[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 24 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON:
  S. 2151. A bill to encourage the development and integrated use by 
the public and private sectors of remote sensing and other geospatial 
information, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I proudly introduce the Remote 
Sensing Applications Act of 2004. Remote sensing technology is utilized 
to map and monitor the surface of the globe. The data we recover 
through remote sensing equipment contributes to our ability to evaluate 
and measure a wide scope of variables. The Federal Government 
incorporates remote sensing data to accomplish many critical tasks from 
monitoring global food supply and environmental developments to 
enhancing our national security initiatives.
  The Landsat program, for example, has collected and distributed a 32-
year continuous record of the land surfaces of the world. The program 
has become so successful that a significant portion of the program's 
budget is recovered through outside data-sales.
  Despite the overwhelming success of our remote sensing programs, many 
state, local, and tribal government may not be familiar with the data 
or how to apply the data to meet local needs. In addition, there 
remains significant opportunities for private industry to develop 
specialized and profit making adaptations based on remote sensing data.
  The Remote Sensing Applications Act directs the United States 
Geological Survey to invest in pilot projects to explore the integrated 
use of sources of remote sensing information to address State, local, 
regional and tribal needs. This legislation emphasizes the need to 
develop greater commercial applications for this data and provides the 
USGS important opportunities to develop public-private partnerships.
  The Remote Sensing Applications Act of 2004 will build upon the many 
successes of our remote sensing mission. By investing in adequate 
infrastructure and by making the appropriate tools available, we can 
firmly preserve our nation's leadership in remote sensing technologies. 
By enhancing opportunities to use this technology to more fully address 
the needs of State, regional, local, and tribal governments, as well as 
the needs of private industry, we may maximize the global effectiveness 
of our remote sensing programs. Accomplishing these goals through 
public-private partnerships has the added benefits of creating new jobs 
and new markets that may ultimately reduce or replace the need for 
federal financing or remote sensing policies.
  I encourage the Senate to fully consider this important legislation 
and to work expeditiously to enact it into law.

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