Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§1445c–1 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 32— - MARINE SANCTUARIES › § 1445c–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Commerce must set up and run the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program through the National Ocean Service. The program gives graduate scholarships for marine biology, oceanography, and maritime archaeology (including care and display of maritime artifacts). It honors outstanding students—especially women and members of minority groups—and supports graduate research. Each award pays for study at a sponsoring school, follows rules the Secretary sets, and is paid to the recipient after the school certifies an approved study and research plan. Funding is 1 percent of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Recipients must repay the award if they commit fraud or fail to follow the rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §1445c–1

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Commerce shall establish and administer through the National Ocean Service the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. Under the program, the Secretary shall award graduate education scholarships in marine biology, oceanography, or maritime archaeology, including the curation, preservation, and display of maritime artifacts, to be known as “Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships”.
(b)The purpose of the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is to recognize outstanding scholarship in marine biology, oceanography, or maritime archaeology, particularly by women and members of minority groups, and encourage independent graduate level research in such fields of study.
(c)Each Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship award—
(1)shall be used to support a candidate’s graduate studies in marine biology, oceanography, or maritime archaeology at a sponsoring institution; and
(2)shall be made available to individual candidates in accordance with guidelines issued by the Secretary.
(d)The amount of each Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship shall be provided directly to each recipient selected by the Secretary upon receipt of certification that the recipient will adhere to a specific and detailed plan of study and research approved by the sponsoring institution.
(e)The Secretary shall make 1 percent of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act [16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.] available for Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships.
(f)Repayment of the award shall be made to the Secretary in the case of fraud or noncompliance.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is title III of Pub. L. 92–532, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1061, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1431 of this title and Tables. Codification For similar provisions relating to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, see section 1445c of this title. Section was enacted as part of the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, and also as part of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, and not as part of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 1445c–1

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73