National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support of H.R. 2489, the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced with my colleague Steve LaTourette, that would authorize a program at the U.S. Geological Survey enhancing the use of satellite remote sensing data for research and education.

For almost a decade, the USGS has partnered with a nonprofit organization called AmericaView to help citizens, researchers, and public agencies solve real world problems using satellite imagery. Over these years, the USGS has provided satellite data and grants to AmericaView. AmericaView, in turn, has supported a network of university partners now in a total of 36 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa , Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Thanks to this outreach program, a great trove of satellite data and information, which is archived at the USGS Earth Resources Observation Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is put to work throughout our country. Each state program tailors its efforts to each state's needs, applying the data for use in a range of useful activities, including science education projects, the calculation of drought effects, designing irrigation protocols, or planning flood response. In short, USGS is enabling an amazing and varied array of remote sensing data applications through these ongoing outreach efforts and partnerships.

Despite receiving appropriations in past fiscal years, the USGS geospatial imagery outreach program has never formally been authorized. Passing this legislation today will officially authorize the USGS' existing outreach activities, helping to boost the program's recognition, expand the program to additional states and territories, and provide for Congressional direction and oversight.

The legislation before us today was amended in Committee to reflect input from the Department of Interior and colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I'd like to thank the Administration and my colleagues for their willingness to work together on this bill. I'd also like to recognize the contributions of our former colleague, Representative Ralph Regula of Ohio, who introduced this legislation in the previous Congress.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2489, the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act.

I thank my friend from Alaska for yielding.

I want to commend our good friend and colleague, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, from South Dakota, for her hard work in bringing this bill to the floor today. I understand she has been delayed by travel difficulties, but I am honored to be the lead Republican on this particular bill.

I am also pleased to indicate that the lead sponsor in the 110th Congress was Ralph Regula, Representative Ralph Regula. It was his vision that really started this program as ``Ohio View'' in 1998. It began as a pilot program through a partnership between the United States Geological Survey and several universities in the State of Ohio.

Originally called ``Ohio View,'' the program expanded nationwide beginning in 2000 and is currently active in 35 States across the country. The AmericaView program helps States and territories access the Federal Government's nonclassified satellite and airborne imagery. It provides remote sensing data to communities in order to manage resources, plan for natural disasters, and respond to security threats.

The National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act will maintain a nationwide AmericaView program and advance the availability of distribution and use of remote sensing data in each State. This bill will also expand remote sensing education as well as award grants to educational institutions and State and local governments to develop these programs.

There is a growing need for geospatial technology professionals, and this funding will bring remote sensing into K-12 classrooms across the country, strengthening students' science skills.

The AmericaView program has been valuable to communities across the Nation. I believe it is an effective use of taxpayer money.

Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin for introducing the bill again this Congress, and I appreciate very much the work of the Natural Resources Committee in improving the legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume on H.R. 2489.

The National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act builds on a series of earmarks directed to the United States Geological Survey for nearly a decade. This program originally started out as ``Ohio View'' and has since expanded to more than 35 States, with hundreds of active member groups. This effort has been successful in increasing access to and uses of our Nation's Earth observation satellite assets for education, research, hazardous monitoring, and natural resource management.

This legislation will finally move this program from one funded through earmarks without any oversight from Congress to an authorized Federal program with increased accountability, oversight, and taxpayer protections.

The final version of this legislation the House will consider today includes a number of improvements over the original introduced text. Specifically, this bill places a cap on the annual authorization for this program. This bill also now has a sunset date and requires a cost share from the partners who will work with the U.S. Geological Survey.

These are responsible, necessary changes. Congress should at all times seek to ensure taxpayer protections and oversight of government spending.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2489) to authorize a comprehensive national cooperative geospatial imagery mapping program through the United States Geological Survey, to promote use of the program for education, workforce training and development, and applied research, and to support Federal, State, tribal, and local government programs, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2489 would authorize a nationwide program sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey to help States, communities, and universities use satellite imagery for research and education.

I would like to commend the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, for championing valuable uses of satellite imagery and for her work with the minority to improve the pending measure.

So I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2489, which will facilitate remote sensing outreach partnerships in all 50 States and territories.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to state that yesterday I missed the final three rollcall votes of the day. Unfortunately I missed these votes because I had to return to my district.

Had I been present I would have voted ``Nay'' on rollcall vote No. 816 On Motion to Instruct Conferees--H.R. 2996--Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations, 2010.

Had I been present I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 817 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--H.R. 2489-- National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act.

Lastly, had I been present I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 818 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--H. Res. 854-- Recognizing Weber State University for the 120th anniversary of its founding as an institution of higher education.