A bill to reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and for other purposes.

Summary: Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 to set forth findings and purposes for the Act.

Revises the definitions of "hydrographic data" and "hydrographic services" to include shoreline surveying and water level observations.

Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sound marine transportation and to provide hydrographic services. Revises the Administrator's authorities, including providing 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.

Modifies membership and compensation provisions regarding the Hydrographic Services Review Panel.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hydrographic Services Improvement 
Act Amendments of 2007''.

SEC. 2. REDESIGNATIONS.

    The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 is amended by 
redesignating sections 302 through 306 (33 U.S.C. 892d) as sections 303 
through 307, respectively.

SEC. 3. ADDITION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting a new section 302 as follows:

``SEC. 302. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            ``(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 research, 
        development, operations, products, and services associated with 
        hydrographic, geodetic, shoreline and baseline surveying; 
        cartography, mapping, and charting; tides, currents, and water 
        level observations; maintenance of a national spatial reference 
        system, and 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 U.S. 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 
        emergency response; homeland security; marine resource 
        conservation; coastal resiliency to sea-level rise, coastal 
        inundation, and other hazards; ocean and coastal science 
        advancement; and 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 U.S. 
        National Hydrographer and the primary U.S. 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; and
            ``(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 to--
            ``(1) augment the ability of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to fulfill its responsibilities 
        under this and other authorities;
            ``(2) provide more accurate and up-to-date hydrographic 
        data and services in support of safe and efficient 
        international trade and interstate commerce, including 
        hydrographic surveys; electronic navigational charts; real-time 
        tide, water level, and current information and forecasting; 
        shoreline surveys; and geodesy and three-dimensional 
        positioning data;
            ``(3) 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 storm surge, tsunami, 
        coastal flooding, erosion, and pollution trajectory monitoring, 
        predictions, and warnings; marine and coastal geographic 
        information systems; habitat restoration; long-term sea-level 
        trends; and more accurate environmental assessments and 
        monitoring;
            ``(4) promote improved integrated ocean and coastal mapping 
        and observations through increased coordination and 
        cooperation;
            ``(5) 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) provide national and international leadership for 
        hydrographic and related services, sciences, and 
        technologies.''.

SEC. 4. CHANGES IN 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 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 amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
            ``(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. 5. CHANGES IN 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) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the stem by striking ``To fulfill the data 
                gathering and dissemination duties of the 
                Administration under the Act of 1947,'' and inserting 
                ``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,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``data;'' and 
                inserting ``data and provide hydrographic services;'';
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(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 741 of title 6, United States Code;
            ``(5) the Administrator shall have the authority to create, 
        support and maintain such joint centers, and to 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 may 
        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. 6. CHANGES TO QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.

    Section 305 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 892b), as redesignated by section 2, is amended in 
subsections (b)(1)(A) and (b)(2) by striking ``303(a)(3)'' and 
inserting ``304(a)(3)''.

SEC. 7. CHANGES IN 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) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ``303'' and inserting 
        ``304'';
            (2) by amending subsection (c)(1)(A) to read as follows:
                    ``(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 two 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 one or more of 
                the disciplines and fields relating to hydrographic 
                data and hydrographic services, as defined in this Act, 
                and other disciplines as determined appropriate by the 
                Administrator.'';
            (3) in subsections (c)(1)(C), (c)(3), and (e) by striking 
        ``Secretary'' and inserting ``Administrator''; and
            (4) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(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. 8. CHANGES TO 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:
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$168,771,000 in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter such sums as may be 
necessary for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for the purposes 
of carrying out this Act.''.