This bill amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). It expands the kinds of data Earth MRI can include to modern sensing technologies, advanced geophysical approaches, digital geochemistry, real-time or near real-time data systems, and data-driven analytical methods. The bill adds the U.S. Geological Survey's 3D Hydrography Program to the list of data sources Earth MRI can use. It also adds $84,000,000 for the program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill was introduced in the House on July 9, 2026, by Representatives Robert Wittman and Debbie Dingell.
The bill continues and updates a federal mapping program that collects data about underground natural resources, such as critical minerals, geothermal resources, and natural hydrogen. For people and groups that use or provide mapping and subsurface data, the bill lets the program use newer kinds of measurements and include 3D hydrography data. For most members of the public, the bill does not specify immediate day-to-day effects.
The text of the bill inserts funding of $84,000,000 for the Earth MRI for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill does not provide other specific cost details or a full budget breakdown in the provided text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.