[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2855 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2855

   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.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2023

Mr. Soto (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

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                                 A BILL


 
   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.

    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 ``Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. SINKHOLE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the United States Geological 
Survey shall establish a program to--
            (1) study the short-term and long-term mechanisms that 
        cause sinkholes, including extreme storm events, prolonged 
        droughts causing shifts in water management practices, aquifer 
        depletion, and other major changes in water use; and
            (2) develop maps that depict zones that are at greater risk 
        of sinkhole formation.
    (b) Review of Maps.--Once during each 5-year period, or more often 
as the Director of the United States Geological Survey determines is 
necessary, the Director shall assess the need to revise and update the 
maps developed under this section.
    (c) Website.--The Director of the United States Geological Survey 
shall establish and maintain a public website that displays the maps 
developed under this section and other relevant information critical 
for use by community planners and emergency managers.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are hereby authorized 
$40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to be 
appropriated to the Director of the United States Geological Survey for 
purposes of carrying out this section.
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