Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 221, Hydrographic Services Improvements Act sponsored by Alaska Congressman Don Young.
“My legislation will reauthorize the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 through 2022 and will allow NOAA to conduct and contract for hydrographic surveys around the U.S. with specific focus on the Arctic,” said Congressman Young. “Alaska is what makes the U.S. an Arctic nation. My state has more coastline than other state in the country and we don’t know what’s under the surface. There’s been a significant increase in vessel traffic, exploration and resource development in Arctic waters. While hydrographic surveys are a critical part of the maritime safety and environmental efforts nationwide, they're especially important in the Arctic…Alaskan waters are incredibly under surveyed. Before this year, the last time the entrances and mouth to the Yukon River were surveyed was 1899. This is an important piece of legislation if we're going to continue to utilize the ocean onshore and offshore.”
|
Watch Congressman Young's Floor remarks here.
|
H.R. 221 passed out of the House today by unanimous consent. This bill reauthorizes the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 from FY 2018 - FY 2022.
###
