II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1253 

To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 25, 2017 

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. WARNER, Mr. HELLER, and Mr. WYDEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Geospatial Data Act 

5 of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act— 

8 (1) the term ‘‘Advisory Committee’’ means the 

9 National Geospatial Advisory Committee described 

10 in section 4(a); 


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1 (2) the term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Federal 

2 Geographic Data Committee established under sec3 tion 3(a); 

4 (3) the term ‘‘covered agency’’ means an agen5 cy, as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States 

6 Code, that collects, produces, acquires, maintains, 

7 distributes, uses, or preserves geospatial data on 

8 paper or in electronic form to fulfill the mission of 

9 the agency, either directly or through a relationship 

10 with another organization, including a State, local 

11 government, Indian tribe, institution of higher edu12 cation, business partner or contractor of the Federal 

13 Government, and the public; 

14 (4) the term ‘‘GeoPlatform’’ means the 

15 GeoPlatform described in section 8(a); 

16 (5) the term ‘‘geospatial data’’— 

17 (A) means information that is tied to a lo18 cation on the Earth, including by identifying 

19 the geographic location and characteristics of 

20 natural or constructed features and boundaries 

21 on the Earth, and that is generally represented 

22 by points, lines (for example a road), polygons 

23 (for example a forest), or other complex geo24 graphic features or phenomena (for example a 


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1 forest fire, the spread of West Nile virus, or the 

2 infestation of pine-bark beetles); 

3 (B) may be derived from, among other 

4 things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying 

5 technologies; 

6 (C) includes— 

7 (i) images and raster datasets, aerial 

8 photographs, and other forms of geospatial 

9 data or datasets in digitized or non10 digitized form, specifically— 

11 (I) georeferenced data tran12 scribed into a Geographic Information 

13 System or Land Information System 

14 format by manual or electronic means, 

15 and the maintenance of that data; 

16 (II) tax parcel maps, zoning 

17 maps, and other public data records 

18 transcribed into Geographic Informa19 tion System or Land Information Sys20 tem formatted cadastres, and the 

21 maintenance of those cadastres if the 

22 data are not modified for other than 

23 graphical purposes; 


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1 (III) data depicting the distribu2 tion of natural or cultural resources, 

3 features, or phenomena; 

4 (IV) data used by a Federal 

5 agency (including contractors of a 

6 Federal agency) in the preparation of 

7 military maps, quadrangle topographic 

8 maps, satellite imagery, or other maps 

9 or images that do not define real 

10 property boundaries; 

11 (V) data used by a Federal agen12 cy (including contractors of a Federal 

13 agency) in the preparation or tran14 scription of documents or databases 

15 into a Geographical Information Sys16 tem or Land Information System for17 mat in the preparation or tran18 scription of Federal census or other 

19 demographic data; 

20 (VI) data used by a law enforce21 ment agency (including contractors of 

22 a law enforcement agency) in the 

23 preparation of documents or maps for 

24 traffic accidents, crime scenes, or 

25 similar purposes depicting physical 


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1 features or events, or generating or 

2 using georeferenced data involving 

3 crime statistics or criminal activities; 

4 (VII) data used by a public safe5 ty official conducting, reporting on, or 

6 testifying about or otherwise per7 forming duties regarding an official 

8 investigation; and 

9 (VIII) data used to create gen10 eral maps prepared for private firms 

11 or government agencies for— 

12 (aa) use as guides to motor13 ists, boaters, aviators, or pedes14 trians; 

15 (bb) publication in a gazet16 teer or an atlas as an educational 

17 tool or reference publication; 

18 (cc) use in the curriculum of 

19 any course of study; 

20 (dd) use as an illustrative 

21 guide to the geographic location 

22 of any event, produced in any 

23 electronic or print media; or 

24 (ee) conversational or illus25 trative purposes, including use as 


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1 advertising material or user 

2 guides; 

3 (ii) data collected through the provi4 sion of services performed by professionals 

5 such as surveyors, photogrammetrists, hy6 drographers, geodesists, or cartographers 

7 in the creation, collection, or application 

8 of— 

9 (I) georeferenced graphical or 

10 digital data to depict natural or man11 made physical features, phenomena, 

12 or boundaries of the Earth and real 

13 property thereon; 

14 (II) geospatial intelligence; or 

15 (III) geometric measurements 

16 and related information pertaining to 

17 the physical or legal features of the 

18 Earth, improvements on the Earth, 

19 the space above, on, or below the 

20 Earth; and 

21 (iii) any information relating to data 

22 described in clause (ii), including any such 

23 data that comprises a survey, map, chart, 

24 geographic information system, remotely 


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1 sensed image or data, or an aerial photo2 graph through— 

3 (I) determining by measurement 

4 the configuration or contour of the 

5 Earth’s surface or the position of 

6 fixed objects thereon; 

7 (II) determining by performing 

8 geodetic surveys the size and shape of 

9 the Earth or the position of any point 

10 on the Earth; 

11 (III) locating, relocating, estab12 lishing, reestablishing, or retracing 

13 property lines or boundaries of any 

14 tract of land, road, right of way, or 

15 easement; 

16 (IV) making any survey for the 

17 division, subdivision, or consolidation 

18 of one or more tracts of land; 

19 (V) locating or laying out align20 ments, positions, or elevations for the 

21 construction of fixed works; 

22 (VI) determining, by the use of 

23 principles of surveying, the position 

24 for any survey monument (boundary 

25 or non-boundary) or reference point 


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1 or establishing or replacing any such 

2 monument or reference point; or 

3 (VII) creating, preparing, or 

4 modifying electronic or computerized 

5 or other data, relative to the perform6 ance of the activities described in this 

7 clause or clause (ii); and 

8 (D) does not include geospatial data activi9 ties of an Indian tribe not carried out, in whole 

10 or in part, using Federal funds, as determined 

11 by the tribal government; 

12 (6) the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the meaning 

13 given that term under section 4 of the Indian Self14 Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 

15 U.S.C. 450b); 

16 (7) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 

17 has the meaning given that term under section 102 

18 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

19 1002); 

20 (8) the term ‘‘lead covered agency’’ means a 

21 lead covered agency for an NGDA data theme des22 ignated under section 6(b)(1); 

23 (9) the term ‘‘local government’’ means any 

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1 lage, or other general purpose political subdivision of 

2 a State; 

3 (10) the term ‘‘metadata for geospatial data’’ 

4 means information about geospatial data, including 

5 the content, source, vintage, accuracy, condition, 

6 projection, responsible party, contact phone number, 

7 method of collection, and other characteristics or de8 scriptions of the geospatial data; 

9 (11) the term ‘‘NGDA data theme’’ means the 

10 National Geospatial Data Asset core geospatial 

11 datasets (including electronic records and coordi12 nates) relating to a topic or subject designated 

13 under section 6; 

14 (12) the term ‘‘National Spatial Data Infra15 structure’’ means the technology, policies, criteria, 

16 standards, and employees necessary to promote 

17 geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal Gov18 ernment, State, tribal, and local governments, and 

19 the private sector (including nonprofit organizations 

20 and institutions of higher education); and 

21 (13) the term ‘‘proven practices’’ means meth22 ods and activities that advance the use of geospatial 

23 data for the benefit of society. 


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1 SEC. 3. FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Office 

3 of Management and Budget an interagency committee to 

4 be known as the Federal Geographic Data Committee, 

5 which shall act as the lead entity in the executive branch 

6 for the development, implementation, and review of poli7 cies, practices, and standards relating to geospatial data. 

8 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

9 (1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 

10 The Director of the Office of Management and 

11 Budget and the Secretary of the Interior shall serve 

12 as Chairperson of the Committee and Vice Chair13 person of the Committee, respectively. 

14 (2) OTHER MEMBERS.—The President shall ap15 point the other members of the Committee from 

16 among the officers and employees of covered agen17 cies. 

18 (c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 

19 (1) lead the development and management of 

20 and operational decisionmaking for the National 

21 Spatial Data Infrastructure strategic plan and 

22 geospatial data policy in accordance with section 5; 

23 (2) designate NGDA data themes and oversee 

24 the coordinated management of the NGDA data 

25 themes in accordance with section 6; 


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1 (3) establish and maintain geospatial data 

2 standards in accordance with section 7; 

3 (4) periodically review and determine the extent 

4 to which covered agencies comply with geospatial 

5 data standards; 

6 (5) ensure that the GeoPlatform operates in ac7 cordance with section 8; 

8 (6) direct and facilitate national implementation 

9 of the system of NGDA data themes; 

10 (7) communicate with and foster communica11 tion among covered agencies and others entities and 

12 individuals relating to geospatial data technology de13 velopment, transfer, and exchange in order to— 

14 (A) identify and meet the needs of users of 

15 geospatial data; 

16 (B) promote cost-effective data collection, 

17 documentation, maintenance, distribution, and 

18 preservation strategies; and 

19 (C) leverage Federal and non-Federal re20 sources; 

21 (8) define roles and responsibilities and pro22 mote and guide cooperation and coordination among 

23 agencies of the Federal Government, State, tribal, 

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1 duction, sharing, and use of geospatial information, 

2 the implementation of the National Spatial Data In3 frastructure, and the identification of proven prac4 tices; 

5 (9) coordinate with international organizations 

6 having an interest in the National Spatial Data In7 frastructure or global spatial data infrastructures; 

8 (10) make available online and update at least 

9 annually— 

10 (A) a summary of the status for each 

11 NGDA data theme, based on the report sub12 mitted by the applicable lead covered agency 

13 under section 6(b)(3)(E)(ii)(I), which shall in14 clude— 

15 (i) an evaluation of the progress of 

16 each lead covered agency in achieving the 

17 requirements under subparagraphs (A), 

18 (B), (C), and (D) of section 6(b)(3); and 

19 (ii) a determination of whether, for 

20 each of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and 

21 (D) of section 6(b)(3), each lead covered 

22 agency meets expectations, has made 

23 progress toward expectations, or fails to 

24 meet expectations; 


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1 (B) a summary and evaluation of the 

2 achievements of each covered agency, based on 

3 the annual report submitted by the covered 

4 agency under section 9(b)(1), which shall in5 clude a determination of whether the covered 

6 agency meets expectations, has made progress 

7 toward expectations, or fails to meet expecta8 tions for each of paragraphs (1) through (14) 

9 of section 9(a); 

10 (C) a collection of periodic technical publi11 cations, management articles, and reports re12 lated to the National Spatial Data Infrastruc13 ture; and 

14 (D) a membership directory for the Com15 mittee, including identifying members of any 

16 subcommittee or working group of the Com17 mittee; 

18 (11)(A) make available to and request com19 ments from the Advisory Committee regarding the 

20 summaries and evaluations required under subpara21 graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (10); 

22 (B) if requested by the Advisory Committee, re23 spond to any comments by the Advisory Committee; 

24 and 


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1 (C) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 

2 Congress a report that includes the summaries and 

3 evaluations required under subparagraphs (A) and 

4 (B) of paragraph (10), the comments of the Advi5 sory Committee, and the responses of the Committee 

6 to the comments; 

7 (12)(A) make available to and request com8 ments from covered agencies regarding the sum9 maries and evaluations required under subpara10 graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (10); and 

11 (B) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 

12 Congress a report that includes the comments of the 

13 covered agencies and the responses of the Committee 

14 to the comments; and 

15 (13) support and promote the infrastructure of 

16 networks, systems, services, and standards that pro17 vide a digital representation of the Earth to users 

18 for many applications. 

19 SEC. 4. NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the executive 

21 branch the National Geospatial Advisory Committee to 

22 provide advice and recommendations to the Chairperson 

23 of the Committee. 

24 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 


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1 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee 

2 shall be composed of 30 members who shall be— 

3 (A) appointed by the Chairperson of the 

4 Committee; 

5 (B) selected— 

6 (i) to generally achieve a balanced 

7 representation of the viewpoints of various 

8 interested parties involved in national 

9 geospatial activities and the development of 

10 the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; 

11 and 

12 (ii) with consideration of a geographic 

13 balance of residence of the members; and 

14 (C) selected from among groups involved 

15 in the geospatial community, including— 

16 (i) States; 

17 (ii) local governments; 

18 (iii) regional governments; 

19 (iv) tribal governments; 

20 (v) private sector entities; 

21 (vi) geospatial information user indus22 tries; 

23 (vii) professional associations; 

24 (viii) scholarly associations; 

25 (ix) nonprofit organizations; 


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1 (x) academia; and 

2 (xi) the Federal Government. 

3 (2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 

4 Committee shall appoint the Chairperson of the Ad5 visory Committee. 

6 (3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be ap8 pointed for a term of 3 years, with the term of 

1 9 ⁄3 of the members expiring each year. 

10 (B) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Ad11 visory Committee shall not affect its powers, 

12 but shall be filled in the same manner as the 

13 original appointment. 

14 (4) LIMIT ON TERMS.—An individual— 

15 (A) may not be appointed to more than 2 

16 consecutive terms as a member of the Advisory 

17 Committee; and 

18 (B) after serving for 2 consecutive terms, 

19 is eligible to be appointed as a member of the 

20 Advisory Committee on and after the date that 

21 is 2 years after the end of the second consecu22 tive term of the individual as a member of the 

23 Advisory Committee. 

24 (5) ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS.—A member of 

25 the Advisory Committee may not participate in any 


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1 specific-party matter (including a lease, license, per2 mit, contract, claim, agreement, or related litigation) 

3 with the Department of the Interior in which the 

4 member has a direct financial interest. 

5 (6) INCUMBENTS.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—An individual serving 

7 on the day before the date of enactment of this 

8 Act as a member of the National Geospatial 

9 Advisory Committee established by the Sec10 retary of the Interior may serve as a member 

11 of the Advisory Committee until the end of the 

12 term of the individual under the appointment. 

13 (B) LIMIT ON TERMS.—Any period of serv14 ice as a member of the National Geospatial Ad15 visory Committee established by the Secretary 

16 of the Interior shall be considered a period of 

17 service as a member of the Advisory Committee 

18 for purposes of paragraph (4). 

19 (c) SUBCOMMITTEES.—A subcommittee of the Advi20 sory Committee— 

21 (1) may be formed for the purposes of com22 piling information or conducting research; 

23 (2) shall be composed of members appointed by 

24 the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee; 


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1 (3) shall act only under the direction of the 

2 Chairperson of the Advisory Committee; 

3 (4) shall report the recommendations of the 

4 subcommittee to the Advisory Committee for consid5 eration; and 

6 (5) shall meet as necessary to accomplish the 

7 objectives of the subcommittee, subject to the ap8 proval of the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee 

9 and the availability of resources. 

10 (d) MEETINGS.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 

12 shall meet at the call of the Chairman, not less than 

13 1 time each year and not more than 4 times each 

14 year. 

15 (2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 

16 the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum, 

17 but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. 

18 (e) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The 

19 Advisory Committee shall— 

20 (1) provide advice and recommendations relat21 ing to— 

22 (A) the management of Federal and na23 tional geospatial programs; 

24 (B) the development of the National Spa25 tial Data Infrastructure; and 


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1 (C) implementation of this Act; 

2 (2) review and comment on geospatial policy 

3 and management issues; and 

4 (3) ensure the views of representatives of non5 Federal interested parties involved in national 

6 geospatial activities are conveyed to the Committee. 

7 (f) POWERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 

8 (1) HEARINGS.—The Advisory Committee may 

9 hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 

10 places, take such testimony, and receive such evi11 dence as the Advisory Committee considers advisable 

12 to carry out this Act. 

13 (2) INFORMATION FROM COVERED AGENCIES.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Com15 mittee may secure directly from any covered 

16 agency such information as the Advisory Com17 mittee considers necessary to carry out this Act. 

18 Upon request of the Chairperson of the Advi19 sory Committee, the head of such agency shall 

20 furnish such information to the Advisory Com21 mittee. 

22 (B) NONCOOPERATION.—The Advisory 

23 Committee shall include in the comments of the 

24 Advisory Committee submitted under section 

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1 ered agency to furnish information in response 

2 to a request under subparagraph (A) of this 

3 paragraph. 

4 (3) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Advisory Com5 mittee may use the United States mails in the same 

6 manner and under the same conditions as other 

7 agencies of the Federal Government. 

8 (4) GIFTS.—The Advisory Committee— 

9 (A) may accept, use, and dispose of gifts 

10 or donations of services or property; and 

11 (B) shall establish rules for the acceptance, 

12 use, and disposition of gifts and donations that 

13 avoid any conflict of interest or appearance of 

14 a conflict of interest. 

15 (g) ADVISORY COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 

16 (1) NO COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 

17 (A) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A mem18 ber of the Advisory Committee who is not an 

19 officer or employee of the Federal Government 

20 shall serve without compensation. 

21 (B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 

22 the Advisory Committee who is an officer or 

23 employee of the Federal Government shall serve 

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1 ber as an officer or employee of the Federal 

2 Government. 

3 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 

4 Advisory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 

5 including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 

6 authorized for employees of agencies under sub7 chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 

8 Code, while away from their homes or regular places 

9 of business in the performance of services for the 

10 Advisory Committee. 

11 (3) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

12 Any Federal Government employee may be detailed 

13 to the Advisory Committee without reimbursement, 

14 and such detail shall be without interruption or loss 

15 of civil service status or privilege. 

16 (h) APPLICABILITY OF FACA.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para18 graph (2), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

19 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Advisory Committee. 

20 (2) NO TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2) of the 

21 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 

22 shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. 

23 (i) TERMINATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para2 graph (2), the Advisory Committee shall terminate 

3 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

4 (2) CONTINUATION.—The Advisory Committee 

5 may be continued for successive 10-year periods by 

6 action taken by the Director of the Office of Man7 agement and Budget to renew the Advisory Com8 mittee before the date on which the Advisory Com9 mittee would otherwise terminate. 

10 SEC. 5. NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Spatial Data Infra12 structure shall ensure that geospatial data from multiple 

13 sources (including the Federal Government, State, local, 

14 and tribal governments, the private sector, and institu15 tions of higher education) is available and easily inte16 grated to enhance the understanding of the physical and 

17 cultural world. 

18 (b) GOALS.—The goals of the National Spatial Data 

19 Infrastructure are to— 

20 (1) ensure— 

21 (A) the privacy and security of the per22 sonal data of individuals and accuracy of statis23 tical information on individuals, both in raw 

24 form and in derived information products; 


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1 (B) free access for the public to geospatial 

2 data, information, and interpretive products, in 

3 accordance with Office of Management and 

4 Budget Circular A–130, or any successor there5 to; 

6 (C) the protection of proprietary interests 

7 related to licensed information and data; and 

8 (D) the interoperability of Federal infor9 mation systems to enable the drawing of re10 sources from covered agencies and partners of 

11 covered agencies; and 

12 (2) support and advance the establishment of a 

13 Global Spatial Data Infrastructure, consistent with 

14 national security, national defense, national intel15 ligence, and international trade requirements, in16 cluding insuring that covered agencies develop inter17 national geospatial data in accordance with inter18 national voluntary consensus standards, as defined 

19 in Office of Management and Budget Circular A– 

20 119, or any successor thereto. 

21 (c) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall prepare 

22 and maintain a strategic plan for the development and im23 plementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 

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1 fense, and emergency preparedness program policies re2 garding data accessibility. 

3 (d) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Committee shall advise 

4 Federal and non-Federal users of geospatial data on their 

5 responsibilities relating to implementation of the National 

6 Spatial Data Infrastructure. 

7 SEC. 6. NGDA DATA THEMES. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall designate as 

9 NGDA data themes the primary topics and subjects for 

10 which the coordinated development, maintenance, and dis11 semination of geospatial data will benefit the Federal Gov12 ernment and the interests of the people of the United 

13 States, which shall— 

14 (1) be representations of conceptual topics de15 scribing digital spatial information for the Nation; 

16 and 

17 (2) contain associated datasets (with attribute 

18 records and coordinates)— 

19 (A) that are documented, verifiable, and 

20 officially designated to meet recognized stand21 ards; 

22 (B) that may be used in common; and 

23 (C) from which other datasets may be de24 rived. 

25 (b) LEAD COVERED AGENCIES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—For each NGDA data 

2 theme, the Committee shall designate one or more 

3 covered agencies as the lead covered agencies for the 

4 NGDA data theme. 

5 (2) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY.—The lead cov6 ered agencies for an NGDA data theme shall be re7 sponsible for ensuring the coordinated management 

8 of the data, supporting resources (including tech9 nology and personnel), and related services and 

10 products of the NGDA data theme. 

11 (3) SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.—To assist in 

12 fulfilling the responsibilities under paragraph (2) 

13 with respect to an NGDA data theme, the lead cov14 ered agencies shall— 

15 (A) provide leadership and facilitate the 

16 development and implementation of geospatial 

17 data standards for the NGDA data theme, with 

18 a particular emphasis on a data content stand19 ard for the NGDA data theme, including by— 

20 (i) assessing existing standards; 

21 (ii) identifying anticipated or needed 

22 data standards; and 

23 (iii) developing a plan to originate and 

24 implement needed standards with relevant 

25 community and international practices— 


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1 (I) in accordance with Office of 

2 Management and Budget Circular A– 

3 119, or any successor thereto; and 

4 (II) consistent with or as a part 

5 of the plan described in subparagraph 

6 (B); 

7 (B) provide leadership and facilitate the 

8 development and implementation of a plan for 

9 nationwide population of the NGDA data 

10 theme, which shall— 

11 (i) include developing partnership pro12 grams with States, Indian tribes, institu13 tions of higher education, private sector 

14 entities, other Federal agencies, and local 

15 governments; 

16 (ii) meet the needs of users of 

17 geospatial data; 

18 (iii) address human and financial re19 source needs; 

20 (iv) identify needs relating to stand21 ards, metadata for geospatial data within 

22 the NGDA data theme, and the 

23 GeoPlatform; and 

24 (v) expedite the development of nec25 essary NGDA data themes; 


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1 (C) establish goals that support the stra2 tegic plan for the National Spatial Data Infra3 structure prepared under section 5(c); 

4 (D) as necessary, collect and analyze infor5 mation from users of geospatial data within the 

6 NGDA data theme regarding the needs of the 

7 users for geospatial data and incorporate the 

8 needs of users in strategies relating to the 

9 NGDA data theme; and 

10 (E) as part of administering the NGDA 

11 data theme— 

12 (i) designate a point of contact within 

13 the lead covered agency who shall be re14 sponsible for developing, maintaining, co15 ordination relating to, and disseminating 

16 data using the GeoPlatform; 

17 (ii) submit to the Committee— 

18 (I) a performance report, at least 

19 annually, that documents the activi20 ties relating to and implementation of 

21 the NGDA data theme, including 

22 progress in achieving the requirements 

23 under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), 

24 and (D); and 


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1 (II) comments, as appropriate, 

2 regarding the summary and evalua3 tion of the performance report pro4 vided by the Committee under section 

5 3(c)(12); 

6 (iii) publish maps or comparable 

7 graphics online (in accordance with the 

8 mapping conventions specified by the Com9 mittee) showing the extent and status of 

10 the NGDA data themes for which the cov11 ered agency is a lead covered agency; 

12 (iv) encourage individuals and entities 

13 that are a source of geospatial data or 

14 metadata for geospatial data for the 

15 NGDA data theme to provide access to 

16 such data through the GeoPlatform; 

17 (v) coordinate with the GeoPlatform; 

18 and 

19 (vi) identify and publish proven prac20 tices for the use and application of 

21 geospatial data of the lead covered agency. 

22 SEC. 7. GEOSPATIAL DATA STANDARDS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 216 of 

24 the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), 


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1 the Committee shall establish standards for each NGDA 

2 data theme, which— 

3 (1) shall include— 

4 (A) rules, conditions, guidelines, and char5 acteristics for the geospatial data within the 

6 NGDA data theme and related processes, tech7 nology, and organization; and 

8 (B) content standards for metadata for 

9 geospatial data within the NGDA data theme; 

10 (2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall be 

11 consistent international standards and protocols; and 

12 (3) the Committee shall periodically review and 

13 update as necessary for the standards to remain cur14 rent, relevant, and effective. 

15 (b) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The Committee 

16 shall— 

17 (1) develop and promulgate standards under 

18 this section— 

19 (A) in accordance with Office of Manage20 ment and Budget Circular A–119, or any suc21 cessor thereto; and 

22 (B) after consultation with a broad range 

23 of data users and providers; 


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1 (2) to the maximum extent possible, use na2 tional and international standards adopted by vol3 untary standards consensus bodies; and 

4 (3) establish new standards only to the extent 

5 standards described in paragraph (2) do not exist. 

6 (c) EXCLUSION.—The Director of the Office of Man7 agement and Budget shall withhold from public disclosure 

8 any information the disclosure of which reasonably could 

9 be expected to cause damage to the national interest, secu10 rity, or defense of the United States, including informa11 tion relating to geospatial intelligence data activities, as 

12 determined in consultation with the Director of National 

13 Intelligence. 

14 SEC. 8. GEOPLATFORM. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall operate an 

16 electronic service that provides access to geospatial data 

17 and metadata for geospatial data, to be known as the 

18 GeoPlatform. 

19 (b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The GeoPlatform— 

20 (1) shall— 

21 (A) be available through the Internet and 

22 other communications means; 

23 (B) be accessible through a common inter24 face; 


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1 (C) include all geospatial data collected by 

2 covered agencies, directly or indirectly; and 

3 (D) include a set of programming instruc4 tions and standards providing an automated 

5 means of accessing available geospatial data, 

6 which— 

7 (i) harmonize sources and data stand8 ards associated with geospatial data, in9 cluding metadata; and 

10 (ii) to the maximum extent prac11 ticable, as determined by the Chairperson 

12 of the Committee, shall be made publicly 

13 available; and 

14 (2) may include geospatial data from a source 

15 other than a covered agency, if determined appro16 priate by the Committee. 

17 SEC. 9. COVERED AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Each covered agency shall— 

19 (1) prepare, maintain, publish, and implement a 

20 strategy for advancing geographic information and 

21 related geospatial data activities appropriate to the 

22 mission of the covered agency, in support of the 

23 strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infra24 structure prepared under section 5(c); 


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1 (2) collect, maintain, disseminate, and preserve 

2 geospatial data such that the resulting data, infor3 mation, or products can be readily shared with other 

4 Federal agencies and non-Federal users; 

5 (3) promote the integration of geospatial data 

6 from all sources; 

7 (4) ensure that data information products and 

8 other records created in geospatial data activities are 

9 included on agency record schedules that have been 

10 approved by the National Archives and Records Ad11 ministration; 

12 (5) allocate resources to fulfill the responsibil13 ities of effective geospatial data collection, produc14 tion, and stewardship with regard to related activi15 ties of the covered agency, and as necessary to sup16 port the activities of the Committee; 

17 (6) use the geospatial data standards, including 

18 the standards for metadata for geospatial data, and 

19 other appropriate standards, including documenting 

20 geospatial data with the relevant metadata and mak21 ing metadata available through the GeoPlatform; 

22 (7) coordinate and work in partnership with 

23 other Federal agencies, agencies of State, tribal, and 

24 local governments, institutions of higher education, 

25 and the private sector to efficiently and cost-effecVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jun 01, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1253.IS S1253

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1 tively collect, integrate, maintain, disseminate, and 

2 preserve geospatial data, building upon existing non3 Federal geospatial data to the extent possible; 

4 (8) use geospatial information to— 

5 (A) make Federal geospatial information 

6 and services more useful to the public; 

7 (B) enhance operations; 

8 (C) support decisionmaking; and 

9 (D) enhance reporting to the public and to 

10 Congress; 

11 (9) protect personal privacy and maintain con12 fidentiality in accordance with Federal policy and 

13 law; 

14 (10) support emergency response activities re15 quiring geospatial data in accordance with the Rob16 ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As17 sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and other gov18 erning law; 

19 (11) participate in determining, when applica20 ble, whether data declassified pursuant to Executive 

21 Order 12951 can contribute to and become a part 

22 of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; 

23 (12) search all sources, including the 

24 GeoPlatform, to determine if existing Federal, State, 

25 local, or private geospatial data meets the needs of 


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1 the covered agency before expending funds for 

2 geospatial data collection; 

3 (13) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure 

4 that a person receiving Federal funds for geospatial 

5 data collection provides high-quality data; and 

6 (14) appoint a contact to coordinate with the 

7 lead covered agencies for collection, acquisition, 

8 maintenance, and dissemination of the NGDA data 

9 themes used by the covered agency. 

10 (b) REPORTING.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each covered agency shall 

12 submit to the Committee an annual report regarding 

13 the achievements of the covered agency in preparing 

14 and implementing the strategy described in sub15 section (a)(1) and complying with the other require16 ments under subsection (a). 

17 (2) BUDGET SUBMISSION.—Each covered agen18 cy shall include geospatial data as a capital asset for 

19 purposes of preparing the budget submission of the 

20 President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 

21 States Code (including for purposes of the informa22 tion required under submissions under exhibits 53 

23 and 300 of Office of Management and Budget Cir24 cular A–11, relating to planning, budgeting, acquisi25 tion, and management of major information techVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jun 01, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1253.IS S1253

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1 nology capital investments, or any successor there2 to). 

3 (3) DISCLOSURE.—Each covered agency shall 

4 disclose each contract, cooperative agreement, grant, 

5 or other transaction that deals with geospatial data, 

6 which may include posting information relating to 

7 the contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other 

8 transaction on www.USAspending.gov, or any suc9 cessor thereto. 

10 (4) OMB REVIEW.—In reviewing the annual 

11 budget justifications submitted by covered agencies, 

12 the Office of Management and Budget shall take 

13 into consideration the summary and evaluations re14 quired under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 

15 3(c)(10), comments, and replies to comments as re16 quired under paragraphs (11) and (12) of section 

17 3(c), in its annual evaluation of the budget justifica18 tion of each covered agency. 

19 (5) REPORTING.—The Office of Management 

20 and Budget shall include a discussion of the sum21 maries and evaluation of the progress in establishing 

22 the National Spatial Data Infrastructure in each E23 Government status report submitted under section 

24 3606 of title 44, United States Code. 


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1 (c) AUDITS.—Not less than once every 2 years, the 

2 Inspector General of a covered agency (or senior ethics 

3 official of the covered agency for a covered agency without 

4 an Inspector General) shall submit to Congress an audit 

5 of the collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, dis6 tribution, use, and preservation of geospatial data by the 

7 covered agency, which shall include a review of— 

8 (1) the compliance of the covered agency with 

9 the standards for geospatial data, including 

10 metadata for geospatial data, established under sec11 tion 7; 

12 (2) the compliance of the covered agency with 

13 the requirements under subsection (a); and 

14 (3) the compliance of the covered agency on the 

15 limitation on the use of Federal funds under section 

16 10. 

17 SEC. 10. LIMITATION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS. 

18 On and after the date that is 4 years after the date 

19 of enactment of this Act, Federal funds shall not be avail20 able for the collection, production, acquisition, mainte21 nance, or dissemination of geospatial data that does not 

22 comply with applicable standards established under sec23 tion 7, as determined by the Committee. 


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1 SEC. 11. USE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee and each covered 

3 agency shall, to the maximum extent practical, rely upon 

4 and use private individuals and entities in the United 

5 States for the acquisition of commercially available sur6 veying and mapping and the provision of geospatial data 

7 and services. The Federal Government shall not commence 

8 or continue any surveying and mapping activity to provide, 

9 duplicate, or compete with a commercial product or service 

10 if the product or service is available on a more economical 

11 basis from a commercial source 

12 (b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of selecting a firm 

13 for a contract under chapter 11 of title 40, United States 

14 Code, the term ‘‘surveying and mapping’’ shall have the 

15 meaning given the term ‘‘geospatial data’’ in section 2 of 

16 this Act. 

17 (c) MODIFICATION OF FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGU18 LATION.—Part 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation 

19 (48 C.F.R. 36.000 et seq.) shall be revised to specify that 

20 the definition of the term ‘‘architectural and engineering 

21 services’’ includes surveying and mapping services and the 

22 acquisition of geospatial data, to which the selection proce23 dures of subpart 36.6 of such part 36 of the Federal Ac24 quisition Regulation shall apply. 


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1 SEC. 12. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAW. 

2 Nothing in this Act shall preempt the laws of any 

3 State relating to the performance of services of a sur4 veying, mapping, or geospatial nature which, to any ex5 tent, are required to be performed or approved by a person 

6 licensed, registered, or certified to provide such services 

7 under such State law. 

Æ 


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