[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1782-H1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2008

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 3352) to reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3352

       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 2008''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 302 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 
     1998 (33 U.S.C. 892) is amended--
       (1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
       ``(3) Hydrographic data.--The term `hydrographic data' 
     means information that--
       ``(A) is acquired through--
       ``(i) hydrographic, bathymetric, photogrammetric, lidar, 
     radar, remote sensing, or shoreline and other ocean- and 
     coastal-related surveying;
       ``(ii) geodetic, geospatial, or geomagnetic measurements;
       ``(iii) tide, water level, and current observations; or
       ``(iv) other methods; and
       ``(B) is used in providing hydrographic services.'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (4)(A) to read as follows:
       ``(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).

     SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

       Section 303 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 
     1998 (33 U.S.C. 892a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``the Act of 1947,'' and inserting ``the 
     Coast and Geodetic Survey Act (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``data;'' and inserting 
     ``data and provide hydrographic services;'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``the Act of 1947,'' and inserting ``the 
     Coast and Geodetic Survey Act (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.)'';
       (B) in paragraph (3) by striking ``title IX of the Federal 
     Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949; and'' and 
     inserting ``subchapter VI of chapter 10 of title 40, United 
     States Code;'';
       (C) in paragraph (4) by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) may create, support, and maintain a Joint 
     Hydrographic Institute.''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Acquisition of Hydrographic Data and Provide 
     Hydrographic Services.--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--
       ``(1) support the conservation and management of coastal 
     and ocean resources;
       ``(2) save and protect life and property;
       ``(3) support the resumption of commerce in response to 
     emergencies, natural disasters, and man-made disasters, and
       ``(4) meet homeland security and maritime domain awareness 
     needs, including carrying out mission assignments (as that 
     term is defined in section 641 of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
     Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 741).''.

     SEC. 4. HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES REVIEW PANEL.

       Section 305 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 
     1998 (33 U.S.C. 892c) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by striking ``Director'' and 
     inserting ``Co-directors'';
       (2) in subsections (c)(1)(C), (c)(3), and (e) by striking 
     ``Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``Administrator''; and
       (3) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
       ``(d) Compensation.--Voting members of the panel shall be 
     reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses, including 
     travel and per diem, incurred in the performance of duties 
     for the panel.''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 
     1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Administrator the following:

[[Page H1783]]

       ``(1) To carry out nautical mapping and charting functions 
     under sections 303 and 304, except for conducting 
     hydrographic surveys--
       ``(A) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       ``(D) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       ``(2) To contract for hydrographic surveys under section 
     303(b)(1), including the leasing or time chartering of 
     vessels--
       ``(A) $32,130,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $32,760,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $33,390,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       ``(D) $34,020,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       ``(3) To operate hydrographic survey vessels owned by the 
     United States and operated by the Administration--
       ``(A) $25,900,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $26,400,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $26,900,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       ``(D) $27,400,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       ``(4) To carry out geodetic functions under this title--
       ``(A) $32,640,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $32,280,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $33,920,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       ``(D) $34,560,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       ``(5) To carry out tide and current measurement functions 
     under this title--
       ``(A) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       ``(B) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(C) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
       ``(D) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       ``(6) To acquire a replacement hydrographic survey vessel 
     capable of staying at sea continuously for at least 30 days 
     $75,000,000.''.

     SEC. 6. ADDITION OF SHORT TITLE TO EXISTING LAW.

       The Act of August 6, 1947 (chapter 504; 33 U.S.C. 883a et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This Act may be cited as the `Coast and Geodetic Survey 
     Act'.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3352 was introduced by my colleague and our good 
friend from Alaska (Mr. Young), and it amends the Hydrographic Services 
Improvement Act to authorize the administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration to expand the use of hydrographic data 
and hydrographic services.
  The Office of Coast Survey, which is within NOAA's National Ocean 
Service, conducts hydrographic surveys measuring the depth and bottom 
configuration of bodies of water. The Hydrographic Services Review 
Panel, a quality assurance program authorized in 2002, suggested 
several recommendations to improve NOAA's hydrographic services. 
Strengthening the emergency response and recovery capabilities were 
among the recommendations suggested. H.R. 3352 addresses these 
recommendations directly, and meets homeland security and maritime 
domain awareness needs.
  I want to commend our friend Congressman Don Young for introducing 
this bill, and urge all Members to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3352.
  Hydrographic surveys and shoreline mapping activities provide data to 
produce accurate nautical charts. Many vessels from large container 
ships and oil tankers to the smaller commercial fishing vessels and 
recreational boaters rely on nautical charts to safely navigate U.S. 
waterways. There is currently a backlog in the survey work, making many 
nautical charts out of date. H.R. 3352 will reauthorize the program 
that supports hydrographic surveys and shoreline mapping activities, 
and continue the efforts to provide all users with accurate nautical 
charts. I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3352, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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