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HR 3644 111th Congress House

Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Education Act

Official title: To direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish education and watershed programs which advance environmental literacy, including pre… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish education and watershed programs which advance environmental literacy, including preparedness and adaptability for the likely impacts of climate change in coastal watershed regions.

Introduced: October 29, 2009 See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlaskaAtlantic Coast (U.S.)Atlantic Ocean
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Climate change and greenhouse gasesEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental assessment, monitoring, researchGreat LakesHigher educationMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesOutdoor recreationPerformance measurementTeaching, teachers, curriculaWatershedsWildlife conservation and habitat protection
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 22, 2010
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 19, 2010
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 19, 2010
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 244 - 170 (Roll no. 142).
Mar 19, 2010
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 200 - 215 (Roll no. 141).
Mar 19, 2010
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H1685)
Mar 19, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Chaffetz motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with sundry amendments which include adding a new paragraph to examine the impacts of natural gas and oil seeps on ocean, beaches, air quality, and the coastal environment and the possibility of mitigation of those impacts through resource and energy development. Also the motion adds a new section pertaining to limitation on use of funds.
Mar 19, 2010
Mr. Chaffetz moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources. (consideration: CR H1684-1686; text: CR H1684)
Mar 19, 2010
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1684)
Mar 19, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment to the Capps amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Mar 19, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Capps amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Mar 19, 2010
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3644.
Mar 19, 2010
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3644 and H.R. 1612. It shall be in order to consider in the House, H.R. 3644 and H.R. 1612. All points of order against consideration of each bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in each bill shall be considered as adopted. The bills, as amended, shall be considered read. Further amendments are in order. Each bill shall be debatable for one hour.
Mar 19, 2010
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1192. (consideration: CR H1669-1674, H1675-1676, H1676-1686; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1669-1671)
Mar 18, 2010
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1192 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3644 and H.R. 1612. It shall be in order to consider in the House, H.R. 3644 and H.R. 1612. All points of order against consideration of each bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in each bill shall be considered as adopted. The bills, as amended, shall be considered read. Further amendments are in order. Each bill shall be debatable for one hour.
Jan 12, 2010
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 229.
Jan 12, 2010
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-392.
Nov 18, 2009
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 13.
Nov 18, 2009
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 18, 2009
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Discharged.
Oct 15, 2009
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Sep 28, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
Sep 24, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sep 24, 2009
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 19, 2010 House · vote #142 On Passage Passed 244–170 See who voted →
Mar 19, 2010 House · vote #141 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 200–215 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 589 – An amendment to the Capps amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part B of House Report 111-445 t… Agreed to Mar 19, 2010
HAMDT 588 – An amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part A of House Report 111-445 to reflect changes to th… Agreed to Mar 19, 2010
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 Latest action March 22, 2010

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Education Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the Environmental Literacy Grant Program, a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to: (1) expand the adoption of coastal, ocean, Great Lakes, and climate on all time scales education; (2) build administrative and technical capacity with coastal, ocean, and watershed communities and stakeholder groups to enhance their effectiveness; (3) encourage water- and wildlife-dependent and other outdoor recreation, experiential learning, and hands-on involvement with coastal and watershed resources as a method of promoting stewardship and sustainable economic development of those resources; and (4) develop and implement new approaches to advance coastal, ocean, Great Lakes, and climate on all time scales and education and environmental literacy.

Requires the Administrator to: (1) give priority, in awarding environmental literacy grants, to innovative, strategic, high-leverage projects that demonstrate strong potential for being sustained; and (2) publish guidelines regarding implementation of the Environmental Literacy Grant Program.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to conduct the Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program, including each of the regional programs conducted or under active consideration for creation under the B-WET Program. Authorizes the Administrator to create new regional programs under the B-WET Program. Requires the Administrator to issue and report to Congress on a strategy for establishing such new regional programs. Requires the Administrator, in creating new regional programs, to give priority to the needs of U.S. territories, the Great Lakes states, Alaska, and the mid-Atlantic region.

Authorizes the Administrator to modify or realign regional B-WET programs, based on specified factors. Makes the Administrator responsible for the selection, appointment, and replacement of regional program managers. Establishes managers' duties.

Requires the Administrator to create B-WET Program guidelines through which managers may: (1) enter into contracts to support projects to design, demonstrate, evaluate, or disseminate practices, methods, or techniques related to bay-watershed education and training; and (2) provide grants or a cooperative agreement to support projects that advance environmental literacy, develop public awareness and appreciation of the economic, social, recreational, and environmental benefits of coastal watersheds, and emphasize stewardship of critical coastal and marine resources.

Requires managers, in awarding grants under the B-WET Program, to give priority to projects that will: (1) promote bay-watershed education throughout the region concerned; (2) advance strategic initiatives to incorporate bay-watershed education into education systems; (3) build capacity within bay-watershed education communities and stakeholder groups for expanding and strengthening their work; (4) build bay-watershed education into professional development or training activities for educators; (5) broadly replicate existing, proven bay-watershed education programs; (6) be conducted by or benefit under-served communities and any community that has an inability to draw on other funding sources because of its small population or low income; and (7) require a federal share not exceeding 75% of the aggregate cost of such project.

Requires NOAA's Office of Education to work with managers on the following regional B-WET Program functions: (1) strategic planning efforts; (2) integration and coordination of programs; (3) coordination of national evaluation efforts; (4) promotion of network-wide communications; (5) selection of new managers; and (6) management, tracking, and oversight of the B-WET Program.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator to report biennially to Congress on grant programs.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2015 for the Environmental Literacy Grant Program and the B-WET Program. Prohibits such appropriated funds from being used for congressional earmarks.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3644: Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Education Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3644/
MLA
"H.R. 3644: Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Education Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3644/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3644, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3644/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3644: Ocean, Coastal, and Watershed Education Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3644/)
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