically oriented approach to ocean research can be found at two marine laboratories in Charleston, SC. The NOAA labs have partnered with the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the State of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the College of Charleston and are on the front lines of discovery and prevention, particularly in the emerging field of marine genomics. They are hard at work on todays' important public and marine environmental health issues. For instance, they are conducting research into dolphin health that will for the first time utilize a traditional medical approach to help us learn more about the health of dolphins in the wild.

This NOAA research collaboration epitomizes the variety of important disciplines that must work side by side if we are to make progress in understanding the connections between oceans and human health. It is home to cutting-edge research involving algal toxins, natural products with potential pharmaceutical applications, and viral and bacterial pathogens that cause disease in marine animals, with potential links to human illness, disease processes and natural product chemistry. The scientists use unique medical tools such as nuclear magnetic resonators to help map the cellular and genetic structure of marine organisms and have developed methods for detecting pesticides in water, sediments, fish, and marine mammals that may potentially affect both the health of the marine environment and human health. The scientists are also developing exposure, toxicology and disease models to assess pollution's effects on a variety of marine organisms. Their work will better define ocean health and bridge the gap with existing human health models.

Taken together, the NIEHS-NSF and NOAA research initiatives offer an excellent basis for building a comprehensive national program. In addition, a number of other Federal agencies are poised to make significant contributions.

The Oceans and Human Health Act provides the legislative framework for coordinated, national investment to improve understanding of marine ecosystems, address marine public health problems and tap into the ocean's potential contribution to new biomedical treatments and advances. At the heart of this legislation-and key to its success-is our commitment to building new partnerships among Federal health, science and ocean agencies, diverse scientific disciplines, and academic researchers.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have a more detailed summary of the legislation printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS OF OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH ACT

The Oceans and Human Health Act would authorize the establishment of a coordinated Federal research program to aid in understanding and responding to the role of oceans in human health. The bill would establish a Federal interagency Oceans and Human Health initiative coordinated through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) as well as establish an Oceans and Human Health initiative at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill also directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a coordinated public information and outreach program with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the States to provide information on potential ocean-related human health risks.

Section 1. Short Title

Section 1 provides the short title of the Act, which is to be cited as the "Oceans and Human health Act."

Section 2. Findings and Purposes

Section 2 sets forth findings and purposes for the Act.

Section 3. Interagency Oceans and Human Health Research Program

Section 3 provides for the coordination of Federal national research activities to improve the understanding of the role of the oceans in human health. Subsection (a) directs the President to coordinate this research program through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).

10-Year Implementation Plan. Subsection (b) directs the NSTC, through the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to submit to Congress within one year of enactment a 10-year implementation plan for coordinated Federal activities under the program. In developing the plan, the Committee is required to consult with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. The implementation plan will complement the ongoing activities of NOAA, NSF, and other departments and agencies, and: (1) Establish the goals and priorities for Federal research related to oceans and human health; (2) describe specific activities required to achieve such goals; (3) identify relevant Federal programs and activities that would contribute to the program; (4) consider and use reports and studies conducted by Federal agencies and departments, the National Research Council, the Ocean Research Advisory Panel, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and other entities; (5) make recommendations for the coordination of national and international programs; and (6) estimate Federal funding for research activities to be conducted under the program.

Program Scope. Subsection © outlines the scope of the coordinated research program, as follows:

(1) Interdisciplinary and coordinated research and activities to improve our understanding of how ocean processes and marine organisms can relate to human health and contribute to medicine and research;

(2) Coordination with the National Ocean Leadership Council (established under 10 U.S.C. 7902(a)) to ensure any ocean and coastal observing system provides information necessary to monitor, predict and reduce marine public health problems;

(3) Development of new technologies and approaches for detecting and reducing hazards to human health from ocean sources and to strengthen understanding of the value of marine biodiversity to biomedicine; and

(4) Support for scholars, trainees and education opportunities that encourage a multidisciplinary approach to exploring the diversity of life in the oceans.

Annual Report. Subsection (d) stipulates that beginning with the first year occurring more than 24 months after enactment of the Act, the National Science and Technology Council will submit an annual report to the President and Congress on the previous year's activities conducted pursuant to the Act.

Section 4. NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative

Establishment. Section 4 would establish a NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative.

Subsection (a) directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop an Oceans and Human Health initiative that will coordinate and implement NOAA research and activities related to the role of the oceans in human health. In establishing the program, the Secretary is required to consult with other Federal agencies conducting integrated ocean health research or research in related areas, including NSF. The NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative will provide support for the following components:

(1) centralized program and research coordination;

(2) an Advisory Panel;

(3) National Center(s) of Excellence;

(4) Research grants; and

(5) Distinguished scholars and traineeships.

Advisory Panel. Under subsection (b), the Secretary will establish an Oceans and Human Health Advisory Panel to assist in the development and implementation of the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative. Membership of the Advisory Group will include a balanced representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences. The subsection provides that Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 1) shall not apply to the Panel.

National Centers of Excellence. Subsection © provides that the Secretary shall, through a competitive process, establish and support NOAA Centers of Excellence that strengthen NOAA's capabilities to carry out programs and activities related to the ocean's role in human health. Centers selected for funding and support under Section 4 would focus on areas related to NOAA missions, including: (1) use of marine organisms as indicators for marine environmental health; (2) ocean pollutants; (3) marine toxins and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, seafood testing, drug discovery, biology and pathobiology of marine mammals; and (4) such disciplines as marine geomics, marine environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry and conservation medicine. The Secretary will encourage proposals that have strong scientific and interdisciplinary merit.

Extramural Research Grants. Subsection (d) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants for research and projects that explore the relationship between the oceans and human health, and that complement or strengthen NOAA-related programs and activities. In implementing this subsection, the Secretary is directed to consult with the Oceans and Human Health Advisory Panel and may work cooperatively with other agencies to establish joint criteria for such research projects. This subsection specifies that the grants shall be awarded through a competitive peer-reviewed, merit-based process and that such a process may be conducted jointly with other agencies participating in the program or under the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (10 U.S.C. 7901).

Distinguished Scholars. Subsection (e) directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to support distinguished scholars working in collaboration with NOAA scientists and facilities. The Secretary is also authorized to establish a training program for scientists early in their careers who are interested in oceans and human health.

Section 5. Public Information and Outreach

This section directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other Federal agencies, to design and implement a national public information and outreach program on potential ocean-related human health risks. The outreach program will collect and analyze information, disseminate the results (to appropriate Federal, State, public, industry or other interested parties), and make recommendations on observing systems that would support the program.

Section 6. Authorization of Appropriations

Section 6 provides the authorization of appropriations for the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative established under Section 4, and the public information and risk assessment program established under Section 5.

Subsection (a) provides that there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the program under Section 5, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $20,000,000 for fiscal years 2007-2008.

Subsection (b) provides authorizations of appropriations of $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007 for the public information and outreach program established under Section 5.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am extremely proud to sponsor this legislation, and hope that this will mark the beginning of a new century of ocean research that will reveal how integral and important the oceans are to our daily lives and our health, whether we live by the edge of the sea or in the heartland.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Hollings amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, and any statements be printed in the RECORD.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The amendment (No. 2933) was agreed to.

(The amendment is printed in today's RECORD under "Text of Amendments.")

The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was agreed to.

The bill (S. 1218), as amended, was read the third time and passed, as follows:

(The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)