The President shall establish a council, to be known as the “National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council” (in this section referred to as the “Council”).
The Council shall report to the Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee established under section 8932(c) of title 10.
The Council shall be composed of senior-level representatives from the appropriate Federal agencies.
The President shall establish a new interagency working group to be known as the “Interagency Working Group on Ocean Exploration and Characterization”.
The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Exploration and Characterization shall be comprised of senior representatives from Federal agencies with ocean exploration and characterization responsibilities.
The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Exploration and Characterization shall support the Council and the Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee established under section 8932(c) of title 10 on ocean exploration and characterization activities and associated technology development across the Federal Government, State governments, Indian Tribes, private industry, nongovernmental organizations, and academia.
Not later than 1 year after December 23, 2022, the Council shall develop or update and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan for an integrated cross-sectoral ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization initiative.