Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 900) to direct the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 900, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Representative Soto's bill, H.R. 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025.

Sinkholes are a natural hazard that cost the United States Government approximately $300 million per year and pose a serious threat to public safety.

Sinkholes occur when there is a lack of proper external surface drainage so when a heavy rainstorm comes through and the ground cannot drain the water properly a void may form underground. From that point on, it is often simply a waiting game until the ground gives out and a dangerous sinkhole develops.

This bill would require the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program that examines the short- and long-term causes of sinkholes. This research would provide the government with more accurate data on the costs incurred from these hazards.

The program would also create maps of areas most at risk of sinkholes, analyze the areas with the greatest risk of experiencing a sudden sinkhole and make maps publicly available to help community planners and government agencies prepare for and avoid these catastrophes.

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

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Soto's bill will help leverage modern technology and mapping data to gain a better understanding of the sinkhole hazards facing the country and empower local communities to prepare for and mitigate these hazards.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the such time as I may consume.

I am excited to see Representative Darren Soto's Sinkhole Mapping Act on the floor today. This bipartisan legislation will direct the U.S. Geological Survey to study both the short- and long-term causes of sinkholes, including extreme weather events, droughts, and groundwater depletion.

Right now, there is no national, comprehensive mapping to track and predict sinkholes, leaving communities across the country more vulnerable to sudden and serious damage. Sinkholes can open without warning and wreak havoc on our infrastructure, damaging roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities and putting people's lives and livelihoods at risk.

We have seen this firsthand on the Oregon coast at Cape Kiwanda, where ocean wave erosion has carved into the sandstone. In 2023, two sinkholes appeared there measuring up to 25-feet wide and 30-feet deep each.

Thankfully, State and local officials acted quickly, identified the problem, and put safety precautions in place to protect the public.

With effective sinkhole mapping, we can do even more. We can identify at-risk areas before disaster strikes and take preventive action, like ground stabilization, to protect lives and reduce the cost of damage.

This bill is a commonsense, forward-looking investment in our communities and infrastructure, especially as climate change increases the risk of sinkholes across the country.

I thank my colleagues, Representatives Soto and Bilirakis, for introducing this bill and their leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 900, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) for her leadership.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation which I introduced with my fellow Floridian, Gus Bilirakis.

Mr. Speaker, sinkholes pose a significant problem for Florida and many States, yet we don't have a comprehensive mapping system to help first responders and community planners, as was mentioned by our chairman, Chairman Westerman. I thank him for bringing this bill today.

Sinkholes cost over $300 million a year. We see that in Florida homes, community centers, and businesses being affected by this. Having a database that displays potential sinkholes in our Sunshine State and across the Nation would absolutely be critical. That is what this bill does.

This bill directs the U.S. Geological Survey to study the short- and long-term mechanisms that trigger sinkholes. This includes extreme storms, prolonged droughts, shifts in water management practices, ongoing aquifer depletion, and other major water uses. It is all about having a public website displaying maps depicting zones at greater risk of sinkhole formation, helping save lives and helping us have more resilient communities.

I thank Chairman Westerman, Ranking Members Huffman and Hoyle, as well as Representatives Bilirakis, Frost, Castor, Wilson, Costa, Harder, Fitzpatrick, and Bell for joining me.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.