I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3522 
To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2017 
Mr. WESTERMAN (for himself and Mr. MOULTON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Geospatial Data Act 
of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘Advisory Committee’’ means the 
National Geospatial Advisory Committee described 
in section 4(a); 
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(2) the term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Federal 
Geographic Data Committee established under sec-
tion 3(a); 
(3) the term ‘‘covered agency’’ means an agen-
cy, as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States 
Code, that collects, produces, acquires, maintains, 
distributes, uses, or preserves geospatial data on 
paper or in electronic form to fulfill the mission of 
the agency, either directly or through a relationship 
with another organization, including a State, local 
government, Indian tribe, institution of higher edu-
cation, business partner or contractor of the Federal 
Government, and the public; 
(4) 
the 
term 
‘‘GeoPlatform’’ 
means 
the 
GeoPlatform described in section 8(a); 
(5) the term ‘‘geospatial data’’— 
(A) means information that is tied to a lo-
cation on the Earth, including by identifying 
the geographic location and characteristics of 
natural or constructed features and boundaries 
on the Earth, and that is generally represented 
by points, lines (for example a road), polygons 
(for example a forest), or other complex geo-
graphic features or phenomena (for example a 
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forest fire, the spread of West Nile virus, or the 
infestation of pine-bark beetles); 
(B) may be derived from, among other 
things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying 
technologies; 
(C) includes— 
(i) images and raster datasets, aerial 
photographs, and other forms of geospatial 
data or datasets in digitized or non- 
digitized form, specifically— 
(I) 
georeferenced 
data 
tran-
scribed into a Geographic Information 
System or Land Information System 
format by manual or electronic means, 
and the maintenance of that data; 
(II) tax parcel maps, zoning 
maps, and other public data records 
transcribed into Geographic Informa-
tion System or Land Information Sys-
tem formatted cadastres, and the 
maintenance of those cadastres if the 
data are not modified for other than 
graphical purposes; 
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(III) data depicting the distribu-
tion of natural or cultural resources, 
features, or phenomena; 
(IV) data used by a Federal 
agency (including contractors of a 
Federal agency) in the preparation of 
military maps, quadrangle topographic 
maps, satellite imagery, or other maps 
or images that do not define real 
property boundaries; 
(V) data used by a Federal agen-
cy (including contractors of a Federal 
agency) in the preparation or tran-
scription of documents or databases 
into a Geographical Information Sys-
tem or Land Information System for-
mat in the preparation or tran-
scription of Federal census or other 
demographic data; 
(VI) data used by a law enforce-
ment agency (including contractors of 
a law enforcement agency) in the 
preparation of documents or maps for 
traffic accidents, crime scenes, or 
similar purposes depicting physical 
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features or events, or generating or 
using georeferenced data involving 
crime statistics or criminal activities; 
(VII) data used by a public safe-
ty official conducting, reporting on, or 
testifying about or otherwise per-
forming duties regarding an official 
investigation; and 
(VIII) data used to create gen-
eral maps prepared for private firms 
or government agencies for— 
(aa) use as guides to motor-
ists, boaters, aviators, or pedes-
trians; 
(bb) publication in a gazet-
teer or an atlas as an educational 
tool or reference publication; 
(cc) use in the curriculum of 
any course of study; 
(dd) use as an illustrative 
guide to the geographic location 
of any event, produced in any 
electronic or print media; or 
(ee) conversational or illus-
trative purposes, including use as 
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advertising 
material 
or 
user 
guides; 
(ii) data collected through the provi-
sion of services performed by professionals 
such as surveyors, photogrammetrists, hy-
drographers, geodesists, or cartographers 
in the creation, collection, or application 
of— 
(I) georeferenced graphical or 
digital data to depict natural or man-
made physical features, phenomena, 
or boundaries of the Earth and real 
property thereon, when used to rep-
resent authoritative locations; 
(II) geospatial intelligence; or 
(III) 
geometric 
measurements 
and related information pertaining to 
the physical or legal features of the 
Earth, improvements on the Earth, 
the space above, on, or below the 
Earth, when used to represent author-
itative locations; and 
(iii) any information relating to data 
described in clause (ii), including any such 
data that comprises a survey, map, chart, 
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geographic information system, remotely 
sensed image or data, or an aerial photo-
graph through— 
(I) determining by measurement 
the configuration or contour of the 
Earth’s surface or the position of 
fixed objects thereon, when used to 
represent authoritative locations; 
(II) determining by performing 
geodetic surveys the size and shape of 
the Earth or the position of any point 
on the Earth; 
(III) locating, relocating, estab-
lishing, reestablishing, or retracing 
property lines or boundaries of any 
tract of land, road, right of way, or 
easement; 
(IV) making any survey for the 
division, subdivision, or consolidation 
of one or more tracts of land; 
(V) locating or laying out align-
ments, positions, or elevations for the 
construction of fixed works; 
(VI) determining, by the use of 
principles of surveying, the position 
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for any survey monument (boundary 
or non-boundary) or reference point 
or establishing or replacing any such 
monument or reference point; or 
(VII) 
creating, 
preparing, 
or 
modifying electronic or computerized 
or other data, relative to the perform-
ance of the activities described in this 
clause or clause (ii); and 
(D) does not include— 
(i) geospatial data activities of an In-
dian tribe not carried out, in whole or in 
part, using Federal funds, as determined 
by the tribal government; 
(ii) classified national security-related 
geospatial data activities of the Depart-
ment of Defense, unless declassified under 
Executive Order 12951, as determined by 
the Secretary of Defense; 
(iii) classified national security-related 
geospatial data activities of the Depart-
ment of Energy, unless declassified under 
Executive Order 12951, as determined by 
the Secretary of Energy; or 
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(iv) intelligence geospatial data activi-
ties, as determined by the Director of Na-
tional Intelligence; 
(6) the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the meaning 
given that term under section 4 of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 450b); 
(7) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given that term under section 102 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002); 
(8) the term ‘‘lead covered agency’’ means a 
lead covered agency for an NGDA data theme des-
ignated under section 6(b)(1); 
(9) the term ‘‘local government’’ means any 
city, county, township, town, borough, parish, vil-
lage, or other general purpose political subdivision of 
a State; 
(10) the term ‘‘metadata for geospatial data’’ 
means information about geospatial data, including 
the content, source, vintage, accuracy, condition, 
projection, responsible party, contact phone number, 
method of collection, and other characteristics or de-
scriptions of the geospatial data; 
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(11) the term ‘‘NGDA data theme’’ means the 
National Geospatial Data Asset core geospatial 
datasets (including electronic records and coordi-
nates) relating to a topic or subject designated 
under section 6; 
(12) the term ‘‘National Spatial Data Infra-
structure’’ means the technology, policies, criteria, 
standards, and employees necessary to promote 
geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal Gov-
ernment, State, tribal, and local governments, and 
the private sector (including nonprofit organizations 
and institutions of higher education); and 
(13) the term ‘‘proven practices’’ means meth-
ods and activities that advance the use of geospatial 
data for the benefit of society. 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Office 
of Management and Budget an interagency committee to 
be known as the Federal Geographic Data Committee, 
which shall act as the lead entity in the executive branch 
for the development, implementation, and review of poli-
cies, practices, and standards relating to geospatial data. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
The Director of the Office of Management and 
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Budget and the Secretary of the Interior shall serve 
as Chairperson of the Committee and Vice Chair-
person of the Committee, respectively. 
(2) OTHER MEMBERS.—The President shall ap-
point the other members of the Committee from 
among the officers and employees of covered agen-
cies. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
(1) lead the development and management of 
and operational decisionmaking for the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure strategic plan and 
geospatial data policy in accordance with section 5; 
(2) designate NGDA data themes and oversee 
the coordinated management of the NGDA data 
themes in accordance with section 6; 
(3) establish and maintain geospatial data 
standards in accordance with section 7; 
(4) periodically review and determine the extent 
to which covered agencies comply with geospatial 
data standards; 
(5) ensure that the GeoPlatform operates in ac-
cordance with section 8; 
(6) direct and facilitate national implementation 
of the system of NGDA data themes; 
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(7) communicate with and foster communica-
tion among covered agencies and others entities and 
individuals relating to geospatial data technology de-
velopment, transfer, and exchange in order to— 
(A) identify and meet the needs of users of 
geospatial data; 
(B) promote cost-effective data collection, 
documentation, maintenance, distribution, and 
preservation strategies; and 
(C) leverage Federal and non-Federal re-
sources; 
(8) define roles and responsibilities and pro-
mote and guide cooperation and coordination among 
agencies of the Federal Government, State, tribal, 
and local governments, institutions of higher edu-
cation, and the private sector in the collection, pro-
duction, sharing, and use of geospatial information, 
the implementation of the National Spatial Data In-
frastructure, and the identification of proven prac-
tices; 
(9) coordinate with international organizations 
having an interest in the National Spatial Data In-
frastructure or global spatial data infrastructures; 
(10) make available online and update at least 
annually— 
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(A) a summary of the status for each 
NGDA data theme, based on the report sub-
mitted by the applicable lead covered agency 
under section 6(b)(3)(E)(ii)(I), which shall in-
clude— 
(i) an evaluation of the progress of 
each lead covered agency in achieving the 
requirements under subparagraphs (A), 
(B), (C), and (D) of section 6(b)(3); and 
(ii) a determination of whether, for 
each of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and 
(D) of section 6(b)(3), each lead covered 
agency meets expectations, has made 
progress toward expectations, or fails to 
meet expectations; 
(B) a summary and evaluation of the 
achievements of each covered agency, based on 
the annual report submitted by the covered 
agency under section 9(b)(1), which shall in-
clude a determination of whether the covered 
agency meets expectations, has made progress 
toward expectations, or fails to meet expecta-
tions for each of paragraphs (1) through (14) 
of section 9(a); 
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(C) a collection of periodic technical publi-
cations, management articles, and reports re-
lated to the National Spatial Data Infrastruc-
ture; and 
(D) a membership directory for the Com-
mittee, including identifying members of any 
subcommittee or working group of the Com-
mittee; 
(11)(A) make available to and request com-
ments from the Advisory Committee regarding the 
summaries and evaluations required under subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (10); 
(B) if requested by the Advisory Committee, re-
spond to any comments by the Advisory Committee; 
and 
(C) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 
Congress a report that includes the summaries and 
evaluations required under subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of paragraph (10), the comments of the Advi-
sory Committee, and the responses of the Committee 
to the comments; 
(12)(A) make available to and request com-
ments from covered agencies regarding the sum-
maries and evaluations required under subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (10); and 
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(B) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 
Congress a report that includes the comments of the 
covered agencies and the responses of the Committee 
to the comments; and 
(13) support and promote the infrastructure of 
networks, systems, services, and standards that pro-
vide a digital representation of the Earth to users 
for many applications. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the executive 
branch the National Geospatial Advisory Committee to 
provide advice and recommendations to the Chairperson 
of the Committee. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of 30 members who shall be— 
(A) appointed by the Chairperson of the 
Committee; 
(B) selected— 
(i) to generally achieve a balanced 
representation of the viewpoints of various 
interested parties involved in national 
geospatial activities and the development of 
the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; 
and 
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(ii) with consideration of a geographic 
balance of residence of the members; and 
(C) selected from among groups involved 
in the geospatial community, including— 
(i) States; 
(ii) local governments; 
(iii) regional governments; 
(iv) tribal governments; 
(v) private sector entities; 
(vi) geospatial information user indus-
tries; 
(vii) professional associations; 
(viii) scholarly associations; 
(ix) nonprofit organizations; 
(x) academia; and 
(xi) the Federal Government. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Committee shall appoint the Chairperson of the Ad-
visory Committee. 
(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 3 years, with the term of 
1⁄3 of the members expiring each year. 
(B) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Ad-
visory Committee shall not affect its powers, 
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but shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment. 
(4) LIMIT ON TERMS.—An individual— 
(A) may not be appointed to more than 2 
consecutive terms as a member of the Advisory 
Committee; and 
(B) after serving for 2 consecutive terms, 
is eligible to be appointed as a member of the 
Advisory Committee on and after the date that 
is 2 years after the end of the second consecu-
tive term of the individual as a member of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(5) ETHICAL
REQUIREMENTS.—A member of 
the Advisory Committee may not participate in any 
specific-party matter (including a lease, license, per-
mit, contract, claim, agreement, or related litigation) 
with the Department of the Interior in which the 
member has a direct financial interest. 
(6) INCUMBENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual serving 
on the day before the date of enactment of this 
Act as a member of the National Geospatial 
Advisory Committee established by the Sec-
retary of the Interior may serve as a member 
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of the Advisory Committee until the end of the 
term of the individual under the appointment. 
(B) LIMIT ON TERMS.—Any period of serv-
ice as a member of the National Geospatial Ad-
visory Committee established by the Secretary 
of the Interior shall be considered a period of 
service as a member of the Advisory Committee 
for purposes of paragraph (4). 
(c) SUBCOMMITTEES.—A subcommittee of the Advi-
sory Committee— 
(1) may be formed for the purposes of com-
piling information or conducting research; 
(2) shall be composed of members appointed by 
the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee; 
(3) shall act only under the direction of the 
Chairperson of the Advisory Committee; 
(4) shall report the recommendations of the 
subcommittee to the Advisory Committee for consid-
eration; and 
(5) shall meet as necessary to accomplish the 
objectives of the subcommittee, subject to the ap-
proval of the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee 
and the availability of resources. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall meet at the call of the Chairman, not less than 
1 time each year and not more than 4 times each 
year. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum, 
but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(e) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The 
Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) provide advice and recommendations relat-
ing to— 
(A) the management of Federal and na-
tional geospatial programs; 
(B) the development of the National Spa-
tial Data Infrastructure; and 
(C) implementation of this Act; 
(2) review and comment on geospatial policy 
and management issues; and 
(3) ensure the views of representatives of non- 
Federal interested parties involved in national 
geospatial activities are conveyed to the Committee. 
(f) POWERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) HEARINGS.—The Advisory Committee may 
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, and receive such evi-
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dence as the Advisory Committee considers advisable 
to carry out this Act. 
(2) INFORMATION FROM COVERED AGENCIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee may secure directly from any covered 
agency such information as the Advisory Com-
mittee considers necessary to carry out this Act. 
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Advi-
sory Committee, the head of such agency shall 
furnish such information to the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(B) 
NONCOOPERATION.—The 
Advisory 
Committee shall include in the comments of the 
Advisory Committee submitted under section 
3(c)(11) a discussion of any failure by a cov-
ered agency to furnish information in response 
to a request under subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph. 
(3) POSTAL
SERVICES.—The Advisory Com-
mittee may use the United States mails in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as other 
agencies of the Federal Government. 
(4) GIFTS.—The Advisory Committee— 
(A) may accept, use, and dispose of gifts 
or donations of services or property; and 
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(B) shall establish rules for the acceptance, 
use, and disposition of gifts and donations that 
avoid any conflict of interest or appearance of 
a conflict of interest. 
(g) ADVISORY COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) NO COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(A) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A mem-
ber of the Advisory Committee who is not an 
officer or employee of the Federal Government 
shall serve without compensation. 
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 
the Advisory Committee who is an officer or 
employee of the Federal Government shall serve 
without compensation in addition to the com-
pensation received for the services of the mem-
ber as an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the 
Advisory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of services for the 
Advisory Committee. 
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(3) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed 
to the Advisory Committee without reimbursement, 
and such detail shall be without interruption or loss 
of civil service status or privilege. 
(h) APPLICABILITY OF FACA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Advisory Committee. 
(2) NO TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. 
(i) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Advisory Committee shall terminate 
10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) CONTINUATION.—The Advisory Committee 
may be continued for successive 10-year periods by 
action taken by the Director of the Office of Man-
agement and Budget to renew the Advisory Com-
mittee before the date on which the Advisory Com-
mittee would otherwise terminate. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Spatial Data Infra-
structure shall ensure that geospatial data from multiple 
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sources (including the Federal Government, State, local, 
and tribal governments, the private sector, and institu-
tions of higher education) is available and easily inte-
grated to enhance the understanding of the physical and 
cultural world. 
(b) GOALS.—The goals of the National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure are to— 
(1) ensure— 
(A) the privacy and security of the per-
sonal data of individuals and accuracy of statis-
tical information on individuals, both in raw 
form and in derived information products; 
(B) free access for the public to geospatial 
data, information, and interpretive products, in 
accordance with Office of Management and 
Budget Circular A–130, or any successor there-
to; 
(C) the protection of proprietary interests 
related to licensed information and data; and 
(D) the interoperability of Federal infor-
mation systems to enable the drawing of re-
sources from covered agencies and partners of 
covered agencies; and 
(2) support and advance the establishment of a 
Global Spatial Data Infrastructure, consistent with 
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national security, national defense, national intel-
ligence, and international trade requirements, in-
cluding insuring that covered agencies develop inter-
national geospatial data in accordance with inter-
national voluntary consensus standards, as defined 
in Office of Management and Budget Circular A– 
119, or any successor thereto. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall prepare 
and maintain a strategic plan for the development and im-
plementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
in a manner consistent with national security, national de-
fense, and emergency preparedness program policies re-
garding data accessibility. 
(d) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Committee shall advise 
Federal and non-Federal users of geospatial data on their 
responsibilities relating to implementation of the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure. 
SEC. 6. NGDA DATA THEMES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall designate as 
NGDA data themes the primary topics and subjects for 
which the coordinated development, maintenance, and dis-
semination of geospatial data will benefit the Federal Gov-
ernment and the interests of the people of the United 
States, which shall— 
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(1) be representations of conceptual topics de-
scribing digital spatial information for the Nation; 
and 
(2) contain associated datasets (with attribute 
records and coordinates)— 
(A) that are documented, verifiable, and 
officially designated to meet recognized stand-
ards; 
(B) that may be used in common; and 
(C) from which other datasets may be de-
rived. 
(b) LEAD COVERED AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—For each NGDA data 
theme, the Committee shall designate one or more 
covered agencies as the lead covered agencies for the 
NGDA data theme. 
(2) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY.—The lead cov-
ered agencies for an NGDA data theme shall be re-
sponsible for ensuring the coordinated management 
of the data, supporting resources (including tech-
nology and personnel), and related services and 
products of the NGDA data theme. 
(3) SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.—To assist in 
fulfilling the responsibilities under paragraph (2) 
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with respect to an NGDA data theme, the lead cov-
ered agencies shall— 
(A) provide leadership and facilitate the 
development and implementation of geospatial 
data standards for the NGDA data theme, with 
a particular emphasis on a data content stand-
ard for the NGDA data theme, including by— 
(i) assessing existing standards; 
(ii) identifying anticipated or needed 
data standards; and 
(iii) developing a plan to originate and 
implement needed standards with relevant 
community and international practices— 
(I) in accordance with Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A– 
119, or any successor thereto; and 
(II) consistent with or as a part 
of the plan described in subparagraph 
(B); 
(B) provide leadership and facilitate the 
development and implementation of a plan for 
nationwide population of the NGDA data 
theme, which shall— 
(i) include developing partnership pro-
grams with States, Indian tribes, institu-
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tions of higher education, private sector 
entities, other Federal agencies, and local 
governments; 
(ii) meet the needs of users of 
geospatial data; 
(iii) address human and financial re-
source needs; 
(iv) identify needs relating to stand-
ards, metadata for geospatial data within 
the 
NGDA 
data 
theme, 
and 
the 
GeoPlatform; and 
(v) expedite the development of nec-
essary NGDA data themes; 
(C) establish goals that support the stra-
tegic plan for the National Spatial Data Infra-
structure prepared under section 5(c); 
(D) as necessary, collect and analyze infor-
mation from users of geospatial data within the 
NGDA data theme regarding the needs of the 
users for geospatial data and incorporate the 
needs of users in strategies relating to the 
NGDA data theme; and 
(E) as part of administering the NGDA 
data theme— 
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(i) designate a point of contact within 
the lead covered agency who shall be re-
sponsible for developing, maintaining, co-
ordination relating to, and disseminating 
data using the GeoPlatform; 
(ii) submit to the Committee— 
(I) a performance report, at least 
annually, that documents the activi-
ties relating to and implementation of 
the NGDA data theme, including 
progress in achieving the requirements 
under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), 
and (D); and 
(II) comments, as appropriate, 
regarding the summary and evalua-
tion of the performance report pro-
vided by the Committee under section 
3(c)(12); 
(iii) publish maps or comparable 
graphics online (in accordance with the 
mapping conventions specified by the Com-
mittee) showing the extent and status of 
the NGDA data themes for which the cov-
ered agency is a lead covered agency; 
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(iv) encourage individuals and entities 
that are a source of geospatial data or 
metadata for geospatial data for the 
NGDA data theme to provide access to 
such data through the GeoPlatform; 
(v) coordinate with the GeoPlatform; 
and 
(vi) identify and publish proven prac-
tices for the use and application of 
geospatial data of the lead covered agency. 
SEC. 7. GEOSPATIAL DATA STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 216 of 
the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), 
the Committee shall establish standards for each NGDA 
data theme, which— 
(1) shall include— 
(A) rules, conditions, guidelines, and char-
acteristics for the geospatial data within the 
NGDA data theme and related processes, tech-
nology, and organization; and 
(B) content standards for metadata for 
geospatial data within the NGDA data theme; 
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall be 
consistent international standards and protocols; and 
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(3) the Committee shall periodically review and 
update as necessary for the standards to remain cur-
rent, relevant, and effective. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The Committee 
shall— 
(1) develop and promulgate standards under 
this section— 
(A) in accordance with Office of Manage-
ment and Budget Circular A–119, or any suc-
cessor thereto; and 
(B) after consultation with a broad range 
of data users and providers; 
(2) to the maximum extent possible, use na-
tional and international standards adopted by vol-
untary standards consensus bodies; and 
(3) establish new standards only to the extent 
standards described in paragraph (2) do not exist. 
(c) EXCLUSION.—The Director of the Office of Man-
agement and Budget shall withhold from public disclosure 
any information the disclosure of which reasonably could 
be expected to cause damage to the national interest, secu-
rity, or defense of the United States, including informa-
tion relating to geospatial intelligence data activities, as 
determined in consultation with the Director of National 
Intelligence. 
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