MAPWaters Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-187
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
Introduced: 2025-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hunting and fishing
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Outdoor recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: 

Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025

This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to public's access to federal waterways for recreational use.

Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data.

Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect. 

Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H250-251)
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 187.
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H238-240)
action_date: 2025-01-21
text: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Introduced in House