Title: A resolution designating November 15, 2018, as "National GIS Day".
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Designates November 15, 2018, as National GIS Day. Encourages the continued use of geographic information system (GIS) technology to learn, address societal challenges, and drive economic growth.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 701 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 701

        Designating November 15, 2018, as ``National GIS Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 15, 2018

 Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Warner, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. 
 Capito, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Daines, 
    and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
        Designating November 15, 2018, as ``National GIS Day''.

Whereas the management, use, and exchange of geographic information and 
        geospatial data and analysis are essential for operations and 
        decisionmaking in Federal agencies;
Whereas Geographic Information System technology (referred to in this preamble 
        as ``GIS'') embraces new and innovative ways to use, discover, and share 
        geospatial data through online portals and web services;
Whereas GIS facilitates the sharing of geographic data, services, and maps 
        through online portals such as GeoPlatform.gov;
Whereas GIS helps provide shared and trusted geospatial data, services, and 
        applications for use--

    (1) by the public; and

    (2) by government agencies and partners of government agencies to meet 
their mission needs;

Whereas GIS is an interdisciplinary tool used by students, teachers, 
        researchers, universities, and practitioners in numerous fields and 
        disciplines;
Whereas geography is identified as a core academic subject eligible for Federal 
        funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95; 129 
        Stat. 1802);
Whereas GIS helps foster collaboration and partnerships in the advancement of 
        the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (referred to in this preamble 
        as the ``NSDI'');
Whereas GIS provides a common framework for the Federal Government and State, 
        Tribal, and local governments, non-Federal partners, communities, 
        constituents, professional bodies for standards, data catalogs, 
        partnerships, and tools that make up the NSDI;
Whereas GIS is used to investigate and address societal, environmental, and 
        cultural issues, including--

    (1) local issues;

    (2) global issues;

    (3) issues from the past;

    (4) issues in the present; and

    (5) potential future issues identified through modeling;

Whereas GIS and related geospatial technologies are used in classrooms to engage 
        students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning;
Whereas GIS fosters competition within the sector of geospatial technologies, 
        which is considered a high-growth industry by the Department of Labor; 
        and
Whereas many Federal agencies, State and local government agencies, nonprofit 
        organizations, schools, libraries, and universities will join with 
        others around the world to showcase their GIS mapping and geospatial 
        applications on November 15, 2018: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 15, 2018, as ``National GIS Day''; 
        and
            (2) encourages users of Geographic Information System 
        technology (referred to in this resolving clause as ``GIS''), 
        educators, students, and innovators to continue to employ GIS--
                    (A) to learn and explore;
                    (B) to analyze and address societal challenges; and
                    (C) to drive economic growth for the betterment of 
                the people of the United States and individuals around 
                the world.
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