H.R. 5618 would reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to substitute &quot;extension services&quot; for &quot;advisory services&quot; in the definition of &quot;project&quot; and to add definitions for &quot;regional research and information plan&quot; and &quot;National Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy.&quot;

Adds regional and national projects(Sec. 5) Adds, as elements of the national sea grant college program. Removes a reference to the sea grant review panel from provisions relating to the administration of the program. Refers toprogram: (1) regional orand national strategic investments being developed in consultation withprojects; and (2) the boardenvironmental and withscientific considerations regarding the approvalproduction of sea grant collegesocean and coastal offshore petroleum, natural gas, geothermal, wind, and ocean thermal energy resources, including the sea grant institutes. (Current law refers to the approvalsiting of energy related facilities in the sea grant review panel as well as the colleges and institutes.) Revises the program director's duties. coastal zone.

Modifies requirements regarding limits on: (1) grants and contractsRemoves a reference to assistthe sea grant programs and projects; and (2) special grantsreview panel from provisions relating to promote a strong educational base, researchthe administration of the program. Refers to regional or national strategic investments being developed in consultation with the board and training, disseminationwith the approval of knowledge and techniques,sea grant colleges and multidisciplinary approachesthe sea grant institutes. (Current law refers to environmental problems. the approval of the sea grant review panel as well as the colleges and institutes.)

Requires that sea grant colleges provide extension services (currently, advisory services).Revises the program director's duties.

Redesignates(Sec. 6) Excludes amounts appropriated under provisions relating to graduate ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources fellowships (the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program) from provisions restricting contributions by the Secretary of Commerce to two-thirds of the total cost of sea grant review panel as the National Sea Grant Advisory Boardprograms and modifies it's duties.projects.

Authorizes(Sec. 7) Requires that sea grant colleges provide extension services (currently, advisory services).

(Sec. 9) Redesignates the sea grant review panel as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board and modifies it's duties.

(Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations through FY2014. Repeals provisions regulating the distribution of any appropriated amounts exceeding the amounts appropriated for FY2003.
</summary>

<!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
</status>

<!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->

== Points in Favor ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->

== Points Against ==

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
<!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! -->