I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 197
To encourage the use of remote sensing to promote better agricultural
management in the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 4, 1995
Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself and Mr. EHLERS) introduced the follow-
ing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and, in addi-
tion, to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To encourage the use of remote sensing to promote better
agricultural management in the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOTE SENSING FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the use of remote sensing data is potentially
a valuable resource to anticipate potential food, feed,
and fiber shortages or excesses, and to provide this
HR 197 IH
information to the agricultural community in time to
assist farmers with planting decisions;
(2) remote sensing data can be useful to predict
impending famine problems and forest infestations
in time to allow remedial action;
(3) remote sensing data can inform the agricul-
tural community as to the condition of crops and the
land which sustains those crops;
(4) remote sensing data can be useful to allow
farmers to apply pesticides, nutrients, and water,
among other inputs, the farmlands in the exact
amounts necessary to maximize crop yield, thereby
reducing agricultural costs and minimizing potential
harm to the environment;
(5) remote sensing data can be valuable, when
received on a timely basis, in determining the needs
of additional plantings of a particular crop or a sub-
stitute crop; and
(6) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration, using the expertise of the Earth Observa-
tions Commercialization Applications Program, and
the Department of Agriculture should work in tan-
dem to aid farmers to obtain data conducive to
sound agricultural management and greater crop
yields.
HR 197 IH
(b) INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of
Agriculture and the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration, maximizing private
funding and involvement, shall provide farmers and other
interested persons with timely information, through re-
mote sensing, on crop conditions, fertilization and irriga-
tion needs, pest infiltration, soil conditions, projected food,
feed, and fiber production, and any other information
available through remote sensing.
(c) ENHANCED REMOTE SENSING PROGRAM.—
(1) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration shall jointly evaluate the need for a
radar imaging platform that could enhance United
States remote sensing capability by providing infor-
mation and data relating to agricultural resources,
and which may have other commercial and research
applications.
(2) In the event that there is a finding of need
for a platform as set forth in subsection (1), the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
shall jointly develop a proposal, which maximizes
private funding and involvement in the launch and
operation of such platform, and in the management
HR 197 IH
and dissemination of the data from such platform.
The Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly
submit the proposal, within thirty days of its devel-
opment, to the House Committee on Agriculture, the
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry, the House Committee on Science, and the
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
(d) TRAINING.—The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration shall jointly develop a proposal to inform
farmers and other prospective users concerning the use
and availability of remote sensing data.
(e) SUNSET.—The provisions of this Act shall expire
five years after the date of its enactment.
Æ