Bill Summary
The "Uniform School Mapping Act" is a proposed legislation aimed at regulating the procurement of emergency response maps using federal funds. Here’s a brief overview of its main provisions:
1. **Funding Prohibition**: The Act prohibits the use of federal funds for obtaining emergency response maps starting in fiscal year 2026, unless the maps meet specific requirements. These requirements include being in a digital format accessible on common devices, not being stored outside the U.S., integrating with public safety software, being shareable electronically, and accurately depicting various site features (e.g., access points, hazards, and rooms).
2. **Strategy Development**: The Secretary of Homeland Security is tasked with developing a strategy within one year of the Act's enactment to procure and distribute compliant emergency response maps for federal sites deemed critical. This strategy must be submitted to relevant congressional committees, and a briefing on the strategy is required within 180 days of submission.
3. **Definitions**: The Act defines key terms, including "emergency response map," "covered public safety agency," and "site," clarifying the scope and purpose of the legislation.
Overall, the legislation aims to ensure that emergency response maps are effectively developed and made available to enhance public safety during emergencies while controlling federal spending.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Uniform School Mapping Act" could affect people:
1. **Public Safety During Emergencies**: The act mandates that emergency response maps must meet specific criteria to be procured using federal funds. As a result, public safety agencies (such as local police, fire departments, and emergency medical services) will have access to more accurate, up-to-date, and detailed maps. This can significantly enhance their ability to respond effectively to emergencies in schools and other federally owned sites, ultimately improving safety for students, staff, and first responders.
2. **Increased Accessibility**: The requirement for emergency response maps to be in a digital format accessible through standard or open-source file readers ensures that a broader range of users, including those in smaller public safety agencies with limited resources, can access and utilize these maps. This democratization of information can empower local agencies to better prepare for and respond to emergencies, fostering a more coordinated response in crisis situations.
3. **Promotion of Local Economic Activity**: By stipulating that emergency response maps must be verified through walkthrough inspections and made available without subscription fees, the act encourages local businesses to participate in the mapping process. Companies specializing in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and mapping technologies may benefit from contracts to create these maps. This can lead to job creation and stimulate local economies as these businesses grow to meet the demands of public safety agencies for high-quality, accurate mapping solutions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3113 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3113
To prohibit Federal funds from being obligated or expended to procure
certain emergency response maps, direct the Secretary of Homeland
Security to develop a strategy to procure and distribute certain
emergency response maps, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2025
Mr. Mast (for himself, Mr. Green of Tennessee, Mr. Whitesides, and Mr.
Tony Gonzales of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Federal funds from being obligated or expended to procure
certain emergency response maps, direct the Secretary of Homeland
Security to develop a strategy to procure and distribute certain
emergency response maps, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Uniform School Mapping Act''.
SEC. 2. FUNDING PROHIBITION AND STRATEGY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAPS.
(a) Funding Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
Federal funds made available for fiscal year 2026 or any fiscal
year thereafter may not be obligated or expended to procure an
emergency response map.
(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an
emergency response map that satisfies the following
requirements:
(A) Is in a digital file format accessible through
a standard or open-source file reader or image viewer
on a laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone, or
other mobile platform.
(B) Is not stored in a data center outside of the
United States.
(C) Integrates with software utilized by any
covered public safety agency that serves the site, or
portion thereof, for which such map is procured.
(D) Can be printed and shared electronically.
(E) Displays information oriented true north and on
a coordinate grid.
(F) Displays any floor of such site or such portion
through overlaid, aerial imagery.
(G) Labels any of the following features of such
site or such portion, as applicable:
(i) An access control point.
(ii) A central utility control or building
automation system.
(iii) A courtyard, park, or field.
(iv) An exterior door.
(v) A hallway.
(vi) A hazard.
(vii) A key box.
(viii) A parking area.
(ix) A road, or other structure, that
immediately surrounds such site or such
portion.
(x) A room.
(xi) A stairwell.
(xii) A trauma kit.
(H) Has been verified for accuracy by a walkthrough
inspection of such site or such portion.
(I) Can be updated.
(J) After any funds to procure such map are
expended, is made available to the following without a
subscription fee or other restriction:
(i) The procurer of such map.
(ii) Each such public safety agency.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation
with the heads of relevant Federal agencies and departments,
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
strategy for the Federal Government to carry out the following:
(A) Procure an emergency response map that
satisfies the requirements described in subsection
(a)(2) for any site that is owned or leased by the
Federal Government and determined to be critical by the
Secretary.
(B) Distribute such map to each covered public
safety agency that serves such site.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary submits the strategy pursuant to paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall brief the appropriate congressional
committees on such strategy.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(A) The Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(C) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(D) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Covered public safety agency.--The term ``covered
public safety agency'' means a public safety agency of the
Federal Government or a SLTT entity (as such term is defined in
section 2200 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
650)).
(3) Emergency response map.--The term ``emergency response
map'' means a map of a site, or portion thereof, to be utilized
by a covered public safety agency in responding to an emergency
at such site or such portion.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
(5) Site.--The term ``site'' means a building, campus, or
facility.
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