[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 34 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 237
114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 34

                          [Report No. 114-146]


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2015

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

                           September 22, 2015

                Reported by Mr. Thune, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, 
     research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and 
          Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Tsunami Warning, Education, 
and Research Act of 2015''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION 
              ACT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Tsunami 
Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF PURPOSES OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION 
              ACT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 3 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``research,'' 
        after ``warnings,'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) to enhance and modernize the existing United 
        States Tsunami Warning System to increase the accuracy of 
        forecasts and warnings, to maintain full coverage of tsunami 
        detection assets, and to reduce false alarms;'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) to improve and develop standards and 
        guidelines for mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to 
        improve tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, 
        mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and 
        recovery;'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) 
        as paragraphs (5), (6), and (8), respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
        following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) to improve research efforts related to 
        improving tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, 
        notification, mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and 
        recovery;'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``and increase'' and 
                inserting ``, increase, and develop uniform standards 
                and guidelines for''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, including the warning 
                signs of locally generated tsunami'' after 
                ``approaching'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by 
        striking ``, including the Indian Ocean; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so 
        redesignated, the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) to foster resilient communities in the face 
        of tsunami and other coastal hazards; and''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 4 (33 U.S.C. 
3203) is amended by striking ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf 
of Mexico region'' and inserting ``Atlantic Ocean region, including the 
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Components.--Subsection (b) of such section 4 is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``established'' 
        and inserting ``supported or maintained'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and 
        safeguarding port and harbor operations'' after 
        ``communities'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (7)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by inserting ``, including graphical 
                warning products,'' after ``warnings'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, territories,'' after 
                ``States''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by inserting ``and Wireless Emergency 
                Alerts'' after ``Hazards Program''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``and 
        commercial and Federal undersea communications cables'' after 
        ``observing technologies''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Tsunami Warning System.--Subsection (c) of such 
section 4 is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Tsunami Warning System.--The program under this 
section shall operate a tsunami warning system that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including 
        forecasting tsunami arrival time and inundation estimates, 
        anywhere in the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and providing 
        adequate warnings;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) is capable of forecasting and providing 
        adequate warnings in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the 
        Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to be geologically active, or to 
                have significant potential for geological activity; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami 
                for States along the coastal areas of the Atlantic 
                Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) supports other international tsunami 
        forecasting and warning efforts.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--Subsection (d) of such 
section 4 is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall support 
        or maintain centers to support the tsunami warning system 
        required by subsection (c). The Centers shall include--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, 
                located in Alaska, which is primarily responsible for 
                Alaska and the continental United States;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, 
                located in Hawaii, which is primarily responsible for 
                Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific 
                not covered by the National Center; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) any additional forecast and warning 
                centers determined by the National Weather Service to 
                be necessary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of 
        the centers supported or maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Continuously monitoring data from 
                seismological, deep ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal 
                monitoring stations and other data sources as may be 
                developed and deployed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, 
                and volcanic eruptions that have the potential to 
                generate tsunami.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and 
                tidal monitoring stations for indications of tsunami 
                resulting from earthquakes and other sources.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) To the extent practicable, utilizing 
                a range of models to predict tsunami arrival times and 
                flooding estimates.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami 
                warning bulletins to Federal, State, and local 
                government officials and the public.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) Coordinating with the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program conducted under section 5 to ensure 
                ongoing sharing of information between forecasters and 
                emergency management officials.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) Making data gathered under this Act 
                and post-warning analyses conducted by the National 
                Weather Service or other relevant Administration 
                offices available to researchers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The tsunami 
        warning centers supported or maintained pursuant to paragraph 
        (1) shall maintain a fail-safe warning capability and ability 
        to perform back-up duties for each other.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Coordination with national weather 
        service.--The National Weather Service shall coordinate with 
        the centers supported or maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) 
        to ensure that regional and local forecast offices--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) have the technical knowledge and 
                capability to disseminate tsunami warnings for the 
                communities they serve; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) leverage connections with local 
                emergency management officials for optimally 
                disseminating tsunami warnings and forecasts.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Uniform operating procedures.--The 
        Administrator shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) develop uniform operational 
                procedures for the centers supported or maintained 
                pursuant to paragraph (1), including the use of 
                software applications, checklists, decision support 
                tools, and tsunami warning products that have been 
                standardized across the program supported under this 
                section;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) ensure that processes and products 
                of the warning system operated pursuant to subsection 
                (c)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) reflect industry best 
                        practices;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) conform to the maximum 
                        extent practicable with internationally 
                        recognized standards for information 
                        technology; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) conform to the maximum 
                        extent practicable with other warning products 
                        and practices of the National Weather 
                        Service;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) ensure that future adjustments to 
                operational protocols, processes, and warning 
                products--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) are made consistently across 
                        the warning system operated pursuant to 
                        subsection (c); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) are applied in a uniform 
                        manner across such warning system; 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) disseminate guidelines and metrics 
                for evaluating and improving tsunami forecast 
                models.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Available resources.--The Administrator, 
        through the National Weather Service, shall ensure that 
        resources are available to fulfill the obligations of this Act. 
        This includes ensuring supercomputing resources are available 
        to run such computer models as are needed for purposes of the 
        tsunami warning system operated pursuant to subsection 
        (c).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--
Subsection (e) of such section 4 is amended to read as 
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--
In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) develop requirements for the equipment used 
        to forecast tsunami, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) provisions for multipurpose 
                detection platforms;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) reliability and performance metrics; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                requirements for the integration of equipment with 
                other United States and global ocean and coastal 
                observation systems, the global Earth observing system 
                of systems, the global seismic networks, and the 
                Advanced National Seismic System;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer 
        of technology from ongoing research conducted as part of the 
        program supported or maintained under section 6 into the 
        program under this section; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) ensure that the Administration's operational 
        tsunami detection equipment is properly 
        maintained.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Federal Cooperation.--Subsection (f) of such section 4 
is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Federal Cooperation.--When deploying and maintaining 
tsunami detection technologies under the program under this section, 
the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) identify which assets of other Federal 
        agencies are necessary to support such program; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) work with each agency identified under 
        paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to acquire the agency's assistance; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to prioritize the necessary 
                assets.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Unnecessary Provisions.--Such section 4 is further 
amended by striking subsections (g) through (k).</DELETED>

SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 5 (33 U.S.C. 3204) is amended by 
striking subsections (a) through (d) and inserting the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Program Required.--The Administrator, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency and the heads of such other agencies as the Administrator 
considers relevant, shall conduct a community-based tsunami hazard 
mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness and resiliency of 
at-risk areas in the United States and the territories of the United 
States.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Program Components.--The Program conducted pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Technical and financial assistance to 
        coastal States, territories, tribes, and local governments to 
        develop and implement activities under this section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and 
        mitigation programs into ongoing State-based hazard warning, 
        resilience planning, and risk management activities, including 
        predisaster planning, emergency response, evacuation planning, 
        disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, and community development 
        and redevelopment programs in affected areas.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Activities to promote the adoption of 
        tsunami resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitigation 
        measures by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local 
        governments and nongovernmental entities, including educational 
        and risk communication programs to discourage development in 
        high-risk areas.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Activities to support the development of 
        regional tsunami hazard and risk assessments, using inundation 
        models that meet programmatic standards for accuracy. Such 
        regional risk assessments may include the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) The sources, sizes, and histories of 
                tsunami in that region.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Inundation models and maps of 
                critical infrastructure and socioeconomic vulnerability 
                in areas subject to tsunami inundation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Maps of evacuation areas and 
                evacuation routes.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Evaluations of the size of 
                populations that will require evacuation, including 
                populations with special evacuation needs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Activities to support the development of 
        community-based outreach and education programs to ensure 
        community readiness and resilience, including the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) The development, implementation, and 
                assessment of technical training and public education 
                programs, including education programs that address 
                unique characteristics of distant and near-field 
                tsunami.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) The development of decision support 
                tools.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) The incorporation of social science 
                research into community readiness and resilience 
                efforts.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) The development of evidence-based 
                education guidelines.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Dissemination of guidelines and standards 
        for community planning, education, and training products, 
        programs, and tools, including standards for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) mapping products;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) inundation models; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) effective emergency 
                exercises.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Authorized Activities.--In addition to activities 
conducted under subsection (b), the program conducted pursuant to 
subsection (a) may include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment 
        research, education, and training to help integrate risk 
        management and resilience objectives with community development 
        planning and policies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Risk management training for local officials 
        and community organizations to enhance understanding and 
        preparedness.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Development of practical applications for 
        existing or emerging technologies, such as modeling, remote 
        sensing, geospatial technology, engineering, and observing 
        systems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Risk management, risk assessment, and 
        resilience data and information services, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) access to data and products derived 
                from observing and detection systems; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) development and maintenance of new 
                integrated data products to support risk management, 
                risk assessment, and resilience programs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Risk notification systems that coordinate 
        with and build upon existing systems and actively engage 
        decisionmakers, local and State government agencies, business 
        communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
        media.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) No Preemption.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Designation of at-risk areas.--The 
        establishment of national standards for inundation models under 
        this section shall not prevent States, territories, tribes, and 
        local governments from designating additional areas as being at 
        risk based on knowledge of local conditions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) No new regulatory authority.--Nothing in 
        this Act may be construed as establishing new regulatory 
        authority for any Federal agency.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Report on Accreditation of TsunamiReady Program.--Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives a report on which authorities and 
activities would be needed to have the TsunamiReady program of the 
National Weather Service accredited by the Emergency Management 
Accreditation Program.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 6 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``The Administrator shall'' and all that follows 
        through ``establish or maintain'' and inserting the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall, in 
consultation with such other Federal agencies, State and territorial 
governments, and academic institutions as the Administrator considers 
appropriate, the coordinating committee under section 11(b), and the 
panel under section 8(a), support or maintain'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking ``and assessment for tsunami 
        tracking and numerical forecast modeling. Such research program 
        shall--'' and inserting the following: ``assessment for tsunami 
        tracking and numerical forecast modeling, and standards 
        development.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The research program supported or 
maintained pursuant to subsection (a) shall--'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (b), as designated by paragraph 
        (2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
                follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) consider other appropriate research to 
        mitigate the impact of tsunami, including the improvement of 
        near-field tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities, 
        which may include use of new generation Deep-ocean Assessment 
        and Reporting of Tsunamis and National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration supercomputer capacity to develop a rapid 
        tsunami forecast for all United States coastlines;'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``include'' and 
                        inserting ``conduct''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``and'' at the 
                        end;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
                paragraph (5); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) develop the technical basis for validation 
        of tsunami maps, numerical tsunami models, digital elevation 
        models, and forecasts; and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Pilot Project.--The Administrator may, pursuant to 
subsection (b), develop a pilot project for near-field tsunami forecast 
development for the Cascadia region along the west coast of the United 
States using new generation Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of 
Tsunamis, upcoming and existing cable networks, and new National 
Centers for Environmental Protection modeling capability.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION 
              NETWORK.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 7 (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Support for Development of International Tsunami 
Warning System.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with the 
Secretary of State and in consultation with such other agencies as the 
Administrator considers relevant, provide technical assistance and 
training to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the 
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the 
World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and such other 
international entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, as 
part of the international efforts to develop a fully functional global 
tsunami forecast and warning system comprised of regional tsunami 
warning networks.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shall'' and 
        inserting ``may''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                ``establishing'' and inserting ``supporting''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``establish'' and 
                        inserting ``support''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``establishing'' 
                        and inserting ``supporting''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY 
              PANEL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Act is further amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating section 8 (33 U.S.C. 3207) as 
        section 9; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after section 7 (33 U.S.C. 3206) 
        the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 8. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY 
              PANEL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate an 
existing working group within the Science Advisory Board of the 
Administration to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory 
Panel to provide advice to the Administrator on matters regarding 
tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Membership.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Composition.--The working group designated 
        under subsection (a) shall be composed of no fewer than 7 
        members selected by the Administrator from among individuals 
        from academia or State agencies who have academic or practical 
        expertise in physical sciences, social sciences, information 
        technology, coastal resilience, emergency management, or such 
        other disciplines as the Administrator considers 
        appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Federal employment.--No member of the 
        working group designated pursuant to subsection (a) may be a 
        Federal employee.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Responsibilities.--Not less frequently than once 
every 4 years, the working group designated under subsection (a) 
shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) review the activities of the Administration, 
        and other Federal activities as appropriate, relating to 
        tsunami research, detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
        resiliency, and preparation; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) submit to the Administrator and such others 
        as the Administrator considers appropriate--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the findings of the working group 
                with respect to the most recent review conducted 
                pursuant to paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) such recommendations for legislative 
                or administrative action as the working group considers 
                appropriate to improve Federal tsunami research, 
                detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
                resiliency, and preparation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Reports to Congress.--Not less frequently than once 
every 4 years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a 
report on the findings and recommendations received by the 
Administrator under subsection (c)(2).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND 
              EDUCATION ACT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the implementation of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) A detailed description of the progress made in 
        implementing sections 4(d)(6), 5(b)(6), and 6(b)(4) of the 
        Tsunami Warning and Education Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) A description of the ways that tsunami 
        warnings and warning products issued by the Tsunami Forecasting 
        and Warning Program established under section 4 of the Tsunami 
        Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) can be standardized 
        and streamlined with warnings and warning products for 
        hurricanes, coastal storms, and other coastal flooding 
        events.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 9 of the Act, as redesignated by section 8(a)(1) 
of this Act, is amended to read as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Administrator to carry out this Act $27,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2015 through 2017, of which--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
        appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for activities under 
        the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program under section 5; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
        appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for the Tsunami 
        Research Program under section 6.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with State and local 
emergency managers, shall develop and carry out formal outreach 
activities to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the 
development of resilient communities. Outreach activities may include--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the development of outreach plans to ensure 
        the close integration of tsunami warning centers supported or 
        maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Tsunami Warning and 
        Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203(d)) with local Weather Forecast 
        Offices of the National Weather Service and emergency 
        managers;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) working with appropriate local Weather 
        Forecast Offices to ensure they have the technical knowledge 
        and capability to disseminate tsunami warnings to the 
        communities they serve; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) evaluating the effectiveness of warnings and 
        of coordination with local Weather Forecast Offices after 
        significant tsunami events.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Coordinating Committee of the National Tsunami Hazard 
Mitigation Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall convene a 
        coordinating committee to assist the Administrator in the 
        conduct of the program required by section 5(a) of the Tsunami 
        Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(a)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Composition.--The coordinating committee shall 
        be composed of members from each of the States at risk from 
        tsunami, and any other such representatives as the 
        Administrator considers appropriate to represent Federal, 
        State, tribal, territorial, and local governments.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Subcommittees.--The Administrator may approve 
        the formation of subcommittees to address specific program 
        components or regional issues.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Responsibilities.--The coordinating committee 
        shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) provide feedback on how funds should 
                be prioritized to carry out the program required by 
                section 5(a) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act 
                (33 U.S.C. 3204(a));</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) ensure that areas described in section 
                4(c) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 
                U.S.C. 3203(c)) in the United States and its 
                territories have the opportunity to participate in the 
                program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) provide recommendations to the 
                Administrator on how to improve and continuously 
                advance the TsunamiReady program, particularly on ways 
                to make communities more tsunami resilient through the 
                use of inundation maps and models and other hazard 
                mitigation practices; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) ensure that all components of the 
                program required by section 5(a) of the Tsunami Warning 
                and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(a)) are integrated 
                with ongoing State-based hazard warning, risk 
                management, and resilience activities, including--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) integrating activities with 
                        emergency response plans, disaster recovery, 
                        hazard mitigation, and community development 
                        programs in affected areas; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) integrating information to 
                        assist in tsunami evacuation route 
                        planning.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Tsunami Warning, Education, and 
Research Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (Public Law 109-424; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF PURPOSES OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT.

    Section 3 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``research,'' after 
        ``warnings,'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) to enhance and modernize the existing United States 
        Tsunami Warning System to increase the accuracy of forecasts 
        and warnings, to ensure full coverage of tsunami threats to the 
        United States with a network of detection assets, and to reduce 
        false alarms;'';
            (3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) to improve and develop standards and guidelines for 
        mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to improve tsunami 
        detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation, 
        resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;'';
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as 
        paragraphs (5), (6), and (8), respectively;
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) to improve research efforts related to improving 
        tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, 
        mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;'';
            (6) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``and increase'' and inserting ``, 
                increase, and develop uniform standards and guidelines 
                for''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, including the warning signs of 
                locally generated tsunami'' after ``approaching'';
            (7) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking ``, 
        including the Indian Ocean; and'' and inserting a semicolon; 
        and
            (8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(7) to foster resilient communities in the face of 
        tsunami and other similar coastal hazards; and''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 4 (33 U.S.C. 3203) is 
amended by striking ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico 
region'' and inserting ``Atlantic Ocean region, including the Caribbean 
Sea and the Gulf of Mexico''.
    (b) Components.--Subsection (b) of such section 4 is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``established'' and 
        inserting ``supported or maintained'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively;
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as 
        paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively;
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 80 
        percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis 
        buoy array at operational capacity to optimize data 
        reliability;''.
            (5) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (3), to read as follows:
            ``(5) provide tsunami forecasting capability based on 
        models and measurements, including tsunami inundation models 
        and maps for use in increasing the preparedness of communities 
        and safeguarding port and harbor operations, that incorporate 
        inputs, including--
                    ``(A) the United States and global ocean and 
                coastal observing system;
                    ``(B) the global Earth observing system;
                    ``(C) the global seismic network;
                    ``(D) the Advanced National Seismic system;
                    ``(E) tsunami model validation using historical and 
                paleotsunami data;
                    ``(F) digital elevation models and bathymetry; and
                    ``(G) newly developing tsunami detection 
                methodologies using satellites and airborne remote 
                sensing;'';
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (7), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (3), the following:
            ``(8) include a cooperative effort among the 
        Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the 
        National Science Foundation under which the Director of the 
        United States Geological Survey and the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall--
                    ``(A) provide rapid and reliable seismic 
                information to the Administrator from international and 
                domestic seismic networks; and
                    ``(B) support seismic stations installed before the 
                date of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, 
                Education, and Research Act of 2015 to supplement 
                coverage in areas of sparse instrumentation;''.
            (7) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, including graphical warning 
                products,'' after ``warnings'';
                    (B) by inserting ``, territories,'' after 
                ``States''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``and Wireless Emergency Alerts'' 
                after ``Hazards Program''; and
            (8) in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``provide and'' before ``allow''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``and commercial and Federal 
                undersea communications cables'' after ``observing 
                technologies''.
    (c) Tsunami Warning System.--Subsection (c) of such section 4 is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Tsunami Warning System.--The program under this section shall 
operate a tsunami warning system that--
            ``(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including 
        forecasting tsunami arrival time and inundation estimates, 
        anywhere in the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and providing 
        adequate warnings;
            ``(2) is capable of forecasting and providing adequate 
        warnings, including tsunami arrival time and inundation models 
        where applicable, in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the 
        Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined--
                    ``(A) to be geologically active, or to have 
                significant potential for geological activity; and
                    ``(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami for 
                States along the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, 
                Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and
            ``(3) supports other international tsunami forecasting and 
        warning efforts.''.
    (d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--Subsection (d) of such section 4 is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall support or 
        maintain centers to support the tsunami warning system required 
        by subsection (c). The Centers shall include--
                    ``(A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, located 
                in Alaska, which is primarily responsible for Alaska 
                and the continental United States;
                    ``(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located 
                in Hawaii, which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, 
                the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not 
                covered by the National Center; and
                    ``(C) any additional forecast and warning centers 
                determined by the National Weather Service to be 
                necessary.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the 
        centers supported or maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) Continuously monitoring data from 
                seismological, deep ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal 
                monitoring stations and other data sources as may be 
                developed and deployed.
                    ``(B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, and 
                volcanic eruptions that have the potential to generate 
                tsunami.
                    ``(C) Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and tidal 
                monitoring stations for indications of tsunami 
                resulting from earthquakes and other sources.
                    ``(D) To the extent practicable, utilizing a range 
                of models, including ensemble models, to predict 
                tsunami, including arrival times, flooding estimates, 
                coastal and harbor currents, and duration.
                    ``(E) Using data from the Integrated Ocean 
                Observing System of the Administration in coordination 
                with regional associations to calculate new inundation 
                estimates and periodically update existing inundation 
                estimates.
                    ``(F) Ensuring supercomputing resources of the 
                National Centers for Environmental Prediction are 
                available to run, as rapidly as possible, such computer 
                models as are needed for purposes of the tsunami 
                warning system operated pursuant to subsection (c).
                    ``(G) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami warning 
                bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, and local 
                government officials and the public.
                    ``(H) Coordinating with the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program conducted under section 5 to ensure 
                ongoing sharing of information between forecasters and 
                emergency management officials.
                    ``(I) Evaluating and recommending procedures for 
                ports and harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, 
                including review of readiness, response, and 
                communication strategies to ensure coordination and 
                data sharing with the Coast Guard.
                    ``(J) Making data gathered under this Act and post-
                warning analyses conducted by the National Weather 
                Service or other relevant Administration offices 
                available to the public.
                    ``(K) Integrating and modernizing the program 
                operated under this section with advances in tsunami 
                science to improve performance without compromising 
                service.
            ``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The tsunami warning 
        centers supported or maintained pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
        maintain a fail-safe warning capability and perform back-up 
        duties for each other.
            ``(4) Coordination with national weather service.--The 
        Administrator shall coordinate with the forecast offices of the 
        National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained 
        pursuant to paragraph (1), and such program offices of the 
        Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating 
        committee consider appropriate to ensure that regional and 
        local forecast offices--
                    ``(A) have the technical knowledge and capability 
                to disseminate tsunami warnings for the communities 
                they serve;
                    ``(B) leverage connections with local emergency 
                management officials for optimally disseminating 
                tsunami warnings and forecasts; and
                    ``(C) implement mass communication tools in effect 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of the 
                Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 
                used by the National Weather Service on such date and 
                newer mass communication technologies as they are 
                developed as a part of the Weather-Ready Nation program 
                of the Administration, or otherwise, for the purpose of 
                timely and effective delivery of tsunami warnings.
            ``(5) Uniform operating procedures.--The Administrator 
        shall--
                    ``(A) develop uniform operational procedures for 
                the centers supported or maintained pursuant to 
                paragraph (1), including the use of software 
                applications, checklists, decision support tools, and 
                tsunami warning products that have been standardized 
                across the program supported under this section;
                    ``(B) ensure that processes and products of the 
                warning system operated pursuant to subsection (c)--
                            ``(i) reflect industry best practices when 
                        practicable;
                            ``(ii) conform to the maximum extent 
                        practicable with internationally recognized 
                        standards for information technology; and
                            ``(iii) conform to the maximum extent 
                        practicable with other warning products and 
                        practices of the National Weather Service;
                    ``(C) ensure that future adjustments to operational 
                protocols, processes, and warning products--
                            ``(i) are made consistently across the 
                        warning system operated pursuant to subsection 
                        (c); and
                            ``(ii) are applied in a uniform manner 
                        across such warning system;
                    ``(D) establish a systematic method for information 
                technology product development to improve long-term 
                technology planning efforts; and
                    ``(E) disseminate guidelines and metrics for 
                evaluating and improving tsunami forecast models.
            ``(6) Available resources.--The Administrator, through the 
        National Weather Service, shall ensure that resources are 
        available to fulfill the obligations of this Act. This includes 
        ensuring supercomputing resources are available to run such 
        computer models as are needed for purposes of the tsunami 
        warning system operated pursuant to subsection (c).''.
    (e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--Subsection 
(e) of such section 4 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--In 
carrying out this section, the Administrator shall--
            ``(1) develop requirements for the equipment used to 
        forecast tsunami, including--
                    ``(A) provisions for multipurpose detection 
                platforms;
                    ``(B) reliability and performance metrics; and
                    ``(C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                requirements for the integration of equipment with 
                other United States and global ocean and coastal 
                observation systems, the global Earth observing system 
                of systems, the global seismic networks, and the 
                Advanced National Seismic System;
            ``(2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer of 
        technology from ongoing research conducted as part of the 
        program supported or maintained under section 6 into the 
        program under this section; and
            ``(3) ensure that the Administration's operational tsunami 
        detection equipment is properly maintained.''.
    (f) Federal Cooperation.--Subsection (f) of such section 4 is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Federal Cooperation.--When deploying and maintaining tsunami 
detection technologies under the program under this section, the 
Administrator shall--
            ``(1) identify which assets of other Federal agencies are 
        necessary to support such program; and
            ``(2) work with each agency identified under paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) to acquire the agency's assistance; and
                    ``(B) to prioritize the necessary assets.''.
    (g) Unnecessary Provisions.--Such section 4 is further amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (g) and (i) through (k); and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
    (h) Congressional Notifications.--Subsection (g) of such section, 
as redesignated by subsection (g)(2), is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving such 
        subparagraphs 2 ems to the right;
            (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1), by striking ``The Administrator'' and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator'';
            (3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated by 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by 
                paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) the occurrence of a significant tsunami 
                warning.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Contents.--In a case in which notice is submitted 
        under paragraph (1) within 90 days of a significant tsunami 
        warning described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, such 
        notice shall include brief information and analysis of--
                    ``(A) the accuracy of the tsunami model used;
                    ``(B) the specific deep ocean or other monitoring 
                equipment that detected the incident, as well as the 
                deep ocean or other monitoring equipment that did not 
                detect the incident due to malfunction or otherwise;
                    ``(C) the effectiveness of the warning 
                communication procedures including the integration of 
                warnings with State, territory, local, and tribal 
                partners in the affected area under the jurisdiction of 
                the National Weather Service; and
                    ``(D) such other findings as the Administrator 
                considers appropriate.''.

SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 5 (33 U.S.C. 3204) is amended by striking 
subsections (a) through (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Program Required.--The Administrator shall, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
the heads of such other agencies as the Administrator considers 
relevant, conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program 
to improve tsunami preparedness and resiliency of at-risk areas in the 
United States and the territories of the United States.
    ``(b) Program Components.--The Program conducted pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall include the following:
            ``(1) Technical and financial assistance to coastal States, 
        territories, tribes, and local governments to develop and 
        implement activities under this section.
            ``(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and mitigation 
        programs into ongoing State-based hazard warning, resilience 
        planning, and risk management activities, including predisaster 
        planning, emergency response, evacuation planning, disaster 
        recovery, hazard mitigation, and community development and 
        redevelopment planning programs in affected areas.
            ``(3) Activities to promote the adoption of tsunami 
        resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitigation measures by 
        Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local governments and 
        nongovernmental entities, including educational and risk 
        communication programs to discourage development in high-risk 
        areas.
            ``(4) Activities to support the development of regional 
        tsunami hazard and risk assessments. Such regional risk 
        assessments may include the following:
                    ``(A) The sources, sizes, and other relevant 
                historical data of tsunami in the region, including 
                paleotsunami data.
                    ``(B) Inundation models and maps of critical 
                infrastructure and socioeconomic vulnerability in areas 
                subject to tsunami inundation.
                    ``(C) Maps of evacuation areas and evacuation 
                routes, including, when appropriate, traffic studies 
                that evaluate the viability of evacuation routes.
                    ``(D) Evaluations of the size of populations that 
                will require evacuation, including populations with 
                special evacuation needs.
                    ``(E) Evaluations and technical assistance for 
                vertical evacuation structure planning for communities 
                where models indicate limited or no ability for timely 
                evacuation, especially in areas at risk of near shore 
                generated tsunami.
                    ``(F) Evaluation of at-risk ports and harbors.
                    ``(G) Evaluation of the effect of tsunami currents 
                on the foundations of closely-spaced, coastal high-rise 
                structures.
            ``(5) Activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports 
        and harbors, including the following:
                    ``(A) Evaluation and recommendation of procedures 
                for ports and harbors in the event of a distant or 
                near-field tsunami.
                    ``(B) A review of readiness, response, and 
                communication strategies to ensure coordination and 
                data sharing with the Coast Guard.
            ``(6) Activities to support the development of community-
        based outreach and education programs to ensure community 
        readiness and resilience, including the following:
                    ``(A) The development, implementation, and 
                assessment of technical training and public education 
                programs, including education programs that address 
                unique characteristics of distant and near-field 
                tsunami.
                    ``(B) The development of decision support tools.
                    ``(C) The incorporation of social science research 
                into community readiness and resilience efforts.
                    ``(D) The development of evidence-based education 
                guidelines.
            ``(7) Dissemination of guidelines and standards for 
        community planning, education, and training products, programs, 
        and tools, including--
                    ``(A) standards for--
                            ``(i) mapping products;
                            ``(ii) inundation models; and
                            ``(iii) effective emergency exercises; and
                    ``(B) recommended guidance for at-risk port and 
                harbor tsunami warning, evacuation, and response 
                procedures in coordination with the Coast Guard.
    ``(c) Authorized Activities.--In addition to activities conducted 
under subsection (b), the program conducted pursuant to subsection (a) 
may include the following:
            ``(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment research, 
        education, and training to help integrate risk management and 
        resilience objectives with community development planning and 
        policies.
            ``(2) Risk management training for local officials and 
        community organizations to enhance understanding and 
        preparedness.
            ``(3) Interagency, Federal, State, tribal, and territorial 
        intergovernmental tsunami response exercise planning and 
        implementation in high risk areas.
            ``(4) Development of practical applications for existing or 
        emerging technologies, such as modeling, remote sensing, 
        geospatial technology, engineering, and observing systems, 
        including the integration of tsunami sensors into Federal and 
        commercial submarine telecommunication cables if practicable.
            ``(5) Risk management, risk assessment, and resilience data 
        and information services, including--
                    ``(A) access to data and products derived from 
                observing and detection systems; and
                    ``(B) development and maintenance of new integrated 
                data products to support risk management, risk 
                assessment, and resilience programs.
            ``(6) Risk notification systems that coordinate with and 
        build upon existing systems and actively engage decisionmakers, 
        State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and agencies, 
        business communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
        media.
            ``(7) Formation of regional coastal risk management 
        coalitions of Federal, State, local and tribal governments, 
        community groups, academic institutions, and non-governmental 
        groups to advance the goals of this section for communities 
        facing common coastal hazards and risks. Such coalitions may 
        enter into an agreement with an organization described in 
        section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
        establish a nonprofit foundation in order to accept gifts and 
        donations to support of the goals of this section.
    ``(d) Coordinating Committee.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall maintain a 
        coordinating committee to assist the Administrator in the 
        conduct of the program required by subsection (a).
            ``(2) Composition.--The coordinating committee shall be 
        composed of members as follows:
                    ``(A) Representatives of States and territories 
                most at risk from tsunami, including Alaska, 
                Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, 
                Guam and American Samoa.
                    ``(B) Such other members as the Administrator 
                considers appropriate to represent Federal, State, 
                tribal, territorial, and local governments.
            ``(3) Subcommittees.--The Administrator may approve the 
        formation of subcommittees to address specific program 
        components or regional issues.
            ``(4) Responsibilities.--The coordinating committee shall--
                    ``(A) provide feedback on how funds should be 
                prioritized to carry out the program required by 
                subsection (a);
                    ``(B) ensure that areas described in section 4(c) 
                in the United States and its territories have the 
                opportunity to participate in the program;
                    ``(C) provide recommendations to the Administrator 
                on how to improve and continuously advance the 
                TsunamiReady program of the National Weather Service, 
                particularly on ways to make communities more tsunami 
                resilient through the use of inundation maps and models 
                and other hazard mitigation practices;
                    ``(D) ensure that all components of the program 
                required by subsection (a) are integrated with ongoing 
                State based hazard warning, risk management, and 
                resilience activities, including--
                            ``(i) integrating activities with emergency 
                        response plans, disaster recovery, hazard 
                        mitigation, and community development programs 
                        in affected areas; and
                            ``(ii) integrating information to assist in 
                        tsunami evacuation route planning.
            ``(5) Exemption from faca termination requirement.--Section 
        14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 14) 
        shall not apply to the committee established and maintained 
        pursuant to paragraph (1).
    ``(e) No Preemption With Respect to Designation of At-risk Areas.--
The establishment of national standards for inundation models under 
this section shall not prevent States, territories, tribes, and local 
governments from designating additional areas as being at risk based on 
knowledge of local conditions.
    ``(f) No New Regulatory Authority.--Nothing in this Act may be 
construed as establishing new regulatory authority for any Federal 
agency.''.
    (b) Report on Accreditation of TsunamiReady Program.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives a report on which authorities and 
activities would be needed to have the TsunamiReady program of the 
National Weather Service accredited by the Emergency Management 
Accreditation Program.

SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 6 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``The 
        Administrator shall'' and all that follows through ``establish 
        or maintain'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with 
such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, and territorial 
governments, and academic institutions as the Administrator considers 
appropriate, the coordinating committee under section 5(d), and the 
panel under section 8(a), support or maintain'';
            (2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical 
        forecast modeling. Such research program shall--'' and 
        inserting the following: ``assessment for tsunami tracking and 
        numerical forecast modeling, and standards development.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The research program supported or 
maintained pursuant to subsection (a) shall--''; and
            (3) in subsection (b), as designated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) consider other appropriate and cost effective 
        research to mitigate the impact of tsunami, including the 
        improvement of near-field and distant tsunami detection and 
        forecasting capabilities, which may include use of a new 
        generation of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of 
        Tsunamis array, integration of tsunami sensors into commercial 
        and Federal telecommunications cables, and other real-time 
        tsunami monitoring systems and supercomputer capacity of the 
        Administration to develop a rapid tsunami forecast for all 
        United States coastlines;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``include'' and inserting 
                        ``conduct''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (5);
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami 
        maps, numerical tsunami models, digital elevation models, and 
        forecasts; and''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (C), by striking ``to the scientific 
                community'' and inserting ``to the public''.

SEC. 7. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION NETWORK.

    Section 7 (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Support for Development of an International Tsunami Warning 
System.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with the Secretary of 
State and in consultation with such other agencies as the Administrator 
considers relevant, provide technical assistance and training to the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations 
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the World 
Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and such other 
international entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, as 
part of the international efforts to develop a fully functional global 
tsunami forecast and warning system comprised of regional tsunami 
warning networks.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shall'' and inserting 
        ``may''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establishing'' 
                and inserting ``supporting''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``establish'' and inserting 
                        ``support''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``establishing'' and 
                        inserting ``supporting''.

SEC. 8. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.

    (a) In General.--The Act is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 8 (33 U.S.C. 3207) as section 
        9; and
            (2) by inserting after section 7 (33 U.S.C. 3206) the 
        following:

``SEC. 8. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.

    ``(a) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate an existing 
working group within the Science Advisory Board of the Administration 
to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to 
provide advice to the Administrator on matters regarding tsunami 
science, technology, and regional preparedness.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) Composition.--The working group designated under 
        subsection (a) shall be composed of no fewer than 7 members 
        selected by the Administrator from among individuals from 
        academia or State agencies who have academic or practical 
        expertise in physical sciences, social sciences, information 
        technology, coastal resilience, emergency management, or such 
        other disciplines as the Administrator considers appropriate.
            ``(2) Federal employment.--No member of the working group 
        designated pursuant to subsection (a) may be a Federal 
        employee.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
years, the working group designated under subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) review the activities of the Administration, and 
        other Federal activities as appropriate, relating to tsunami 
        research, detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
        resiliency, and preparation; and
            ``(2) submit to the Administrator and such others as the 
        Administrator considers appropriate--
                    ``(A) the findings of the working group with 
                respect to the most recent review conducted pursuant to 
                paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the working group considers 
                appropriate to improve Federal tsunami research, 
                detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
                resiliency, and preparation.
    ``(d) Reports to Congress.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
on the findings and recommendations received by the Administrator under 
subsection (c)(2).''.

SEC. 9. REPORTS.

    (a) Report on Implementation of Tsunami Warning and Education 
Act.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to Congress 
        a report on the implementation of the Tsunami Warning and 
        Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A detailed description of the progress made in 
                implementing sections 4(d)(6), 5(b)(6), and 6(b)(4) of 
                the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.
                    (B) A description of the ways that tsunami warnings 
                and warning products issued by the Tsunami Forecasting 
                and Warning Program established under section 4 of the 
                Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) can 
                be standardized and streamlined with warnings and 
                warning products for hurricanes, coastal storms, and 
                other coastal flooding events.
    (b) Report on National Efforts That Support Rapid Response 
Following Near-shore Tsunami Events.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security shall jointly, in coordination with the 
        Director of the United States Geological Survey, Administrator 
        of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Chief of the 
        National Guard Bureau, and the heads of such other Federal 
        agencies as the Administrator considers appropriate, submit to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the national 
        efforts in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 
        of this Act that support and facilitate rapid emergency 
        response following a domestic near-shore tsunami event to 
        better understand domestic effects of earthquake derived 
        tsunami on people, infrastructure, and communities in the 
        United States.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of scientific or other 
                measurements collected on the day before the date of 
                the enactment of this Act to quickly identify and 
                quantify lost or degraded infrastructure or terrestrial 
                formations.
                    (B) A description of scientific or other 
                measurements that would be necessary to collect to 
                quickly identify and quantify lost or degraded 
                infrastructure or terrestrial formations.
                    (C) Identification and evaluation of Federal, 
                State, local, tribal, territorial, and military first 
                responder and search and rescue operation centers, 
                bases, and other facilities as well as other critical 
                response assets and infrastructure, including search 
                and rescue aircraft, located within near-shore and 
                distant tsunami inundation areas on the day before the 
                date of the enactment of this Act.
                    (D) An evaluation of near-shore tsunami response 
                plans in areas described in subparagraph (C) in effect 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
                Act, and how those response plans would be affected by 
                the loss of search and rescue and first responder 
                infrastructure described in such subparagraph.
                    (E) A description of redevelopment plans and 
                reports in effect on the day before the date of the 
                enactment of this Act for communities in areas that are 
                at high-risk for near-shore tsunami, as well 
                identification of States or communities that do not 
                have redevelopment plans.
                    (F) Recommendations to enhance near-shore tsunami 
                preparedness and response plans, including recommended 
                responder exercises, predisaster planning, and 
                mitigation needs.
                    (G) Such other data and analysis information as the 
                Administrator and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                consider appropriate.
            (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security 
                and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
                Representatives.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 9 of the Act, as redesignated by section 8(a)(1) of this 
Act, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) $27,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
        2021, of which--
                    ``(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for 
                activities conducted at the State level under the 
                tsunami hazard mitigation program under section 5; and
                    ``(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program 
                under section 6.''.

SEC. 11. OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITIES.

    The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, in coordination with State and local emergency 
managers, shall develop and carry out formal outreach activities to 
improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of 
resilient communities. Outreach activities may include--
            (1) the development of outreach plans to ensure the close 
        integration of tsunami warning centers supported or maintained 
        pursuant to section 4(d) of the Tsunami Warning and Education 
        Act (33 U.S.C. 3203(d)) with local Weather Forecast Offices of 
        the National Weather Service and emergency managers;
            (2) working with appropriate local Weather Forecast Offices 
        to ensure they have the technical knowledge and capability to 
        disseminate tsunami warnings to the communities they serve; and
            (3) evaluating the effectiveness of warnings and of 
        coordination with local Weather Forecast Offices after 
        significant tsunami events.

SEC. 12. REPEAL OF DUPLICATE PROVISIONS OF LAW.

    (a) Repeal.--The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-479) is amended 
by striking title VIII (relating to tsunami warning and education).
    (b) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
repeal, or affect in any way, Public Law 109-424.
                                                       Calendar No. 237

114th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                H. R. 34

                          [Report No. 114-146]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, 
     research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and 
          Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 22, 2015

                       Reported with an amendment