[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2390 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2390
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) to
establish a Geospatial Management Office within the Department of
Homeland Security to establish and maintain geospatial preparedness for
homeland security purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 6, 2004
Mr. Akaka introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) to
establish a Geospatial Management Office within the Department of
Homeland Security to establish and maintain geospatial preparedness for
homeland security 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 ``Homeland Security Geospatial
Information Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) geospatial technologies and geospatial data improve
government capabilities to detect, plan, prepare, and respond
to disasters in order to save lives and protect property;
(2) spatial data improves the ability of information
technology applications and systems to enhance public security
in a cost-effective manner; and
(3) geospatial preparedness in the United States is
insufficient because of--
(A) inadequate geospatial data compatibility;
(B) insufficient geospatial data sharing;
(C) technology interoperability barriers;
(D) institutional and organizational resistance to
new ways of doing business; and
(E) insufficient geospatial data collection and
sharing.
SEC. 3. HOMELAND SECURITY GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION.
Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 342) is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The Chief
Information''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Geospatial Information Functions.--
``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `geospatial
information' means collecting, storing, retrieving, or
disseminating graphical or digital data depicting natural or
manmade physical features, phenomena, or boundaries of the
earth and any related information, including surveys, maps,
charts, remote sensing data and images, and aerial photographic
services, with services performed by professionals such as
surveyors, photogrammetrists, hydrographers, geodesists,
cartographers, and other such services of an architectural or
engineering nature.
``(2) Office of geospatial management.--
``(A) Establishment.--The Office of Geospatial
Management is established within the Office of the
Chief Information Officer.
``(B) Geospatial information officer.--
``(i) Appointment.--The Office of
Geospatial Management shall be administered by
the Geospatial Information Officer, who shall
be appointed by the Secretary and serve under
the direction of the Chief Information Officer.
``(ii) Responsibilities.--The Geospatial
Information Officer shall--
``(I) manage the geospatial
information needs and activities of the
Department;
``(II) design and implement
comprehensive geospatial initiatives
for homeland security purposes,
including the provision of grants to
fund the creation of data and the
execution of information sharing
agreements with State and local
governments; and
``(III) in cooperation with the
Federal Geographic Data Committee,
coordinate and use geospatial
information for the use and enhancement
of the national spatial data
infrastructure for homeland security
purposes.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to
carry out this subsection for each fiscal year.''.
SEC. 4. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION OF GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION.
The Intergovernmental Board of Directors of the Geospatial One
Stop Project shall include the Department of Homeland Security as a
member. The Geospatial Information Officer shall be the representative
of the Department of Homeland Security.
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