[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.

                          ____________________