§2802 Federal Geographic Data Committee

Summary

Creates an interagency group called the Federal Geographic Data Committee inside the Department of the Interior to lead the federal government on geospatial data policies, practices, and standards. The Secretary of the Interior must be Chair and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must be Vice Chair. Heads of covered agencies and the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency must each name a representative at the assistant secretary level (or equivalent or higher). The Director of OMB must update membership guidance no later than 1 year after October 5, 2018, and update it as needed. The Committee must run the National Spatial Data Infrastructure strategic plan and geospatial data policy; name and manage National Geospatial Data Asset data themes; set and maintain geospatial data standards; check agency compliance; make sure the GeoPlatform works; and push national implementation of the data themes. It must communicate and coordinate across federal, state, tribal, local, academic, private, and international groups to meet user needs, save costs, and share resources. The Committee must post online and update at least annually status summaries and evaluations for each data theme and for each covered agency, publish related technical and management materials, and keep a membership directory. It must get and respond to comments from its Advisory Committee and from covered agencies, and send reports to Congress at least once every 2 years that include those summaries, comments, and responses. The Committee must also support the networks, systems, services, and standards that give people a digital picture of the Earth. An Office of the Secretariat in the Department of the Interior must provide administrative, planning, funding, and technical support.