[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7059-S7060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 701--DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 15, 2018, AS ``NATIONAL GIS 
                                 DAY''

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Warner, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. 
Capito, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Daines, 
and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 701

       Whereas the management, use, and exchange of geographic 
     information and geospatial data and analysis are essential 
     for operations and decisionmaking in Federal agencies;
       Whereas Geographic Information System technology (referred 
     to in this preamble as ``GIS'') embraces new and innovative 
     ways to use, discover, and share geospatial data through 
     online portals and web services;
       Whereas GIS facilitates the sharing of geographic data, 
     services, and maps through online portals such as 
     GeoPlatform.gov;
       Whereas GIS helps provide shared and trusted geospatial 
     data, services, and applications for use--
       (1) by the public; and
       (2) by government agencies and partners of government 
     agencies to meet their mission needs;

       Whereas GIS is an interdisciplinary tool used by students, 
     teachers, researchers, universities, and practitioners in 
     numerous fields and disciplines;
       Whereas geography is identified as a core academic subject 
     eligible for Federal funding under the Every Student Succeeds 
     Act (Public Law 114-95; 129 Stat. 1802);
       Whereas GIS helps foster collaboration and partnerships in 
     the advancement of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``NSDI'');
       Whereas GIS provides a common framework for the Federal 
     Government and State, Tribal, and local governments, non-
     Federal partners, communities, constituents, professional 
     bodies for standards, data catalogs, partnerships, and tools 
     that make up the NSDI;
       Whereas GIS is used to investigate and address societal, 
     environmental, and cultural issues, including--
       (1) local issues;
       (2) global issues;
       (3) issues from the past;
       (4) issues in the present; and
       (5) potential future issues identified through modeling;

       Whereas GIS and related geospatial technologies are used in 
     classrooms to engage students in science, technology, 
     engineering, and math (STEM) learning;
       Whereas GIS fosters competition within the sector of 
     geospatial technologies, which is considered a high-growth 
     industry by the Department of Labor; and
       Whereas many Federal agencies, State and local government 
     agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, libraries, and 
     universities will join with others around the world to 
     showcase their GIS mapping and geospatial applications on 
     November 15, 2018: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates November 15, 2018, as ``National GIS Day''; 
     and
       (2) encourages users of Geographic Information System 
     technology (referred to in this resolving clause as ``GIS''), 
     educators, students, and innovators to continue to employ 
     GIS--
       (A) to learn and explore;
       (B) to analyze and address societal challenges; and

[[Page S7060]]

       (C) to drive economic growth for the betterment of the 
     people of the United States and individuals around the world.

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