A bill to amend the Technology Administration Act of 1998 to encourage United States leadership in the development, application, and use of commercial space and airborne remote sensing and other geospatial information, and for other purposes.

Summary: Imagery, Mapping, and Geospatial Enhancement Act of 2006 - Amends the Technology Administration Act of 1998 to include among the functions of the Office of Space Commercialization promoting growth and advancement in U.S. space and airborne remote sensing technologies and related value-added services by: (1) examining the role of, and federal agency use of, commercial remote sensing firms, facilitating a reduction in the use of government remote sensing products and services, and increasing the use of commercial remote sensing firms; (2) promoting the objectives of the U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy, particularly provisions on relying on U.S. capabilities and developing a long-term relationship between the government and the U.S. commercial remote sensing community; (3) creating an environment in which all such firms have the opportunity to compete and expand; (4) evaluating federal and private sector efforts to assist such firms and making recommendations to promote their establishment and growth; (5) serving as the focal point for complaints and suggestions concerning federal activities that affect such firms; (6) counseling such firms on government relations; (7) proposing needed changes in federal policies; (8) representing such firms before government agencies; (9) involving such firms in developing federal procurement strategies; (10) disseminating information about the use of remote sensing and the capabilities of such firms; (11) making recommendations to assist the development and strengthening of such firms.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Imagery, Mapping, and Geospatial 
Enhancement Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION.

    Section 8 of the Technology Administration Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 
1511e) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
    ``(d) Additional Functions.--Additional functions of the Office 
shall be to promote growth and advancement in United States space and 
airborne remote sensing technologies, and value-added services related 
thereto, by carrying out the following responsibilities:
            ``(1) Examine the role of commercial remote sensing firms, 
        including small business, in the United States economy and the 
        contribution which such firms can make in--
                    ``(A) improving competition in the marketplace;
                    ``(B) enhancing the role of commercial remote 
                sensing firms in the economy of the United States;
                    ``(C) ensuring that United States firms continue to 
                lead in the global marketplace;
                    ``(D) applying commercial remote sensing data, 
                products, and services to national priorities;
                    ``(E) expanding employment opportunities;
                    ``(F) increasing productivity;
                    ``(G) stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship; 
                and
                    ``(H) providing an avenue through which new and 
                untested products and services can be brought to the 
                marketplace.
            ``(2) Assess the effectiveness of existing Federal agency 
        use of remote sensing data, products, and services, including 
        grant, subsidy, and assistance programs to non-Federal 
        entities, and facilitate a reduction in the use of such 
        governmental remote sensing data, products, and services and 
        increase the use of commercial remote sensing firms.
            ``(3) Promote the objectives of the U.S. Commercial Remote 
        Sensing Space Policy, issued by the President on May 13, 2003, 
        particularly its provisions on relying to the maximum practical 
        extent on United States commercial remote sensing capabilities 
        and developing a long term, sustainable relationship between 
        the Federal Government and the United States commercial remote 
        sensing community.
            ``(4) Advocate and implement appropriate measures for 
        creating an environment in which all commercial remote sensing 
        firms will have the opportunity to compete effectively and 
        expand to their full potential.
            ``(5) Evaluate the efforts of each Federal agency, and of 
        the private sector, to assist commercial remote sensing firms, 
        provide statistical information on the utilization of such 
        firms by the Federal Government, and make appropriate 
        recommendations to the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration, the President, and the Congress 
        in order to promote the establishment and growth of commercial 
        remote sensing firms.
            ``(6) Serve as a focal point for the receipt of complaints, 
        criticisms, and suggestions concerning the policies and 
        activities of any Federal agency which affects commercial 
        remote sensing firms.
            ``(7) Counsel commercial remote sensing firms on how to 
        resolve questions and problems concerning the relationship of 
        such firms to the Federal Government.
            ``(8) Develop proposals for changes in the policies and 
        activities of any agency of the Federal Government which will 
        better fulfill the purposes of this section and communicate 
        such proposals to the appropriate Federal agencies.
            ``(9) Represent the views and interests of commercial 
        remote sensing firms before other Federal agencies whose 
        policies and activities may affect such firms.
            ``(10) Enlist the cooperation and assistance of commercial 
        remote sensing firms, and any association of such firms, in the 
        development of procurement strategies, policies, and 
        methodologies that enhance the utilization of commercial remote 
        sensing firms by Federal agencies (including Federal, State, 
        and local government agencies, universities, nonprofit 
        organizations, and foreign governments that expend Federal 
        funds), and strengthen the selection of such firms based on 
        demonstrated competence and qualifications.
            ``(11) Cooperate with public and private agencies, 
        businesses, and other organizations in disseminating 
        information about the use and application of remote sensing, 
        the capabilities of commercial remote sensing firms, and how 
        such firms can participate in or assist such entities, 
        programs.
            ``(12) Make such other recommendations as may be 
        appropriate to assist the development and strengthening of 
        commercial remote sensing firms.
    ``(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term--
            ``(1) `remote sensing' means any activity associated with 
        and related to geospatial activities associated with measuring, 
        locating, and preparing maps, charts, surveys, aerial 
        photographs, satellite images, or other graphical or digital 
        presentations depicting natural or manmade physical features, 
        phenomena, and legal boundaries of the Earth from airborne or 
        spaceborne platforms or other types and sources of data; and
            ``(2) `firm' means any individual, firm, partnership, 
        corporation, association, or other legal entity in the United 
        States organized and permitted by law to engage in the business 
        of practicing in the profession of remote sensing through the 
        devotion of time, attention, and labor to providing remote 
        sensing data, products, technology, or services as a regular 
        course of trade or business with the principal objective of 
        livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution 
        thereof.''.