IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1229 

Expressing support for the designation of November 18, 2020, as ‘‘National 

GIS Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2020 

Mr. CURTIS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of November 18, 

2020, as ‘‘National GIS Day’’. 

Whereas Geographic Information System technology (referred 

to in this resolution as ‘‘GIS’’) embraces new and innovative ways to use, discover, and share geospatial data 

through online portals and web services; 

Whereas the management, use, and exchange of geographic 

information and geospatial data and analysis are essential for operations and decisionmaking in Federal agencies; 

Whereas GIS facilitates the sharing of geographic data, services, and maps through online portals such as 

GeoPlatform.gov and other relevant Federal data portals; 


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•HRES 1229 IH 

Whereas GIS helps provide shared and trusted geospatial 

data, services, and applications for use by— 

(1) the public; 

(2) government agencies and partners of government 

agencies to meet their mission goals; and 

(3) State, Tribal, county, and municipal governments; 

Whereas GIS fosters collaboration and partnerships in the 

advancement of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 

(referred to in this resolution as ‘‘NSDI’’); 

Whereas GIS provides a common framework for the Federal 

Government, State, Tribal, and local governments, nonFederal partners, communities, constituents, professional 

bodies for standards, data catalogs, partnerships, and 

tools that make up the NSDI; 

Whereas GIS is a critical tool used by public health officials 

at the local, national, and global levels in the surveillance 

and modeling of, and response to, public health emergencies, including the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas GIS is used to investigate and address environmental issues, including— 

(1) wildland fire mitigation and suppression; 

(2) volcanic activity; 

(3) coastline degradation; and 

(4) earthquake impacts and hazards; 

Whereas GIS is used to locate and prioritize broadband deployment to rural and other underserved Americans; 

Whereas GIS is an interdisciplinary tool used by students, 

teachers, researchers, universities, and practitioners in 

numerous fields and disciplines; 


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•HRES 1229 IH 

Whereas GIS and related geospatial technologies are used in 

classrooms to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning; 

Whereas GIS fosters competition within the sector of 

geospatial technologies, which is considered a high-growth 

industry by the Department of Labor; 

Whereas Federal agencies rely upon and use the private sector in the United States for the provision of geospatial 

data and GIS services; and 

Whereas many Federal agencies, State and local government 

agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, libraries, and 

universities join with others around the world to showcase their GIS mapping and geospatial applications on 

November 18, 2020: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National GIS 

3 Day’’; and 

4 (2) encourages users of GIS technology, edu5 cators, students, and innovators to continue to em6 ploy GIS to— 

7 (A) learn and explore; 

8 (B) analyze and address societal, environ9 mental, and other challenges; and 

10 (C) drive economic growth for the better11 ment of the people of the United States and in12 dividuals around the world. 

Æ 


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