[House Report 119-358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-358
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DIGITAL COAST REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025
_______
October 31, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4256]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4256) to reauthorize the Digital Coast Act,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 4256 is to reauthorize the Digital
Coast Act.
Background and Need for Legislation
In 2007, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) launched its Digital Coast Program in
response to coastal managers' growing need for better access to
data, tools, and training to address increasing coastal
challenges.\1\ Led by NOAA's Office for Coastal Management,
Digital Coast is a centralized online platform that offers
tools, training, and other resources that are tailored to help
coastal communities make informed, data-driven decisions.\2\
The platform includes a wide array of features--such as high-
quality coastal datasets, interactive tools, and online
training courses--to help communities reduce flood risk and
effectively manage coastal communities and ecosystems across
the U.S.\3\ In December 2020, President Trump signed into law
the Digital Coast Act,\4\ which formally authorized this
program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.
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\1\``About Digital Coast,'' National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Office of Coastal Management, July 22, 2025, https://
coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/about/#: :text=The%20Digital%20
Coast%20(authorized%20by,make%20these%20data%20truly%20useful.
\2\``What is Digital Coast?'' National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, June 16, 2024, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/
digital-coast.html.
\3\Id.
\4\P.L. 116-223, Digital Coast Act, https://www.congress.gov/116/
statute/STATUTE-
134/STATUTE-134-Pg1067.pdf.
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H.R. 4256, sponsored by Representative Dave Min (D-CA-47),
extends the program's authorization, at existing levels,
through FY 2030. The bill also makes a series of technical
enhancements to expand user access and broaden the types of
data collected. Notably, the legislation would require that
coastal data be fully and freely accessible, ensuring that
users can interact with and download data without restriction
or cost. Additionally, the bill would widen the scope of data
to include underground infrastructure and subsurface utilities,
ensuring that Digital Coast's dataset is as comprehensive as
possible.
Committee Action
H.R 4256 was introduced on June 30, 2025, by Representative
Dave Min (D-CA-47). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee
on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. On September 3, 2025, the
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on
the bill. On September 17, 2025, the Committee on Natural
Resources met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Water,
Wildlife and Fisheries was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 4256 by unanimous consent. The bill was
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
unanimous consent.
Hearings
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
held on September 3, 2025.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names this act the ``Digital Coast
Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
Section 2. Reauthorization of Digital Coast Act
Section 2 reauthorizes the Digital Coast Program at
existing levels through FY 2030. Additionally, this section
requires that coastal data be fully and freely accessible and
widens the scope of data to include underground infrastructure
and subsurface utilities.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional
Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
H.R. 4256 would reauthorize the appropriation of $4 million
each year from 2026 through 2030 for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate the Digital Coast
program. Under that program, NOAA makes geospatial data,
decision-support tools, training, and best practices regarding
the management of coastal areas available on a public website.
Under current law, that authority expired at the end of fiscal
year 2025.
The bill also would extend the authority for NOAA to
collect and spend fees for training, workshops, and conferences
related to the program. The authority to collect those fees and
the subsequent spending would be subject to appropriation. CBO
estimates that the net effect of those collections and spending
would be negligible, because the collections probably would be
spent soon after they are received.
CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted early in fiscal
year 2026 and that the authorized amounts will be provided in
each year. Based on historical spending patterns for similar
activities, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4256 would
cost $17 million over the 2026-2030 period.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).
TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 4256
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, millions of dollars
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2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2026-2030
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Authorization........................................... 4 4 4 4 4 20
Estimated Outlays....................................... 2 3 4 4 4 17
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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Emilia Oliva.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to reauthorize the Digital Coast Act.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
According to the Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 4256
contains no unfunded mandates as defined by the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act.
Existing Programs
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
DIGITAL COAST ACT
* * * * * * *
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIGITAL COAST.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
program for the provision of an enabling platform that
integrates geospatial data, decision-support tools,
training, and best practices to address coastal
management issues and needs. Under the program, the
Secretary shall strive to enhance resilient
communities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic
growth and development by helping communities address
their issues, needs, and challenges through cost-
effective and participatory solutions.
(2) Designation.--The program established under
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``Digital Coast''
(in this section referred to as the ``program'').
(b) Program Requirements.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall ensure that the program provides data
integration, tool development, training, documentation,
dissemination, and archive by--
(1) making data and resulting integrated products
developed under this section readily accessible and
fully and freely available via the Digital Coast
internet website of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the GeoPlatform.gov and
data.gov internet websites, and such other information
distribution technologies as the Secretary considers
appropriate;
(2) developing decision-support tools that use and
display resulting integrated data and provide training
on use of such tools;
(3) documenting such data to Federal Geographic Data
Committee standards; and
(4) archiving all raw data acquired under this Act at
the appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration data center or such other Federal data
center as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the
activities carried out under the program to optimize data
collection, sharing, and integration, and to minimize
duplication by--
(1) consulting with coastal managers and decision
makers concerning coastal issues, and sharing
information and best practices, as the Secretary
considers appropriate, with--
(A) coastal States;
(B) local governments; and
(C) representatives of academia, the private
sector, and nongovernmental organizations;
(2) consulting with other Federal agencies, including
interagency committees, on relevant Federal activities,
including activities carried out under the Ocean and
Coastal Mapping Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.), the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et
seq.), and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of
1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.);
(3) participating, pursuant to section 216 of the E-
Government Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347; 44 U.S.C.
3501 note), in the establishment of such standards and
common protocols as the Secretary considers necessary
to assure the interoperability of remote sensing and
other geospatial data with all users of such
information within--
(A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(B) other Federal agencies;
(C) State and local government; and
(D) the private sector;
(4) coordinating with, seeking assistance and
cooperation of, and providing liaison to the Federal
Geographic Data Committee pursuant to Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-16 and Executive Order
12906 of April 11, 1994 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671), as
amended by Executive Order 13286 of February 28, 2003
(68 Fed. Reg. 10619); and
(5) developing and maintaining a best practices
document that sets out the best practices used by the
Secretary in carrying out the program and providing
such document to the United States Geological Survey,
the Corps of Engineers, and other relevant Federal
agencies.
(d) Filling Needs and Gaps.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall--
(1) maximize the use of remote sensing and other
geospatial data collection activities conducted for
other purposes and under other authorities;
(2) focus on filling data needs and gaps for coastal
management issues, including with respect to areas
that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, were
underserved by coastal data and the areas of the Arctic
that are under the jurisdiction of the United States;
(3) pursuant to the Ocean and Coastal Mapping
Integration Act (33 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), support
continue improvement in existing efforts to coordinate
the acquisition and integration of key data sets needed
for coastal management and other purposes, including--
(A) coastal elevation data;
(B) land use and land cover data;
(C) socioeconomic and human use data;
(D) critical infrastructure data, including
data related to underground infrastructure and
subsurface utilities;
(E) structures data;
(F) living resources and habitat data;
(G) cadastral data; and
(H) aerial imagery; and
(4) integrate the priority supporting data set forth
under paragraph (3) with other available data for the
benefit of the broadest measure of coastal resource
management constituents and applications.
(e) Financial Agreements and Contracts.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary--
(A) may enter into financial agreements to
carry out the program, including--
(i) support to non-Federal entities
that participate in implementing the
program; and
(ii) grants, cooperative agreements,
interagency agreements, contracts, or
any other agreement on a reimbursable
or non-reimbursable basis, with other
Federal, tribal, State, and local
governmental and nongovernmental
entities; and
(B) may, to the maximum extent practicable,
enter into such contracts with private sector
entities for such products and services as the
Secretary determines may be necessary to
collect, process, and provide remote sensing
and other geospatial data and products for
purposes of the program.
(2) Fees.--
(A) Assessment and collection.--The Secretary
may, to the extent provided in advance in
appropriations Acts, assess and collect fees
for the conduct of any training, workshop, or
conference that advances the purposes of the
program.
(B) Amounts.--The amount of a fee under this
paragraph may not exceed the sum of costs
incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the
Secretary as a direct result of the conduct of
the training, workshop, or conference,
including for subsistence expenses incidental
to the training, workshop, or conference, as
applicable.
(C) Use of fees.--Amounts collected by the
Secretary in the form of fees under this
paragraph shall be available to the extent and
in such amounts as are provided in advance in
appropriations Acts for--
(i) the costs incurred for conducting
an activity described in subparagraph
(A); or
(ii) the expenses described in
subparagraph (B).
(3) Survey and mapping.--Contracts entered into under
paragraph (1)(B) shall be considered ``surveying and
mapping'' services as such term is used in and as such
contracts are awarded by the Secretary in accordance
with the selection procedures in chapter 11 of title
40, United States Code.
(f) Ocean Economy.--The Secretary may establish publically
available tools that track ocean and Great Lakes economy data
for each coastal State.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary $4,000,000 for each fiscal
year 2021 through [2025] 2030 to carry out the program.