[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2129-H2132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today 
and rule XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
bill, H.R. 3164.

                              {time}  1043


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 3164) to describe the hydrographic services functions of the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and for other purposes, with Mr. Gillmor in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the bill 
is considered as having been read the first time.
  The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, the purpose of H.R. 3164 is to speed up the critically 
needed improvements to our Nation's nautical charting program. Nautical 
charting receives much less publicity or funding than either highway 
construction or airline safety, but it is just as important to the 
United States' economy, particularly in today's world of international 
trade.

                              {time}  1045

  However, funding for nautical charting has been cut in half over the 
last 15 years, and at the present time it will take nearly 30 years 
just to bring the minimum number of charts necessary to ensure safe 
navigation in U.S. waters up to modern standards.
  Congress has recognized the need for more support for this program 
and increased appropriations for nautical charting over the last 4 
fiscal years. However, with only three Federal survey ships available, 
serious efforts to reduce the charting backlog will require a 
partnership between the Federal Government and private contractors. 
This process has moved slowly over the last 3 years due to 
disagreements over the extent of Federal and private responsibilities 
in ensuring data accuracy.
  H.R. 3164 defines these responsibilities, allowing the process of 
reducing the backlog to proceed more quickly. It authorizes the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain sufficient 
ships and personnel to certify the accuracy of charts and protect the 
government from liability.
  After this requirement is satisfied, all additional survey work will 
be carried out by the private sector. H.R. 3164 also sets policy for 
modernizing tide and current prediction systems in major ports and 
authorizes increased appropriations for nautical charting and tide and 
current programs.
  At the funding levels authorized in this bill, the survey backlog 
could be completed at least 30 percent faster, and commercial vessels 
as well as private boats would be able to take advantage of modern 
navigational technologies, and have the potential to significantly 
improve safety and efficiency on our waterways.
  Mr. Chairman, investing in these programs yields a huge payoff in 
both economic competitiveness and environmental protection. We need to 
make this small investment now in order to protect ourselves from 
possible serious dangers in the future.
  The bill is an important step in the right direction, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I would like to first commend my good friend, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, for his leadership and for 
bringing this piece of legislation to the floor for consideration by 
this body.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 3164. The need for accurate nautical 
charts to promote safe navigation was recognized by Thomas Jefferson, 
who as President in 1807, established a coast survey to produce charts 
and collect other data needed by mariners. Maritime transportation and 
the technology used in collecting and disseminating nautical data have 
changed dramatically since then, but the need for accurate and timely 
data for safe navigation has not.
  Mr. Chairman, in recent years our Federal program to produce nautical 
charts carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration has fallen on hard times. In constant dollars, funding 
for these activities has fallen 50 percent over the last 25 years.
  NOAA currently has only three ships in service collecting charting 
data, down from 11 vessels in 1971. Yet there is a backlog of some 
39,000 square miles of heavily traveled marine areas with inadequate or 
obsolete surveys. Many of these areas were last surveyed with weighted 
lead lines, a technology that Mr. Jefferson would have been familiar 
with.
  With today's tight budgets and rapidly changing technology, Mr. 
Chairman, there is a recognition that NOAA's nautical charting program 
needs to be modernized. H.R. 3164 provides a blueprint by which NOAA 
can continue to provide data vital to the maritime community while 
allowing the maximum opportunity for the private sector to participate 
in that process. The subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) has very effectively detailed the specifics of what 
H.R. 3164 will provide.
  Mr. Chairman, suffice it to say, H.R. 3164 establishes clear and 
appropriate roles for the government and the private sector in the 
collection, processing and dissemination of nautical data. Importantly, 
the bill provides NOAA with the flexibility to require the services of 
contractors based on qualification and not on cost. This change in law 
is especially important in the collection of hydrographic data where 
lives and property could be lost if mistakes are made.
  Mr. Chairman, in short this is win-win legislation. The private 
sector benefits from an increased share of NOAA's charting work being 
outsourced; the government benefits from its being able to avail itself 
of the latest technology through contractors without being burdened by 
substantial acquisition costs for capital assets. The public benefits 
from having more accurate, up-to-date nautical charts produced at lower 
cost.
  In summary, Mr. Chairman, the bill authorizes a total of $581 million 
for 5 years for hydrographic and geodetic programs for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The bill also clarifies NOAA's 
hydrographic responsibilities. It requires NOAA to the greatest extent 
possible to contract with private sector companies to conduct nautical 
surveys and prepare nautical charts. It authorizes NOAA to maintain 
sufficient vessels, equipment and expertise to certify the accuracy of 
U.S. nautical charts and other hydrographic products.
  The bill also establishes a quality assurance program under which 
NOAA may certify that non-Federal hydrographic products meet Federal 
standards and provides for the modernization of tide and current 
measurement systems in major ports.
  The measure is intended to enact into law the division of survey and 
other responsibilities agreed to in 1997 between NOAA and the private 
sector, and to increase funding for these activities so that the 
existing backlog of nautical surveys may be more quickly addressed.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H2130]]

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Traficant), my good friend.
  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good friends the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Saxton). I commend them on a fine bill.
  I guess I am talking about an issue that no one seems to talk about, 
and I, for the life of me, do not understand it. This past month we had 
another record trade deficit. China is exceeding $5 billion in 
surpluses every month with Uncle Sam now. And Japan, who has been 
threatened by every President since Nixon with sanctions if they did 
not open up their markets, is cleaning our clock in excess now of $60 
billion. If you are an American worker, this is about the plight of it.
  American televisions are made in Mexico. American typewriters are 
made in Mexico. American telephones are made in Singapore. American 
computers and VCR's are made in China and Japan; radios in China and 
Japan; high-tech electronics, China and Japan. America is slowly again 
becoming a colony, a colony of trade activity. To me, it is 
unbelievable.
  Another record trade deficit, in my opinion, that endangers our 
national security where China is now buying missiles, attack aircraft, 
and nuclear submarines with our dollars, and for the life of me, it 
seems nobody is listening.
  More of our products are being made overseas. And the final insult to 
what is the intelligence of the American people, time after time 
foreign products come into America bearing a fraudulent ``Made in 
America'' label and they continue to laugh in our face. I support this 
bill 100 percent.
  I am furthermore confident about its impact because of the chairman 
and the people who have crafted the legislation. But I want to say 
this: My little amendment, I think, should even be expanded in this 
Congress and should be fortified. But I will be offering an amendment 
that I would like Members' support on that would do the following:
  It says that anyone who gets any money under this act shall basically 
agree to comply with the Buy American Act that has been passed and set 
into law by the Congress.
  Second of all, it says that when anybody is getting money under this 
bill, we cannot force it, but Congress encourages them; that is how 
weak we are, to at least buy and shop for American-made goods and 
products.
  Third of all, we say the Secretary of Commerce shall provide to 
anybody getting any money under this act a notice where the Congress 
encourages them to wherever possible try and buy one from the Gipper. 
And finally, this legislation would prohibit any contracts being 
awarded to anyone who fraudulently places a ``Made in America'' label 
on a foreign import. That may be more important than all of it, but let 
me just let the Congress of the United States know, they are being 
authorized for appropriation $800 million under this bill.
  I am hoping my good friend from Louisiana, one of the strongest 
proworker representatives in the Congress, would also take a look at 
the 1-800 Buy America bill.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to commend the gentleman for 
the well-thought-out amendment. It certainly does a great deal to 
enhance our bill. As one of our staffers said a little while ago, we 
should have thought of this ourselves. I commend the gentleman for his 
forethought and his effort in bringing the amendment to the floor, 
which apparently he will do in just a few minutes. I thank the 
gentleman for yielding to me.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend for yielding to me. He is 
the most outspoken person on this floor in defense of buy-American 
policies and the workers of America who lose their jobs to this growing 
trade deficit.
  I want to commend him for constantly being on this floor and 
constantly reminding us in all of our legislation to focus on those 
very salient points he made.
  I want to also remind the gentleman, we are beginning a debate around 
America on the whole issue of how we collect Federal taxes in this 
country. Just to point out to him that this growing trade deficit is 
not due to one cause, but it is not unaffected by the fact that because 
we collect income taxes on America, which we cannot exempt from our 
exports, and we cannot apply to imports, and income taxes themselves 
add somewhere between 10 and 25 percent to the cost of every American 
export and every American product we try to consume in this country. 
Whereas, foreign products come in now more and more tax free, under 
GATT and NAFTA, they come in from countries that exempt their consumer 
taxes on them so that they can compete unfairly with good old American 
workers and American products.
  And if there is one thing that is driving me around this country in 
this national debate over taxes, it is this problem; that our Tax Code 
punishes an American for buying a product made in America, and rewards 
us for buying something made overseas. We ought to do something about 
changing that. I thank my friend for his vigilance on this point.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to say, I am 
encouraged by the comments of the chairman from New Jersey and our 
distinguished chairman, who is leading a tremendous fight with the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Dan Schaefer) on the Tax Code, and I 
support that. I think we reward dependence, subsidize illegitimacy, 
kill investments with our Tax Code. We must make a significant change.
  Also, as part of that, I must say this: I have come to despair on the 
Congress' intent to deal with the buy-American aspects of our law. That 
is why I have submitted 1-800 Buy America. I believe that only the 
American consumers now can really, through their consciences, be 
prepared to look at and shop for American-made goods.
  Now, I do believe we should not be protectionist in it. We cannot 
force anybody to buy our products. But I think we should incentivize 
every opportunity available for the American consumer to make a choice 
and to let them at least market American-made goods and products.
  This is a little bit off base. I thank both the respective leaders of 
this bill on the floor, and I will offer my amendment, and I hope that 
it will be approved and will stay in the conference.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I certainly want to commend the gentleman from Ohio for his comments. 
I, for one, cannot think of a more able and consistent advocate here on 
the floor of the House than the gentleman from Ohio for supporting and 
always pressing for the fact that we should buy American, and the fact 
that American workers and those who are managing corporate communities 
should be working together so that the Americans should buy American 
products.

                              {time}  1100

  And I cannot thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) enough for 
advocating this issue again. And I do thank the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) for complementing the provisions of this bill.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 
3164, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. I am an 
original cosponsor of this legislation, which was introduced by our 
colleague, Jim Saxton, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries 
Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans.
  The purpose of the bill is to make much-needed improvements in the 
U.S. nautical charting program. The United States, and especially the 
State of Alaska, is dependent on marine transportation. However, every 
day large ships traverse 40,000 square miles of U.S. waterways that 
have shallow waters, known obstacles, and obsolete or inadequate 
charts. The vast majority of these critical areas are in Alaska. At 
last year's funding level, it will take more than 30 years to update 
the charts in Alaska alone. In the meantime, we are entrusting a 
significant portion of the Nation's oil supply, the safety of fishermen 
and

[[Page H2131]]

cruise ship passengers, and the health of the marine environment to 
inadequate charts. This situation is not acceptable.
  H.R. 3164 will help to correct this problem. First, it authorizes 
increased funding for nautical charting. Second, it will increase the 
use of private survey contractors to supply data used in producing U.S. 
charts. This will greatly increase the number of ships and other 
resources that can be used to reduce the backlog as quickly as 
possible.
  We cannot afford to wait any longer to correct the nautical charting 
backlog. H.R. 3164 is an important contribution to fixing this problem, 
and I urge all of you to support it.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Gillmor). All time for general debate has expired.
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of 
Amendment No. 1 printed in the Congressional Record shall be considered 
by sections as an original bill for the purpose of amendment, and 
pursuant to the order of the House of today, each section is considered 
read.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman may 
accord priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment that 
he has printed in the designated place in the Congressional Record. 
Those amendments will be considered read.
  The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for 
a recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5 
minutes the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately 
follows another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first 
question shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
  The Clerk will designate section 1.
  The text of section 1 is as follows:

       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 of 1998''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 1?
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder 
of the amendment in the nature of a substitute be printed in the Record 
and open to amendment at any point.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the remainder of the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute is as follows:

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       (2) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
       (3) Hydrographic data.--The term ``hydrographic data'' 
     means information acquired through hydrographic or 
     bathymetric surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic measurements, 
     tide and current observations, or other methods, that is used 
     in providing hydrographic services.
       (4) Hydrographic services.--The term ``hydrographic 
     services'' means--
       (A) the management, maintenance, interpretation, 
     certification, and dissemination of bathymetric, 
     hydrographic, geodetic, and tide and current information, 
     including the production of nautical charts, nautical 
     information databases, and other products derived from 
     hydrographic data;
       (B) the development of nautical information systems; and
       (C) related activities.
       (5) Act of 1947.--The term ``Act of 1947'' 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. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

       (a) Responsibilities.--To fulfill the data gathering and 
     dissemination duties of the Administration under the Act of 
     1947, the Administrator shall--
       (1) acquire hydrographic data;
       (2) promulgate standards for hydrographic data used by the 
     Administration in providing hydrographic services;
       (3) promulgate standards for hydrographic services provided 
     by the Administration;
       (4) ensure comprehensive geographic coverage of 
     hydrographic services, in cooperation with other appropriate 
     Federal agencies;
       (5) maintain a national database of hydrographic data, in 
     cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies;
       (6) provide hydrographic services in uniform, easily 
     accessible formats;
       (7) participate in the development of, and implement for 
     the United States in cooperation with other appropriate 
     Federal agencies, international standards for hydrographic 
     data and hydrographic services; and
       (8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-effective, 
     fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (6) through 
     contracts or other agreements with private sector entities.
       (b) Authorities.--To fulfill the data gathering and 
     dissemination duties of the Administration under the Act of 
     1947, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
     Administrator--
       (1) 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) may enter into contracts and other agreements with 
     qualified entities, consistent with subsection (a)(8), for 
     the acquisition of hydrographic data and the provision of 
     hydrographic services;
       (3) 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. 
     541 et seq.); and
       (4) may, subject to section 5, design and install where 
     appropriate Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems to 
     enhance navigation safety and efficiency.

     SEC. 4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``hydrographic product'' means any publicly or commercially 
     available product produced by a non-Federal entity that 
     includes or displays hydrographic data.
       (b) Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator may--
       (A) develop and implement a quality assurance program, 
     under which the Administrator may certify hydrographic 
     products that satisfy the standards promulgated by the 
     Administrator under section 3(a)(3);
       (B) authorize the use of the emblem or any trademark of the 
     Administration on a hydrographic product certified under 
     subparagraph (A); and
       (C) charge a fee for such certification and use.
       (2) Limitation on fee amount.--Any fee under paragraph 
     (1)(C) shall not exceed the costs of conducting the quality 
     assurance testing, evaluation, or studies necessary to 
     determine whether the hydrographic product satisfies the 
     standards adopted under section 3(a)(3), including the cost 
     of administering such a program.
       (c) Limitation on Liability.--The Government of the United 
     States shall not be liable for any negligence by a person 
     that produces hydrographic products certified under this 
     section.
       (d) Hydrographic Services Account.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a 
     separate account, which shall be known as the Hydrographic 
     Services Account.
       (2) Content.--The account shall consist of--
       (A) amounts received by the United States as fees charged 
     under subsection (b)(1)(C); and
       (B) such other amounts as may be provided by law.
       (3) Limitation; Deposit. Fees deposited in this account 
     during any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be 
     deposited and credited as offsetting collections to the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, 
     Research, and Facilities account. No amounts collected 
     pursuant to this section for any fiscal year may be spent 
     except to the extent provided in advance in appropriations 
     Acts.
       (e) Limitation on New Fees and Increases in Existing Fees 
     for Hydrographic Services.--After the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Administrator may not--
       (1) establish any fee or other charge for the provision of 
     any hydrographic service except as authorized by this 
     section; or
       (2) increase the amount of any fee or other charge for the 
     provision of any hydrographic service except as authorized by 
     this section and section 1307 of title 44, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 5. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC 
                   REAL-TIME SYSTEMS.

       (a) New Systems.--After the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Administrator may not design or install any Physical 
     Oceanographic Real-Time System, unless the local sponsor of 
     the system or another Federal agency has agreed to assume the 
     cost of operating and maintaining the system within 90 days 
     after the date the system becomes operational.
       (b) Existing Systems.--After October 1, 1999, the 
     Administration shall cease to operate Physical Oceanographic 
     Real-Time Systems, other than any system for which the local 
     sponsor or another Federal agency has agreed to assume the 
     cost of operating and maintaining the system by January 1, 
     1999.

     SEC. 6. REPORTS.

       (a) Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall report to the 
     Congress on a plan to increase, consistent with this Act, 
     contracting with the private sector for photogrammetric and 
     remote sensing services related to hydrographic data 
     acquisition or hydrographic services. In preparing the 
     report, the Administrator shall consult with private sector 
     entities knowledgeable in photogrammetry and remote sensing.

[[Page H2132]]

       (2) Contents.--The report shall include the following:
       (A) An assessment of which of the photogrammetric and 
     remote sensing services related to hydrographic data 
     acquisition or hydrographic services performed by the 
     National Ocean Service can be performed adequately by 
     private-sector entities.
       (B) An evaluation of the relative cost-effectiveness of the 
     Federal Government and private-sector entities in performing 
     those services.
       (C) A plan for increasing the use of contracts with 
     private-sector entities in performing those services, with 
     the goal of obtaining performance of 50 percent of those 
     services through contracts with private-sector entities by 
     fiscal year 2003.
       (b) Ports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall report to the 
     Congress on--
       (1) the status of implementation of real-time tide and 
     current data systems in United States ports;
       (2) existing safety and efficiency needs in United States 
     ports that could be met by increased use of those systems; 
     and
       (3) a plan for expanding those systems to meet those needs, 
     including an estimate of the cost of implementing those 
     systems in priority locations.
       (c) Maintaining Federal Expertise in Hydrographic 
     Services.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall report to the 
     Congress on a plan to ensure that Federal competence and 
     expertise in hydrographic surveying will be maintained after 
     the decommissioning of the 3 existing National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration hydrographic survey vessels.
       (2) Contents.--The report shall include--
       (A) an evaluation of the seagoing capacity, personnel, and 
     equipment necessary to maintain Federal expertise in 
     hydrographic services;
       (B) an estimated schedule for decommissioning the 3 
     existing survey vessels;
       (C) a plan to maintain Federal expertise in hydrographic 
     services after the decommissioning of these vessels; and
       (D) an estimate of the cost of carrying out this plan.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
     the following:
       (1) To carry out nautical mapping and charting functions 
     under the Act of 1947 and sections 3 and 4, except for 
     conducting hydrographic surveys, $33,000,000 for fiscal year 
     1999, $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $35,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2001, $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and 
     $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
       (2) To conduct hydrographic surveys under section 3(a)(1), 
     including leasing of ships, $33,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
     $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $37,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2001, $39,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $41,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003. Of these amounts, no more than $14,000,000 
     is authorized for any one fiscal year to operate hydrographic 
     survey vessels owned and operated by the Administration.
       (3) To carry out geodetic functions under the Act of 1947, 
     $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and $22,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
       (4) To carry out tide and current measurement functions 
     under the Act of 1947, $22,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
     1999 through 2003. Of these amounts, $2,500,000 is authorized 
     for each fiscal year to implement and operate a national 
     quality control system for real-time tide and current data, 
     and $7,500,000 is authorized for each fiscal year to design 
     and install real-time tide and current data measurement 
     systems under section 3(b)(4) (subject to section 5).
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to the bill?


                   Amendment Offered by Mr. Traficant

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Traficant:
       At the end of the bill, add the following new sections:

     SEC. ____. COMPLIANCE WITH BUY AMERICAN ACT.

       No funds authorized pursuant to this Act may be expended by 
     an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the 
     assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 
     of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c, popularly 
     known as the ``Buy American Act'').

     SEC. ____. SENSE OF CONGRESS; REQUIREMENT REGARDING NOTICE.

       (a) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products.--In 
     the case of any equipment or products that may be authorized 
     to be purchased with financial assistance provided under this 
     Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving 
     such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase 
     only American-made equipment and products.
       (b) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.--In providing 
     financial assistance under this Act, the Secretary of 
     Commerce shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a 
     notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the 
     Congress.

     SEC. ____. PROHIBITION OF CONTRACTS.

       If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal 
     agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing 
     a ``Made in America'' inscription, or any inscription with 
     the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the 
     United States that is not made in the United States, such 
     person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or 
     subcontract made with funds provided pursuant to this Act, 
     pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility 
     procedures described in section 9.400 through 9.409 of title 
     48, Code of Federal Regulations.

  Mr. TRAFICANT (during the reading). Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous 
consent the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Chairman, the amendment has been discussed in the 
debate earlier. I offer it here, and I would hope that all of the parts 
of this respectively would remain in conference, especially those that 
deal with fraudulent labels.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other amendments?
  If not, the question is on the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, as amended.
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was agreed 
to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the 
Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Pease) having assumed the chair, Mr. Gillmor, Chairman of the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that 
Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3164) to 
describe the hydrographic services functions of the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other 
purposes, pursuant to the order of the House today, he reported the 
bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the Committee of 
the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Under the rule, the previous 
question is ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on the amendment to the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute adopted by the Committee of the Whole? If not, 
the question is on the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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