[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6234 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6234

  To reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 6, 2023

 Ms. Bonamici introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.

    (a) Title Heading.--The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (enacted 
as title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-424)) is amended 
in the title heading, by inserting ``RESEARCH,'' after ``WARNING,''.
    (b) Purposes.--Section 803 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``timeliness and'' 
        before ``accuracy'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, archived, 
        and made fully available for operations, research, education, 
        and mitigation activities.''.
    (c) Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program.--Section 804 of the 
Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, using 
                industry and scientific best practices,'' after 
                ``operational condition'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``global seismic network'' and inserting 
                        ``Global Seismic Network'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D), 
                        (E), (F), and (G), as subparagraphs (E), (F), 
                        (G), and (H), respectively; and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) 
                network;'';
                    (C) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) ensure data quality and management systems, support 
        data and metadata access and archiving, and support the 
        requirements of the program pursuant to the Foundations for 
        Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435) 
        and chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code;'';
                    (D) in paragraph (7)--
                            (i) by amending the matter preceding 
                        subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``include 
                        a cooperative effort among the Administration, 
                        the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 
                        National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
                        (NASA), and the National Science Foundation 
                        (NSF) under which the Director of USGS, the 
                        Director of the NSF, and the Administrator of 
                        NASA shall--'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new subparagraphs:
                    ``(C) provide reliable and real-time support for 
                the GNSS network data streams from NSF, NASA, and USGS 
                maintained networks, and supplement instrumentation 
                coverage for rapid earthquake assessment;
                    ``(D) assess the data and information relating to 
                warning systems of collaborating agencies for potential 
                utilization in NOAA's warning system, taking into 
                consideration advancement in research and technology; 
                and
                    ``(E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami 
                notifications and warnings in the USGS Earthquake Early 
                Warning System;'';
                    (E) in paragraph (8)--
                            (i) by inserting `` and decision support 
                        aides'' after ``graphical warning products,''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``-prone'' after 
                        ``tsunami'';
                    (F) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (G) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (H) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, or other 
        geographic products, in order to best support, as appropriate, 
        relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation and recovery 
        activities.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating 
                paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), 
                respectively; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by striking ``the Atlantic Ocean, 
                        including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, 
                        that are determined--'' and inserting ``the 
                        Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans, including 
                        the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are 
                        determined to pose significant risks of tsunami 
                        for States and United States territories along 
                        the coastal areas of such regions; and''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);
            (3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as 
        subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
            (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Tsunami Warning Alert Level Evaluation.--The Administrator, 
in collaboration with social scientists, emergency personnel, and high-
risk communities, shall--
            ``(1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, timing, 
        and effectiveness;
            ``(2) determine if such alerts produce the desired response 
        and understanding from possible tsunami-prone communities; and
            ``(3) if necessary, update the alert level system for 
        increased effectiveness.'';
            (5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting ``responsible for Alaska, the 
                        continental United States, Hawaii, United 
                        States territories, and international entities 
                        the Administrator determines appropriate'' 
                        before the period;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``which is primarily responsible for Alaska and 
                        the continental United States''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, 
                        the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific 
                        not covered by the National Center'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                        ``current,'' after ``sea level,'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and 
                        volcanic eruptions'' and inserting ``volcanic 
                        eruptions, or other sources'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``buoy data and tidal'' and inserting 
                        ``coastal'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``Integrated Ocean Observing System of the 
                        Administration'' and inserting ``United States 
                        and global ocean and coastal observing 
                        system'';
                            (v) in subparagraph (H), by inserting 
                        ``monitoring needs,'' after ``response,''; and
                            (vi) by amending subparagraph (I) to read 
                        as follows:
                    ``(I) Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator to 
                coordinate with partners and stakeholders products and 
                services of the centers supported or maintained under 
                paragraph (1).'';
                    (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The Administrator 
        shall support and maintain fail-safe warning capability for the 
        tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph 
        (1), and such centers shall conduct at least one service back 
        up drill biannually.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by amending the matter preceding 
                        subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``The 
                        Administrator shall coordinate with the weather 
                        forecast offices of the National Weather 
                        Service, the centers supported or maintained 
                        under paragraph (1), and such national and 
                        regional program offices of the Administration 
                        as the Administrator or the coordinating 
                        committee, as established in section 805(b)?, 
                        consider appropriate to ensure that regional 
                        and local weather forecast offices--'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                    ``(D) conduct education and outreach efforts to 
                help prepare coastal communities for tsunami 
                hazards.''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in the section heading, by striking 
                        ``Uniform'' and inserting ``Standardized'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
                        ``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(7) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter until 
        such time as all relevant requirements have been satisfied, the 
        Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate an update briefing on the progress of the following:
                    ``(A) Standardizing products and procedures under 
                paragraph (5), including tsunami assessments, forecast 
                guidance, and related products.
                    ``(B) Migrating the message generation systems of 
                the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) 
                to the Advanced Weather Information Processing Systems, 
                or successor systems.
                    ``(C) The structural reorganization effort, if 
                necessary, to align such centers' organizational 
                charts.
                    ``(D) The expected timeline for the full completion 
                of standardizing such centers' products and 
                procedures.'';
            (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting ``detect, measure, and'' 
                        after ``used to'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``and the Advanced National Seismic System'' 
                        and inserting ``the Advanced National Seismic 
                        System, and the global navigation satellite 
                        system (GNSS); and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                    ``(D) ensure research is coordinated with tsunami 
                warning operations;''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``according to 
                industry best practices'' before the period; and
            (7) in subsection (h)(2)(A), as so redesignated, by 
        striking ``accuracy of the tsunami model used'' and inserting 
        ``timeliness and accuracy of the forecast used to issue the 
        warning''.
    (d) National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.--Section 805(c) of 
the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), 
                (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), 
                (G), and (H), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Coastal digital elevation models (DEMs) to 
                support the development of inundation maps.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
                    ``(I) Evaluation of the variation of inundation 
                impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment 
                transport.
                    ``(J) Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on 
                critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in 
                section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 
                5195c(e))) and lifelines.
                    ``(K) High-resolution and high-quality digital 
                elevation models needed for at-risk coastlines, ports, 
                and harbors, particularly for regions not covered by 
                existing inundation maps.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (7)(C), by inserting ``and behavioral'' 
        after ``social'';
    (e) Tsunami Research Program.--Section 806 of the Tsunami Warning 
and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``section 805(d)'' and inserting 
                ``section 805(b)''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and management'' after ``data 
                collection'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``deployment 
                and'' after ``may include'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``social science 
                research'' and inserting ``social and behavioral 
                science research, including data collection,'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph 
                (8); and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(5) develop and maintain a data portal for advancing 
        research and model development;
            ``(6) develop decision support tools;
            ``(7) leverage and prioritize research opportunities; 
        and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Research and Development Plan.--Not later than 12 months 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less 
frequently than every 36 months thereafter, the Administrator, in 
consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services, shall develop a research and development and research to 
operations plan to improve tsunami detection and forecasting 
capabilities that--
            ``(1) identifies and prioritizes research and development 
        priorities to satisfy section 804;
            ``(2) identifies key research needs for better detecting 
        tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and along the coastlines 
        of the United States and its territories, improve forecasting 
        of tsunamis that are not seismically driven, and other 
        opportunities determined appropriate;
            ``(3) develops plans for transitioning research to 
        operations; and
            ``(4) identifies collaboration opportunities that may 
        further and align tsunami research, development, warnings, and 
        operations between the centers supported or maintained under 
        section 804, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for 
        Tsunami Research, the National Science Foundation, the United 
        States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency, institutions of higher education, private entities, 
        stakeholders, and others determined appropriate.'';
    (f) Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network.--Section 807(d) 
of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206(d)) is amended 
by inserting ``and management'' after ``data sharing'';
    (g) Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel.--Section 
808(b)(1) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 
3206a(b)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and behavioral'' after 
``social'';
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 809 of the Tsunami 
Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3207) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this title $32,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028, of which--
            ``(1) not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated 
        for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the 
        State level under the national tsunami hazard mitigation 
        program under section 805; and
            ``(2) not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated 
        shall be for the tsunami research program under section 806.''.
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