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This bill would change how the North Pacific Research Board is run and funded. It would require money for the board to be made available within 14 days after the start of each fiscal year, add a new board member who represents Alaska Native interests and has direct experience with subsistence uses, and give some board members fixed 3-year terms with the chance to be reappointed once. The bill would also loosen limits on how much money can be used for administration when funding goes down, so the board can keep operating and continue giving most of its money to research.
- Funding would have to be released within 14 days after each new fiscal year begins, instead of waiting longer.
- The board would gain one new member representing Alaska Natives, nominated by the board and appointed by the Secretary, with knowledge of subsistence practices.
- If the board gets less money than it did the year before, the NOAA Administrator could raise the normal 15% cap on administrative costs to help keep the board running, protect research funding, and maintain grant quality.
- For four years after the bill becomes law, the 15% limit on support and grant administration costs would be waived.
Official Summaries
North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act
This bill makes certain changes to the North Pacific Research Board, including changes to the board’s composition and allocations for funding for administrative expenses. The board sets research priorities and administers grants to support research on fisheries and marine ecosystems in the waters surrounding Alaska.
Specifically, this bill adds to the board one additional member to represent Alaska Natives. This board member must have personal knowledge of and direct experience with subsistence uses of resources (the practice of relying on the surrounding environment as a source of food and material). The bill also imposes a three-year term limit on those board members representing fishing interests and Alaska Natives, and permits such members to serve one additional term upon reappointment.
With respect to funding, under current law the board may use up to 15% of grant program funding for administrative expenses (e.g., support for the board and grant administration). Under the bill, if the program's total funding in a given fiscal year is less than its total funding in the prior fiscal year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may increase the 15% cap on administrative expenses for that fiscal year. Any such increase must prioritize supporting the board’s continued operation, maximizing funds directed to research, and maintaining high-quality grant administration. Further, the bill waives the 15% cap altogether for five years following the bill’s enactment.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 190 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 189
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 190
[Report No. 119-80]
To enhance the operations of the North Pacific Research Board.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 22, 2025
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
October 14, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the operations of the North Pacific Research Board.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``North Pacific Research
Board Enhancement Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD ENHANCEMENT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Amendments.--Section 401(e) of the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (43 U.S.C.
1474d(e)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (L), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (M), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subparagraph (N), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) by inserting after subparagraph (N)
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(O) one member who shall represent
Alaska Natives and possesses personal knowledge of, and
direct experience with, subsistence uses and shall be
nominated by the Board and appointed by the
Secretary.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) by adding at the end the following:
``Board members appointed under subparagraphs (N) and
(O) shall serve for 3-year terms, and may be
reappointed once.'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``Not more
than 15 percent'' and inserting ``Except as provided in
paragraph (5), not more than 15 percent'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(6); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) If the amount made available for a fiscal
year under subsection (c)(2) is less than the amount made
available for the previous fiscal year, the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may
increase the 15 percent cap on administrative expenses provided
under paragraph (4)(B) for that fiscal year to prioritize--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) continuing operation of the
Board;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) maximizing the percentage of funds
directed to research; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) maintaining the highest quality
standards in administering grants under this
subsection.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Waiver.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act and ending on the date that is 5 years after such date of
enactment, the 15 percent cap on funds to provide support for the North
Pacific Research Board and administer grants under section 401(e)(4)(B)
of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 1998 (43 U.S.C. 1474d(e)(4)(B)) shall be waived.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``North Pacific Research Board
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD ENHANCEMENT.
(a) Amendments.--Section 401(e) of the Department of the Interior
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (43 U.S.C. 1474d(e)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Funds available under
subsection (c)(2) shall be used'' and inserting ``Not later
than 14 days after the start of each fiscal year, funds shall
be made available under subsection (c)(2)'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (L), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (M), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon;
(C) in subparagraph (N), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and'';
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the
following:
``(O) one member who shall represent Alaska Natives
and possesses personal knowledge of, and direct
experience with, subsistence uses and shall be
nominated by the Board and appointed by the
Secretary.''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following: ``Board
members appointed under subparagraphs (N) and (O) shall
serve for 3-year terms, and may be reappointed once.'';
(3) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``Not more than 15
percent'' and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (5),
not more than 15 percent'';
(4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) If the amount made available for a fiscal year under
subsection (c)(2) is less than the amount made available for
the previous fiscal year, the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may increase the 15
percent cap on administrative expenses provided under paragraph
(4)(B) for that fiscal year to prioritize--
``(A) continuing operation of the Board;
``(B) maximizing the percentage of funds directed
to research; and
``(C) maintaining the highest quality standards in
administering grants under this subsection.''.
(b) Waiver.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and
ending on the date that is 4 years after such date of enactment, the 15
percent cap on funds to provide support for the North Pacific Research
Board and administer grants under section 401(e)(4)(B) of the
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
1998 (43 U.S.C. 1474d(e)(4)(B)) shall be waived.
Calendar No. 189
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 190
[Report No. 119-80]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the operations of the North Pacific Research Board.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 14, 2025
Reported with an amendment