H.R. 221 – Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:25 AM UTC

The Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act reauthorizes the 1998 Hydrographic Services Improvement Act and sets funding levels for NOAA’s hydrographic activities through fiscal year 2023. It provides annual appropriations for surveys, vessels, administration, and related programs, adds dedicated Arctic program funding, limits administrative costs for surveys, and requires a GAO cost‑effectiveness study.

Key Provisions

Approves $70.814 million each year (FY 2019‑2023) for hydrographic surveys.
Approves $25 million each year (FY 2019‑2023) for vessels.
Approves $29.932 million each year (FY 2019‑2023) for administration.
Approves $26.8 million and $30.564 million each year (FY 2019‑2023) for two title‑related programs.
Creates an Arctic program with $10 million annually for hydrographic data, coastal change analysis, and navigation safety, plus $2 million annually for data to delineate the U.S. extended continental shelf.
Limits administrative expenses for survey funds to no more than 5 % of the survey budget each year.
Orders the GAO to study and report within 18 months on the unit cost differences between NOAA‑conducted surveys and outsourced surveys.

Legislative Activity

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14 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 487.

June 26, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 3, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 3, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

February 10, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

November 2, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

May 8, 2018

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

May 8, 2018

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

May 8, 2018

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-736.

Natural Resources Committee

June 12, 2018

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 571.

June 12, 2018

HouseFloor

Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

June 25, 2018 • 3:51 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5590-5591)

June 25, 2018 • 3:51 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 221.

June 25, 2018 • 3:51 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5590-5591)

June 25, 2018 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

June 25, 2018 • 3:55 PM

SenateCalendars

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 487.

June 26, 2018

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 221 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Don YoungR-AK · Jun 25, 2018

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. Mr. Speaker, I ask…

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.

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.

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. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Anthony G. BrownD-MD-4 · Jun 25, 2018

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…

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued June 26, 2018

II

Calendar No. 487

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 221

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 26, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar

AN ACT

To reauthorize the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hydrographic Services Improvement Amendments Act.

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.

.

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.

Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2018.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk

June 26, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar