NSPS Support 3DEP by Contacting Congress Today!

In a recent column in LiDAR News, Nick Palatiello, Vice President of John M. Palatiello & Associates, Inc., the federal government affairs consultant to NSPS, , wrote about the need for the geospatial community to contact Congress in support of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) 3D elevation program, commonly referred to as 3DEP. In the article, he highlighted the importance of this national program and the benefits that can be realized:

3DEP will satisfy the growing demand for consistent, high-quality elevation data and a wide range of other three-dimensional representations of the Nation's natural and constructed features. Among the applications that will benefit from 3DEP data are flood risk management, agriculture, water supply, homeland security, renewable energy, aviation safety, and other areas. Indeed, USGS has identified more than 600 applications that would benefit from such enhanced elevation data. 3DEP will promote economic growth, facilitate responsible environmental protection and resource development and management, assist with infrastructure improvement, and generally enhance the quality of life of all Americans.

-LiDAR News, April 26, 2014

In an effort to educate Congress, a letter has been prepared for NSPS members and the geospatial community to send to your Congressmen and Senators. The letter is attached to the bottom of this post.

To identify your Congressman and Senators, use this helpful link, using your zip code. Remember, your home and office may be in two different Congressional districts, so be sure to write both Representatives. 

Here are some other key points to remember in writing to your legislators:

•           Email or fax are the preferred communication methods (not regular U.S. mail)

•           Be courteous and respectful in all communications. Don't use threats.

•           Cover only one issue per letter. Don’t add other issues to this letter!

•           Explain how the issue would affect you and/or your organization or community.

•           Limit your comments to one page or two at most. Elected officials hear from hundreds of constituents’ daily so a brief letter is more effective than a multi-page document.

The letter provided below should be used and edited to insert your name and organization, as well as the name of the Congressman or Senator. We have highlighted the areas that you should amend.

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), MAPPS, the National Digital Elevation Program, National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO), the Association of American State Geologists (AAGS), the National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP), and the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) have endorsed 3DEP. However, Congress still needs to hear from the broad geospatial profession. 

This is an issue that unites every segment of the geospatial profession from public to private sector. We urge you to take a moment to write your Congressmen and Senators and ask them to work with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, respectively, to assure the President’s requested level of funding for these activities, if not increase them.

NSPS members do not delay! Now is the time to contact Congress.


Sample:

"[Firm/Agency/Organization Logo/Letterhead]

May ____, 2014

The Honorable (FN) (LN)

U.S. Senate

Washington D.C.  20510

or

The Honorable (FN) (LN)

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington D.C.  20515

Dear Representatives (LN) or Senator (LN):

[Name of your Firm/Agency/Organization] enthusiastically supports the USGS 3DEP, or 3-D elevation program.  I respectfully urge you to work with the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee  to fully fund this important program as requested in the President’s budget, or, if possible, increase the appropriations level to meet the extraordinary demand for current, accurate elevation data for the nation.

3DEP will satisfy the growing demand for consistent, high-quality topographic data and a wide range of other three-dimensional representations of the Nation’s natural and constructed features.  Among the applications that will benefit from 3DEP data are flood risk management, agriculture, water supply, homeland security, renewable energy, aviation safety, and other areas.  Indeed, USGS has identified more than 600 applications that would benefit from such enhanced elevation data.  3DEP will promote economic growth, facilitate responsible environmental protection and resource development and management, assist with infrastructure improvement, and generally enhance the quality of life of all Americans.  A study shows enhanced elevation data have the potential to generate $13 billion in annual benefits, at a benefit:cost ratio of 4.7 to 1.  This will also create jobs.

3DEP stands out as a best practices model for coordination, inter-agency and inter-governmental cooperation, and a strong definition of government and private sector roles and responsibilities in a public-private partnership.

Given our economy and budgetary climate, 3DEP stands out as one of the most worthwhile investments Congress can make.

I respectfully request and recommend that Congress provide in the 2015 Interior Appropriations bill  funds for the 3DEP program at its optimal annual level of $146 million among all participating agencies, including, at a minimum, the $5 million for 3DEP, $236,000 for Alaska Mapping, $1.9 million for The National Map Modernization, and $60,428,000 for the National Geospatial Program, as provided in the President’s request for USGS.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my views.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

[Signature/Digital Signature]

Your Name

Your Title"