,,iii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fjg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bi1 #bjaf ,mr4 ,blunt 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mrs4 ,mc,caskill1 ,mr4 ,burr1 and ,mrs4 ,feinstein7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,november #bi1 #bjaf;,committee discharged2 considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,recognizing the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency on its #bjth anniversary4 ,whereas1 in an effort to improve the imagery intelligence1 mapping1 and geodesy capabilities of the ,united ,states1 the ,national ,imagery and ,mapping ,agency 7in this preamble referred to as ,,nima71 the predecessor of the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency 7in this preamble referred to as the ,,nga71 was founded on ,october #a1 #aiif1 as a result of ,president ,william ,jefferson ,clinton signing into law the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #aiig 7,public ,law #ajd-bja2 #aaj ,stat4 #bdbb71 which authorized the establishment of ,,nima2 ,whereas the ,,nga derives from legacy agencies1 including the ,defense ,mapping ,agency1 the ,national ,photographic ,interpretation ,center1 the ,defense ,airborne ,reconnaissance ,office1 the ,central ,imagery ,office1 and the ,defense ,dissemination ,program ,office1 that played vital roles in the defense of the ,united ,states in conflicts dating back to ,world ,war ,,ii and contributed to the discipline of geospatial intelligence 7in this preamble referred to as ,,geoint7 through imagery and mapping production2 ,whereas the ,,nga has1 throughout its #bj-year history1 provided ,,geoint support to ,united ,states policymakers and military commanders in both war and peacetime during significant national security and natural disaster events1 including-- 7#a7 the operations in the ,balkans2 7#b7 the response to ,hurricane ,katrina2 7#c7 the operation that resulted in the killing of former al ,qaeda leader ,osama bin ,laden2 7#d7 operations against state-sponsored terrorist organizations2 7#e7 the humanitarian assistance responses to earthquakes in ,haiti and ,japan2 and 7#f7 the continued critical mission support to members of the ,armed ,forces in the ,middle ,east2 ,whereas1 with military and civilian employees serving at the ,,nga headquarters in ,springfield1 ,virginia1 the ,,nga ,west ,campus in ,st4 ,louis1 ,missouri1 and additional locations throughout the ,united ,states1 and with personnel deployed worldwide in more than #bjj locations in #ag countries1 the ,,nga produces timely mapping1 charting1 geodesy1 and intelligence products to warfighters1 first responders1 civil authorities1 policymakers1 and the maritime and aviation communities2 ,whereas the ,,nga motto describes the many missions that were combined #bj years ago upon the creation of the ,,nga1 ,know the ,earth1 show the way1 and understand the world2 ,whereas the ,,nga is the primary organization responsible for developing1 maintaining1 and enhancing the ,world ,geodetic ,system #hd reference frame1 the foundation for all of the ,positioning1 ,navigation1 and ,timing systems of the ,department of ,defense1 including the ,global ,positioning ,system 7commonly known as ,,gps72 ,whereas the ,maritime ,safety ,office of the ,,nga1 which traces its lineage to #ahfi1 collects1 analyzes1 and writes the ,notices to ,mariners that keep government1 civilian1 and international mariners informed about vital safety and navigational issues2 ,whereas the ,,nga also supports commercial vessels worldwide with navigational products and warning messages2 ,whereas1 in addition to updating worldwide digital nautical charts that ensure safety of navigation to a broad base of users1 the ,,nga has expanded to provide safety of navigation information to the aeronautical community2 ,whereas1 in recent years1 the ,,nga has increased its-- 7#a7 worldwide1 industry-leading aeronautical safety library to more than #aj1jjj flight procedures made available to the ,department of ,defense2 and 7#b7 vertical obstructions database from #d1jjj1jjj features to more than #bd1jjj1jjj features2 ,whereas the ,,nga has converted from paper maps to downloadable digital maps1 reducing the amount of gear that pilots need to carry while ensuring that those pilots always have the latest information2 ,whereas the ,,nga continues to be a constant source of innovation1 aiding the efforts of the ,department of ,defense in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations by using new-- 7#a7 intelligence1 surveillance1 and reconnaissance sensors and technologies2 and 7#b7 analytic methods1 including full-motion video1 hyperspectral imagery1 overhead persistent infrared1 light detection and ranging1 and activity-based intelligence2 ,whereas the ,,nga continues to support warfighters and intelligence operators with dedicated efforts in global counterterrorism1 counterproliferation1 mission readiness1 safety of navigation1 and future weapons development2 ,whereas1 since the terrorist attacks of ,september #aa1 #bjja1 the men and women of the ,,nga have worked diligently to deter1 detect1 and prevent acts of terrorism by providing ,,geoint support to ,united ,states and coalition forces in support of the ,global ,war on ,terror1 including ,operation ,enduring ,freedom in ,afghanistan1 ,combined ,joint ,task ,force-,horn of ,africa1 ,operation ,iraqi ,freedom in ,iraq1 and ,operation ,inherent ,resolve in ,iraq and ,syria2 ,whereas the ,,nga is commendably pursuing new methods of intelligence collection and analysis to inform1 complement1 and add to the ,,nga's support of warfighter requirements by-- 7#a7 embracing innovative cost-sharing and risk-sharing constructs with the commercial electro-optical satellite industry2 and 7#b7 looking to emerging commercial technology providers1 including small satellite companies1 that hold the promise of rapid technological innovation and potentially significant future cost savings to the taxpayers of the ,united ,states2 and ,whereas the ,,nga has been awarded #c ,joint ,meritorious ,unit ,awards reflecting the distinctive accomplishments of the personnel assigned to the ,,nga3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 congratulates the men and women of the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency on the occasion of the #bjth anniversary of the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency2 7#b7 honors the professional men and women1 past and present1 of the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency for their selfless service and dedication to the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 expresses gratitude to all the men and women of the ,national ,geospatial-,intelligence ,agency for their past and continued efforts to provide timely1 relevant1 and accurate geospatial intelligence support to deliver overwhelming advantages to warfighters1 defense planners1 and national security policymakers in the defense and security of the ,united ,states4