[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6991-H6992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZATION OF HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES SPECIFIC TO THE ARCTIC.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 295) to amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement
Act of 1998 to authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide
hydrographic services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation,
delineating the United States extended continental shelf, and the
monitoring and description of coastal changes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 295
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of
1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d) is amended--
(1) by inserting before the text the following: ``(a) In
General.--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Arctic Programs.--Of the amount authorized by this
section for fiscal year 2012--
``(1) $5,000,000 is authorized for use to acquire
hydrographic data, provide hydrographic services, conduct
coastal change analyses necessary to ensure safe navigation,
and improve the management of coastal change in the Arctic;
and
``(2) $2,000,000 is authorized for use to acquire
hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services in the
Arctic necessary to delineate the United States extended
Continental Shelf.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs.
Napolitano) each will control 20 minutes.
[[Page H6992]]
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alaska?
There was no objection.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 295 would use existing authorized appropriations in
the Hydrographic Survey Improvement Act of 1998 for fiscal year 2012 to
fund surveys and mapping activities in the Arctic.
Currently, base hydrographic data in the Arctic is woefully
inadequate and not sufficient to support current, let alone future,
marine activity. With the last major hydrographic survey activity
having occurred more than 60 years ago, after World War II, and with
other areas not having been surveyed since the 1800s, there's a lot of
work to do.
As we all know, the Arctic has become the focus of many of its
surrounding nations to determine ownership of the sea bed and any
potential energy sources in the area. In addition, the lack of sea ice
is opening up shipping routes to commercial and recreational vessels.
H.R. 295 is an effort to move this process forward, and this bill is
necessary to emphasize the need for the agency to collect hydrographic
data and provide hydrographic services in the Arctic region. Last
Congress, similar legislation passed out of the House by a roll call
vote of 420-0.
I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. NAPOLITANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. I rise in support of H.R. 295, as amended, which
would amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to
authorize appropriations specifically for the acquisition of
hydrographic data and coastal change analysis in the Arctic Ocean.
Again, I commend my colleague for this forward-looking piece of
legislation. We sometimes ignore scientific evidence that will help us
be able to gauge where the rest of the world is going to be in regard
to changes in the atmosphere, et cetera.
And as scientific evidence does show, melting Arctic sea ice is
drastically changing the Arctic landscape. The collection of data
authorized by this bill would help NOAA delineate the U.S.-extended
Continental Shelf, monitor coastal and ice pack changes, and also
provide information so critical to international commerce, to our
national defense, and to our natural resource management in that area.
I again commend and thank my colleague, Congressman Young from
Alaska, for introducing the bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 295, ``the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to
authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic
services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineating the
United States extended continental shelf, and the monitoring and
description of coastal changes'' which amends the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act of 1998 to provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) with the funds necessary to accurately map the
U.S. Arctic.
Thomas Jefferson signed into law legislation that would result in a
complete survey of our coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) has been honoring this mandate by charting our
waters for over 200 years. NOAA develops and supplies a variety of
products which enables vessels to safely navigate our waterways. These
products include nautical charts, tide, current and weather
information. These projects are vital to safe navigation of our coast.
I represent the 18th District of Texas, which contains one of the
world's leading ports, the Port of Houston. I understand the importance
of providing pilots and captains with precise and accurate maps. Having
a detailed representation of our nation's terrain ensures the safety of
ships, their crew and their cargo. We must remember that every single
day, thousands of vessels enter America's ports. These ports are vital
to our economy.
The Port of Houston, which consists of the uppermost 26 miles of the
Houston Ship Channel, is a significant economic engine locally,
regionally and nationally. Each year, the port is responsible for
nearly $285 billion in economic activity, supports more than 1.5
million direct and indirect jobs and generates $16.2 billion in tax
revenue annually nationwide. Ships that enter ports like the Port of
Houston carry cargo that is going to enter our stream of commerce and
boast our economy. Across our nation this is a one trillion dollar
industry that supports more than 13 million jobs in the United States.
It is important to note that over 98 percent of the tonnage and more
than 59 percent of the value of our foreign trade is conveyed via the
maritime transportation system.
By expanding our map to include the Arctic, we expand the ability of
ships and airplanes to safely maneuver through those waters, thereby
expanding commerce and creating jobs. In addition, having a detailed
map of the Arctic is vital to our national security and can aid in the
detection of climate change in the region.
As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security
and Infrastructure Protection and Member of the Border and Maritime
Subcommittee, I know that it is imperative that we protect our borders
by land, air and by sea. As any Commander would agree, it is difficult
to mount a defense without having a map to clearly navigate the
terrain. The services provided by NOAA would allow us to map terrain
that has not been adequately mapped in decades.
Over the last five years there has been a dramatic change in sea ice
extents. They have decreased in thickness by 35 percent. This may be a
significant sign for environmental change. The decrease in sea ice
means that more ships may have access to the area, thereby opening
additional trade routes. To be clear, the erosion of sea ice has a
serious impact on the livelihoods of people living in the region. The
only way to begin to find an answer to the issues posed in the Arctic
is to have a studied and detailed analysis of its current structure and
how that structure has changed and may continue to change. These maps
will help to generate commerce, which will create jobs and help our
economy. At the same time these maps will be vital to noting any
significant changes to our environment. Lastly, knowing our waters
ensures that we will be able to defend ourselves against all enemies.
If indeed the erosion of the sea ice extends, it will provide
additional access to trade routes. It also provides additional access
to our nation. These maps will be an invaluable aid to protecting our
borders.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 295, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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