The Aviary participates in the Species Survival Program, a global cooperative conservation program designed to share breeding stock and information with zoos throughout the world. It was originally wholly funded by the City of Pittsburgh, but became a joint private-public venture in 1991 when the non-profit, Save the Aviary, Inc., took responsibility for raising private and public donations for the operation of the aviary. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 927 was introduced on February 17, 1993, by Mr. Coyne. The bill was referred to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Within the Committee it was referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Full Committee met to consider H.R. 927 on June 30, 1993. The Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources was discharged from further consideration of the bill, and the bill, as introduced, was ordered reported to the House of Representatives by a voice vote. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1. This section designates the Pittsburgh Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the "National Aviary in Pittsburgh". Section 2. This section states that any legal reference to the Aviary in any law, regulation, document, record, map, or other paper of the United States is a reference to the "National Aviary in Pittsburgh". INFLATIONARY IMPACT STATEMENT Pursuant to clause 2(1)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that the enactment of H.R. 927 will have no significant inflationary impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national economy. COST OF THE LEGISLATION Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 927. However, clause 7(d) provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI 1. With respect to the requirements of clause 2(1)(3)(A) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, no oversight findings or recommendations on the subject of H.R. 927 have been made by the Committee during the 103rd Congress. 2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(1)(3)(B) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 927 does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(1)(3)(D) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee has received no report of oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on Government Operations on the subject of H.R. 927. 4. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(1)(3)(C) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate of H.R. 927 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE Hon. GERRY E. STUDDS, U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 927, a bill to designate the Pittsburgh Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries on June 30, 1993. The aviary would continue to be owned, operated, and funded by nonfederal entities. We expect that the enactment of H.R. 927 would have no impact on the federal budget or on those of state or local governments. This bill would have no effect on direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis, who can be reached at 226-2860. Sincerely, ROBERT D. REISCHAUER, Director. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, H.R. 927 would make no changes in existing law. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS The Committee has received a report on H.R. 927 from the Department of the Interior. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. GERRY E. STUDDS, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This responds to your request for our views on H.R. 927, a bill "To designate the Pittsburgh Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the National Aviary in Pittsburgh." We do not oppose enactment of the bill although we believe it could create confusion for the public regarding the Federal govern ment's role in the funding and administration of the Pittsburgh Aviary. The Pittsburgh Aviary was originally wholly funded by the City of Pittsburgh and became a joint private-public venture in 1991. Unlike the National Zoo in Washington or the units of the National Parks System, it receives no Federal appropriations for its operations. Its employees are not Federal employees. The people of the city of Pittsburgh can and should be proud of this excellent locally-funded facility. However, we doubt that the vague linkage with the Federal government that is suggested by the designation "the National Aviary in Pittsburgh" would do much to increase attendance at, or enhance the standing of, the Pittsburgh Aviary. Additionally, the passage of this bill could create a precedent for other privately or locally-owned entities to seek national designation, thus confusing the public which associates such entities as National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and National Museums with Federal control and responsibility. The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program. Sincerely, DAN BARRY, 3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(1)(3)(D) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee has received no report of oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on Government Operations on the subject of H.R. 927. 4. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(1)(3)(C) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate of H.R. 927 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE Hon. GERRY E. STUDDS, U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 927, a bill to designate the Pittsburgh Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries on June 30, 1993. The aviary would continue to be owned, operated, and funded by nonfederal entities. We expect that the enactment of H.R. 927 would have no impact on the federal budget or on those of state or local governments. This bill would have no effect on direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis, who can be reached at 226-2860. Sincerely, ROBERT D. REISCHAUER, Director. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, H.R. 927 would make no changes in existing law. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS The Committee has received a report on H.R. 927 from the Department of the Interior. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. GERRY E. STUDDS, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This responds to your request for our views on H.R. 927, a bill "To designate the Pittsburgh Aviary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the National Aviary in Pittsburgh." We do not oppose enactment of the bill although we believe it could create confusion for the public regarding the Federal govern SEC. 3 MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. The National Sea Grant College program Act (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 205 the following: "SEC. 206A. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. "(a) DEFINITION OF MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY.-As used in this section and section 203(4), the term 'marine biotechnology means the application of molecular and cellular biology to marine and fresh water organisms for the purpose of identifying, developing, and enhancing products derived from those organisms. "(b) MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. Subject to the availability of appropriations under section 212(c), the National Sea Grant College Program provided for under section 204 shall include a marine biotechnology program under which the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall— "(1) make grants and enter into contracts in accordance with this section; and "(2) engage in other activities authorized under this Act; to further research, development, education and technology transfer in marine biotechnology. “(c) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out the marine biotechnology program, the Secretary shall "(1) coordinate the relevant activities of the directors of the sea grant colleges and the Marine Biotechnology Review Panel established under subsection (f; and “(2) provide general oversight of the review process under subsection (f)(1) to ensure that the marine biotechnology program produces the highest quality research, development, education, and technology transfer. "(d) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.— "(1) APPLICATIONS.-Applications for grants and contracts under this subsection shall be “(A) made in such form and manner, and include such content and submissions, as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe; "(B) forwarded through the appropriate directors of sea grant colleges to the National Sea Grant Office; and "(C) reviewed by the Marine Biotechnology Review Panel in accordance with subsection (f). "(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.-Any reference in subsection (d) of section 205 or in the last sentence of subsection (a) of section 205 to grants and contracts provided for under that section shall be treated, as the context requires, as including any grant applied for or made, or contract applied for or entered into, under this section. “(3) AWARDING OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. "(A) PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS.-Subject to subparagraph (B) and subsection (e), the Secretary shall award grants and contracts under this section on the basis of the recommendations for award made by the Marine Biotechnology Review Panel under subsection (f). "(B) EXCEPTIONS.-The Secretary shall not award a grant or contract if the Secretary determines that the award "(i) is based on a recommendation from the Panel that may involve a conflict of interest; "(ii) would result in a significant environmental risk from the release of genetically modified organisms, as defined in subsection (e), or other unacceptable environmental risk; "(iii) fails to meet the requirements of this section; or "(iv) fails to comply with relevant governmental or institutional procedures for the management of external grant or contract programs. "(C) DOCUMENTATION.-The Secretary shall document, and promptly inform the Panel of, each recommended award that is rejected under subparagraph (B). "(D) FUNDING.-Grants made, and contracts entered into, under this section shall be funded with moneys available from appropriations made pursuant to the authorization provided for under section 212(c). "(e) RESEARCH ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS.— “(1) DEFINITION.-As used in this subsection, the term 'genetically modified organism' means a living marine or freshwater organism in which the genetic material has been purposely altered at the molecular or cellular level in a way that could not result from the natural reproductive process of that species. "(2) SAFE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH.-The Secretary shall ensure that any activities funded by the National Sea Grant College Program involving genetically modified organisms comply with |