[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 134 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12210-S12211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM RELATED TO 
                   EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS AND MITIGATION

  Mrs. BOXER. As every Member of this body knows, earthquakes represent 
a severe threat and devastating reality to my State of California. 
California is by no means alone in facing this danger. The U.S. 
Geological Survey has identified 41 States and U.S. territories in the 
moderate, high or very high categories of seismic risk. While 
earthquakes can not be prevented, there are important steps that we can 
take to minimize the damage caused by these disasters and to improve 
our ability to respond to them. Through the multi-agency National 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [NEHRP], several Federal agencies 
are involved in precisely such efforts.
  The Interior appropriations bill provides the funding for one of the 
agencies engaged in this work, the U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]. 
Unfortunately, as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the 
bill sends a conflicting message with regard to one vitally important 
aspect of the USGS contribution to earthquake hazard reduction--
university earthquake research. In fiscal year 1995, USGS provided $8 
million in funding for external grants related to earthquake hazards 
and mitigation. The university program provides the knowledge base on 
which the broader NEHRP program rests. It plays a critical role in 
amplifying USGS resources and manpower by leveraging additional funds 
from States, universities and foundations. It also provides USGS with 
access to the leading researchers and state-of-the-art facilities and 
equipment in which to conduct earthquake research.
  Unfortunately, as I have already noted, the report accompanying the 
Senate version of this legislation takes two conflicting directions 
with regard to university funded research. While the committee notes 
the unique role that university research plays in the NEHRP program, it 
also specifically cuts $4,000,000 from the funding available for this 
purpose--a 50-percent reduction. I should note that this is an 
improvement from the House bill, which eliminated such university 
research altogether.
  Mr. President, I would like to ask my distinguished colleague, 
Senator Gorton, who is chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on 
Interior and Related Agencies, whether he would be willing to answer a 
question regarding the report language on this issue?
  Mr. GORTON. I would be pleased to respond to the Senator's question.
  Mrs. BOXER. The Committee which you chair has clearly recognized the 
tremendously valuable contribution that university earthquake research 
makes to the NEHRP program. I would therefore ask my colleague from 
Washington whether it would not be more 

[[Page S 12211]]
reasonable to direct the USGS to distribute a cut in funding across its 
entire program rather than specifically from the university earthquake 
research component?
  Mr. GORTON. I thank my colleague from California for bringing this 
issue to my attention. I would support spreading the $4 million cut 
currently called for in earthquake research grants to universities 
across the entire USGS Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
  Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Senator for his willingness to address this 
important issue. I am hopeful that the bill that emerges from 
conference will contain the smallest possible cut in the USGS 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and that funding reductions will 
not target university research.


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