[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6144 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6144

   To reduce vulnerability to natural disasters in foreign countries 
           through the use of disaster mitigation techniques.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2006

Mr. Blumenauer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To reduce vulnerability to natural disasters in foreign countries 
           through the use of disaster mitigation techniques.

    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 ``International Disaster Risk 
Reduction Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The devastating impacts of natural disasters can be 
        mitigated by assisting communities to build in safer locations, 
        construct sturdier dwellings, enforce sound building practices, 
        and protect natural ecosystems.
            (2) By 2050, two billion people are expected to be 
        especially vulnerable to floods due to growing populations, 
        indiscriminate logging, rapid urbanization, and increasing 
        development along coasts and in other hazardous regions.
            (3) According to a study by the World Bank and the United 
        States Geological Survey during the 1990s, $40 billion invested 
        in preventive measures could have saved $280 billion in 
        disaster relief funds and saved countless lives.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTER MITIGATION EFFORTS.

    Section 491(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2292(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
``Assistance relating to disaster preparedness under the preceding 
sentence shall include assistance to reduce vulnerability of humans and 
property to natural disasters through the use of disaster mitigation 
techniques, including to assist communities to build in safer 
locations, construct sturdier dwellings, promulgate and enforce sound 
building codes and practices, develop comprehensive land use plans that 
include disaster preparedness and risk reduction, and protect natural 
ecosystems.''.

SEC. 4. INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF DISASTER MITIGATION 
              TECHNIQUES.

    (a) Initiative.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the Government 
of the United States, shall develop and implement an initiative to 
reduce vulnerability of humans and property to natural disasters in 
foreign countries by encouraging the use of disaster mitigation 
techniques, including disaster mitigation techniques described in 
section 491(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2292(b)), as amended by section 3 of this Act, by foreign governments 
in regions considered especially vulnerable to natural disasters.
    (b) United States Assistance.--The initiative required by 
subsection (a) shall include the provision of assistance under section 
491(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292(b)), as 
amended by section 3 of this Act, relating to the use of disaster 
mitigation techniques.
    (c) Advisory Committee.--The Secretary of State shall appoint an 
advisory committee of experts in the science of natural disasters and 
disaster mitigation, humanitarian relief and development, international 
diplomacy, and professionals in the fields of urban, community, and 
regional planning (including transportation and land use), 
architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design to advise the 
Secretary on the development and implementation of the initiative 
required by subsection (a).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State should submit to the 
Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that 
contains a description of the initiative required by subsection (a) and 
a plan for its implementation.

SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall promulgate 
regulations which require that--
            (1) efforts to reduce vulnerability to future disasters 
        through the use of disaster mitigation techniques, including 
        techniques described in section 491(b) of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292(b)), as amended by 
        section 3 of this Act, shall be included in all United States 
        assistance programs, projects, and activities for international 
        disaster relief and rehabilitation; and
            (2) such programs, projects, and activities may only be 
        provided in ways that reduce overall vulnerability to natural 
        disasters in the impacted area.
    (b) Update.--The Secretary of State may periodically revise the 
regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (a).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2007 and each subsequent fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out this Act and the amendment made by section 3 of this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to 
remain available until expended.
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