[Pages H238-H240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

MODERNIZING ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC WATERS ACT OF 2025

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 187) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 187

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 ``Modernizing Access to our
Public Waters Act of 2025'' or the ``MAPWaters Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Federal fishing restriction.--The term ``Federal
fishing restriction'' means a defined area in which all or
certain fishing activities are temporarily or permanently
prohibited or restricted by a Federal land or water
management agency.
(2) Federal land or water management agency.--The term
``Federal land or water management agency'' means--
(A) the Bureau of Reclamation;
(B) the National Park Service;
(C) the Bureau of Land Management;
(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(E) the Forest Service.
(3) Federal waterway.--The term ``Federal waterway'' means
waters managed by 1 or more of the relevant Secretaries.
(4) Federal waterway restriction.--The term ``Federal
waterway restriction'' means

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a restriction on the access or use of a Federal waterway
applied under applicable law by 1 or more of the Secretaries.
(5) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the
United States.

SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY DATA STANDARDIZATION.

Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the Federal
Geographic Data Committee established by section 753(a) of
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 2802(a)),
shall jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to
ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable
Federal databases with respect to the collection and
dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor
recreational access of Federal waterways and Federal fishing
restrictions.

SEC. 4. DATA CONSOLIDATION AND PUBLICATION.

(a) Federal Waterway Restrictions.--Not later than 5 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the
Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall
digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable,
geographic information system data that includes, with
respect to Federal waterway restrictions--
(1) status information with respect to the conditions under
which Federal waterways are open or closed to entry or
watercraft, including watercraft inspection, decontamination
requirements, low-elevation aircraft, or diving;
(2) the dates on which Federal waterways are seasonally
closed to entry or watercraft;
(3) the areas of Federal waterways with restrictions on
motorized propulsion, horsepower, or fuel type;
(4) the areas of Federal waterways with anchoring
restrictions, no wake zones, exclusion zones, danger areas,
or vessel speed restrictions;
(5) Federal waterway restrictions on the direction of
travel, including upstream or downstream travel; and
(6) the uses, including by watercraft, that are restricted
on each area of a Federal waterway, including the
permissibility of--
(A) canoes and other paddlecraft;
(B) rafts and driftboats;
(C) motorboats;
(D) personal watercraft;
(E) airboats;
(F) amphibious aircraft;
(G) hovercraft;
(H) oversnow vehicles and other motorized vehicles on
frozen bodies of water;
(I) oceangoing ships;
(J) swimming; and
(K) other applicable recreational activities, as determined
to be appropriate by the Secretaries.
(b) Federal Waterway Access and Navigation Information.--
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent
practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available
online, as applicable, geographic information system data
that includes, with respect to Federal waterway access and
navigation information--
(1)(A) the location of boat ramps, portages, and fishing
access sites under the authority of the Federal land or water
management agency; and
(B) the identification of the dates on which the facilities
and sites identified under subparagraph (A) are open or
closed, as applicable; and
(2) bathymetric information and depth charts, as feasible.
(c) Federal Fishing Restrictions.--Not later than 5 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the
Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall
digitize and make publicly available online geographic
information system data that describes, with respect to
Federal fishing restrictions--
(1) the location and geographic boundaries of Federal
fishing restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing,
including--
(A) full or partial closures;
(B) no-take zones; and
(C) Federal fishing restrictions within or surrounding
marine protected areas;
(2) Federal fishing restrictions on the use of specific
types of equipment or bait; and
(3) Federal requirements with respect to catch and release.
(d) Public Comment.--The Secretaries shall develop a
process to allow members of the public to submit questions or
comments regarding the information described in subsections
(a) and (b).
(e) Updates.--The Secretaries, to the maximum extent
practicable, shall update--
(1) the data described in subsections (a) and (b) not less
frequently than 2 times per year; and
(2) the data described in subsection (c) in real time as
changes go into effect.
(f) Exclusion.--This section shall not apply to irrigation
canals and flowage easements.
(g) Disclosure.--Any geographic information system data
made publicly available under this section shall not disclose
information regarding the nature, location, character, or
ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological
resources, consistent with applicable law.

SEC. 5. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.

(a) Community Partners and Third-party Providers.--For
purposes of carrying out this Act, the Secretaries may--
(1) coordinate and partner with non-Federal agencies and
private sector and nonprofit partners, including--
(A) State natural resource agencies;
(B) Tribal natural resource agencies;
(C) technology companies;
(D) geospatial data companies; and
(E) experts in data science, analytics, and operations
research; and
(2) enter into an agreement with a third party to carry out
any provision of this Act.
(b) United States Geological Survey.--The Secretaries may
work with the Director of the United States Geological Survey
to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish
data on behalf of the Secretaries to meet the requirements of
this Act.
(c) Requirement.--With respect to data developed and
distributed under this Act, the Secretaries shall--
(1) develop the data in accordance with applicable Federal,
State, and Tribal laws (including regulations); and
(2) include a notice that any geospatial data are subject
to applicable Federal, State, and Tribal laws (including
regulations).
(d) Existing Efforts.--To the extent practicable, the
Secretary concerned shall use or incorporate existing
applicable data, maps, and resources in carrying out this
Act, including data, maps, and resources developed and
published under--
(1) the Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act (16
U.S.C. 6851 et seq.);
(2) section 103 of division DD of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (43 U.S.C. 776); or
(3) other applicable law.

SEC. 6. REPORTS.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act and annually thereafter through March 30, 2034, the
Secretaries shall submit a report that describes the progress
made by the Secretaries with respect to meeting the
requirements of this Act to--
(1) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives;
(3) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
(5) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate.

SEC. 7. EFFECT.

Nothing in this Act--
(1) modifies or alters the definition of the term
``navigable waters'' under Federal law;
(2) affects the jurisdiction or authority of State or
Federal agencies to regulate navigable waters;
(3) modifies or alters the authority or jurisdiction of
Federal or State agencies to manage fisheries; or
(4) authorizes or is intended to result in a change in the
accessibility of waters open to hunting, fishing, or other
forms of outdoor recreation as of the date of the enactment
of this Act.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Huffman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.

General Leave

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 187, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 187, the Modernizing Access
to Our Public Waters Act, or MAPWaters Act, sponsored by Congressman
Moore of Utah.
This bill seeks to improve recreational access for our country's
boaters and anglers by requiring agencies to digitize the maps of
Federal waterways and information related to the regulations and
restrictions on accessing those waterways.
The bill then calls upon Federal land management agencies to publish
this information online and work with the private sector to make it
easily available to the public. This bill is necessary because access
to information related to regulations and restrictions on Federal
waterways can often be hard to come by.
The Natural Resources Committee heard testimony about a specific
example of an unfortunate situation at Yellowstone National Park. A
group of backpackers were hiking to a remote lake in the park where the
group planned to fish. Upon arriving at the lake, they discovered that
half the lake was off-limits to fishing because of nesting swans. The
half of the lake

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that was closed to fishing was the part of the lake where they were
permitted to fish.
This is unacceptable. Passing this bill would prevent incidents like
this by ensuring this information is easily available to the public.
The House passed a nearly identical version of this bill by voice
vote in December. The bill language we are considering today
incorporates technical edits that have been agreed to with the Senate,
helping to ensure that this bill can advance through both Chambers in a
timely fashion.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, January 10, 2025.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 187, the ``MAPWaters Act.''
Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture
on the matters within our jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further
consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing
consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over any subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support
such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 187 and request a
copy of our letters on this matter be published in the
Congressional Record during Floor consideration.
Sincerely,
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC, January 13, 2025.
Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding our mutual
understanding of H.R. 187, the ``MAPWaters Act.''
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and
appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of
the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture
will not formally consider H.R. 187 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained
therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to
consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of
letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I support this bill. It is a good idea to standardize
information to improve the accessibility of that information if we want
to help users, such as recreational fishers, navigate and access
Federal waterways. This includes access, fishing restrictions, and
navigation information, which are all very important.
On the Natural Resources Committee, we strive to ensure that Federal
outdoor spaces are accessible to fishers, hunters, boaters, and other
recreational users. It is important that they have up-to-date, easily
accessible maps. This will allow us to improve outdoor recreation
experiences while protecting existing natural, cultural, and
recreational values.
To that end, this bill will direct agencies to develop and adopt
interagency standards, ensuring that their databases are compatible and
interoperable. They can more effectively collect and disseminate
geospatial data to help inform folks about recreational opportunities.
I see multiple important applications for collecting and publishing
this data. It could include vessel speed restrictions, the types of
watercraft allowed in certain areas, the location of boat ramps,
fishing sites, equipment and bait usage restrictions, and even waterway
catch and release policies which can vary from place to place.
By standardizing and digitizing all of this, it gives Americans the
information they need and the confidence to engage in recreation
without the nightmare of searching through and trying to decipher a
tangled web of information on numerous agency websites.
Madam Speaker, this is a good bill. I support this bill. I urge my
colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I again thank Representative Moore from Utah for his
work on this bill and as a Member of this body to increase recreational
access to our public lands. It is something he cares deeply about. I
thank Mr. Huffman and the minority for supporting this good
legislation.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill,
the Modernizing Access to Public Waters, or MAPWaters Act.
This legislation builds upon the success of my MAPLand Act, enacted
in 2022, and MAP Army Corps language included in last year's Water
Resources Development Act to ensure Americans can quickly see the
public resources around them and spend more time recreating on the land
and water they love.
The MAPWaters Act will improve the standardization, consolidation,
and availability of information on the recreational opportunities on
Federal waterways, allowing recreationalists in Utah and around the
country with the most up-to-date information on what is available to
them.
In addition to providing chances for families to experience the
outdoors and instill a love of nature in new generations, recreational
boating and fishing are major drivers of Utah's economy, contributing
over $536 million in 2023.
As our love for the outdoors continues to grow, accessing these
public treasures should be as easy as possible.
I thank my friends Mr. Panetta from California, Mr. Fulcher from
Idaho, and Mrs. Dingell from Michigan, as well as our Senate
companions, Senators Barrasso and King, for partnering with me on this
effort. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 187.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 187, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

____________________