IMAGES Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4088 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente (D-TX)
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:

To provide for improvements to National Flood Insurance Program rate 
                     maps, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improvement of Mapping, Addresses, 
Geography, Elevations, and Structures Act of 2021'' or the ``IMAGES Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL FLOOD MAPPING PROGRAM.

    (a) Inclusion of Planimetric Features in Rate Maps.--Section 
100216(b)(3) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 
(42 U.S.C. 4101b(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) planimetric features, including, for each 
                planimetric feature--
                            ``(i) the associated parcel identification 
                        data for such planimetric feature; and
                            ``(ii) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        using public and private sector address data, 
                        the address of such planimetric feature.''.
    (b) Format of Rate Maps.--Section 100216(c)(2) of the Biggert-
Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b(c)(2)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) not later than 5 years after the date that 
                the National Geodetic Survey completes the National 
                Spatial Reference System 2022, updated to conform with 
                the geospatial data provided by such system; and
                    ``(E) spatially accurate in accordance with the 
                common protocols for geographic information systems 
                under section 216 of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 
                U.S.C. 3501 note).''.
    (c) Additional Considerations.--Section 100216 of the Biggert-
Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (42 U.S.C. 4101b) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (k); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Stream Flow Networks.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall coordinate with 
        the United States Geological Survey to ensure that, to the 
        extent necessary to maintain the stream flow networks critical 
        to the National Flood Insurance Program, flood risk mapping, 
        and flood risk assessments--
                    ``(A) the stream gage stations in such stream flow 
                networks are operational and use modern hardware;
                    ``(B) such stream flow networks are sufficiently 
                densified by adding new stream gage stations in high-
                risk areas;
                    ``(C) inactive critical stream gage stations in 
                such stream flow networks are reactivated; and
                    ``(D) the speed of the geospatial real-time data 
                feeds from such stream gage stations is increased.
            ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Stream flow network.--The term `stream flow 
                network' means a network of stream flow gages 
                maintained under the direction of the United States 
                Geological Survey and its partners that is used to 
                measure or record the flow of water down a stream or 
                river, or through an entire watershed system, and 
                transmit such information using a geospatial real-time 
                data feed.
                    ``(B) Stream gage station.--The term `stream gage 
                station' means a device installed at the edge of a 
                river or stream that measures or records the flow of 
                water down the stream and additional information such 
                as water height, water chemistry, and water 
                temperature.
    ``(g) Availability of Data to Public.--The Administrator shall make 
available to the public on the website of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency a national geospatial data repository that--
            ``(1) provides access to the raw data used to include the 
        planimetric features and parcel identification data in National 
        Flood Insurance Program rate maps;
            ``(2) to the extent that such data is available, allows 
        users to view, query, and obtain such data at multiple levels 
        of detail, including down to the property level;
            ``(3) allows users to view flood risks, flood insurance 
        zones, and flood elevations;
            ``(4) provides access to flood mapping and related 
        information such as--
                    ``(A) hydrologic and hydraulic models used in 
                determining flood risk;
                    ``(B) structure footprints where available;
                    ``(C) flood depth grids;
                    ``(D) flood risk reports;
                    ``(E) flood risk assessments (Hazus analyses);
                    ``(F) hazard mitigation plans; and
                    ``(G) other flood risk products at the discretion 
                of the Administrator; and
            ``(5) maintains and disseminates such data in a consistent 
        manner.
    ``(h) Ensuring Current Data.--Not less frequently than once every 5 
years, the Administrator shall verify that each National Flood 
Insurance Program rate map contains data that is current and credible.
    ``(i) Qualifications-Based Selection Contracting.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to a contract awarded by 
        the Administrator under this Act, or by an entity receiving a 
        grant under this Act, for program management, architectural and 
        engineering services, or surveying and mapping, such a contract 
        shall be awarded to a contractor selected in accordance with 
        the procedures described in section 1103 of title 40, United 
        States Code (or an applicable equivalent State qualifications-
        based statute). The Administrator, or entity, as the case may 
        be, shall require such contractor, as a condition of such 
        contract, to award any subcontract for program management, 
        architectural and engineering services, or surveying and 
        mapping in accordance with the procedures described in the 
        previous sentence, or the applicable equivalent State statute.
            ``(2) Relationship to state law.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall supersede any applicable State licensing law 
        governing professional licensure.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Architectural and engineering services.--The 
                term `architectural and engineering services' has the 
                meaning given that term in section 1102 of title 40, 
                United States Code.
                    ``(B) Surveying and mapping.--The term `surveying 
                and mapping' includes geospatial activities associated 
                with measuring, locating, and preparing maps, charts, 
                or other graphical or digital presentations depicting 
                natural and man-made physical features, phenomena, and 
                legal boundaries of the earth, including the following:
                            ``(i) Topographic Engineering Surveying, 
                        including acquisition of topographic oriented 
                        surveying and mapping data for design, 
                        construction, master planning, operations, as-
                        built conditions, precise structure stability 
                        studies using conventional and electronic 
                        instrumentation, photogrammetric, LiDAR, remote 
                        sensing, inertial, satellite, and other manned 
                        and unmanned survey methods as applicable.
                            ``(ii) Hydrographic Engineering Surveying, 
                        including acquisition of hydrographic oriented 
                        surveying and mapping data for design, 
                        construction, dredging, master planning, 
                        operations, and as-built conditions using 
                        conventional and electronic instrumentation, 
                        and photogrammetric, remote sensing, inertial, 
                        satellite, side scan sonar, subbottom 
                        profiling, and other surveying methods, as 
                        applicable.
                            ``(iii) Land Surveying, including property 
                        and boundary surveys, monumentation, marking 
                        and posting, and preparation of tract 
                        descriptions, using conventional, electronic 
                        instrumentation, photogrammetric, inertial, 
                        satellite, and other survey methods, as 
                        applicable.
                            ``(iv) Geodetic Surveying, including first-
                        , second-, and third-order horizontal and 
                        vertical control surveys, geodetic astronomy, 
                        gravity and magnetic surveys using 
                        conventional, electronic instrumentation, 
                        photogrammetric, inertial, satellite, and other 
                        survey methods, as applicable.
                            ``(v) Cartographic Surveying, including 
                        acquisition of topographic and hydrographic 
                        oriented surveying and mapping data for 
                        construction of maps, charts, and similar 
                        products for planning, flood analysis, and 
                        general use purposes using conventional and 
                        electronic instrumentation, photogrammetric, 
                        inertial, satellite, mobile, terrestrial, and 
                        other survey methods, as applicable.
                            ``(vi) Mapping, charting, and related 
                        geospatial database development, including the 
                        design, compilation, digitizing, attributing, 
                        scribing, drafting, printing and dissemination 
                        of printed or digital map, chart, and related 
                        geospatial database products associated with 
                        planning, engineering, operations, and related 
                        real estate activities using photogrammetric, 
                        geographic information systems, and other 
                        manual and computer assisted methods, as 
                        applicable.
    ``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Planimetric feature.--The term `planimetric feature' 
        means the geographic elements and features--
                    ``(A) that are independent of elevation, such as 
                roads, structure footprints, and rivers and lakes;
                    ``(B) which are represented on maps to show the 
                true location and size of the elements in relationship 
                to each other, as they are seen from the air; and
                    ``(C) that are mapped from LiDAR or aerial 
                photography by employing basic photogrammetry.
            ``(2) Parcel identification data.--The term `parcel 
        identification data' means the information associated with a 
        parcel of land, including the geographic location, unique 
        parcel identifier, boundaries, structures contained within the 
        parcel, zoning classification, and owner.''.
    (d) Funding for Elevation Data.--Section 1310 of the National Flood 
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4017) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(g) Allocation From the National Flood Insurance Fund.--Each 
fiscal quarter the Administrator shall allocate from the National Flood 
Insurance Fund an amount equal to 5 percent of any revenue collected 
under section 1308(b)(3) for use for creating or maintaining current 
and accurate National Flood Insurance Program Rate Maps.''.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 100216(j) of the 
Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, as so redesignated 
by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by striking 
``$400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017'' and 
inserting ``$500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027''.
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