89–006 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 111–309 

NATIONAL LAND REMOTE SENSING OUTREACH ACT 

OCTOBER 21, 2009.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 2489] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 2489) to authorize a comprehensive national cooperative 

geospatial imagery mapping program through the United States 

Geological Survey, to promote use of the program for education, 

workforce training and development, and applied research, and to 

support Federal, State, tribal, and local government programs, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Program established in section 3. 

(2) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘educational institution’’ means any 

public or private elementary or secondary school, or any institution of vocational, professional, or higher education (including a junior college or teachers’ 

college). 

(3) GEOSPATIAL IMAGERY.—The term ‘‘geospatial imagery’’— 

(A) means satellite land remote sensing image data registered to map or 

other spatial coordinates derived from features on the ground; and 

(B) includes a wide range of graphical products that convey information 

about natural phenomena and human activities occurring on Earth’s surface. 

(4) IMAGE DATA.—The term ‘‘image data’’ means the raw, unprocessed form 

of data captured from a sensing instrument. 


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(5) LAND REMOTE SENSING.—The term ‘‘land remote sensing’’ means image 

data of land, coastal areas, or islands and reefs acquired from above the surface 

of the Earth by instruments on satellite platforms. 

(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 

(A) each of the several States of the United States; 

(B) the District of Columbia; 

(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 

(D) Guam; 

(E) American Samoa; 

(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and 

(G) the United States Virgin Islands. 

(8) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the same meaning given that 

term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). 

SEC. 3. NATIONAL LAND REMOTE SENSING OUTREACH PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and maintain a national land remote sensing outreach program within the U.S. Geological Survey to advance the 

availability, timely distribution, and widespread use of geospatial imagery for education, research, assessment, and monitoring purposes in each State and the lands 

of an Indian tribe. 

(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program are— 

(1) to increase accessibility to, and expand the use of, remote sensing data in 

a standard, easy-to-use format by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, 

communities, educational institutions, and the commercial sector; and 

(2) to assist each participating State and Indian tribe in establishing the cooperative infrastructure necessary to increase access to geospatial imagery for research and educational purposes. 

(c) ACTIVITIES.— 

(1) NATIONAL LAND REMOTE SENSING OUTREACH PROGRAM.—The Secretary 

shall— 

(A) support geospatial imagery sharing, applied research, and educational 

programs of each participating State and Indian tribe; 

(B) identify new geospatial imagery needs and infrastructure; 

(C) share and cooperate in the development of geospatial imagery applications, education, and training infrastructure in each participating State and 

the lands of an Indian tribe; 

(D) cooperate with participating States and Indian tribes to encourage the 

expansion of geospatial imagery mapping courses taught at appropriate 

educational institutions; 

(E) encourage expansion of geospatial imagery research at appropriate 

educational institutions; 

(F) encourage expansion of the knowledge and use of geospatial imagery 

products in the workforce through outreach programs, workshops, and 

other training opportunities; 

(G) encourage participating States and Indian tribes to build partnerships 

with local governments to identify unique research and development needs 

and geospatial imagery application pilot programs; 

(H) promote cooperation and sharing of expertise regarding geospatial imagery applications among participating States and Indian tribes; and 

(I) provide a mechanism to enable the States and Indian tribes to transfer geospatial imagery and applications to the U.S. Geological Survey as appropriate. 

(2) GRANTS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to qualified educational institutions, or to State, local, and tribal governments, or 

to consortia of these entities, on a competitive basis to— 

(i) advance the interest of the Federal Government in promoting the 

use of imagery by educational institutions, States, localities, and Indian 

tribes; and 

(ii) achieve the purposes of the Program described in section 3(b). 

(B) MATCHING FUNDS.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the cost of each program for 

which a grant is made under this Act may not exceed 75 percent of the 

total cost of the program. 

(ii) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION.—In providing the non-Federal contribution required under this paragraph, a grantee— 


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1The U.S. Geological Survey’s Land Remote Sensing Program operates two remote sensing 

satellites (Landsat 5 and Landsat 7) and houses the largest archive of remotely sensed land data 

in the world, supplying continuous access to current and historical land images worldwide. 

(I) shall provide for such share through a payment in cash or in 

kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, technology, 

or services; and 

(II) may provide for such share through State sources or local 

sources, including private funds or donated services. 

(iii) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the requirements of subparagraph (B), in whole or in part, with respect to any program if the Secretary determines that the grantee has made a good faith effort to obtain the non-Federal contribution at the local level but is unable to do 

so. 

(3) FEDERAL PARTNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish and maintain a committee to advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the 

Program. 

(B) MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT.—The advisory committee under subparagraph (A) shall be chaired by the U.S. Geological Survey and composed 

of such representatives of Federal and State agencies, tribal governments, 

and educational institutions as the Secretary may designate. 

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 to carry out 

this Act for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2019. 

SEC. 5. SUNSET DATE. 

This Act is repealed on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to authorize a national cooperative geospatial imagery program through the 

United States Geological Survey to promote use of remote sensing data. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 2489, as ordered reported, is to authorize a 

national cooperative geospatial imagery program through the 

United States Geological Survey to promote use of remote sensing 

data. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Since 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has partnered 

with a consortium of universities—first called Gateway to the 

Earth, then incorporated as ‘‘AmericaView’’—to facilitate and expand the use of data and imagery from U.S. earth observation satellites for education, research, hazards monitoring, and natural resource management. Through AmericaView, schools, citizens, and 

public agencies have benefited from easier access to USGS remote 

sensing data,1 training in the use of remote sensing data to solve 

real-world problems, and workforce development opportunities. 

Currently, AmericaView partner programs exist in 36 states. 

The USGS geospatial imagery outreach program has never been 

formally authorized. However, the program was appropriated approximately $3 million annually from fiscal year 1998–2006, and 

approximately $1 million annually from fiscal year 2007–2009. Program advocates have urged authorization to increase the program’s 

recognition, expand the program to additional states and territories, provide impetus for increased funding, and provide for Congressional direction and oversight. 


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COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 2489 was introduced on May 19, 2009 by Representative 

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D–SD). The bill was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. On July 23, 2009, 

the Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on the bill. 

On September 30, 2009 the Subcommittee was discharged from 

further consideration of H.R. 2489 and the full Natural Resources 

Committee met to consider the bill. Representative Herseth 

Sandlin offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

The substitute made several important changes and clarifications 

to the bill as introduced in response to comments from the Administration, witnesses, and advocacy groups. At the Administration’s 

suggestion, the substitute replaced all references to ‘‘AmericaView’’ 

with a phrase descriptive of the program: ‘‘National Land Remote 

Sensing Outreach.’’ This is consistent with the current name of the 

USGS program that sponsors research and education using remote 

sensing data, and is intended to dispel any confusion related to the 

nonprofit organization called ‘‘AmericaView, Inc.’’ which has been 

the grant contract recipient of the program. 

Further, the substitute deleted any reference to ‘‘mapping’’ or 

setting ‘‘standards’’ for mapping to remove any suggestion that the 

program would supersede, interfere, or compete with USGS’s mapping mission, other public or private programs that supply aerial 

photography for mapping, or other entities that develop national 

mapping standards, such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee or the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. 

The amendment in the nature of a substitute also added an annual appropriations cap of $10 million to the program, sunset the 

program after 10 years, and set a 25% state and tribal cost-sharing 

match, which could be provided through in-kind contributions. 

The amendment in the nature of a substitute was adopted by 

unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

This section provides that this Act may be cited as the ‘‘National 

Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act’’. 

Section 2. Definitions 

This section defines key terms used in the legislation. 

Section 3. National land remote sensing outreach program 

This section establishes a national land remote sensing outreach 

program within the U.S. Geological Survey to facilitate the use of 

geospatial data for education, research, assessment, and monitoring purposes in States and on lands of Indian tribes. Program 

activities include supporting or cooperating with states and Indian 

tribes to share geospatial imagery; identifying new geospatial imagery needs and infrastructure; encouraging expansion of 

geospatial imagery mapping courses and research at educational 

institutions; expanding workforce training programs that use 


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geospatial imagery; encouraging partnerships with local governments in the use of remote sensing data; promoting the sharing of 

expertise among participating entities; and enabling states and Indian tribes to transfer geospatial imagery to the USGS. 

This section also authorizes the Secretary to provide grants on 

a competitive basis to qualified educational institutions, government agencies, or consortia of these entities, in support of up to 

75% of the program’s costs. Grantee contributions of 25% of the 

program costs can be in cash or in-kind. It is the Committee’s intent that the Department of the Interior allows a broad array of 

‘‘in-kind’’ support to be used to meet the matching requirement. Importantly, the Secretary also is given the discretion to waive the 

matching requirements when grantees cannot obtain adequate 

funds, so as not to make the new program requirement too onerous 

to discourage program expansion to new state partners or to undermine valuable current programs. 

This section also establishes a committee, chaired by the U.S. 

Geological Survey, to advise on the outreach program. 

Section 4. Authorization of appropriations 

This section authorizes $10 million to be appropriated per year 

from fiscal years 2010–2019. 

Section 5. Sunset date 

This section repeals the Act after 10 years. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The functions of the proposed advisory committee authorized in 

the bill are not currently being nor could they be performed by one 

or more agencies, an advisory committee already in existence or by 

enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory committee. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States 

grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 


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contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill, as ordered reported, is to authorize a national cooperative geospatial imagery program through the United States Geological Survey to promote use of remote sensing data. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 2489—National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act 

Summary: H.R. 2489 would authorize the appropriation of $10 

million a year through 2019 for a Department of the Interior (DOI) 

grant program to support various activities related to geospatial 

imagery mapping. Assuming appropriation of the authorized 

amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would 

cost $46 million over the 2010–2014 period and $54 million after 

2014. Enacting the legislation would not affect revenues or direct 

spending. 

H.R. 2489 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the federal government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 2489 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010– 

2014 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level ................................................................................... 10 10 10 10 10 50 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................................... 7 9 10 10 10 46 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that HR. 2489 

will be enacted early in fiscal year 2010 and that the authorized 

amounts will be appropriated for each year. Estimated outlays are 

based on historical spending patterns for similar DOI programs. 

H.R. 2489 would authorize the appropriation of $10 million a 

year through 2019 for a DOI grant program to support various activities related to geospatial imagery mapping. Under the bill, DOI 

would provide grants to state-based consortia of geospatial imagery 

users (known as StateView programs) for education, workforce 

training, and research. In 2009, DOI provided $1 million for grants 

to more than 35 existing StateView programs to carry out activities 

similar to those that would be supported by the new grant program. Based on information from DOI, CBO expects that, over the 

next three years, the number of StateView programs will expand 

to 53 (including one in the District of Columbia and two in U.S. 

territories). Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, 

CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $46 million 

over the 2010–2014 period and $54 million after 2014. 


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Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 2489 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Previous CBO estimate: On August 27, 2009, CBO transmitted 

a cost estimate for S. 1078, the AmericaView Geospatial Imagery 

Mapping Program Act, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on August 5, 

2009. The two versions of the legislation are similar but include 

different authorization levels. CBO estimates implementing the 

Senate bill would cost $148 million over the 2010–2014 period. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave, Impact on 

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell, Impact on 

the Private Sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 2489 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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