[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1582 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1582

To reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 7, 2007

  Mr. Inouye (for himself, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Cantwell, and Ms. Snowe) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hydrographic Services Improvement 
Act Amendments of 2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 302 through 306 as sections 
        303 through 307, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 301 the following:

``SEC. 302. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) In 2007, the Nation celebrates the 200th anniversary 
        of its oldest scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, which 
        was authorized by Congress and created by President Thomas 
        Jefferson in 1807 to conduct surveys of the coast and provide 
        nautical charts for safe passage through the Nation's ports and 
        along its extensive coastline.
            ``(2) These mission requirements and capabilities, which 
        today are located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, evolved over time to include--
                    ``(A) research, development, operations, products, 
                and services associated with hydrographic, geodetic, 
                shoreline, and baseline surveying;
                    ``(B) cartography, mapping, and charting;
                    ``(C) tides, currents, and water level 
                observations;
                    ``(D) maintenance of a national spatial reference 
                system; and
                    ``(E) associated products and services.
            ``(3) There is a need to maintain Federal expertise and 
        capability in hydrographic data and services to support a safe 
        and efficient marine transportation system for the enhancement 
        and promotion of international trade and interstate commerce 
        vital to the Nation's economic prosperity and for myriad other 
        commercial and recreational activities.
            ``(4) The Nation's marine transportation system is becoming 
        increasingly congested, the volume of international maritime 
        commerce is expected to double within the next 20 years, and 
        nearly half of the cargo transiting United States waters is 
        oil, refined petroleum products, or other hazardous substances.
            ``(5) In addition to commerce, hydrographic data and 
        services support other national needs for the Great Lakes and 
        coastal waters, the territorial sea, the Exclusive Economic 
        Zone, and the continental shelf of the United States, 
        including--
                    ``(A) emergency response;
                    ``(B) homeland security;
                    ``(C) marine resource conservation;
                    ``(D) coastal resiliency to sea-level rise, coastal 
                inundation, and other hazards;
                    ``(E) ocean and coastal science advancement; and
                    ``(F) improved and integrated ocean and coastal 
                mapping and observations for an integrated ocean 
                observing system.
            ``(6) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        in cooperation with other agencies and the States, serves as 
        the Nation's leading civil authority for establishing and 
        maintaining national standards and datums for hydrographic data 
        and services.
            ``(7) The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's Office of Coast Survey serves as the National 
        Hydrographer and the primary United States representative to 
        the international hydrographic community, including the 
        International Hydrographic Organization.
            ``(8) The hydrographic expertise, data, and services of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide the 
        underlying and authoritative basis for baseline and boundary 
        demarcation, including the establishment of marine and coastal 
        territorial limits and jurisdiction, such as the Exclusive 
        Economic Zone.
            ``(9) Research, development and application of new 
        technologies will further increase efficiency, promote the 
        Nation's competitiveness, provide social and economic benefits, 
        enhance safety and environmental protection, and reduce risks.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            ``(1) to augment the ability of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to fulfill its responsibilities 
        under this and other authorities;
            ``(2) to provide more accurate and up-to-date hydrographic 
        data and services in support of safe and efficient 
        international trade and interstate commerce, including--
                    ``(A) hydrographic surveys;
                    ``(B) electronic navigational charts;
                    ``(C) real-time tide, water level, and current 
                information and forecasting;
                    ``(D) shoreline surveys; and
                    ``(E) geodesy and 3-dimensional positioning data;
            ``(3) to support homeland security, emergency response, 
        ecosystem approaches to marine management, and coastal 
        resiliency by providing hydrographic data and services with 
        many other useful operational, scientific, engineering, and 
        management applications, including--
                    ``(A) storm surge, tsunami, coastal flooding, 
                erosion, and pollution trajectory monitoring, 
                predictions, and warnings;
                    ``(B) marine and coastal geographic information 
                systems;
                    ``(C) habitat restoration;
                    ``(D) long-term sea-level trends; and
                    ``(E) more accurate environmental assessments and 
                monitoring;
            ``(4) to promote improved integrated ocean and coastal 
        mapping and observations through increased coordination and 
        cooperation;
            ``(5) to provide for and support research and development 
        in hydrographic data, services and related technologies to 
        enhance the efficiency, accuracy and availability of 
        hydrographic data and services and thereby promote the Nation's 
        scientific and technological competitiveness; and
            ``(6) to provide national and international leadership for 
        hydrographic and related services, sciences, and 
        technologies.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892), as redesignated by section 2, is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Hydrographic data.--The term ``hydrographic data'' 
        means information acquired through hydrographic, bathymetric, 
        or shoreline surveying; geodetic, geospatial, or geomagnetic 
        measurements; tide, water level, and current observations, or 
        other methods, that is used in providing hydrographic 
        services.'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (4)(A) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) the management, maintenance, interpretation, 
                certification, and dissemination of bathymetric, 
                hydrographic, shoreline, geodetic, geospatial, 
                geomagnetic, and tide, water level, and current 
                information, including the production of nautical 
                charts, nautical information databases, and other 
                products derived from hydrographic data;''; and
            (3) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
            ``(5) Coast and Geodetic Survey Act.--The term `Coast and 
        Geodetic Survey Act' means the Act entitled `An Act to define 
        the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and 
        for other purposes', approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et 
        seq.).''.

SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

    Section 304 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892a), as redesignated by section 2, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the Act of 1947,'' in subsection (a) and 
        inserting ``the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act, promote safe, 
        efficient, and environmentally sound marine transportation, and 
        otherwise fulfill the purposes of this Act,'';
            (2) by striking ``data;'' in subsection (a)1) and inserting 
        ``data and provide hydrographic services;''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Authorities.--To fulfill the data gathering and dissemination 
duties of the Administration under the Coast and Geodetic Survey Act, 
promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sound marine 
transportation, and otherwise fulfill the purposes of this Act, subject 
to the availability of appropriations--
            ``(1) the Administrator may procure, lease, evaluate, test, 
        develop, and operate vessels, equipment, and technologies 
        necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain operational 
        expertise in hydrographic data acquisition and hydrographic 
        services;
            ``(2) the Administrator shall design, install, maintain, 
        and operate real-time hydrographic monitoring systems to 
        enhance navigation safety and efficiency;
            ``(3) where appropriate and to the extent that it does not 
        detract from the promotion of safe and efficient navigation, 
        the Administrator may acquire hydrographic data and provide 
        hydrographic services to support the conservation and 
        management of coastal and ocean resources;
            ``(4) where appropriate, the Administrator may acquire 
        hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services to save and 
        protect life and property and support the resumption of 
        commerce in response to emergencies, natural and man-made 
        disasters, and homeland security and maritime domain awareness 
        needs, including obtaining Mission Assignments as defined in 
        section 641 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 
        of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 741);
            ``(5) the Administrator may create, support, and maintain 
        such joint centers, and enter into and perform such contracts, 
        leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary 
        to carry out the purposes of this Act; and
            ``(6) notwithstanding paragraph (5), the Administrator 
        shall award contracts for the acquisition of hydrographic data 
        in accordance with title IX of the Federal Property and 
        Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 1101 et 
        seq.).''.

SEC. 5. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.

    Subsection (b) of section 305 of the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892b), as redesignated by section 2, 
is amended by striking ``303(a)(3)'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``304(a)(3)''.

SEC. 6. HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES REVIEW PANEL.

    Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892c), as redesignated by section 2, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``303'' in subsection (b)(1) and inserting 
        ``304'';
            (2) by striking subsection (c)(1)(A) and inserting ``(A) 
        The panel shall consist of 15 voting members who shall be 
        appointed by the Administrator. The Co-directors of the Joint 
        Hydrographic Institute and no more than 2 employees of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration appointed by 
        the Administrator shall serve as nonvoting members of the 
        panel. The voting members of the panel shall be individuals 
        who, by reason of knowledge, experience, or training, are 
        especially qualified in 1 or more of the disciplines and fields 
        relating to hydrographic data and hydrographic services, and 
        other disciplines as determined appropriate by the 
        Administrator.'';
            (3) by striking ``Secretary'' in subsections (c)(1)(C), 
        (c)(3), and (e) and inserting ``Administrator''; and
            (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Compensation.--Voting members of the panel shall be 
reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses, such as travel and per 
diem, incurred in the performance of such duties.''.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 307 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892d), as redesignated by section 2, is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 307. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for the 
purposes of carrying out this Act.''.
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