H.R. 4546: To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

108th Congress · introduced 2004-06-14 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-06-14 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Executive Comment Requested from Commerce. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act - Re-establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce, headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere who will serve as the Administrator of NOAA. Establishes within NOAA the positions of: (1) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; (2) Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; (3) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; (4) Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs; (5) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology; and (6) General Counsel. Places within NOAA: (1) the National Weather Service; (2) operational and service programs to support routine data collection and direct services and products regarding satellite, observations, and coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes information; (3) programs to conduct and support research and education and the development of technologies relating to weather, climate, and the coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes; and (4) a Science Advisory Board. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 2004 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2007 for NOAA for: (1) program support; (2) the National Ocean Service; (3) the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; (4) the National Weather Service; (5) the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service; and (6) the Office of Program Planning and Integration. Coastal Ocean Science Program Act of 2004 - Establishes within NOAA a Coastal Ocean Science Program (replacing the Coastal Ocean Program) that supports Great Lakes, estuarine, and coastal ocean research and assessment through competitive, peer-reviewed research programs. Marine Research Act - Directs the President to coordinate and support a national marine research program. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Marine Research Initiative to coordinate and implement NOAA research and activities related to the program. Ocean and Coastal Observation Systems Act - Directs the President to establish and maintain an integrated ocean and coastal observing system of marine monitoring, data communication and management, data analysis, and research to provide data and information for rapid and timely detection and prediction of changes occurring in the marine environment that impact the Nation's social, economic, and ecological systems. Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within NOAA and carry out a scientific research program on abrupt climate change. United States Weather Research Program Act of 2004 - Declares that the United States Weather Research Program's focus shall be on: (1) hurricanes, floods, and heavy precipitation, including both snow and rain; (2) dramatic improvement in weather forecasts; (3) providing attention and resources in areas where progress can be made quickly and where the impact will be the greatest; and (4) making research grants to universities and other research institutions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To provide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108hr4546.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/hr>

Record fed-us-cong108-hr4546 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108