Madi+&+Ragul+(BMW-GJHPP)


 * 1AC**


 * Ocean Drones 1ac—1.0**

*****Contention one is Ocean Drones*****

**FIND 14** – Federal information and news dispatch (FIND, “House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Hearing The AUV's evolution is taking place at an amazing rate of change. At the recent Coast Guard NAVSAC meeting in Norfolk, VA, the NAVSAC panel received briefings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) about the surface and sub-surface autonomous vessels already in use by NOAA and the private sector. The ocean already has thousands of autonomous WaveGlider & SHARC's upon it or below the water's surface. These autonomous systems will become the Light Ships (ATONs) of our future, replacing or certainly reducing the number of LNB's the Coast Guard maintains. These new ATONs are equipped with hydrographic surveying tools (depth measuring devices) and have the capability to stay positioned over a fixed position, avoid a hazard like a coastal rock or to re-position itself over a moving object like the ever changing river bottom on major inland waterways. The future ATON built upon AUV technology will recognize changing water levels, currents and atmospheric conditions and provide near real time positioning and measurement data and be a more **dynamic and responsive system** of ATONs. This calls attention to the importance of the services provided by NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS), tri-service office, comprised of the Office of Coast Survey (OCS), National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO- OPS). The demand for authoritative hydrographic survey data cannot be fully met by the current level of funding for NOAA's navigation, observations and positioning programs. The NOS services related navigation, observations and positioning are crucial to the future development and deployment of the AUVs and future ATON systems. Such NOS programs as GRAV-D and Coastal LIDAR that provide baseline foundation data are critically important. These activities must be funded at least at the President's requested level, if not at a higher level. Social Security Changes You Need to Know As a result, it is important that **Congress promptly** reauthorize the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, H.R. 1399, introduced by Representative Don Young of Alaska and currently pending before Congress. Moreover, MAPPS strongly supports H.R. 1382, the Digital Coast Act, introduced by Representative R.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger of Maryland and Rep. Young of Alaska. Enactment of H.R. 1382 and H.R. 1399 separately or as a merged bill will go a long way toward a **coordinated and comprehensive national mapping effort** for coastal, state and territorial waters of the United States and better integrate navigational and non-navigational geospatial activities in NOAA. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) grant program for improvements to the Marine Highway Program should include hydrographic surveying & mapping activities that directly contribute to decisions regarding placement of ATONs on the inland waterways. These ATON's are essential for the safe passage of goods on the marine transportation system. This grant program should provide incentives for private sector participation, again through a P3. Increased utilization of and partnership with the private sector geospatial community will help accelerate federally-funded research, enhance navigation and transportation, and create economic growth and job creation in the private sector. We would emphasize the need to better coordinate the geospatial activities among these various agencies and numerous programs and applications. As the Government Accountability Office found (Geospatial Information: OMB and Agencies Can Reduce Duplication by Making Coordination a Priority GAO-14-226T, Dec 5, 2013) federal agencies involved in geospatial activities have failed "to identify planned geospatial investments to promote coordination and reduce duplication". GAO also reported agencies "had not yet fully planned for or implemented an approach to manage geospatial data as related groups of investments to allow agencies to more effectively plan geospatial data collection efforts and minimize duplicative investments, and its strategic plan was missing key elements." MAPPS strongly supported a provision enacted in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (PL 112-141) to develop a funding strategy to leverage and coordinate budgets and expenditures, and to maintain or establish joint funding and other agreement mechanisms between federal agencies and with units of state and local government to share in the collection and utilization of geospatial data among all governmental users. Specifically, section 100220 (42 USC 4101c) requires the office of Management and Budget, in consultation with several agencies to "submit to the appropriate authorizing and appropriating committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives an interagency budget crosscut and coordination report, certified by the Secretary or head of each such agency, that-- (A) contains an interagency budget crosscut report that displays relevant sections of the budget proposed for each of the Federal agencies working on flood risk determination data and digital elevation models, including any planned interagency or intra-agency transfers; and (B) describes how the efforts aligned with such sections complement one another." This provision provides that agencies "work together to ensure that flood risk determination data and geospatial data are shared among Federal agencies in order to coordinate the efforts of the Nation to reduce its vulnerability to flooding hazards." We recommend a similar legislative provision with regard to geospatial data related to charting, navigation, and ATON, involving the Coast Guard, NOAA, MARAD, the Corps of Engineers, USGS, and other relevant federal agencies, as well as state and local government and the private sector. Hydrographic survey data supports a variety of maritime functions, such as port and harbor maintenance and dredging that facilitates the 98 percent of our international trade that moves through U.S. ports, coastal engineering, coastal zone management, and offshore resource development. There is an enormous capacity and capability in the private sector to provide NOAA, the Coast Guard, Corps of Engineers and other government agencies the hydrographic surveying, charting, aerial photography, photogrammetry, LIDAR, and other geospatial disciplines that support ATON. **The private sector stands ready** to continue to assist these agencies achieve their important missions. MAPPS urges Congress to enact legislation to accelerate and complete the transition from government or university performance of commercially available geospatial services to contractor performance, while refocusing agencies on inherently governmental activities, such as establishing standards, coordinating user requirements, determining needs, and managing contracts. Federal agencies should maintain an "intellectual" core capability in surveying and mapping, versus a large dollar of capital capability. **Congressional appropriations and authorizations** should be directed toward commercial contracting for data collection requirements, rather than capital equipment. Creating a pathway to greater utilization of the private sector and forming public-private partnerships will result in cost savings to the tax payer, improve the economy, **enhance navigation**, **reduce duplication**, and **make programs more efficient**. We commend Congress for its leadership on ATON, hydrography and nautical charting programs. Important steps have been taken, and progress has been made, but we must continue to strive to bring the full expertise, innovation and efficiency of the private sector to all of the federal government's mapping and charting activities. In summary, the ATON of the future can and should be smaller, lighter, more agile and more self-sustaining than the current LNB's we know today. A new public-private partnership is the key to such success.
 * AUV development is inevitable, but Congress has to act promptly to authorize, appropriate and coordinate a //comprehensive national program// for it to work—that spurs P3s which streamline production and overcome previous barriers**

**Avery, 14** — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution President and Director, April 29 2014 [Susan K. Avery, April 29, 2014, “Driving Innovations through Federal Investments” United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Written Testimony,” federal press release, [|http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/02/07/house-transportation-and-infrastructure-subcommittee-on-coast-guard-and-maritime-a-457472.html#.U6xpufmICQo], HW) **Huge dividends from initial federal support** To Ewing, the watery part of the AND **the seed for innovation and continues to enlarge the realm of the possible.**
 * Federal support is the seed for commercial spillover and widespread deployment**

[J. C., "MINERAL EXTRACTION, AUTHIGENIC MINERALS." //Marine Policy & Economics: A Derivative of the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences//(2010): 274., Google Books, [|http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dqzXwFsOFMcC&oi=fnd&pg=PA274&dq=(%22Rare+Earth+Elements%22+OR+%22rare+earth+minerals%22)+AND+(%22autonomous+underwater+vehicles%22+OR+%22Autonomous+Benthic+Explorer%22)&ots=PIzchVTPjs&sig=C1I_dhR2fdZIW6VUSsl3m8t-n44#v=onepage&q&f=false], pg 276] The first step in minerals development is to find an economic mine site. This AND model to determine whether it is economically profitable to mine a given deposit.
 * Autonomous underwater vehicles key to inexpensive detection of mineral deposits AND new technology means surveys can be done quickly and accurately**
 * Wiltshire, ’10, Specialist at Ocean and Resources Engineering**


 * Thus the Plan…*****
 * The Unites States Federal Government should substantially increase its exploration of Earth's ocean with non-military autonomous underwater vehicles.**

*****Contention Two is the Environment*****

**McNutt, 13** —Marcia, Executive Chair of Oceans 2020, a group of more than 110 ocean explorers gathered at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, “Accelerating Ocean Exploration” SCIENCE 341:937 (30 August 2013). Reprinted with permission from AAAS in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “The Report of Ocean Exploration Exploration 2020; A National Program,” July, []. Page 13-14 //BR Last month, a distinguished group of ocean researchers and explorers convened in Long Beach AND needs to happen now to provide a useful informational baseline for future decisions.
 * Current ocean exploration is woefully inadequate in climate data collection—AUVs are the key first step**

**NRC ‘96**
 * AUVs are a pre-requisite to //effective// environmental policy—in-situ processing radically reframes our understanding of key environmental dynamics**

[National Research Council. “Undersea Vehicles and National Needs”. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1996, [|http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=5069&page=]55] While scientists have been studying oceanic communities for more than a century, the perspective AND time series changes that take place over periods of months or years .2

**Furlong 13** – Masters student, University of Victoria (Jonathan, “Characteristic Morphology, Backscatter, and Sub-seafloor Structures of Cold-Vents on the Northern Cascadia Margin from High-Resolution Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Data” UMI Dissertations Publishing. ProQuest) In this chapter I discuss visible surface features of cold vents and attempt to explain AND the examination of discrete cold vent communities to be extended into the subsurface.
 * Specifically, AUVs are key to** **cold vent monitoring**

**Methane seepage** **from cold vents trigger** **immediate climate tipping events** **that cause extinction** **Furlong 13** – Masters student, University of Victoria (Jonathan, “Characteristic Morphology, Backscatter, and Sub-seafloor Structures of Cold-Vents on the Northern Cascadia Margin from High-Resolution Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Data” UMI Dissertations Publishing. ProQuest) The co-deposition of organic carbon with inorganic seafloor sediments is considered to remove AND 2008) or sourced from the continent (Etiope et al., 2008).


 * Contention Two is Rare Earth Minerals**

**Green, Senior Editor-in-Chief at Robotics Business Review, 14** (Tom, 5-12-14, Robotics Business Review, “Deep Sea Dive for Rare Earth Elements”, http://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/article/deep_sea_dive_for_rare_earth_elements) After a year of falling prices and depleting customer inventories, buyers of Rare Earth AND with subsea robot mining tools built by technology partners like Soil Machine Dynamics.
 * (REMs) depleting now and risks global economic collapse– AUVs accesses new supplies which are key for the aerospace industry and high tech manufacturing**

**Hannis, Senior fellow in defense studies at the American Foreign Policy Council, 12 (** Eric, 11-20-12, US News, “Are We Losing the Race for Rare Earths?”, []) The U nited S tates, like most of the industrialized world, is currently engaged in AND alternative that will allow them a way out of the China relocation trap.
 * China REM monopoly prevents US high tech manufacturing and causes all future development to offshore – US action is key now to win the race and cause reshoring**


 * We’ll isolate few scenarios**


 * First it’s key to hegemony**

**Hannis, Senior fellow in defense studies at the American Foreign Policy Council, 12** (Eric, 11-20-12, US News, “Are We Losing the Race for Rare Earths?”, http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2012/11/20/the-us-needs-rare-earth-independence-from-china) This race is also important for defense reasons : A reliable domestic source of rare AND **that supplies much of our oil: Neither are getting friendlier to America.**
 * 1) **1)REM independence is key to weapons development and preserving hegemony**

**Baru, Visiting Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Institute of South Asian Studies (Singapore), 9** (Sanjava, January 2009, The Seminar, “Year of the power shift?”,, http://www.india-seminar.com/2009/593/593_sanjaya_baru.htm) There is no doubt that economics alone will not determine the balance of global power AND economic growth and military power – the classic ‘guns vs butter’ dilemma.
 * 1) **2)Manufacturing is key to competitiveness that underpins growth and power projection**

Of course, even if it is true that the costs of deep engagement fall AND an engaged and liberal leading power. The results could well be disastrous.
 * 3). The pursuit of hegemony is inevitable, sustainable, and prevents great power war**
 * Ikenberry, Brooks, and Wohlforth, Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and Global Eminence Scholar at Kyung Hee University in Seoul and the Daniel Webster Professor of Government at Dartmouth College, 13** (John Ikenberry, Stephen G. Brooks, William C. Wohlforth, January/February 2013, Foreign Affairs, “Lean Forward: In Defense of American Engagement” http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/138468/stephen-g-brooks-g-john-ikenberry-and-william-c-wohlforth/lean-forward)


 * Second is Econ**

“Socioeconomic Impact Analysis Report for the Proposed Pioneer Array of the Ocean Observatories Initiative ", NationalScienceFoundation.gov, https://www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/envcomp/ooi AND are NOAA-funded COOS within the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
 * AUVs are vital to several industries—key to competitive growth**
 * NSF ’11, National Science Foundation**

**Khalilzad, PhD, Former Ambassador and Professor,** **11** –Former Professor of Political Science @ Columbia, Former ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan (Zalmay Khalilzad was the United States ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Nations during the presidency of George W. Bush and the director of policy planning at the Defense Department from 1990 to 1992. "The Economy and National Security" Feb 8 http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/259024/economy-and-national-security-zalmay-khalilzad)//BB Today, economic and fiscal trends pose the most severe long-term threat to AND , hostile states would be emboldened to make aggressive moves in their regions.
 * D**eclining U.S. economic primacy triggers arms races, miscalc and great power war

Today, **economic** and fiscal **trends pose the most severe long-term threat to** **AND** , **hostile states would be emboldened to make aggressive moves in their regions**.
 * Extinction**
 * Khalilzad 11**- (Zalmay, PhD, Former Professor of Political Science @ Columbia, former United States ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Nations during the presidency of George W. Bush and the director of policy planning at the Defense Department from 1990 to 1992, 2/8/11, "The Economy and National Security," [], JHR)

**1ac Port Security Advantage**

[Edoardo, “Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for Port Protection”. NATO Undersea Research Centre, July 2006] Commercially available AUVs such as the REMUS can perform efficient surveys in ports and harbours AND be used to overcome the problems experienced with LBL transponders in confined spaces.
 * AUVs massively improve port security**
 * Bovio ‘6**

Terrorists can build, buy or steal a nuclear weapon and smuggle it into a U.S. seaport—they’re key targets **Abt, ‘3** – Ph.D., Clark C., Risk analysis prepared for US DOT/RSPA/Volpe National Transportation. “The Economic Impact of Nuclear Terrorist Attacks on Freight Transport Systems in an Age of Seaport Vulnerability,” Apr 23, []. International terrorists have asserted their intention to acquire nuclear weapons, and have an **increasing** **AND** , such as the 14 th Street Bridge in DC, or midtown Manhattan

**Sid-Ahmed, ‘4** – Mohammed, political analyst, “Extinction!” al-ahram weekly, []. The most critical moment was the one when the Soviet Union collapsed and fragmented into AND When nuclear pollution infects the whole planet, we will all be losers.
 * Nuclear terror is the most dangerous nuclear threat because deterrence fails**

**Bluefin 14**
 * AUVs are vital to port security—they provide multiple inspection advantages and solve every aspect of port security**

[Bluefin Robotics, “Port and Harbor Security”, http://www.bluefinrobotics.com/applications/port-and-harbor-security/] There has been dramatic development of autonomous systems in the last two years to address AND hullborne IEDs, swimmer attacks, or the introduction of dangerous contraband. Further

**Parson, ‘6** – Ed, University of Michigan, “The Big One: A Review of Richard Posner’s Catastrophe: Risk and Response,” []. For his fourth risk, in case you are not scared enough, Posner turns AND tried to develop them. Suitable lab facilities exist in **dozens** of countries.
 * Human extinction results**