[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 106 (Monday, June 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5590-H5591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENTS ACT
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 221) to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 221
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 Amendments Act''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT
ACT OF 1998.
(a) Reauthorizations.--Section 306 of the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d) is
amended--
(1) by inserting before ``There are authorized'' the
following: ``(a) In General.--'';
(2) in subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1))--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``surveys--'' and all
that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting
``surveys, $70,814,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2023.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``vessels--'' and all
that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting
``vessels, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2023.'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Administration--'' and
all that follows through the end of the paragraph and
inserting ``Administration, $29,932,000 for each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2023.'';
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking
``title--'' and all that follows through the end of the
paragraph and inserting ``title, $26,800,000 for each of
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''; and
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking
``title--'' and all that follows through the end of the
paragraph and inserting ``title, $30,564,000 for each of
fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Arctic Programs.--Of the amount authorized by this
section for each fiscal year--
``(1) $10,000,000 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.''.
(b) Limitation on Administrative Expenses for Surveys.--
Section 306 of such Act (33
[[Page H5591]]
U.S.C. 892d) is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(c) Limitation on Administrative Expenses for Surveys.--
Of amounts authorized by this section for each fiscal year
for hydrographic surveys, not more than 5 percent is
authorized for administrative costs.''.
SEC. 3. GAO STUDY.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall, by not
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this
Act--
(1) conduct a study comparing the unit costs of
hydrographic surveys conducted by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the unit costs of procuring
performance of such surveys; and
(2) report to the Congress on the findings of such study.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Brown) each
will control 20 minutes.
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 within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material for 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 221, the
Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act.
I was an original cosponsor and chairman of the House Natural
Resources Committee when Representative Jim Saxton of New Jersey
introduced the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. My
legislation will reauthorize the act through 2022 and will allow NOAA
to conduct and contract for hydrographic surveys around the U.S., with
specific focus on the Arctic.
Alaska is what makes the United States an Arctic Nation. My State has
more coastline than any other State in this country, and we don't know
what is under the surface. We are seeing a significant increase in
vessel traffic, exploration, and resource development in our Arctic
waters.
While hydrographic surveys are a critical part of the maritime
safety, economic, and environmental efforts nationwide, they are
especially important in the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, there are more than 550,000 square nautical miles in the
U.S. Arctic exclusive economic zone, otherwise a 200-mile limit. It
would take decades to survey even half of that space.
NOAA has designated 38,000 miles as survey priority areas, and
estimates a range up to 25 years to survey just those priority areas,
if resources remain at their current level.
Alaskan waters are incredibly under-surveyed. Before this year, the
last time the entrances and mouth to the Yukon River were surveyed was
1899. The river is the most effective route to deliver food and goods
to coastal and inland villages in western Alaska, and the last on-the-
ground surveys were completed the same year that gold was discovered in
Nome.
Mr. Speaker, there are other areas around the Nation that have the
same problem. This is a very important piece of legislation. If we are
to continue to utilize the ocean onshore and offshore, I urge the
passage of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act, which funds vital navigation and safety services of
NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, which maintains more than 1,000 charts
and publications used by Federal and State agencies, private
organizations, and the public.
It is no small feat to do this for our Nation's 95,000 miles of
shoreline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of water.
It is critical that we ensure Federal capacity for hydrographic
surveys, mapping, and charting. NOAA vessels and data support a wide
range of activities and inform decisions with significant economic,
environmental, and safety impacts.
As we face rapidly changing ocean conditions, hydrographic services
will only become more important. This is particularly true in the
Arctic, where we will eventually see almost entirely ice-free summers.
It is not a matter of if, but when and how soon. With that comes an
entirely new seascape for maritime commerce and transport, defense, and
natural resources.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague Mr. Young for his hard
work. I encourage adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
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. 221, 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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