II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4006 

To amend the Technology Administration Act of 1998 to encourage United 

States leadership in the development, application, and use of commercial 

space and airborne remote sensing and other geospatial information, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2006 

Mr. ALLEN (for himself and Mr. INHOFE) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation 

A BILL 

To amend the Technology Administration Act of 1998 to 

encourage United States leadership in the development, 

application, and use of commercial space and airborne 

remote sensing and other geospatial information, 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 ‘‘Imagery, Mapping, and 

5 Geospatial Enhancement Act of 2006’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE OF SPACE 

2 COMMERCIALIZATION. 

3 Section 8 of the Technology Administration Act of 

4 1998 (15 U.S.C. 1511e) is amended by adding at the end 

5 thereof the following: 

6 ‘‘(d) ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS.—Additional functions 

7 of the Office shall be to promote growth and advancement 

8 in United States space and airborne remote sensing tech9 nologies, and value-added services related thereto, by car10 rying out the following responsibilities: 

11 ‘‘(1) Examine the role of commercial remote 

12 sensing firms, including small business, in the 

13 United States economy and the contribution which 

14 such firms can make in— 

15 ‘‘(A) improving competition in the market16 place; 

17 ‘‘(B) enhancing the role of commercial re18 mote sensing firms in the economy of the 

19 United States; 

20 ‘‘(C) ensuring that United States firms 

21 continue to lead in the global marketplace; 

22 ‘‘(D) applying commercial remote sensing 

23 data, products, and services to national prior24 ities; 

25 ‘‘(E) expanding employment opportunities; 

26 ‘‘(F) increasing productivity; 


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1 ‘‘(G) stimulating innovation and entrepre2 neurship; and 

3 ‘‘(H) providing an avenue through which 

4 new and untested products and services can be 

5 brought to the marketplace. 

6 ‘‘(2) Assess the effectiveness of existing Federal 

7 agency use of remote sensing data, products, and 

8 services, including grant, subsidy, and assistance 

9 programs to non-Federal entities, and facilitate a re10 duction in the use of such governmental remote 

11 sensing data, products, and services and increase the 

12 use of commercial remote sensing firms. 

13 ‘‘(3) Promote the objectives of the U.S. Com14 mercial Remote Sensing Space Policy, issued by the 

15 President on May 13, 2003, particularly its provi16 sions on relying to the maximum practical extent on 

17 United States commercial remote sensing capabili18 ties and developing a long term, sustainable relation19 ship between the Federal Government and the 

20 United States commercial remote sensing commu21 nity. 

22 ‘‘(4) Advocate and implement appropriate 

23 measures for creating an environment in which all 

24 commercial remote sensing firms will have the opVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:56 Oct 04, 2006 Jkt 049196 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4006.IS S4006

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1 portunity to compete effectively and expand to their 

2 full potential. 

3 ‘‘(5) Evaluate the efforts of each Federal agen4 cy, and of the private sector, to assist commercial 

5 remote sensing firms, provide statistical information 

6 on the utilization of such firms by the Federal Gov7 ernment, and make appropriate recommendations to 

8 the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At9 mospheric Administration, the President, and the 

10 Congress in order to promote the establishment and 

11 growth of commercial remote sensing firms. 

12 ‘‘(6) Serve as a focal point for the receipt of 

13 complaints, criticisms, and suggestions concerning 

14 the policies and activities of any Federal agency 

15 which affects commercial remote sensing firms. 

16 ‘‘(7) Counsel commercial remote sensing firms 

17 on how to resolve questions and problems concerning 

18 the relationship of such firms to the Federal Govern19 ment. 

20 ‘‘(8) Develop proposals for changes in the poli21 cies and activities of any agency of the Federal Gov22 ernment which will better fulfill the purposes of this 

23 section and communicate such proposals to the ap24 propriate Federal agencies. 


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1 ‘‘(9) Represent the views and interests of com2 mercial remote sensing firms before other Federal 

3 agencies whose policies and activities may affect 

4 such firms. 

5 ‘‘(10) Enlist the cooperation and assistance of 

6 commercial remote sensing firms, and any associa7 tion of such firms, in the development of procure8 ment strategies, policies, and methodologies that en9 hance the utilization of commercial remote sensing 

10 firms by Federal agencies (including Federal, State, 

11 and local government agencies, universities, non12 profit organizations, and foreign governments that 

13 expend Federal funds), and strengthen the selection 

14 of such firms based on demonstrated competence 

15 and qualifications. 

16 ‘‘(11) Cooperate with public and private agen17 cies, businesses, and other organizations in dissemi18 nating information about the use and application of 

19 remote sensing, the capabilities of commercial re20 mote sensing firms, and how such firms can partici21 pate in or assist such entities, programs. 

22 ‘‘(12) Make such other recommendations as 

23 may be appropriate to assist the development and 

24 strengthening of commercial remote sensing firms. 


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1 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the 

2 term— 

3 ‘‘(1) ‘remote sensing’ means any activity associ4 ated with and related to geospatial activities associ5 ated with measuring, locating, and preparing maps, 

6 charts, surveys, aerial photographs, satellite images, 

7 or other graphical or digital presentations depicting 

8 natural or manmade physical features, phenomena, 

9 and legal boundaries of the Earth from airborne or 

10 spaceborne platforms or other types and sources of 

11 data; and 

12 ‘‘(2) ‘firm’ means any individual, firm, partner13 ship, corporation, association, or other legal entity in 

14 the United States organized and permitted by law to 

15 engage in the business of practicing in the profes16 sion of remote sensing through the devotion of time, 

17 attention, and labor to providing remote sensing 

18 data, products, technology, or services as a regular 

19 course of trade or business with the principal objec20 tive of livelihood and profit through the sale or dis21 tribution thereof.’’. 

Æ 


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