[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2003

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 1, 2003

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
2608. This bill is the result of excellent bipartisan work by my 
colleagues on the Science Committee. I commend my colleagues, 
Congressmen Smith and Baird, and Congresswoman Lofgren for their 
leadership on this important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, the reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program will promote good science and intelligent planning, 
and it will save lives. It is a smart investment in the future of this 
nation. This program rallies all the resources available in the federal 
government with expertise in earthquake response and damage mitigation, 
and focuses them on the task of readying ourselves for the next ``big 
one.'' It brings together FEMA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy and the OMB, in a concerted effort to 
assess our needs and to make preparations.
  The bill will enable us to develop effective measures for hazards 
reduction, and will encourage implementation of those hazard reduction 
measures by Federal, State, and local governments through grants, 
standards development, and information sharing. This is a solid 
approach.
  I was particularly pleased that an amendment I offered in Science 
Committee markup was accepted unanimously and is in the bill before us 
today. That amendment will ensure that the research that stems from 
this program taps into the great expertise and resources at this 
nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as those 
that serve predominantly Hispanics, Native Americans, and other 
populations under-represented in the sciences. This will also ensure 
that our federal programs are inclusive of all Americans, not exclusive 
as they have been too often in the past.
  Again, this is an excellent bill that resulted from strong bipartisan 
work. I was pleased to be a part of that process, and am pleased to 
support it today.

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