[House Report 115-736]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
115th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 115-736
======================================================================
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENTS ACT
_______
June 12, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 221]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 221) to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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 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.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 221 is to reauthorize the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998.
Background and Need for Legislation
The United States government began conducting ocean surveys
as early as 1807 when Congress passed legislation authorizing
the President ``to cause a survey to be taken off the coasts of
the United States'' to improve maritime navigation.\1\ This
legislation resulted in the creation of the civilian-operated
U.S. Coast Survey in 1838, the precursor to the National Ocean
Service (NOS) within the National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).\2\ NOS is one of six line offices under
NOAA and is responsible for the collection of hydrographic
data, among other duties.\3\ Hydrographic services overseen by
NOS broadly include data collection, tide and water level
observations, and a variety of ocean- and coastal-related
surveying techniques.\4\ Hydrographic information is valuable
to federal, State and local governments along with a wide
variety of ocean-based economic activities.
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\1\``An Act to provide for surveying the coasts of the United
States'', 2 Stat. 413.
\2\``History of Coast Survey'', https://
www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/hist.html.
\3\``An Introduction to NOAA's National Ocean Service'', can be
accessed at: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/about/.
\4\Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, 33 U.S.C.
Sec. 892(3)(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Different agencies acting under different statutory
authorities have conducted hydrographic surveys throughout U.S.
history, and the federal resources committed to these efforts
have also fluctuated over time. After World War II, due to
strong economic growth and technological innovation in sonar
technology, the federal government invested heavily in
hydrographic surveying.\5\ The federal government maintained a
robust hydrographic data collection program through the 1940s
into the 1970s.\6\ However, support for hydrographic services
withered between 1979 and 1994.\7\ Concerned with the aging
fleet of hydrographic survey ships and the threat the survey
backlog posed to maritime safety and ocean-related economic
activity, Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) introduced H.R. 3164, the
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, in the 105th
Congress. This legislation allowed NOAA to contract for
hydrographic services, insure the quality of privately-gathered
hydrographic data and maintain its own capacity to gather these
data.\8\
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\5\Committee on Resources Report on H.R. 3164, H. Rept. 105-485, p.
4.
\6\Id at 5.
\7\Id.
\8\Id. at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 was
enacted as Title III of Public Law 105-384 and has been
reauthorized twice, in 2002 and 2008,\9\ with the current
authorization of appropriations having expired in 2012.\10\ As
ordered reported, H.R. 221, the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Amendments Act, would reauthorize appropriations
for the program through 2023. Further, the bill would authorize
the use of appropriated funds to acquire hydrographic data and
conduct surveys in the Arctic. Finally, H.R. 221 directs the
Comptroller General to conduct a study comparing the costs of
federally and privately conducted hydrographic surveys and
submit findings to Congress.
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\9\Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2002, Public
Law 107-372; Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008,
Public Law 110-386.
\10\33 U.S.C. Sec. 892d.
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Committee Action
H.R. 221 was introduced on January 3, 2017, by Congressman
Don Young (R-AK). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee
on Water, Power and Oceans. On November 2, 2017, the
Subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation. On May 8, 2018,
the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman
Don Young offered an amendment designated #1; it was adopted by
unanimous consent. No further amendments were offered, and the
bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House
of Representatives by unanimous consent.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 21, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 221, the
Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Robert Reese.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Hadley
(For Keith Hall, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 221--Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act
Summary: H.R. 221 would authorize the appropriation of $183
million annually from 2019 to 2023 for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct certain
hydrographic activities (the measurement and description of
features that affect maritime navigation).
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 221 would cost $811
million over the 2019-2023 period and $104 million after 2023,
assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 221 would not increase net
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 221 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary effect of H.R. 221 is shown in the following table.
The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2019-2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Level...................... 0 183 183 183 183 183 915
Estimated Outlays........................ 0 114 157 178 181 181 811
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R.
221 will be enacted near the end of 2018 and that the
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year
beginning in 2019. Estimated outlays are based on historic
spending patterns for the affected programs.
H.R. 221 would authorize the appropriation of $183 million
a year from 2019 through 2023 to carry out hydrographic
activities, including nautical mapping and charting, collecting
hydrographic data, maintaining a geodetic reference system (a
worldwide coordinate system used for navigation), and measuring
tides and currents. In 2018, NOAA allocated $213 million to
carry out similar activities. CBO estimates that implementing
H.R. 221 would cost $811 million over the 2019-2023 period and
$104 million after 2023.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
Increase in long-term direct spending and deficits: CBO
estimates that enacting H.R. 221 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2029.
Mandates: H.R. 221 contains no intergovernmental or
private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
Previous CBO estimate: On March 3, 2017, CBO transmitted a
cost estimate for S. 171, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments and
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Reauthorization
Amendments Act of 2017, as ordered reported by the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on January
24, 2017. Provisions of title V of S. 171 are similar to
provisions of H.R. 221. The differences in CBO's estimates of
those provisions' costs stem from differences in the fiscal
years for which the bills would authorize appropriations.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Robert Reese;
Mandates: Zach Byrum.
Estimate reviewed by: Kim P. Cawley, Chief, Natural and
Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to reauthorize the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Compliance With H. Res. 5
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--NOAA HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES
* * * * * * *
SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Administrator the following:
(1) To carry out nautical mapping and charting
functions under sections 304 and 305, except for
conducting hydrographic [surveys--] surveys,
$70,814,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
[(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 304(b)(1), including the leasing or time
chartering of [vessels--] vessels, $25,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
[(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--
] Administration, $29,932,000 for each of fiscal years
2019 through 2023.
[(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--] title, $26,800,000 for each of fiscal years
2019 through 2023.
[(A) $32,640,000 for fiscal year 2009;
[(B) $33,280,000 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--] title, $30,564,000 for
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
[(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.
(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.
(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.
* * * * * * *
[all]