I

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 197

To encourage the use of remote sensing to promote better agricultural

management in the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 4, 1995

Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself and Mr. EHLERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and, in addition, to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To encourage the use of remote sensing to promote better

agricultural management in the United States.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. REMOTE SENSING FOR AGRICULTURAL AND

4 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

5 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—

6 (1) the use of remote sensing data is potentially

7 a valuable resource to anticipate potential food, feed,

8 and fiber shortages or excesses, and to provide this
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1 information to the agricultural community in time to

2 assist farmers with planting decisions;

3 (2) remote sensing data can be useful to predict

4 impending famine problems and forest infestations

5 in time to allow remedial action;

6 (3) remote sensing data can inform the agricul7 tural community as to the condition of crops and the

8 land which sustains those crops;

9 (4) remote sensing data can be useful to allow

10 farmers to apply pesticides, nutrients, and water,

11 among other inputs, the farmlands in the exact

12 amounts necessary to maximize crop yield, thereby

13 reducing agricultural costs and minimizing potential

14 harm to the environment;

15 (5) remote sensing data can be valuable, when

16 received on a timely basis, in determining the needs

17 of additional plantings of a particular crop or a sub18 stitute crop; and

19 (6) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin20 istration, using the expertise of the Earth Observa21 tions Commercialization Applications Program, and

22 the Department of Agriculture should work in tan23 dem to aid farmers to obtain data conducive to

24 sound agricultural management and greater crop

25 yields.
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1 (b) INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of

2 Agriculture and the Administrator of the National Aero3 nautics and Space Administration, maximizing private

4 funding and involvement, shall provide farmers and other

5 interested persons with timely information, through re6 mote sensing, on crop conditions, fertilization and irriga7 tion needs, pest infiltration, soil conditions, projected food,

8 feed, and fiber production, and any other information

9 available through remote sensing.

10 (c) ENHANCED REMOTE SENSING PROGRAM.—

11 (1) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Ad12 ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space

13 Administration shall jointly evaluate the need for a

14 radar imaging platform that could enhance United

15 States remote sensing capability by providing infor16 mation and data relating to agricultural resources,

17 and which may have other commercial and research

18 applications.

19 (2) In the event that there is a finding of need

20 for a platform as set forth in subsection (1), the

21 Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of

22 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

23 shall jointly develop a proposal, which maximizes

24 private funding and involvement in the launch and

25 operation of such platform, and in the management
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1 and dissemination of the data from such platform.

2 The Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly

3 submit the proposal, within thirty days of its devel4 opment, to the House Committee on Agriculture, the

5 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and

6 Forestry, the House Committee on Science, and the

7 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and

8 Transportation.

9 (d) TRAINING.—The Secretary of Agriculture and the

10 Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad11 ministration shall jointly develop a proposal to inform

12 farmers and other prospective users concerning the use

13 and availability of remote sensing data.

14 (e) SUNSET.—The provisions of this Act shall expire

15 five years after the date of its enactment.

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