Overview
Title
An Act To provide for the standardization, consolidation, and publication of data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways among Federal land and water management agencies, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make sure everyone can easily find the rules for using and enjoying big rivers and lakes in the U.S. It says that different groups in charge need to work together to share this information in a clear way, but it will take some time to do this.
Summary AI
H.R. 187, known as the "Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025," aims to improve access to data about the use of federal waterways in the U.S. The bill requires federal agencies to standardize, consolidate, and make publicly available geographic data about waterway restrictions and fishing regulations. It encourages cooperation with state, tribal, and private partners to ensure data compatibility and requires regular updates and annual progress reports. However, it clarifies that it does not change any existing laws or regulations regarding water navigability or fishing management authority.
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AnalysisAI
The "Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025," or the "MAPWaters Act of 2025," aims to enhance public use and understanding of information related to outdoor recreational activities on federal waterways through the standardization, digitization, and publication of relevant data. This legislation seeks to facilitate access to various federal databases and ensure that the information is uniformly available across platforms. The Act outlines a timeline for federal agencies to collaborate, digitize data, and engage with various stakeholders to achieve its objectives.
General Summary
The MAPWaters Act of 2025 is geared towards improving public access to information about outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing and boating, on federal waterways. It mandates the federal government to harmonize and publish data across several agencies, including the Forest Service and the National Park Service. The data to be published includes details about fishing restrictions, navigation access points, and specific waterway conditions. Furthermore, the Act encourages partnerships with state and tribal agencies and third-party providers to assist in this data management effort.
Summary of Significant Issues
One significant issue with the Act is the timeline for data digitization and publication, which extends up to five years. This extended timeframe could delay public access to pertinent information, potentially impacting recreational planning and safety measures. Additionally, the Act lacks clear budgetary guidelines for executing its provisions, leading to possible concerns about financial oversight and the efficient use of taxpayer funds.
Furthermore, there are also procedural ambiguities regarding the feedback mechanism for public comments, which could limit public influence on decisions concerning federal waterways. Lastly, the complexities in defining the roles and responsibilities of various "Secretaries" or federal officers involved in the Act's implementation might lead to confusion, affecting the Act's efficacy.
Broad Public Impact
The Act promises broad public benefits by making detailed and standardized information about federal waterways more accessible. Recreational users, such as anglers and boaters, would benefit from having up-to-date information about restrictions and access points, allowing for better trip planning and increased safety. Public participation in federal waterway management could also be enhanced, as the Act includes a mechanism for public comments.
However, with a lengthy five-year implementation timeline, some benefits might not be realized in the immediate future. Furthermore, taxpayers might be concerned about the lack of financial transparency and accountability in executing such an expansive project.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For federal and state agencies, the Act demands significant administrative adjustments to standardize and publish data collaboratively. This task could be resource-intensive given the technical nuances and required interagency communication. For technology and data companies, the Act potentially opens avenues for partnership opportunities, which could facilitate job creation and technological development in the field of geospatial data.
Recreational users, specifically anglers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts, are primary beneficiaries. They would gain access to comprehensive and coordinated information that could inform their recreational activities while ensuring compliance with current regulations. Yet, concerns from conservation groups might arise regarding the protection of sensitive resources during data digitization and publication.
In essence, while the MAPWaters Act of 2025 holds substantial potential for improving public engagement and awareness regarding federal waterways, the outlined implementation challenges and lack of immediate financial strategy pose significant hurdles needing careful consideration.
Issues
The timeline for digitizing and making geographic information system data publicly available is up to 5 years (Section 4), which might delay public access to critical information unnecessarily. The public may find this delay significant as timely access to such data can impact recreational use and conservation efforts.
There is no specific mention of a budget or financial plan for carrying out the activities outlined in the Act, such as data standardization, consolidation, and publication (Sections 3, 4, 5), which could result in uncontrolled spending or financial ambiguity affecting taxpayer money.
The Act does not specify the budgetary considerations or funding sources needed to achieve the objectives laid out, particularly concerning data digitization and publication (Sections 4, 5), leading to unclear financial responsibilities for agencies and potential implications for taxpayer funds.
The lack of accountability measures or requirements for reporting progress on the interagency data standardization process (Section 3) could result in a lack of oversight and delayed implementation, affecting the overall success of the initiative.
The provisions regarding public comments (Section 4) do not specify how these comments will be addressed or integrated into the decision-making processes, potentially limiting public influence on the management of Federal waterways.
There is potential ambiguity and complexity in defining relevant Secretaries and their roles (Section 2), which might lead to confusion about decision-making authority and could affect the implementation of the Act's provisions.
The language in the Act is technical and specific, especially in Section 3 and Section 4, which could make it difficult for the general public to understand the implications of the Act without specialized knowledge, affecting public transparency and engagement.
There are no specific enforcement details on how the provisions in the Act will be carried out (Section 7), which might lead to implementation challenges and affect compliance with the Act's objectives.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states that the Act will be known as the “Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act of 2025” or the “MAPWaters Act of 2025.”
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section of the bill, several terms are defined: a "Federal fishing restriction" refers to an area where fishing is limited or prohibited by federal agencies; a "Federal land or water management agency" includes specific federal agencies like the National Park Service and the Forest Service; a "Federal waterway" is water managed by federal secretaries; a "Federal waterway restriction" is a limitation on using federal waterways; "Secretaries" are the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior; and "State" includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
3. Interagency data standardization Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretaries, in cooperation with the Federal Geographic Data Committee, must develop and implement standards to make sure different Federal databases can work together. These standards focus on sharing geospatial data about access to public outdoor areas and restrictions on fishing on Federal lands, and they must be established within 30 months of the law's enactment.
4. Data consolidation and publication Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires federal agencies to digitize and publish online data regarding restrictions and access information related to Federal waterways and fishing areas within five years. This includes details about when waterways are open or closed, specific restrictions, navigation information, and fishing regulations, and also sets guidelines for updating this data, while ensuring the protection of sensitive resource information.
5. Cooperation and coordination Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines how the Secretaries can work with various community and third-party partners, including state and tribal agencies, technology, and data companies, to implement the Act. They can also collaborate with the United States Geological Survey to handle data, ensuring it complies with federal, state, and tribal laws, and leverage existing public land data efforts whenever possible.
6. Reports Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the Secretaries to submit an annual report by March 30 each year, detailing their progress in meeting the Act's requirements. These reports will be sent to various committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate through the year 2034.
7. Effect Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section states that the Act does not change the definition of "navigable waters," affect agency authority over these waters, alter fishery management authority, or change access to outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing.