Remote Sensing Applications Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-426
Sponsor: Rep. Udall, Mark [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2005-01-26 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Colleges
Commercialization
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Federal advisory bodies
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Internet
Land use
Minorities
Planning
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Remote sensing
Space activities
Urban affairs
Urban growth

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-26
text: Remote Sensing Applications Act of 2005 - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to: (1) establish a program of grants for pilot projects to explore the integrated use of sources of remote sensing and other geospatial information to address State, local, regional, and tribal agency needs; (2) establish an advisory committee to monitor the program; (3) transmit to Congress an independent evaluation of program effectiveness; and (4) ensure that project results are retrievable through an Internet-accessible database. Requires the Administrator to seek opportunities to assist: (1) in the development of commercial applications potentially available from the remote sensing industry; and (2) State, local, regional, and tribal agencies in applying remote sensing and geospatial information technologies for growth management. 
Requires the Administrator to establish an educational outreach program to increase awareness at institutions of higher education and such agencies of the potential applications of remote sensing and geospatial information.
Requires the Administrator to study the effect of remote sensing imagery costs on potential State, local, regional, and tribal agency applications.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: 
Remote Sensing Applications Act of 2005 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a program of grants for pilot projects to explore the integrated use of sources of remote sensing and other geospatial information to address State, local, regional, and tribal agency needs. Requires the Administrator, in awarding grants, to give preference to specified types of projects.
 
Requires the Administrator to seek opportunities to assist: (1) in the development of commercial applications potentially available from the remote sensing industry; and (2) State, local, regional, and tribal agencies in applying remote sensing and geospatial information technologies for growth management.
 
Limits the provision of assistance for a project to three years. Requires each grant recipient to: (1) report project results to the Administrator; and (2) conduct at least one workshop for potential users to disseminate the lessons learned from the project.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the Administrator to establish an advisory committee to monitor the program. Instructs the advisory committee to consult with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and other industry representatives and organizations.
 
Requires the Administrator to transmit to Congress an independent evaluation of program effectiveness.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Administrator to ensure that project results are retrievable through an Internet-accessible database. 
 
 
(Sec. 7) Requires the Administrator to establish an educational outreach program to increase awareness at institutions of higher education and State, local, regional, and tribal agencies of the potential applications of remote sensing and geospatial information. 
 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 95.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 109-157.
action_date: 2005-06-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 109-157.
action_date: 2005-01-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science.
action_date: 2005-01-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E94)
action_date: 2005-01-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-01-26
text: Introduced in House