79–006 

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 

2 

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. § 892(3)(a). 5 Committee on Resources Report on H.R. 3164, H. Rept. 105–485, p. 4. 

6 Id at 5. 

(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. 

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 

3 

7 Id. 

8 Id. at 6. 

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. § 892d. 

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

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. 

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: 

4 

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 

5 

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 privatesector 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. 

6 

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 øsurveys—¿ surveys, $70,814,000 for each of fiscal 

years 2019 through 2023. 

ø(A) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(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 øvessels— 

¿ vessels, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 

2023. 

ø(A) $32,130,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $32,760,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $33,390,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(D) $34,020,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ 

(3) To operate hydrographic survey vessels owned by the 

United States and operated by the øAdministration—¿ Administration, $29,932,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 

2023. 

ø(A) $25,900,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $26,400,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $26,900,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(D) $27,400,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ 

(4) To carry out geodetic functions under this øtitle—¿ title, 

$26,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. 

ø(A) $32,640,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

ø(B) $33,280,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $33,920,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(D) $34,560,000 for fiscal year 2012.¿ 

(5) To carry out tide and current measurement functions 

under this øtitle—¿ title, $30,564,000 for each of fiscal years 

2019 through 2023. 

ø(A) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 

7 

ø(B) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2010; 

ø(C) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 

ø(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. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ