[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 890 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 890

To provide for the establishment of national and global tsunami warning 
systems and to provide assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of 
   victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami and for the reconstruction of 
                      tsunami-affected countries.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 17, 2005

 Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees 
on Resources and Science, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the establishment of national and global tsunami warning 
systems and to provide assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of 
   victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami and for the reconstruction of 
                      tsunami-affected countries.

    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 ``Tsunami Early Warning and Relief Act 
of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) A tremendous undersea earthquake near Sumatra, 
        Indonesia, created a tsunami whose devastation spread 
        throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa, leading 
        to the death of more than 160,000 people on December 26, 2004. 
        As of February 4, 2005, more than 140,000 people are still 
        missing. The tsunami-affected countries include Indonesia, Sri 
        Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, 
        Burma, Malaysia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
            (2) The tsunami resulted in massive destruction affecting 
        millions of people who now require a great amount of short-term 
        survival assistance and long-term rehabilitation and 
        reconstruction assistance.
            (3) Compared to past disasters, the Indian Ocean earthquake 
        and tsunami led to historic destruction of the social service 
        infrastructure, businesses, and livelihoods. The devastation 
        caused by the tsunami has resulted in many separated families 
        and countless unaccompanied and orphaned children.
            (4) An effective global tsunami warning system is critical 
        for preventing future humanitarian disasters and for protecting 
        national security, since tsunamis occurring anywhere around the 
        globe could impact the United States at home and United States 
        national interests abroad.
            (5) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has 
        already built a system of tsunami buoys in the Pacific Ocean 
        which has been proven to provide critical information and 
        enhance the Nation's response to tsunamis. The National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration has the technical capability to 
        upgrade and expand this system so that it covers the entire 
        globe and is integrated into larger ocean observing efforts.
            (6) Consistent funding and international cooperation would 
        be needed to deploy a broader global tsunami warning system.
            (7) Effective local emergency management capabilities are 
        needed to relay tsunami warning information to coastal 
        communities and their residents.

                    TITLE I--TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEMS

SEC. 101. GLOBAL PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a 
Global Tsunami Disaster Reduction Program within the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration for the establishment of a tsunami 
warning system to protect vulnerable areas around the world, including 
Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, 
Mediterranean Sea, and European areas.
    (b) International Cooperation.--The Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, shall work with foreign countries that would benefit 
from the warning system described in subsection (a), and through 
international organizations, for the purposes of--
            (1) sharing costs;
            (2) sharing relevant data;
            (3) sharing technical advice for the implementation of 
        dissemination and evacuation plans; and
            (4) ensuring that the Global Earth Observation System of 
        Systems program has access to and shares openly all relevant 
        information worldwide.

SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES TSUNAMI READY PROGRAM.

    The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall work with coastal communities throughout the United States to 
build upon local coastal and ocean observing capabilities, improve 
abilities to disseminate tsunami information and prepare evacuation 
plans according to the requirements of the Tsunami Ready program of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and encourage more 
communities to participate in the program.

SEC. 103. SEISMIC ACTIVITY MONITORING.

    The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall coordinate with the United States Geological Survey and the 
Department of State to work with other countries to enhance the 
monitoring, through the Global Seismic Network (GSN), of seismic 
activities that could lead to tsunamis, to support the programs 
described in sections 101 and 102.

SEC. 104. ANNUAL REPORT.

    The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall transmit an annual report to Congress on progress in carrying out 
this title.

SEC. 105. DEFINITION.

    For purposes of this title, the term ``United States'' means the 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or 
possession of the United States.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Commerce for carrying out this title--
            (1) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
            (2) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and for each 
        subsequent fiscal year.

    TITLE II--RELIEF, REHABILITATION, AND RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE 
                    RELATING TO INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI

SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Authorization.--The President, acting through the Administrator 
of the United States Agency for International Development, is 
authorized to provide assistance for--
            (1) the relief and rehabilitation of individuals who are 
        victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami; and
            (2) the reconstruction of the infrastructures of countries 
        affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, including Indonesia, Sri 
        Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, 
        Burma, Malaysia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--Assistance under this section may be 
provided on such terms and conditions as the President may determine.

SEC. 202. REPORT.

    The President shall transmit to Congress, on a quarterly basis in 
2005, on a biannual basis in 2006, and as determined to be appropriate 
by the President thereafter, a report on progress in carrying out this 
title.

SEC. 203. DEFINITION.

    In this title, the term ``Indian Ocean tsunami'' means the tsunami 
that resulted from the earthquake that occurred off the west coast of 
northern Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry 
out this title such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 and 
each subsequent fiscal year.
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