North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
Enhances the North Pacific Research Board by adding an Alaska Native subsistence-use representative, setting terms for newer board members, making funds available within 14 days after each fiscal year starts, allowing NOAA to increase the administrative-expense cap when funding falls, and waiving the 15 percent support cap for four years.
Who Benefits and How
Alaska Native subsistence users benefit from a dedicated board member with personal knowledge of and direct experience with subsistence uses. North Pacific marine researchers benefit if the board can keep operations and grant quality stable when funding declines. The North Pacific Research Board benefits from a temporary waiver of the 15 percent cap on support and grant-administration costs. NOAA benefits from flexibility to protect research quality during lower-funding years.
Who Bears the Burden and How
NOAA administrators and board staff must appoint and manage the new Alaska Native seat, handle three-year terms and one reappointment, make funds available quickly, and justify any increased administrative cap. Research applicants may see more funds used for administration during lean years. Federal appropriators and oversight committees must monitor the four-year cap waiver.
Key Provisions
- Requires funds to be made available within 14 days after the start of each fiscal year.
- Adds an Alaska Native subsistence-use representative to the North Pacific Research Board.
- Establishes three-year terms and one reappointment for specified board members.
- Authorizes NOAA to increase the 15 percent administrative cap when annual funding declines.
- Waives the 15 percent board-support and grant-administration cap for four years.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Enhances the North Pacific Research Board by adding an Alaska Native subsistence-use representative, setting terms for newer board members, making funds available within 14 days after each fiscal year starts, allowing NOAA to increase the administrative-expense cap when funding falls, and waiving the 15 percent support cap for four years.
Key Policy Areas
Fisheries, Alaska, Ocean Research, Tribal Affairs
Primary Purpose
Enhances the North Pacific Research Board by adding an Alaska Native subsistence-use representative, setting terms for newer board members, making funds available within 14 days after each fiscal year starts, allowing NOAA to increase the administrative-expense cap when funding falls, and waiving the 15 percent support cap for four years.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Alaska Native subsistence users
- North Pacific marine researchers
- North Pacific Research Board
- NOAA
Identified Costs
- NOAA administrators
- Board staff
- Research applicants
- Federal oversight committees
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz …
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported …
Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, …
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Board staff, NOAA administrators, North Pacific marine researchers
Positive-direction: North Pacific marine researchers
Negative-direction: Board staff, NOAA administrators
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "administrator"
- → NOAA Administrator
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology