[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H10613-H10615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2007

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1582) to reauthorize and amend the 
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and for other purposes, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from West Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 1582

       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:

[[Page H10614]]

       ``(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:

[[Page H10615]]

       ``(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.''.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________