text: short title
  
      Sec. 101. This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Federal 
  Effectiveness Act''.
  
                        great lakes research council
  
      Sec. 102. (a) Establishment of Council.--There is established a 
  Great Lakes Research Council.
      (b) Duties of Council.--The Council shall--
              (1) advise and promote the coordination of Federal research 
          activities to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure greater 
          effectiveness in achieving ecosystem protection of the Great 
          Lakes through the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality 
          Agreement;
              (2) no later than one year after the date of enactment of 
          this Act, prepare and provide to interested parties, a document 
          which includes--
                      (A) an assessment of the research activities needed 
                  to fulfill the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 
                  goals;
                      (B) an assessment of existing Federal expertise and 
                  capabilities in those activities needed to fulfill the 
                  Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement goals, including an 
                  inventory of existing Federal Great Lakes research 
                  programs, projects, facilities, and personnel; and
                      (C) recommendations for long-term and short-term 
                  priorities for Federal research on the Great Lakes, 
                  based on a comparison of the assessment conducted under 
                  subparagraph (A) and existing programs;
              (3) identify topics for and participate in meetings, 
          workshops, symposia, and conferences on Great Lakes research 
          issues;
              (4) make recommendations for the uniform collection of data 
          for enhancing research and management protocols relating to the 
          Great Lakes ecosystem;
              (5) advise and cooperate in the establishment of a 
          comprehensive, multi-media data base for the Great Lakes 
          ecosystem; and
              (6) ensure that the results, findings, and information 
          regarding Great Lakes research programs conducted or sponsored 
          by the Federal Government be disseminated in a timely manner, 
          and in useful forms, to interested persons, using as much as 
          possible existing mechanisms, such as the Great Lakes Research 
          Inventory prepared by the International Joint Commission.
      (c) Membership.--(1) The Council shall be comprised of one research 
  manager with extensive knowledge, scientific expertise, and experience 
  in the Great Lakes ecosystem for each of the following agencies--
              (A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
              (B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
              (C) the United States Coast Guard;
              (D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
              (E) any other relevant Federal department, agency or 
          instrumentality, as determined by the Council membership.
      (2) Other persons who are not Federal employees may serve as ex 
  officio members of the Council, at the request of the Council 
  membership.
      (d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Council shall be elected 
  by the members and shall serve for a period of two years. No member of 
  the Council may serve as Chairperson for more than two consecutive 
  terms.
      (e) Compensation.--While performing official duties as members of 
  the Council, members of the Council are entitled to receive 
  compensation for travel and transportation expenses under section 5703 
  of title 5, United States Code.
      (f) Interagency Cooperation.--The head of each department, agency, 
  or other instrumentality of the Federal Government which is a member of 
  the Council--
              (1) shall cooperate with the Council to implement the 
          recommendations developed under subsection (b);
              (2) may, upon written request of the Chairperson of the 
          Council, make available, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, 
          personnel, services, or facilities as may be necessary to 
          assist the Council in achieving the purposes of this Act; and
              (3) shall, upon written request from the Chairperson, 
          furnish data or information necessary to achieve the purposes 
          of this Act.
  
                         international cooperation
  
      Sec. 103. (a) International Joint Commission.--The Council shall 
  invite the International Joint Commission to serve as Secretariat and 
  principal coordinating body for the Council.
      (b) Funding.--Agencies represented on the Council may reimburse 
  costs associated with activities authorized under this Act conducted by 
  the International Joint Commission.
  
                            effect on other laws
  
      Sec. 104. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend, 
  restrict, or otherwise alter the authority of any Federal department, 
  agency, or instrumentality, under any law, to undertake Great Lakes 
  research activities.
  
                                definitions
  
      Sec. 105. In this Act--
              (1) ``Council'' means the Great Lakes Research Council 
          established under section 102 of this Act.
              (2) ``Great Lakes'' means--
                      (A) Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake 
                  Ontario, and Lake Superior;
                      (B) their connecting waters, including the St. 
                  Marys River; the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the 
                  Detroit River, and the Niagara River; and
                      (C) the St. Lawrence River.
              (3) ``Great Lakes research'' means the application of 
          scientific and/or engineering expertise to explain, understand, 
          and predict physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic 
          processes, and their interaction, in the Great Lakes ecosystem.
              (4) ``Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement'' means the 
          bilateral agreement between the United States and Canada which 
          was signed in 1978 and amended by the Protocol of 1987.
target: Great Lakes Federal Effectiveness Act - Establishes a Great Lakes Research Council to:  (1) advise and promote the coordination of Federal research activities to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure greater effectiveness in achieving ecosystem protection of the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; (2) prepare and provide to interested parties a document which includes an assessment of research activities needed to fulfill the goals of the Agreement and of existing Federal expertise in such activities and recommendations for research priorities; (3) identify topics for and participate in workshops and conferences on Great Lakes research issues; (4) make recommendations for the uniform collection of data for enhancing research and management protocols relating to the Great Lakes ecosystem; (5) advise and cooperate in the establishment of a multi-media data base for such ecosystem; and (6) ensure that findings and information regarding such research are disseminated in a timely manner.
feat_title: A bill to coordinate and promote Great Lakes activities, and for other purposes.