September 2002 Government Affairs Update
1. NDGPS
Funding
One of the issues we have
been looking at is funding for NDGPS. The budget is currently being discussed
in the House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation. Unfortunately
almost all appropriations markups are on hold and, most likely, Congress will
pass a continuing resolution (CR) which will mean that all funding remains the
same as last year. Rumors have been circulating that the continuing resolution
will go all the way until February of next year. February is the time of year
when hearings and consideration start for the next year’s budget, so, in
effect, the entire budget for FY 2003 will stay the same as FY 2002 ---
including any funding for NDGPS. The good news is that early next year we can
lay the groundwork to get the full NDGPS funding into the FY 2004 budget.
Laurence Socci has discussed
the need for NDGPS funding with members of the House and Senate Appropriations
committees, including Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Representative Bob
Menendez (D-NJ).
2. State
Lobbyist Network
In an effort to build our
state and grassroots coalitions, we are working on building a database to
include the names and contact information of all of the lobbyists and
legislative chairpersons for the state surveying societies. By doing this, we
hope to be able to help, where we can, on state legislative issues, and to gain
support from state members for our federal issues. All state societies are
urged to give this contact information to Curt Sumner (csumner@acsm.net) so that we can get the
database together by early next year.
3. Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act
There is no change in the
status of this legislation. It passed committee consideration and was placed on
the legislative calendar. There is no word on when it will come up for debate.
4. Hazard
Mitigation Grant program and Predisaster Mitigation Program split.
As noted in an earlier
update, FEMA plans to split the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the
Predisaster Mitigation Program. FEMA will dedicate $300 million to a new
competitive grant for predisaster mitigation. Predisaster mitigation programs
can include, for example, elevation or moving of properties in flood prone
areas; bracing homes and businesses in earthquake prone areas; shutters and
other protections for homes and properties. The new program will replace the
formula based Hazard Mitigation Grant Program currently funded through the
Disaster Relief Fund. The new program will operate independently of the
disaster relief programs, assuring that funding remains stable from year to
year and is not subject to spikes in disaster activity. Awarding grants on a
competitive basis, FEMA says, will ensure that the most worthwhile, cost beneficial
projects receive funding.
5. FEMA
Flood Map Modernization Program.
The FEMA Flood Map
Modernization Program is still going forward. We have been working with a
coalition of other interested groups to make sure that the $300 million
allocated by President Bush for the program actually gets put in the budget by
Congress. The markup on the VA-HUD appropriations bill, which will have the
funding in it, could possibly take place during the first week of October. The
coalition is sending a letter to all members of the VA-HUD subcommittee urging
them to make sure the full $300 million designated for flood map modernization
remain in the budget.
6. Ultra
Wide Band issues.
We are working with a
coalition of other companies and associations regarding the FCC ultra-wide band
(UWB) testing. In a letter from coalition members to the FCC, we voice our
concern that (1) the Commission is not testing ultra wideband devices, but
instead is testing the levels of incidental noise produced by unintentional
consumer emitters, such as laptops, hair dryers, etc. in radio frequency bands
allocated to authorized services; and (2) the Commission does not intend to
provide a test plan for public review and comment in advance of conducting
tests; only when the testing is complete will the Commission introduce the test
methodology and the test results into the proceeding for public comment. The
coalition is concerned that the Commission is assuming that the potential harm
created by unintentional emissions from consumer devices, i.e. computers and
hair dryers, is the same as the potential harm created by intentional emissions
from consumer devices that can be connected depending on the application:
communications, tracking, or imaging. Also, the coalition is concerned that the
Commission’s testing method should be open to public review and comment in
advance of the actual tests.
7. Government
Affairs Issue Booklet
We are working on putting
together a Government Affairs Issue Booklet. This would be a small booklet,
15-20 pages in total, which would discuss legislative issues important to ACSM.
It would talk about issues we want to support, block or get introduced. After
the booklets are made, we will give them to Members of Congress, or the press
or agency members when we meet with them. It will also set out our legislative
goals and agenda for the next Congress. It is important to start putting this
booklet together now, so we are looking for federal issues that affect our
members and are pretty much our own issues, as opposed to issues that we would
share with COFPAES or another coalition. Any ideas for issues would be greatly
appreciated.
8. National
Map Workshop
On September 25 and 26, The
National Academies in Washington, DC conducted a workshop concerning The
National Map on behalf of USGS. Thanks to some quick action by Laurence
Socci, ACSM was represented in the workshop as an entity, in the person of
Executive Director Curt Sumner. Although ACSM had previously filed comments
regarding the project, and met with USGS staff to discuss it, the planners at
The National Academies had somehow not recognized that an official
representative from ACSM should participate. When the existence of the workshop
was made known to ACSM, Socci immediately notified the planners that we should
be there, and the next day an invitation was offered. The committee that had
been assigned to file a report on the outcome of the workshop contains some
ACSM members, and some of the initially invited guests are ACSM members, but
none had been invited specifically to represent ACSM. The planners apologized for the oversight. The fact that the
oversight occurred is not the point to be made. The quick action by our
legislative consultant to rectify the situation, though, is evidence of his
worth to ACSM.
The purpose of the workshop
was to obtain input from a wide cross section of those who are likely to be
affected by the implementation of The National Map. In attendance were
those representing federal, state, and local entities, non-profit associations,
and the private sector. The topics discussed included: 1) the proposed data
characteristics and recommended methods for providing consistent data for these
characteristics over areas of arbitrary geographic size or shape from multiple
data holdings whose characteristics will vary among sources; 2) the means
described in existing USGS documents to encourage widespread use of The
National Map though low-cost data in the public domain, and still encourage
participation in data maintenance by public, private, and not-for-profit
organizations; 3) the roles described for the USGS and partners, including
volunteers, to undertake The National Map project.
Much of the discussion
involved whether this project is intended as solely for USGS, and possibly
other Federal entities, or is it truly a national map that will have practical
applications at all levels of government and in the private sector. Another
topic was the question of who will be its users, and what are their needs. Of
primary interest to ACSM are the questions of positional accuracy (what are the
variables), a consistent spatial
reference framework to be used for input from all sources, and what standards
are to be followed? Also of interest to ACSM is how will metadata be utilized,
and how will its meaning be explained to the general public to which The
National Map information will be disseminated?
The committee’s report and
recommendations to USGS are expected to be presented (at least in draft form)
later this year.
9. Senator
Allard Amendment to Dept. of Homeland Security Bill
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO)
will be offering an amendment on the floor of the U.S. Senate to create a
geospatial information program within the new Department of Homeland Security.
The amendment establishes a geospatial entity in the Chief Information Officer,
provides responsibility for coordination with other Federal, State and local
governments and the private sector, requires promotion of interoperability,
authorizes grants and data sharing agreements, and authorizes and encourages
contracts with the private sector. ACSM has been working closely with Senator
Allard on this bill, Laurence Socci met with the Senator’s staff and spoke with
the Senator himself about the importance of the amendment to our members. We
are asking our members to write or contact their Senators and ask them to
support the Allard amendment to HR 5005, the Department of Homeland Security
bill when it comes to the floor.
10. COFPAES
The following items were
discussed at the recent COFPAES meeting:
The date for the COFPAES
& JAECFC meeting will be November 20 or 21. They are leaning toward the
21st, though. COFPAES is currently looking for speakers for the meeting. There
will also be a PowerPoint presentation on the Brooks Act.
There will be a reception at
a place to be determined on Sunday, October 27 to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the Brooks Act. COFPAES is trying to get Representative Tom
Davis to introduce a House Resolution on the House floor for the anniversary.
COFPAES is in the process of
putting together a brochure to be used to attract new members. The best bid to
design and print the brochure was $4025 for 5000 pieces. They would be a
tri-fold (6 panel) two color brochure. The text is written and will be
circulated for approval and comments.
In procurement news, a
provision to the Treasury Appropriations bill was inserted by Senator Dorgan
and Representative Moran. The provision would prohibit agencies from using
appropriated funds to establish, apply or enforce any numerical goals aimed at
conducting public –private competitions for commercial functions within the
federal agencies. Additionally, if enacted into law, the provision would
prevent federal agencies from bringing in supplemental help from the private
sector for emergency purposes. This affects ACSM because it would prevent, for example FEMA from bringing in
additional help with mapping or aerial photography after a natural disaster.
The Dorgan provision would effectively repeal the Government Performance and
Results Act and other government management initiatives passed to make
government more efficient.
Senators Fred Thompson and
Craig Thomas are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter urging the Senate to
work to remove the provision. Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget
opposes the provision and is recommending to President Bush that he veto the
Appropriations bill if the provision remains.
The U.S. Army Corp of
Engineers recently released its policy on surveying and mapping subcontractors.
All USACE prime contracts for surveying, mapping or geospatial services must be
awarded in accordance with the Brooks Act. Where surveying, mapping or
geospatial subcontractors are needed, the need must be identified in the
Standard Form (SF) 255. The qualifications of the proposed subcontractors are
then evaluated as a part of the A-E selection process. Any change in the
subcontractors must be approved by the contracting officer in accordance with
FAR Clause 52.244-4. The contracting officer should refer the qualifications of
the surveying and mapping subcontractor to the A-E selection board for
evaluation to ensure that the subcontractor has the required technical
capabilities in accordance with the intent of the Brooks Act.
11. PAC
and Fundraiser Update
In the recent months, we
have been very active in contributing to key campaigns and attending important
fundraisers. We met with Representative Chris Shays (R-CT) on July 24 and have
been in contact with his staff regarding issues that are important to our members.
On September 12, Laurence Socci attended a fundraiser for Senator Ted Stevens
(R-AK), he spoke briefly with the Senator’s staff regarding important issues,
including NDGPS. On September 19, Laurence Socci attended a fundraiser for
Senator Wayne Allard, and had the opportunity to discuss the Senator’s
amendment to the Dept. of Homeland Security bill (see the article, above).
Additionally, Laurence Socci and Curt Sumner attended a fundraiser for Senator
Carl Levin (D-MI) on September 26, and in October will attend fundraisers for
Representative Tom Delay (R-TX) and Representative Tom Davis (R-VA). A donation
has been approved for Representative Mike Pence (R-IN).
All of those receiving funds
from ASCM are members of committees that address matters of importance to our
members. Donations are approved by the PAC.
12. GIS Outreach
There are those who perceive
the surveying and mapping community in the form of ACSM members as being
unconnected to GIS. This is a somewhat natural conclusion considering that they
do not typically have direct interaction with surveyors and mappers (sometimes
they are surveyors and mappers who do not have direct interaction with other
participants in GIS).
This is evident in the
attitude among some with regard to any proposed certification associated with
GIS. They might say that surveyors, in particular, need not be included in
discussions about such certification. Likewise, there are those who believe
that no GIS activities should be conducted unless a licensed surveyor is involved.
In fact, anyone potentially affected by the interpretations made by
those who would hold such certification or licensure as a standard to be met
for providing GIS services should be aware of activities related to this issue.
ACSM Executive Director Curt
Sumner was recently given the opportunity to address the Utah Geographic
Information Council during its annual meeting in Bryce, Utah. An article
relating that experience is being printed in the upcoming September/October
issue of the ACSM Bulletin. All of the Government Affairs Update readers
are encouraged to read the article.
For those who cannot, a
primary focus of the article is that outreach from ACSM members to others
participating in GIS applications, and vice versa, is a critical element in
finding the proper balance that instills in all of us the acceptance of our
responsibility to the public we all serve, regardless of our individual self
interests. ACSM is taking steps to be a leader in that outreach.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LINKS AND INFORMATION
Federal Government Resources
on the Web:
United States Senate - http://www.senate.gov
U.S. House of
Representatives (House Web Server) - http://www.house.gov
Status of Legislation
(Library of Congress) - http://thomas.loc.gov
Who is my Representative in
Congress? - http://www.vote-smart.org
Email Your Member of
Congress Today! http://www.MrSmith.com
Official U.S. Executive
Branch Web Sites:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/executive/fed.html
The White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov
Links to State Legislatures:
View the National Council of
State Legislatures Web site –
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