National Geologic Mapping Act Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4033, the National Geologic Mapping Act Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan, practical piece of legislation.

I am proud to have cosponsored this bill with my friend from Colorado and colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, Congressman Lamborn.

Our bill would reauthorize the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program for an additional 5 years, which is the primary source of funds to produce geologic maps in the United States.

Even though most people are not familiar with geologic maps, it is hard to overstate their importance.

Geologic maps are essential in supporting a variety of industries, services, and activities that hold immense societal and economic value.

Geologic maps are used to locate groundwater resources and evaluate groundwater quality leading to better land and habitat management decisions.

Geologic maps help city planners, emergency responders, and landowners assess how vulnerable an area is to sinkholes, landslides, earthquakes, floods, and other deadly and destructive natural hazards.

Geologic maps enable the government and industry to locate and develop mineral resources used for a variety of scientific applications and in military technology and in consumer products.

Further, geologic maps provide valuable information that engineers and developers use when designing and constructing highways, bridges, tunnels, and other transportation assets.

In my home State of Maryland, the value and importance of geologic maps are evident. Even though Maryland is a compact State, it has an incredible variety of landscapes and geology stretching from the beaches on the Atlantic Coast to the Appalachian Mountains.

This type of diversity in our geology demands a robust understanding of the science and an extensive mapping of underground formations.

On top of this, Maryland is home to several institutions that rely on the secondary and tertiary benefits of the USGS geologic mapping program. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Prince George's County, the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, and our military cyber operations in Fort Meade all reap the rewards of a Nation that has broadened its knowledge and capabilities by investing in geological mapping.

There is no doubt the U.S. mapping program is vital to our Nation's safety and prosperity, and I urge a vote in favor.

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