II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5024 

To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program on establishing a geospatial workforce development program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 

Mr. SCHMITT introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot 

program on establishing a geospatial workforce development program, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘National Geospatial 

5 Innovation Hub Advancement Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON ESTABLISHING A GEOSPATIAL 

7 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 

8 (a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

2 shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasi3 bility and advisability of establishing a program to 

4 develop a skilled workforce in geospatial tech5 nologies, methodologies, and capabilities to support 

6 the defense intelligence requirements of the Depart7 ment of Defense. 

8 (2) DESIGNATION.—The pilot program carried 

9 out pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the 

10 ‘‘Geospatial Workforce Pilot Program’’ (in this sec11 tion the ‘‘Pilot Program’’). 

12 (b) GOALS.—In carrying out the Pilot Program, the 

13 Secretary shall seek— 

14 (1) to assess the demand for geospatial tech15 nology skills in both military and civilian sectors in 

16 proximity to facilities of the National Geospatial-In17 telligence Agency in the United States; 

18 (2) to expand, align, and accelerate the edu19 cation, training, and certification of a geospatial 

20 workforce; 

21 (3) to support a global research hub for 

22 geospatial science and technology; 

23 (4) to foster partnerships with secondary and 

24 postsecondary educational institutions, industry 


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1 leaders, and local governments to support the work2 force development; 

3 (5) to increase employment opportunities and 

4 economic growth in regions that are in proximity to 

5 National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency locations in 

6 the United States through enhanced geospatial capa7 bilities; and 

8 (6) to support Department of Defense oper9 ations and infrastructure with a skilled geospatial 

10 workforce. 

11 (c) LOCATION.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—In selecting a location for 

13 the pilot program required under subsection (a), the 

14 Secretary shall prioritize a location— 

15 (A) where the Secretary can partner with 

16 an eligible institution of higher education 

17 that— 

18 (i) conducts research; 

19 (ii) is in close proximity to National 

20 Geospatial-Intelligence Agency facilities 

21 outside of the National Capital Region; 

22 (iii) offers programs of education in 

23 geospatial or related matters; and 

24 (iv) has a demonstrated ability build 

25 the professional workforce, by impacting 


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1 kindergarten through college learning and 

2 beyond, as demonstrated by an educational 

3 partnership agreement and a collaborative 

4 research and development agreement with 

5 the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agen6 cy; 

7 (B) that has a significant presence of De8 partment of Defense installations or related ac9 tivities; and 

10 (C) that demonstrates a strong potential to 

11 recruit from a broad spectrum of academic can12 didates for growth in geospatial technology sec13 tors. 

14 (2) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU15 CATION.—For purposes of the Pilot Program, an eli16 gible institution of higher education is an institution 

17 of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the 

18 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 

19 that— 

20 (A) is an institution of higher education 

21 described in paragraph (1)(A); 

22 (B) has a demonstrated capacity for re23 search and development in geospatial tech24 nologies; and 


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1 (C) engages in partnerships with local 

2 schools and community organizations to pro3 mote geospatial education at all levels. 

4 (d) IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out the Pilot 

5 Program, the Secretary shall— 

6 (1) collaborate with local and regional edu7 cational institutions, including public research insti8 tutions, to develop curriculum and training modules 

9 tailored to geospatial technology skills; 

10 (2) engage with industry partners to ensure the 

11 training meets current and future workforce de12 mands; 

13 (3) provide funding and resources for training 

14 facilities, instructors, and materials; and 

15 (4) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of 

16 the training programs and make necessary adjust17 ments to improve outcomes. 

18 (e) CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary 

19 shall ensure that participation in the Pilot Program is lim20 ited to citizens of the United States. 

21 (f) TERMINATION.—The requirement to carry out a 

22 pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on Sep23 tember 30, 2030. 

24 (g) REPORTS.— 


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1 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec3 retary shall submit to the congressional defense com4 mittees a report on the establishment of the Pilot 

5 Program. 

6 (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—(A) Not later than one 

7 year after the date of the commencement of the 

8 Pilot Program, and not less frequently than once 

9 each year thereafter through fiscal year 2030, the 

10 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed 

11 Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed 

12 Services of the House of Representatives an annual 

13 report on the Pilot Program. 

14 (B) Each report submitted pursuant to sub15 paragraph (A) shall include, for the period covered 

16 by the report, the following with respect to the goals 

17 of subsection (b): 

18 (i) An assessment of the demand for 

19 geospatial technology skills. 

20 (ii) The progress in developing and imple21 menting the Pilot Program. 

22 (iii) Employment outcomes and economic 

23 impact. 

24 (iv) Recommendations for expanding or 

25 modifying the Pilot Program. 


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1 (h) DEFINITION OF CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COM2 MITTEES.—In this section, the term ‘‘congressional de3 fense committees’’ has the meaning given such term in 

4 section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code. 

Æ 


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