[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 127 (Monday, September 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION ACT OF 1977 AUTHORIZATION

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                               speech of

                           HON. STEVEN SCHIFF

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 1997

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 910, 
legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
Program [NEHRP]. I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and 
Representative George Brown, the Science Committee's ranking minority 
member, for their efforts to bring this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, NEHRP has long enjoyed bipartisan support in the Science 
Committee because, through the program, the Nation has learned much 
about what to expect during earthquakes, where earthquakes are likely 
to occur, and how buildings and other structures are likely to fare 
during an earthquake.
  While much has been achieved through NEHRP, the Nation still faces a 
very serious earthquake threat. If a major earthquake were to strike in 
any of the densely populated earthquake prone areas of the Nation, we 
might be facing losses of life numbering in the hundreds or thousands 
and property and economic losses in the hundreds of billions.
  H.R. S. 910 provides NEHRP with a modest increase in funding so that 
the program may continue to contribute to a scientific and engineering 
infrastructure that provides critical knowledge used to further 
mitigate earthquakes. In addition, this legislation requires the 
director of National Science Foundation to produce a plan for upgrading 
earthquake engineering testing facilities. This is especially needed in 
order to perform the state-of-the-art research necessary to test 
buildings, lifelines, and materials. Other important provisions of this 
legislation include: assessments of seismological data gathering 
equipment and of disaster training facilities, and development of a 
real-time seismic hazards network, which would enable operators of 
critical lifelines to shut down in advance of an earthquake. Finally, 
section 2(c) of S. 910 highlights the Science Committee's commitment to 
education. This is a provision which encourages the National Science 
Foundation to disseminate Earth science educational materials to local 
schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that S. 910 is an important piece of 
legislation which, because of the work we have already done with the 
Senate, can be expeditiously sent to the President when we pass the 
bill in the House today. I urge the support of my colleagues.

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