119 S1626 IS: National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
U.S. Senate
2025-05-06
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II
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1626
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 6, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025”.
2.

Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act
(a)

Definitions
Section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(2)
by inserting before paragraph (4) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(1)

Atmospheric river
The term atmospheric river means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that—
(A)
produces significant quantities of rain or snow; and
(B)
may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding.
(2)

Atmospheric river flooding event
The term atmospheric river flooding event means an atmospheric river that—
(A)
results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy; and
(B)
is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
(3)

Extreme precipitation event
The term extreme precipitation event means precipitation quantities exceeding the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific location.”.
(b)

Requirements
Section 12(d)(1) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(d)(1)) is amended by inserting “, such as precipitation resulting from hurricanes, atmospheric river flooding events, and extreme precipitation events” before the period at the end.
3.

Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act
(a)

Definitions
Section 2 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3101) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11) as paragraphs (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16), respectively;
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
“(4)

Atmospheric river
The term atmospheric river has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).
(5)

Atmospheric river flooding event
The term atmospheric river flooding event has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).
(6)

Extreme precipitation event
The term extreme precipitation event has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).”;
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following:
“(9)

Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).”;
(4)
by inserting after paragraph (11), as so redesignated, the following:
“(12)

Native Hawaiian organization
The term Native Hawaiian organization has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.” ; and
(5)
by adding at the end the following:
“(17)

Tribal organization
The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).”.
(b)

National landslide hazards reduction program
(1)

Establishment
Section 3(a)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(a)(3)) is amended by striking “protect” and inserting “contribute to protecting”.
(2)

Program activities
Section 3(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(1)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking “implement” and inserting “disseminate”.
(3)

National strategy
Section 3(b)(2) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(2)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking “Not later than” and inserting the following:
“(A)

In general
Not later than”; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
“(B)

Assessment
For purposes of the first national strategy published after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall include an assessment of the risks that atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events pose to the safety of life and property in the United States with respect to landslide hazards.”.
(4)

National landslide hazards database
Section 3(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(3)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
“(C)
the identification of areas in need of additional hazard risk assessment, including areas that may be at risk due to—
(i)
hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;
(ii)
atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;
(iii)
geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; or
(iv)
data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk;”.
(5)

Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for communities
Section 3(b)(4) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(4)) is amended—
(A)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “Native Hawaiian organizations and other stakeholders, as appropriate,” before “and Indian tribes”;
(B)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “local, and Tribal governments and decisionmakers” and inserting “and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other decisionmakers”;
(ii)
by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following:
“(iii)
health and safety with respect to landslides;”;
(iii)
by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
(iv)
by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
“(iv)
reducing losses from landslides, including the threats caused by atmospheric rivers and other extreme precipitation events; and”; and
(C)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking “local, and Tribal officials” and inserting “and local officials, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations”; and
(ii)
in clause (ii), by striking “local, and Tribal emergency managers” and inserting “and local emergency managers and emergency managers of Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations”.
(6)

Debris flow early warning system
Section 3(b)(5) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(5)) is amended—
(A)
in subparagraph (B), by striking “State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments” and inserting “State, territorial, and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations”;
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(C)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking “In carrying out” and inserting the following:
“(A)

In general
In carrying out”; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
“(B)

Consultation
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and other stakeholders to establish and support emergency response procedures, as appropriate.”.
(7)

Emergency response activities
Section 3(b)(6) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(6)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking “In carrying” and inserting the following:
“(A)

In general
In carrying”;
(C)
in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by inserting “Native Hawaiian organizations,” before “and Indian tribes”;
(ii)
in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking “and” at the end;
(iii)
in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following:
“(iv)
to improve real-time risk management during landslide events, including with respect to landslide events caused by—
(I)
hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;
(II)
atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;
(III)
geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis;
(IV)
data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk; or
(V)
thawing permafrost and glacial retreat causing destabilization of slopes.”; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following:
“(B)

Consultation
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and the private sector.”.
(8)

Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards
Section 3(c)(2) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(J)
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”.
(9)

Advisory committee
Section 3(d)(2)(B) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(d)(2)(B)) is amended—
(A)
in clause (iii), by striking “geological”; and
(B)
in clause (vi), by striking “local, and Tribal emergency management agencies” and inserting “and local emergency management agencies and emergency management agencies of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations”.
(10)

Regional partnerships
Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
“(e)

Regional partnerships
(1)

In general
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish in the State of Alaska and other regions, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, a regional partnership with an eligible partner described in paragraph (2).
(2)

Eligible partners
An organization or institution of higher education with expertise in landslide mapping, research, and monitoring shall be eligible for a regional partnership under paragraph (1).
(3)

Purposes and duties
A regional partnership established under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
allow the Secretary to leverage applicable expertise in regional organizations;
(B)
coordinate long-term landslide research specific to the applicable region; and
(C)
align interagency landslide monitoring efforts.”.
(11)

Grant programs
Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in paragraph (1) of subsection (f) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking “local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess” and inserting “and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to research, map, assess, monitor”;
(B)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by inserting “institutions of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv),” before “and Indian tribes”; and
(ii)
in clause (ii)—
(I)
by redesignating subclauses (II) through (IV) as subclauses (III) through (V), respectively; and
(II)
by inserting after subclause (I) the following:
“(II)
in regions that have recently experienced loss of life due to landslides;”; and
(C)
in subparagraph (C)—
(i)
in clause (i), by inserting “awarded” after “grants”; and
(ii)
in clause (ii), by striking “made” and inserting “or other accomplishments resulting”.
(12)

Significant events
Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in subsection (h)(3) (as so redesignated), by striking “local, and Tribal partners” and inserting “and local partners, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations”.
(13)

Funding
Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “2024” and inserting “2030”; and
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking “there is authorized to be appropriated to the United States Geological Survey, $25,000,000 to carry out this section” and inserting “from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the United States Geological Survey, $35,000,000 shall be used to carry out this section, of which not less than $10,000,000 shall be used for the purchase, deployment, and repair of landslide early warning systems in high risk areas”.
(c)

3D elevation program
(1)

Establishment
Section 5(a) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3104(a)) is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting “and derivative” after “3D elevation”; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting “, process, and integrate” after “acquire”.
(2)

3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee
Section 5(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3104(b)(3)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
“(D)
the 3D Hydrography Program Working Group;”.
(3)

Grants and cooperative agreements
Section 5(d)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3104(d)(3)) is amended by striking “publically” and inserting “publicly”.
(4)

Funding
Section 5(e) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3104(e)) is amended by striking “2024” and inserting “2030”.