15 U.S.C. § 2931 — Findings and purpose

Page 1965 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 2932 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘relevant’’. (A) the interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate the total Earth system; (B) the unique environment that the Earth provides for life; (C) changes that are occurring in the Earth system; and (D) the manner in which such system, en- vironment, and changes are influenced by human actions; (5) ‘‘Plan’’ means the National Global Change Research Plan developed under section 2934 of this title, or any revision thereof; and (6) ‘‘Program’’ means the United States Global Change Research Program established under section 2933 of this title. (Pub. L. 101–606, § 2, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3096.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 101–606, § 1, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3096, pro- vided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Global Change Research Act of 1990’.’’ Pub. L. 101–606, title II, § 201, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3102, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘International Co- operation in Global Change Research Act of 1990’.’’ SUBCHAPTER I—UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM § 2931. Findings and purpose (a) Findings The Congress makes the following findings: (1) Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities, coupled with an expanding world population, are contributing to processes of global change that may significantly alter the Earth habitat within a few human genera- tions. (2) Such human-induced changes, in conjunc- tion with natural fluctuations, may lead to significant global warming and thus alter world climate patterns and increase global sea levels. Over the next century, these con- sequences could adversely affect world agricul- tural and marine production, coastal habit- ability, biological diversity, human health, and global economic and social well-being. (3) The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other stratospheric ozone-depleting substances is rapidly reducing the ability of the atmos- phere to screen out harmful ultraviolet radi- ation, which could adversely affect human health and ecological systems. (4) Development of effective policies to abate, mitigate, and cope with global change will rely on greatly improved scientific under- standing of global environmental processes and on our ability to distinguish human-in- duced from natural global change. (5) New developments in interdisciplinary Earth sciences, global observing systems, and computing technology make possible signifi- cant advances in the scientific understanding and prediction of these global changes and their effects. (6) Although significant Federal global change research efforts are underway, an ef- fective Federal research program will require efficient interagency coordination, and coordi- nation with the research activities of State, private, and international entities. (b) Purpose The purpose of this subchapter is to provide for development and coordination of a com- prehensive and integrated United States re- search program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and re- spond to human-induced and natural processes of global change. (Pub. L. 101–606, title I, § 101, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3096.) § 2932. Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (a) Establishment The President, through the Council, shall es- tablish a Committee on Earth and Environ- mental Sciences. The Committee shall carry out Council functions under section 6651 of title 42 relating to global change research, for the pur- pose of increasing the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal global change research efforts. (b) Membership The Committee shall consist of at least one representative from— (1) the National Science Foundation; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ministration; (3) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Com- merce; (4) the Environmental Protection Agency; (5) the Department of Energy; (6) the Department of State; (7) the Department of Defense; (8) the Department of the Interior; (9) the Department of Agriculture; (10) the Department of Transportation; (11) the Office of Management and Budget; (12) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (13) the Council on Environmental Quality; (14) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health; and (15) such other agencies and departments of the United States as the President or the Chairman of the Council considers appro- priate. Such representatives shall be high ranking offi- cials of their agency or department, wherever possible the head of the portion of that agency or department that is most revelant 1 to the pur- pose of the subchapter described in section 2931(b) of this title. (c) Chairperson The Chairman of the Council, in consultation with the Committee, biennially shall select one of the Committee members to serve as Chair- person. The Chairperson shall be knowledgeable and experienced with regard to the administra-