HR 187
· 119th Congress
· Public Lands and Natural Resources
MAPWaters Act of 2025
Sponsor
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-62.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Dec 26, 2025
signed
Signed by President.
Dec 26, 2025
signed
Became Public Law No: 119-62.
Dec 18, 2025
sent
Presented to President.
Dec 17, 2025
floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 16, 2025
committee
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Dec 16, 2025
passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Dec 16, 2025
passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8766-8768)
Jan 22, 2025
introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Jan 21, 2025
floor
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jan 21, 2025
floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H238-240)
Jan 21, 2025
floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 187.
Jan 21, 2025
floor
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jan 21, 2025
floor
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H250-251)
Jan 21, 2025
passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
Jan 21, 2025
passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 19). (text: CR H238-239)
Jan 21, 2025
passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
introduced
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Natural Resources Committee · Agriculture Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
CRS summaries
Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.
00
Introduced in House
Jan 03, 2025
Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025
This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to public's access to federal waterways for recreational use.
Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data.
Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect.
Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information.
via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+80
−110
97 unchanged
Generating AI summary
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--- Engrossed (House)
+++ Enrolled
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[H.R. 187 Engrossed in House (EH)]
-
-<DOC>
-
-119th CONGRESS
-1st Session
-H. R. 187
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-AN ACT
+[H.R. 187 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
+
+H.R.187
+
+One Hundred Nineteenth Congress
+
+of the
+
+United States of America
+
+AT THE FIRST SESSION
+
+Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
+the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-five
+
+An Act
To provide for the standardization, consolidation, and publication of
data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways
@@ -18,44 +23,36 @@
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.
+(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
+(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.
+(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
+(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.
-
+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
@@ -65,30 +62,27 @@
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;
+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--
+(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;
@@ -96,39 +90,38 @@
(E) airboats;
(F) amphibious aircraft;
(G) hovercraft;
-(H) oversnow vehicles and other motorized vehicles
-on frozen bodies of water;
+(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.
+(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
+(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--
+(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
+(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
@@ -146,9 +139,7 @@
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
@@ -157,10 +148,10 @@
(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.
+(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
@@ -169,21 +160,18 @@
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).
+(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.);
+(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
@@ -196,39 +184,21 @@
Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate; and
-(5) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
-of the Senate.
-
+(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
+(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.
-
-Passed the House of Representatives January 21, 2025.
-
-Attest:
-
-Clerk.
-119th CONGRESS
-
-1st Session
-
-H. R. 187
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-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.
+accessibility of waters open to hunting, fishing, or other forms of
+outdoor recreation as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
+
+Speaker of the House of Representatives.
+
+Vice President of the United States and
+President of the Senate.
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Cosponsors (3)
Members who signed on to support this bill.