Capitol Contours - Fall 2025

Welcome to another edition of Capitol Contours with JB.

A few highlights since our last update include:

On June 6, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a 21-page Policy Notice instituting critical reforms to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Reforms will remove rules favoring particular technologies and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens.

On June 10, H.R 3857, the "Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act" was introduced by Representatives Jeff Hurd (R-CO) and Joe Neguse (D-CO) and a legislative hearing was held June 24 in the House Natural Resources Committee. Section 2 of the bill modernizes the program to include commercial options for airborne laser altimetry; airborne imaging spectroscopy; integrated physics-based snowpack and hydrologic modeling; and other technologies that the Secretary determines are likely to provide more accurate or timely snowpack measurement data commensurate with operational water management needs. In late July, S. 2437, the “Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act” was introduced by Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and John Curtis (R-UT).

On June 30, Representatives Dave Min (D-CA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 4256, to reauthorize NOAA's Digital Coast program through 2030. NSPS has been leading a coalition of stakeholders supporting the bill which was subject of a legislative hearing on September 3 and a markup hearing on September 17. A companion bill, S 2245, was introduced in the U.S. Senate in early July.

On July 4, President Trump signed into law the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1), otherwise known as the Reconciliation Bill, after narrowly passing the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The bill includes extension and expansion of the 2017 Jobs Creation and Tax Act (JCTA), increased spending for defense, new energy development and production initiatives, reductions in certain social programs to address improper payments and funding for resumption of construction of the border wall.

On July 14, the House passed H.R. 900, the Sinkhole Mapping Act, by voice vote. NSPS worked with the bill sponsors to get the USGS 3DEP language into the bill prior to introduction this Congress.

On July 15, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Education announced that they are implementing a workforce development partnership to create an integrated federal education and workforce system. DOL will take on a greater role in administering the adult education and family literacy programs funded under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Administering Perkins V/WIOA through DOL will facilitate streamlined services for states and grantees, ultimately benefiting students and adult learners throughout America.

On August 6, USGS hosted the annual webinar, which used to be known as the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for USGS 3DEP, now rebranded as the 3DNTM Data Collaboration Announcement (DCA) to reflect how both USGS 3DEP and 3DHP serve as the underpinning of 3DTMN.

On September 3, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669). The bill streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency once again that is directly accountable to the President. NSPS worked closely with Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) as these lawmakers sponsored language found in Section 216 amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by covering the cost of replacement through financial assistance for replacement of such residence for a total loss, including any necessary site preparation work such as land surveys.

On September 4, Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) reintroduced a “Sense of the Congress” resolution H.Con.Res. 47 on design professional licensure. The resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) is soon expected to be the lead Democrat on the resolution.

On September 8, the House Rules Committee considered an amendment (#348) to H.R. 3838 sponsored by Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC) that would create a pilot in DoD TAP to help match these transitioning service members with professional opportunities in the surveying profession should they have some surveying skillsets or training as part of their military service.

On September 9, Reps. Troy Downing (R-MT) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced H.R.

5229, bipartisan legislation to provide mapping reforms to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The “Improvement of Mapping, Addresses, Geography, Elevations, and Structures (IMAGES) Act of 2025” would require surveying and mapping data collected be made available to the public, which can be used in flood risk management, flood map appeals, infrastructure, water resources, aviation safety, fire prevention, and telecommunications, and more.

As Congress continues its work, NSPS will provide updates as part of Capitol Contours with JB.

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