[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9581-H9586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2018
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (S. 1768) to reauthorize and amend the National Earthquake
Hazards Reduction Program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1768
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by inserting ``, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,''
after ``States'';
(B) by inserting ``Oregon,'' after ``New York,''; and
(C) by inserting ``Tennessee,'' after ``South Carolina'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prediction techniques
and'';
(3) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) A well-funded seismological research program could
provide the scientific understanding needed to fully
implement an effective earthquake early warning system.'';
(4) in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking ``lifelines''
each place it appears and inserting ``lifeline
infrastructure''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) The built environment has generally been constructed
and maintained to meet the needs of the users under normal
conditions. When earthquakes occur, the built environment is
generally designed to prevent severe injuries or loss of
human life and is not expected to remain operational or able
to recover under any specified schedule.
``(13) The National Research Council published a study on
reducing hazards and risks associated with earthquakes based
on the goals and objectives for achieving national earthquake
resilience described in the strategic plan entitled
`Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program'. The study and an accompanying report called for
work in 18 tasks focused on research, preparedness, and
mitigation and annual funding of approximately $300,000,000
per year for 20 years.''.
(b) Purpose.--Section 3 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7702) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first
sentence, by inserting ``and increase the resilience of
communities'' after ``future earthquakes'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``to individuals and the
communities'' after ``an earthquake'';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``in time of disaster''
and inserting ``to facilitate community-wide post-earthquake
recovery and in times of disaster'';
(4) in paragraph (3), by striking ``for predicting damaging
earthquakes and'';
(5) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and planning'' after
``model building''; and
[[Page H9582]]
(6) in paragraph (5), by striking ``reconstruction'' and
inserting ``re-occupancy, recovery, reconstruction,''.
(c) Definitions.--
(1) Lifeline infrastructure.--
(A) In general.--Section 4(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
7703(6)) is amended by striking ``lifelines'' and inserting
``lifeline infrastructure''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Such Act (42 U.S.C. 7701 et
seq.) is amended by striking ``lifelines'' each place it
appears and inserting ``lifeline infrastructure''.
(2) Community resilience.--Section 4 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
7703) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(10) The term `community resilience' means the ability of
a community to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from,
and more successfully adapt to adverse seismic events.''.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
PROGRAM.
(a) Modification of Program Activities.--Subsection (a)(2)
of section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7704) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (iii), by inserting ``, community
resilience,'' after ``seismic risk''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) publishing a systematic set of maps of active faults
and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, susceptibility for
earthquake induced landslides, and other seismically induced
hazards; and''; and
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``develop, operate''
and all that follows through ``7708),'' and inserting
``continue the development of the Advanced National Seismic
System, including earthquake early warning capabilities''.
(b) Amendments Relating to Interagency Coordinating
Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction.--
(1) Clarification regarding membership.--Subparagraph (B)
of subsection (a)(3) of such section is amended, in the
matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``The committee''
and inserting ``In addition to the Director, the committee''.
(2) Reduction in minimum frequency of meetings of
interagency coordinating committee on earthquake hazards
reduction.--Subparagraph (C) of such subsection is amended by
striking ``not less than 3 times a year'' and inserting ``not
less frequently than once each year''.
(3) Expansion of duties.--Subparagraph (D) of such
subsection is amended to read as follows:
``(D) Duties.--
``(i) General duty.--The Interagency Coordinating Committee
shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of
the Program.
``(ii) Specific duties.--The duties of the Interagency
Coordinating Committee include the following:
``(I) Developing, not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program Reauthorization Act of 2004 and updating
periodically--
``(aa) a strategic plan that establishes goals and
priorities for the Program activities described under
subsection (a)(2); and
``(bb) a detailed management plan to implement such
strategic plan.
``(II) Developing a coordinated interagency budget for the
Program that will ensure appropriate balance among the
Program activities described under subsection (a)(2), and, in
accordance with the plans developed under subclause (I),
submitting such budget to the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget at the time designated by the Director
for agencies to submit biennial budgets.
``(III) Developing interagency memorandums of understanding
with any relevant Federal agencies on data sharing and
resource commitment in the event of an earthquake disaster.
``(IV) Coordinating with the Interagency Coordinating
Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction and other natural
hazards coordination committees as the Director determines
appropriate to share data and best practices.
``(V) Coordinating with the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on data
sharing and resource allocation to ensure judicious use of
Government resources and the free-flowing exchange of
information related to earthquakes.
``(VI) Coordinating with the Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior on the use of public lands for
earthquake monitoring and research stations, and related data
collection.
``(VII) Coordinating with the Secretary of Transportation
and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the
effects of earthquakes on transportation and housing stocks.
``(iii) Assistance from secretary of agriculture and
secretary of the interior.--To the extent practicable, the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior
shall expedite any request for a permit to use public land
under clause (ii)(VI).''.
(4) Reduction in frequency of reporting by interagency
coordinating committee on earthquake hazards reduction.--
(A) In general.--Subsection (a)(4) of such section is
amended--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Annual'' and
inserting ``Biennial'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as
clauses (i) through (vi), respectively, and adjusting the
indentation of the margin of such clauses, as so
redesignated, two ems to the right;
(iii) in clause (v), as so redesignated, by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(iv) in clause (vi), as so redesignated, by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
(v) by inserting after clause (vi), as so redesignated, the
following:
``(vii) a statement regarding whether the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency has lowered or waived
the cost share requirement for assistance provided under
subsection (b)(2)(A)(i).'';
(vi) in the matter preceding clause (i), as so
redesignated, by striking ``The Interagency'' and all that
follows through ``Senate'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once every two
years, the Interagency Coordinating Committee shall submit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Natural
Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the
House of Representatives a report on the Program''; and
(vii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Support for preparation of report.--Each head of a
Program agency shall submit to the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology such information as the
Director may request for the preparation of a report under
subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after the date on
which the Director requests such information.''.
(B) Effective date.--The amendments made by subparagraph
(A) shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal
year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Modification of Responsibilities of National Institute
of Standards and Technology.--Subsection (b) of such section
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and constructing,''
and inserting ``constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting'';
and
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``provide new and''
after ``research to''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), in the first sentence, by inserting ``community
resilience through'' after ``improve''.
(d) Modification of Responsibilities of Federal Emergency
Management Agency.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of such
section is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Department of homeland security; federal emergency
management agency.--
``(A) Program responsibilities.--The Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency--
``(i) shall operate a program of grants and assistance to
enable States to develop mitigation, preparedness, and
response plans, purchase necessary instrumentation, prepare
inventories and conduct seismic safety inspections of
critical structures and lifeline infrastructure, update
building, land use planning, and zoning codes and ordinances
to enhance seismic safety, increase earthquake awareness and
education, and provide assistance to multi-State groups for
such purposes;
``(ii) shall support the implementation of a comprehensive
earthquake education, outreach, and public awareness program,
including development of materials and their wide
dissemination to all appropriate audiences and support public
access to locality-specific information that may assist the
public in preparing for, mitigating against, responding to
and recovering from earthquakes and related disasters;
``(iii) shall, in conjunction with the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, other Federal
agencies, and private sector groups, use research results to
support the preparation, maintenance, and wide dissemination
of seismic resistant design guidance and related information
on building codes, standards, and practices for new and
existing buildings, structures, and lifeline infrastructure,
aid in the development of performance-based design guidelines
and methodologies, and support model codes that are cost
effective and affordable in order to promote better practices
within the design and construction industry and reduce losses
from earthquakes;
``(iv) shall enter into cooperative agreements or contracts
with States and local jurisdictions and other Federal
agencies to establish demonstration projects on earthquake
hazard mitigation, to link earthquake research and mitigation
efforts with emergency management programs, or to prepare
educational materials for national distribution; and
``(v) shall support the Director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic
goals.
``(B) State assistance program criteria.--In order to
qualify for assistance under subparagraph (A)(i), a State
must--
``(i) demonstrate that the assistance will result in
enhanced seismic safety in the State;
``(ii) provide 25 percent of the costs of the activities
for which assistance is being
[[Page H9583]]
given, except that the Administrator may lower or waive the
cost-share requirement for these activities for a small
impoverished community, as defined in section 203 of the
Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5133(a)); and
``(iii) meet such other requirements as the Administrator
shall prescribe.''.
(e) Modification of Responsibilities of United States
Geological Survey.--Subsection (b)(3) of such section is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the first
sentence--
(A) by inserting ``report on significant domestic and
international earthquakes and'' after ``Survey shall''; and
(B) by striking ``predictions.'' and inserting
``forecasts.'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``predictions,
including aftershock advisories'' and inserting ``alerts and
early warnings'';
(3) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) issue when necessary and feasible, and notify the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, and State and local officials, an alert and an
earthquake warning;'';
(4) in subparagraph (E), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``using'' and inserting ``including'';
(5) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(6) in subparagraph (J)--
(A) by inserting ``and data'' after ``hazard maps''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) support the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic
goals.''.
(f) Modification of Responsibilities of National Science
Foundation.--Subsection (b)(4) of such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, State agencies,
State geological surveys,'' after ``consortia'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``to support applied
science in the production of a systematic series of
earthquake-related geologic hazard maps, and'' after
``Survey'';
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``large-scale
experimental and computational facilities of the George E.
Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation and
other institutions engaged in research and the implementation
of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program'' and
inserting ``experimental and computational facilities'';
(4) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(5) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and'';
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) support the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic
goals.'';
(7) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (I) as
clauses (i) through (ix), respectively, and indenting such
clauses accordingly;
(8) in the matter before clause (i), as redesignated by
paragraph (7), in the first sentence, by striking ``The
National Science Foundation'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--The National Science Foundation''; and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Identification of funding.--The National Science
Foundation shall--
``(i) to the extent practicable, note in any notice of
Program funding or other funding possibilities under the
Program that the funds are part of the Program;
``(ii) to the extent practicable, track the awarding of
Federal funds through the Program; and
``(iii) not less frequently than once every 2 years, submit
to the director of the Program a report specifying the amount
of Federal funds awarded to conduct research that enhances
the understanding of earthquake science.''.
SEC. 4. REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARD REDUCTION
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable, but not later than
such date as is necessary for the Comptroller General of the
United States to submit the report required by subsection (c)
in accordance with such subsection, the Comptroller General
shall complete a review of Federal earthquake hazard risk
reduction efforts.
(b) Elements.--The review conducted under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) A comprehensive assessment of--
(A) the extent to which the United States Geological Survey
has identified the risks and hazards to the United States
posed by earthquakes, including risks and hazards resulting
from tsunamis and landslides that are generated by
earthquakes;
(B) the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to
improve the resilience of the United States to earthquakes
and to identify important gaps in the resilience of the
United States to earthquakes;
(C) the progress made by the National Institute of
Standards and Technology and the Interagency Coordinating
Committee (as defined in section 4 the Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7703)) to coordinate effectively the
budget and activities of the Program agencies (as defined in
such section 4) in advancing the plans and goals of the
Program (as defined in such section 4) and how coordination
among the Program agencies may be improved;
(D) the extent to which the results of research in
earthquake risk and hazards reduction supported by the
National Science Foundation during the 40 years of the
Program has been effectively disseminated to Federal, State,
local, and private sector stakeholders; and
(E) the extent to which the research done during the 40
years of the Program has been applied to both public and
private earthquake risk and hazards reduction.
(2) Recommendations to improve the Program and the
resiliency of the United States to earthquake risks.
(c) Report.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 3
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on
Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the
Comptroller General with respect to the review completed
under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. SEISMIC STANDARDS.
Section 8 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7705b) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 8. SEISMIC STANDARDS.
``(a) Assessment and Recommendations.--Not later than
December 1, 2019, the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology and the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall jointly convene a committee
of experts from Federal agencies, nongovernmental
organizations, private sector entities, disaster management
professional associations, engineering professional
associations, and professional construction and homebuilding
industry associations, to assess and recommend options for
improving the built environment and critical infrastructure
to reflect performance goals stated in terms of post-
earthquake reoccupancy and functional recovery time.
``(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than June 30, 2020,
the committee convened under paragraph (1) shall submit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the
Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives a report on
recommended options for improving the built environment and
critical infrastructure to reflect performance goals stated
in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and functional
recovery time.''.
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ADVANCED NATIONAL SEISMIC SYSTEM.
(a) Plan Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the United States Geological
Survey shall submit to Congress a 5-year management plan for
the continued operation of the Advanced National Seismic
System.
(b) Elements.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Strategies to continue the development of an earthquake
early warning system.
(2) A mechanism for securing the participation of State and
regional level earthquake monitoring entities, including
those defunded by the Advanced National Seismic System in the
last five years.
(3) A plan to encourage and support the integration of
geodetic and geospatial data products into earthquake
monitoring in regions experiencing large earthquakes.
(4) A plan to identify and evaluate existing data sets
available across commercial, civil, and defense entities to
determine if there are additional data sources to inform the
development and deployment of the Advanced National Seismic
System and an earthquake early warning system.
(5) A plan to ensure that there is an active,
geographically diverse, management and advisory structure for
the Advanced National Seismic System.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(8)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(B) by inserting before the language following subparagraph
(E) the following:
``(F) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2019,
``(G) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2020,
``(H) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2021,
``(I) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2022, and
``(J) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2023,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which not less
than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 7707 of this title;
[[Page H9584]]
``(G) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which not less
than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 7707 of this title;
``(H) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which not less
than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 7707 of this title;
``(I) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which not less
than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 7707 of this title; and
``(J) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which not less
than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 7707 of this title.'';
(3) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2019,
``(G) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2020,
``(H) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2021,
``(I) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, and
``(J) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.''; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(B) by inserting before the language following subparagraph
(E) the following:
``(F) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2019,
``(G) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2020,
``(H) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2021,
``(I) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2022, and
``(J) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2023.''.
SEC. 8. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Correction of Title of Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.--The Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 5 (42 U.S.C. 7704)--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(B), as amended by section 3(b)(1)
of this Act--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the
directors of'';
(ii) in clause (i), by inserting ``the Administrator of''
before ``the''; and
(iii) in clauses (ii) through (v), by inserting ``the
Director of'' before ``the'' each place it appears; and
(B) in subsection (b)(3)(C), as amended by section 3(e), by
striking ``Director of the Federal'' and inserting
``Administrator of the Federal''; and
(2) in section 9 (42 U.S.C. 7705c), by striking ``Director
of the Agency'' and inserting ``Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency'' each place it appears.
(b) References to the Advanced National Seismic System.--
Such Act is amended--
(1) in section 13 (42 U.S.C. 7707), in the section heading,
by striking ``advanced national seismic research and
monitoring system'' and inserting ``advanced national seismic
system''; and
(2) by striking ``Advanced National Seismic Research and
Monitoring System'' each place it appears and inserting
``Advanced National Seismic System''.
(c) Incorrect Cross-references.--Paragraph (4) of section
5(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7704(a)), as amended by section
3(b)(4)(A) of this Act, is amended--
(1) in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), as
redesignated by such section 3(b)(4)(A), by striking
``subparagraph (3)(A)'' both places it appears and inserting
``paragraph (3)(D)(i)(I)''; and
(2) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by striking
``under (3)(A)'' and inserting ``under paragraph
(3)(D)(i)(I)''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous material on S. 1768, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1768, the National Earthquake
Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018.
The bill before us is the same text of H.R. 6650, the bill I
introduced in the House earlier this year to reauthorize a Federal
program that improves America's earthquake preparedness, and which the
Senate agreed to accept as the final agreement. With a little
indulgence, I might then say that this would be the Rohrabacher-
Feinstein Earthquake bill. That is the way it goes.
For 40 years the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program,
NEHRP, has supported efforts to assess and monitor earthquake hazards
and risks across our Nation.
Four Federal agencies coordinate their earthquake activities under
this program: the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Science
Foundation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology. These agencies assess earthquake
hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to
reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall
American vulnerability to earthquakes.
The Congress last reviewed and reauthorized the program in 2004, and
that law expired in 2009. Although Congress continues to appropriate
funds for this important work, the legislation before us makes long
overdue changes to modernize the program and make it more effective.
The bill removes outdated language related to earthquake prediction
and instead emphasizes the continued development of an earthquake
early-warning system. The bill also reduces various administrative
burdens for Federal agencies, burdens that are disruptive to the
essential mission of the program. Our approach also improves data
sharing between these agencies.
Finally, the legislation provides a 5-year authorization for
appropriations at the current funding level.
In my home State of California, we understand the omnipresent threat
of another massive earthquake. According to the USGS, California has a
99 percent chance of being devastated by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, or
an even larger one, in the next 30 years. That is the same power as the
1994 Northridge earthquake which killed 57 people, injured more than
8,700 others, and caused damages of up to $50 billion, making it one of
the costliest disasters in American history.
California is not alone. Close to 75 million people in 39 States face
significant risk from earthquakes. By being prepared for future
disasters we reduce our potential loss of life and property for those
who would suffer those consequences.
I want to thank Senators Dianne Feinstein and Lisa Murkowski who
introduced this bill in the Senate, as well as Representative Pramila
Jayapal who joined me in introducing the bill in this House. I want to
thank the leadership of the House Natural Resources Committee and the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for working with us
to bring this bill to the floor. Although the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee has primary jurisdiction and we were given superb
leadership by our current chairman, these committees and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology do share jurisdiction over the
agencies in this program.
Mr. Speaker, let me again express my deep appreciation for the
leadership on the other side of the aisle, but especially now that we
are going to be losing our chairman, for the great job that he has done
as chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology,
Washington, DC, October 29, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 1768, the
``National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2018,'' which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and additionally
to the Committee on Natural Resources, on September 28, 2018.
Although your Committee has a valid jurisdictional interest
in certain provisions of S. 1768, I ask that you discharge
the Natural Resources Committee from further consideration of
this measure to permit the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of
this bill. I ask that you do so with the understanding that
your Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claim
over the subject matter contained in the bill that fall
within its Rule X jurisdiction.
Finally, I will support an appropriate appointment of
outside conferees from your Committee in the event of a
House-Senate conference on this legislation and will include
our exchange of letters on S. 1768 into the Congressional
Record during floor consideration of this bill.
[[Page H9585]]
Thank you again for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, October 30, 2018.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for contacting me regarding S.
1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2018, which was additionally referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources.
In the interest of permitting you to proceed expeditiously
to floor consideration of this bill, I will agree to
discharge the Natural Resources Committee from further
consideration of S. 1768. I do so with the understanding that
the Natural Resources Committee does not waive any future
jurisdictional claim over the subject matter contained in the
bill that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I also
appreciate your support to name members of the Natural
Resources Committee to any conference committee to consider
such provisions and for inserting our exchange of letters on
S. 1768 into the Congressional Record during consideration of
the measure on the House floor.
Thank you again for consulting us regarding this bill, I
look forward to continuing to work with you the remainder of
this Congress.
Sincerely,
Rob Bishop,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology,
Washington, DC, November 9, 2018.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning S. 1768, the
``National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2018,'' which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and additionally
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on
September 28, 2018.
Although your Committee has a valid jurisdictional interest
in certain provisions of S. 1768, I ask that you discharge
the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from further
consideration of this measure to permit the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology to proceed expeditiously to
floor consideration of this bill. I ask that you do so with
the understanding that your Committee does not waive any
future jurisdictional claim over the subject matter contained
in the bill that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction.
Finally, I will support an appropriate appointment of
outside conferees from your Committee in the event of a
House-Senate conference on this legislation and will include
our exchange of letters on S. 1768 into the Congressional
Record during floor consideration of this bill.
Thank you again for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, November 15, 2018.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your letter regarding S.
1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2018. In order to expedite floor
consideration of S. 1768, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure concurs
with the mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of
the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional
claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or
similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X
jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name Members
of the Committee to any conference committee named to
consider such provisions.
Please insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional
Record during consideration on the House floor. I look
forward to working with the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology as the bill moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S. 1768 to reauthorize the
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
I want to thank Senators Feinstein and Murkowski for developing this
good legislation. I also would like to thank my colleagues,
Representatives Rohrabacher and Jayapal, for introducing a House
companion, and the chairs and ranking members of the authorizing
committees for working to arrive at the consensus legislation we are
considering today.
The years 1964 and 1994 mark two of the worst earthquakes in U.S.
history. Hundreds of people lost their lives, and thousands sustained
injuries in these earthquakes that hit Alaska and the Northridge
neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Economic losses were in the billions of dollars resulting from
earthquakes and tsunamis. While our Nation has been in the path of many
disastrous natural events lately, we have been spared from a big
earthquake for many years. But we should not become complacent, because
another big earthquake will happen, and the human and economic toll
will be felt far beyond the immediate disaster zone.
S. 1768 makes Federal investments in research and preparedness
activities that will help mitigate earthquake risks for Americans from
coast to coast. Specifically, S. 1768 reauthorizes funding for the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science
Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to continue to carry out research and other
activities under the NEHRP program.
Under NEHRP, NSF and USGS carry out fundamental research in the earth
sciences. Both agencies have extensive networks of instrumentation that
record seismic activity and advance our understanding of the onset,
propagation, and intensity of earthquakes. Such research helps advance
our early-warning capability and helps communities make informed
decisions for earthquake preparation.
NIST is the lead agency for NEHRP and also carries out applied
research that provides the scientific basis for earthquake resilient
building codes and design guidelines. This bill aims to help
communities survive a catastrophic event and continue with critical
operations, such as emergency services, utilities, and communication
networks.
FEMA provides earthquake training and awareness to States and
territories and assists communities in creating seismic mitigation
plans in the event of a high-impact earthquake. These activities are
invaluable in preparing communities for an earthquake and its
aftermath.
The last NEHRP reauthorization was nearly 15 years ago, and the
authorizing law needs several updates to ensure it is keeping pace with
the state of the science on earthquakes and translating that science
into saving lives and property.
The bill before us today includes those much-needed updates and,
importantly, provides NEHRP agencies with the needed authority to
continue these investments with greater budgetary certainty for the
next 5 years.
I appreciate my colleagues working on this bill in a bipartisan
fashion in the House and Senate, and I urge support for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith), who is the chairman of the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the
gentleman from California, my friend and colleague, for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I support S. 1768, the National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018.
The final text of the legislation we are considering today was first
introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher as H.R. 6650 in August.
Representative Rohrabacher, an active and valued senior member of the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee, led efforts to improve the
original Senate bill and authorize some additional funding to advance
earthquake monitoring and early-warning systems that are critical to
his home State of California.
It has been 15 years since the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
was last reauthorized. This legislation modernizes earthquake safety
programs
[[Page H9586]]
that help States prepare for and respond to earthquakes.
The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act
is a result of bipartisan collaboration and work with the relevant
agencies, congressional committees, private sector and State agency
stakeholders.
I want to thank Representative Rohrabacher for his initiative on
moving the bill forward and working across the aisle and across the
Capitol with Senator Dianne Feinstein to get it across the finish line.
{time} 1630
I also want to congratulate him for his 30 years of service to the
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee; the Congress; and his
constituents. Since joining the committee in 1989, he has been a
dedicated advocate for our Nation's space exploration programs, energy
research and innovation, and preparing our Nation for natural hazards.
I encourage my colleagues to support S. 1768 and send it to the
President's desk.
Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
We Californians know what suffering happens when you are unprepared
for a wildfire. We have learned that lesson very tragically just
recently. There is no need for us to suffer by being unprepared for the
next earthquake. That is what this is all about.
I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and especially
thank the chairman for the fact that we have worked together in a way
that is really going to have a positive impact on so many people by
preventing them from having to suffer what we have seen recently in the
wildfires in California.
Mr. Speaker, although there is often disagreement in the people's
House, we should never overlook those many areas of concurrence.
There are those who believe that human activity, for example, is
causing a cataclysmic jump in the temperature of the planet. Others,
however, disagree with this analysis and, thus, oppose policies that
restrict human activities and drive up the cost of living a decent
life. This issue has been a tumultuous division.
However, there are so many other areas in which we can and will focus
on, not just in terms of what our committee does, but on which we have
a wide acceptance on where precautionary measures are justified and
needed. Research in understanding how buildings, bridges, and other
infrastructure react to earthquakes is an example of something that I
expect that we all agree on. We can see that even here in this debate.
I will not be here next year, but I wanted to mention just a few
other science-related areas where bipartisan action could be effective
and where the costs of prevention are minimal as compared to the
potential damage. These are things that we have worked on but have not
come to a conclusion. Both the chairman and I won't be here next year,
but I thought I would mention them.
For example, I hope there can be real progress made in the next few
years when it comes to the protection of our planet from astroids and
comets, which have caused massive damage--even extinction--over the
last 250 million years. Although we are searching in space near and far
for these objects now, we have not organized or put in place the means
to divert them or eliminate a threatening object when it is observed
heading in our direction.
Another common ground issue should be protecting our space assets
from orbital debris, which is basically a man-made minefield in space.
We rely on our space-based assets for defense, science, farming, a huge
portion of our commerce, and even for navigating your car to a local
market. There are many other plans for new satellite constellations and
new expectations for increased numbers of people visiting space.
Thus, we will be expanding, hopefully, observation and monitoring of
what is going on with the planet for the benefit of the people of the
planet. But none of these uses of space will ever be put to work for
bettering our lives unless we deal with the debris issue. If we are not
protecting our space-based assets, we are risking our future, our way
of life, our security, and our prosperity.
I am sorry we did not get this done. It was a bipartisan effort. We
just didn't get that, among all the things we were working on this
Congress. But I hope the next Congress will succeed and will focus on
those two issues where we can cooperate in a very bipartisan way.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the moving forward of S.
1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization
Act of 2018.
May we always be prepared to deal with natural disasters, thus
protecting our people from needless tragedies. We will always live with
the potential of a severe earthquake, but we can minimize the loss and
suffering. That is what we are doing here with this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the bill being signed into law by the
President by the end of the year, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1768, the
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act. This
bill will reauthorize seismological research and warning systems
through Fiscal Year 2022.
Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program (NEHRP) to carry out a longterm, inter-agency earthquake
research program. NEHRP focuses on earthquake warning, hazard
reduction, and minimizing loss after earthquakes. Earthquake early
warning systems can provide several additional seconds of warning
before the strongest ground shaking arrives, enough to save lives and
protect critical infrastructure.
In Northwest Oregon, it is not a question of if, but when, an
earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone will hit our state. The
U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the University of Oregon,
the University of Washington, Caltech, and University of California,
Berkley, developed ShakeAlert, an early earthquake warning system. The
technology has been tested and is proven to work effectively. Federal
investments in these programs are critical. Although it is difficult if
not impossible to know when and where the next large earthquake will
occur, we must do everything that we can to prepare ourselves and our
communities to mitigate destruction and save lives. Reauthorizing NEHRP
is an important step in recognizing the science behind earthquakes and
other natural disasters such as tsunamis and landslides.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 1768.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________