Digital Coast Act

Bill: 115-s-110
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Department of Commerce
Earth sciences
Executive agency funding and structure
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: 

Digital Coast Act

 
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a constituent-driven Digital Coast program. (This program currently exists under NOAA to provide data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources.) The program must: (1) provide an online resource that integrates geospatial data, decision-support tools, training, and best practices to address coastal management issues and needs, and to enhance resilient communities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic growth and development; and (2) provide for the documentation, dissemination, and archiving of the data.
 
NOAA must focus on filling data needs and gaps for critical coastal management issues and support continued improvement in existing efforts to coordinate the acquisition and integration of key data sets needed for coastal management, and other purposes. NOAA may enter into financial agreements to carry out the program. NOAA may enter into contracts with private sector entities as may be necessary to collect, process, and provide remote sensing and other geospatial data and products.
 
Additionally, NOAA may establish public tools that are capable of tracking ocean and Great Lakes economy data for each coastal state.

action_date: 2017-03-30
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Digital Coast Act

 
(Sec.4)This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a constituent-driven Digital Coast program. (This program currently exists under NOAA to provide data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources.) The program must: (1) provide an online resource that integrates geospatial data, decision-support tools, training, and best practices to address coastal management issues and needs, and to enhance resilient communities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic growth and development; and (2) provide for the documentation, dissemination, and archiving of the data.
 
NOAA must focus on filling data needs and gaps for critical coastal management issues and support continued improvement in existing efforts to coordinate the acquisition and integration of key data sets needed for coastal management, and other purposes. NOAA may: (1) enter into financial agreements and collect fees to carry out the program; (2) enter into contracts with private sector entities as may be necessary to collect, process, and provide remote sensing and other geospatial data and products.
 
Additionally, NOAA may establish publicly available tools that track ocean and Great Lakes economy data for each coastal state.

action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.) 
 

Digital Coast Act

 
(Sec.4)This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a constituent-driven Digital Coast program. (This program currently exists under NOAA to provide data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources.) The program must: (1) provide an online resource that integrates geospatial data, decision-support tools, training, and best practices to address coastal management issues and needs, and to enhance resilient communities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic growth and development; and (2) provide for the documentation, dissemination, and archiving of the data.
 
NOAA must focus on filling data needs and gaps for critical coastal management issues and support continued improvement in existing efforts to coordinate the acquisition and integration of key data sets needed for coastal management, and other purposes. NOAA may: (1) enter into financial agreements and collect fees to carry out the program; (2) enter into contracts with private sector entities as may be necessary to collect, process, and provide remote sensing and other geospatial data and products.
 
Additionally, NOAA may establish publicly available tools that track ocean and Great Lakes economy data for each coastal state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3225-3226; text as passed Senate: CR S3225-3226)
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3225-3226; text as passed Senate: CR S3225-3226)
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 25.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune without amendment. With written report No. 115-14.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune without amendment. With written report No. 115-14.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate