6 U.S.C. § 343 — Chief Information Officer

(a) In general — The Chief Information Officer reports to the Secretary, or to whichever other Department official the Secretary names. (b) Geospatial information functions (1) Definitions — "Geospatial information" means graphic or digital data showing natural or man-made features, events, or boundaries on Earth, plus related data like surveys, maps, charts, remote-sensing data, and images. "Geospatial technology" means any tool used by analysts, surveyors, photogrammetrists, hydrographers, geodesists, cartographers, architects, or engineers to collect, store, retrieve, or share geospatial information — including satellite surveillance systems, GPS, geographic information systems, mapping equipment, geocoding technology, and remote sensing devices. (2) Office of Geospatial Management (A) Establishment — This Office sits inside the Office of the Chief Information Officer. (B) Geospatial Information Officer — The Secretary appoints a Geospatial Information Officer to run the Office, who works under the Chief Information Officer's direction. This person helps the Chief Information Officer carry out every duty in this section and coordinates the Department's geospatial information needs. (C) Coordination of geospatial information — The Chief Information Officer must run a program for efficient use of geospatial information. It must: provide geospatial information needed for critical infrastructure protection programs; lead and coordinate geospatial information for people handling emergency planning, prevention, mitigation, assessment, response, and infrastructure protection; and coordinate with everyone in the Department who uses geospatial information, so systems work together and effort is not wasted. (D) Responsibilities — The Chief Information Officer must: coordinate the Department's geospatial information needs and activities; put in place standards the Office of Management and Budget adopted under the E-Government Act of 2002 so geospatial information works together across the Department, state and local government, and the private sector; coordinate with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and carry out Department duties under OMB Circular A-16 and Executive Order 12906; and recommend to the Secretary and the Executive Director for State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness which grants to award for creating geospatial data and for information-sharing deals with state, local, and tribal governments. (3) Authorization of appropriations — Congress may appropriate whatever money is needed to carry out this subsection each year.