---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3606"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3606"
heading: "Report to Congress"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3606"
units:
  - "Chapter 49 — Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System"
---

# §3606. Report to Congress

- (a) **Requirement—** Not later than March 30, 2022, and every 5 years thereafter, the [Administrator](/usc/33/3602.md?p=1) shall prepare, and the President acting through the [Council](/usc/33/3602.md?p=2) shall approve and transmit to Congress, a report on progress made in implementing this chapter.
- (b) **Contents—** Each report required under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include—
  - (1) a description of activities carried out under this chapter and the [System Plan](/usc/33/3602.md?p=9);
  - (2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8), including an evaluation of progress made by the [Council](/usc/33/3602.md?p=2) to achieve the goals identified under the [System Plan](/usc/33/3602.md?p=9);
  - (3) the identification of Federal and [non-Federal assets](/usc/33/3602.md?p=5) as determined by the [Council](/usc/33/3602.md?p=2) that have been integrated into the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8), including assets essential to the gathering of required observation data variables necessary to meet the respective missions of [Council](/usc/33/3602.md?p=2) agencies;
  - (4) a review of procurements, planned or initiated, by each department or agency represented on the [Council](/usc/33/3602.md?p=2) to enhance, expand, or modernize the observation capabilities and data products provided by the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8), including data management and communication subsystems;
  - (5) a summary of the existing gaps in observation infrastructure and monitoring data collection, including—
    - (A) priorities considered by the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8) advisory committee;
    - (B) the national sea surface current mapping network;
    - (C) coastal buoys;
    - (D) ocean chemistry monitoring;
    - (E) marine sound monitoring; and
    - (F) unmanned maritime [systems](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8) technology gaps;
  - (6) an assessment regarding activities to integrate Federal and [non-Federal assets](/usc/33/3602.md?p=5), nationally and on the regional level, and discussion of the performance and effectiveness of [regional coastal observing systems](/usc/33/3602.md?p=6) to coordinate regional observation operations;
  - (7) a description of benefits of the program to users of data products resulting from the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8) (including the general public, industries, scientists, resource managers, emergency responders, policy makers, and educators);
  - (8) recommendations, if any, concerning—
    - (A) modifications to the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8); and
    - (B) funding levels for the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8) in subsequent fiscal years; and
  - (9) the results of a periodic external independent programmatic audit of the [System](/usc/33/3602.md?p=8).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–11, title XII, § 12307, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1435; Pub. L. 116–271, title I, § 105, Dec. 31, 2020, 134 Stat. 3339.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–271 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section required that no later than 2 years after March 30, 2009, and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator was to prepare and the President acting through the Council was to approve and transmit to Congress a report on progress made in implementing this chapter.