[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5203-H5205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAPPING REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2362) to reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping 
Act of 1992, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       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 ``National Geologic Mapping 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT REFERENCES.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to such section or 
     other provision of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 
     (43 U.S.C. 31a et seq.).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Section 2(a) (43 U.S.C. 31a(a)) is amended as follows:
       (1) By striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) although significant progress has been made in the 
     production of geologic maps

[[Page H5204]]

     since the establishment of the National Cooperative Geologic 
     Mapping Program in 1992, no modern, digital, geologic map 
     exists for approximately 75 percent of the Nation;''.
       (2) Paragraph (2) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (C) by inserting ``homeland and'' after 
     ``planning for'';
       (B) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``predicting'' and 
     inserting ``identifying'';
       (C) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     subparagraph (I);
       (D) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K); 
     and
       (E) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
       ``(J) recreation and public awareness; and''.
       (3) Paragraph (9) is amended by striking ``important'' and 
     inserting ``available''.

     SEC. 4. PURPOSE.

       Section 2(b) (43 U.S.C. 31a(b)) is amended by striking 
     ``protection'' and inserting ``management''.

     SEC. 5. DEADLINES FOR ACTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL 
                   SURVEY.

       Section 4(b)(1) (43 U.S.C. 31c(b)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``not later than'' and 
     all that follows through the semicolon and inserting ``not 
     later than one year after the date of the enactment of the 
     National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2005;'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``not later than'' and 
     all that follows through ``in accordance'' and inserting 
     ``not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2005 in 
     accordance''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (C) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
     by striking ``not later than'' and all that follows through 
     ``submit'' and inserting ``submit biennially''.

     SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES.

       Section 4(c)(2) (43 U.S.C. 31c(c)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``geophysical-map data base, geochemical-
     map data base, and a''; and
       (2) by striking ``provide'' and inserting ``provides''.

     SEC. 7. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM COMPONENTS.

       Section 4(d)(1)(B)(ii) (43 U.S.C. 31c(d)(1)(B)(ii)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     subclause (I);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of subclause (II) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(III) the needs of Department of the Interior land 
     management agencies.''.

     SEC. 8. GEOLOGIC MAPPING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       Section 5(a) (43 U.S.C. 31d(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency or a designee'' and inserting ``Secretary 
     of the Interior or a designee from a land management agency 
     of the Department of the Interior'';
       (B) by inserting ``and'' after ``Energy or a designee,''; 
     and
       (C) by striking ``, and the Assistant to the President for 
     Science and Technology or a designee''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``Not later than'' and all that follows 
     through ``consultation'' and inserting ``In consultation'';
       (B) by striking ``Chief Geologist, as Chairman'' and 
     inserting ``Associate Director for Geology, as Chair''; and
       (C) by striking ``one representative from the private 
     sector'' and inserting ``two representatives from the private 
     sector''.

     SEC. 9. FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

       Section 7(a) (43 U.S.C. 31f(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``geologic map'' and 
     inserting ``geologic-map''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting 
     ``information on how to obtain'' after ``that includes''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``under the Federal 
     component and the education component'' and inserting ``with 
     funding provided under the national cooperative geologic 
     mapping program authorized by section 4(a)''.

     SEC. 10. BIENNIAL REPORT.

       Section 8 (43 U.S.C. 31g) is amended by striking ``Not 
     later'' and all that follows through ``biennially'' and 
     inserting ``Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
     enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization 
     Act of 2005 and biennially''.

     SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; ALLOCATION.

       Section 9 (43 U.S.C. 31h) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this Act $64,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2006 through 2010.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2005'';
       (B) by striking ``48'' and inserting ``50''; and
       (C) by striking ``2'' and inserting ``4''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2362, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 2362, a bill to 
reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, 
introduced by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin).
  Geologic maps are important in identifying the Nation's water, 
energy, and mineral resources. Knowing where our resources are located 
is important in developing a sound national energy and minerals program 
that will allow us to become more energy independent, providing for a 
stronger, more secure economy and homeland.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation that gets real results by producing new geologic maps on an 
annual basis.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, as my friend and colleague the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) has stated, H.R. 2362 would 
reauthorize the Geologic Mapping Act of 1992.
  The U.S. Geological Survey and the State geological authorities carry 
out the geologic mapping program jointly. Under this program, Federal 
and State geologists develop comprehensive geological maps of the 
United States and a related database of environmental and scientific 
information.
  The mapping program contributes significantly to our understanding of 
geologic information such as the distribution of mineral energy and 
groundwater resources.
  Mr. Speaker, we should support H.R. 2362 and I urge its passage.
  I would also at this time like to thank the entire Resources staff, 
including especially Debra Lanzone.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and also the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. 
Udall), for allowing me time to speak on this very important bill which 
I introduced along with my very good friend and colleague the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin).
  H.R. 2362 demonstrates a commitment, a commitment by not only this 
body, but by our country, to provide timely geologic information in a 
digital format to a variety of users, including our county health 
departments, State environmental agencies, Federal agencies, and even 
the private sector, Mr. Speaker. To date, no modern digital geologic 
map exists for approximately 75 percent of this country.
  Geologic mapping has a variety of important uses as we have already 
heard. And understanding the subsurface soil, geology soil profiles 
through the use of geologic mapping can facilitate better planning, 
better planning for a variety of community projects including housing 
developments, schools and hospitals, septic systems for rural and urban 
communities and water treatment facilities and the construction of even 
highways and roadways as well.
  Now, siting these types of facilities in appropriate geologic 
settings is important to avoid or mitigate for geologic hazards such as 
landslides, earthquakes, subsiding soils or swelling soils, sinkholes, 
volcanic eruptions and even floodplains.
  H.R. 2362 authorizes the cooperative matching grant program between 
the State geologic surveys and the United States Geologic Survey 
through the fiscal year 2010.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues, 
understanding the

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value of this important piece of legislation, to vote in the 
affirmative for its passage.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2362, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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