Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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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 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.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. 187, the bill now under consideration.
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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 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.
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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.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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