Weekly Assignment #7

On your blog, post a 2-3 paragraph description of the bill that you want to use as the starting point for your topic for your Final Paper.

The bill that I will be using for my topic on my final paper is H.R. 14. The title of the bill is: To provide for ocean acidification research and monitoring, and for other purposes. H.R. 14 would establish the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM). The act was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology on January 6, 2009. The sponsor of the H.R. 14 is Brian Baird.

The act defines “ocean acidification” as the change in the ocean’s chemistry caused by inputs from the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. There are four (4) requirements for the FOARAM Act: (1) Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council to create a strategic plan, (2) establish the ocean acidification program to be consistent with the strategic plan, (3) National Science Foundation director would continue acidification research and monitor its impacts, and (4) requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to utilize space-based equipment to monitor ocean acidification and its impacts.