Prohibition on NSF funding to descope or decommission the Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments; maintenance of operations

(a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Science Foundation may not obligate or expend any Federal funds to decommission or descope the Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments anchored off the States of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and North Carolina, and in the Irminger Sea, until the National Science Foundation conducts a thorough review of the Initiative, and the national assets that it provides, with robust stakeholder engagement from the scientific and coastal communities. (b) Maintenance of operations The Director of the National Science Foundation shall maintain the Ocean Observatories Initiative with full and consistent operations, including monitoring in all States that had instruments decommissioned, until the full review described in subsection (a) has been completed.