[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 92 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4198-H4201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1261) to establish a national program to identify and reduce
losses from landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation
Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1261
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 Landslide
Preparedness Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 3D.--The term ``3D'' means 3-dimensional.
(2) 3D elevation data.--
(A) In general.--The term ``3D elevation data'' means 3D,
high-resolution data obtained using LiDAR, IfSAR, or other
methods over the United States (including territories and
freely associated states).
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``3D elevation data'' includes
terrestrial and bathymetric elevation data.
(3) 3D elevation program.--The term ``3D Elevation
Program'' means the 3D Elevation Program established under
section 5(a).
(4) Freely associated states.--The term ``freely associated
states'' means--
(A) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and
(C) the Republic of Palau.
(5) IfSAR.--The term ``IfSAR'' means interferometric
synthetic aperture radar.
(6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) Lahar.--The term ``lahar'' means a large debris flow of
mostly volcanic material that is--
(A) often fast-moving; and
(B) a hazard in watersheds downstream of volcanic peaks.
(8) LiDAR.--The term ``LiDAR'' means light detection and
ranging.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Geological Survey.
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) a State; and
(B) the District of Columbia.
(11) State office.--The term ``State office'' means any
unit of State government that handles the identification,
mapping, assessment, and research of landslide hazards or
responding to landslide events, including--
(A) a State geological survey office;
(B) a State department of emergency response; and
(C) a State department of transportation.
(12) Territory.--The term ``territory'' means--
(A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(B) Guam;
(C) American Samoa;
(D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and
(E) the United States Virgin Islands.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
program, to be known as the ``National Landslide Hazards
Reduction Program'' (referred to in this section as the
``program'')--
(1) to identify and understand landslide hazards and risks;
(2) to reduce losses from landslides;
(3) to protect communities at risk of landslide hazards;
and
(4) to help improve communication and emergency
preparedness, including by coordinating with communities and
entities responsible for infrastructure that are at risk of
landslide hazards.
(b) Description of Program.--
(1) Program activities.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide
Hazards established by subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this
section as the ``Committee'') and in coordination with
existing activities of the United States Geological Survey
and other Federal agencies, shall--
(A) identify, map, assess, and research landslide hazards;
(B) respond to landslide events; and
(C) in coordination with State offices, units of local
government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian
tribes--
(i) establish working groups with State offices, units of
local government, territories, freely associated states, and
Indian tribes to identify regional and local priorities for
researching, identifying, mapping, and assessing landslide
hazards; and
(ii) develop and implement landslide hazard guidelines
for--
(I) geologists;
(II) geological and geotechnical engineers;
(III) emergency management personnel; and
(IV) land use and other decisionmakers.
(2) National strategy.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter,
the Secretary, in coordination with the Committee, shall
develop and publish a national strategy for landslide
hazards, risk reduction, and response in the United States
(including territories and freely associated states), which
shall include--
(A) goals and priorities for the program;
(B) priorities for data acquisition, research,
communications, and risk management on landslides and
landslide hazards across relevant Federal agencies; and
(C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall take into
consideration national disaster preparedness, response, and
recovery frameworks, to carry out the national strategy,
including details about the programs, projects, and budgets
that will be used to implement the national strategy.
(3) National landslide hazards database.--In carrying out
the program, the Secretary, in coordination with State
offices, units of local government, territories, freely
associated states, and Indian tribes, shall develop and
maintain a publicly accessible national landslide hazard and
risk inventory database to compile, maintain, standardize,
and evaluate data regarding--
(A) landslide hazards and risks;
(B) the impact of landslides on--
(i) health and safety;
(ii) the economy and infrastructure; and
(iii) the environment;
(C) landslide hazard stabilization; and
(D) reduction of losses from landslides.
(4) Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for
communities.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of
Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary
of Transportation, and the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, and in consultation with State offices, units of
local government, territories, freely associated states, and
Indian tribes, shall develop and disseminate--
(A) landslide planning and risk reduction guidance,
guidelines, maps, tools, and training materials to help
inform State, territorial, freely associated state, local,
and Tribal governments and decisionmakers with respect to--
(i) the use and implementation of landslide hazard
assessments;
(ii) the applied use of the database developed under
paragraph (3);
(iii) reducing losses from landslides; and
(iv) resources available for communities working to improve
landslide hazard preparedness; and
(B) landslide preparedness curricula and training modules
for--
(i) State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and
Tribal officials;
(ii) Federal, State, territorial, freely associated state,
local, and Tribal emergency managers; and
(iii) the National Guard.
(5) Debris flow early warning system.--In carrying out the
program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of
Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall expand
the early warning system for debris flow by--
(A) expanding the early warning system for post-wildfire
debris flow to include recently burned areas across the
western United States;
(B) developing procedures with State, territorial, freely
associated state, local, and Tribal governments to monitor
stormwater drainage in areas with high debris flow risk; and
(C) identifying high-risk debris flow areas, such as
recently burned land and potential lahar hazard areas.
[[Page H4199]]
(6) Emergency response activities.--In carrying out the
program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of
Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the heads of
other relevant Federal agencies, States offices, units of
local government, territories, freely associated states, and
Indian tribes, shall establish and support emergency response
procedures for the rapid deployment of Federal scientists,
equipment, and services to areas impacted by a significant
landslide event--
(A) to support emergency response efforts and improve the
safety of emergency responders;
(B) to improve data collection; and
(C) to conduct research to advance the understanding of the
causes, impacts, and reduction of landslide hazards and
risks.
(c) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide
Hazards.--
(1) In general.--There is established a committee, to be
known as the ``Interagency Coordinating Committee on
Landslide Hazards''.
(2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the
following members (or their designees):
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the
Committee.
(B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(C) The Secretary of the Army.
(D) The Secretary of Commerce.
(E) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
(F) The Secretary of Transportation.
(G) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
(H) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
(I) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(4) Purpose and duties.--The Committee shall--
(A) advise and oversee the program;
(B) facilitate communication and coordination across
Federal agencies in the planning, management, budgeting, and
execution of landslide activities; and
(C) support the development and execution of the national
strategy under subsection (b)(2), including by--
(i) supporting the development of national goals and
priorities for the national strategy;
(ii) articulating Federal agency roles, responsibilities,
and resources for carrying out the national strategy; and
(iii) overseeing the implementation of the national
strategy.
(d) Advisory Committee.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory
committee, to be known as the ``Advisory Committee on
Landslides'' (referred to in this subsection as the
``Advisory Committee'').
(2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed
of not fewer than 11 members--
(A) of whom none may be an individual described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title
5, United States Code; and
(B) who shall be representatives of--
(i) States, including State geological organizations;
(ii) territories and freely associated states, including
territorial and freely associated state geological
organizations;
(iii) Indian tribes, including Tribal geological
organizations;
(iv) research institutions and institutions of higher
education that are qualified--
(I) to provide advice regarding landslide hazard and risk
reduction; and
(II) to represent related scientific, architectural,
engineering, and planning disciplines;
(v) industry standards development organizations; and
(vi) State, territorial, freely associated state, local,
and Tribal emergency management agencies.
(3) Recommendations.--
(A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall submit to the
Committee recommendations for the implementation of the
program, including recommendations regarding--
(i) landslide hazard and risk reduction and planning;
(ii) tools for communities;
(iii) research; and
(iv) such other topics as the Advisory Committee determines
appropriate.
(B) Consideration.--The Secretary and the agency heads
described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of subsection
(c)(2) shall take into consideration any recommendation of
the Advisory Committee submitted under subparagraph (A).
(e) Grant Programs.--
(1) Cooperative landslide hazard mapping and assessment
program.--
(A) In general.--Subject to appropriations, the Secretary
may--
(i) provide grants, on a competitive basis, to State,
territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal
governments to research, map, assess, and collect data on
landslide hazards within the jurisdictions of those
governments; and
(ii) accept and use funds received from other Federal and
non-Federal partners to advance the purposes of the program.
(B) Priority.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall consult annually with
the Committee, States, units of local government,
territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes to
establish priorities for the grant program under this
paragraph.
(ii) Funding prioritization.--In providing grants under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to
projects--
(I) that will achieve the greatest landslide hazard and
risk reduction;
(II) that reflect the goals and priorities of the national
strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A);
(III) not less than 50 percent of the total cost of which
is matched by non-Federal sources; and
(IV) that include acquisition of enhanced elevation data
consistent with the 3D Elevation Program.
(2) National landslide research grants.--
(A) In general.--To advance the goals and priorities of the
national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A),
subject to appropriations, the Director of the National
Science Foundation (referred to in this paragraph as the
``Director'') may provide grants to eligible entities for
landslide research, including research on--
(i) the causes, mechanisms, triggers, hydrology, and
geology of landslides;
(ii) ways to reduce landslide hazards and risks to minimize
loss of life and property, including landslide hazard and
risk communication, perception, decisionmaking, tools, and
technologies; and
(iii) other goals and priorities of the national strategy
established under subsection (b)(2)(A).
(B) Eligible entities.--The Director shall determine
whether an entity is eligible to receive a grant under this
paragraph.
(C) Requirements.--In providing grants under this
paragraph, the Director shall--
(i) ensure that the grants are provided on a competitive
basis; and
(ii) consider grant applications submitted by eligible
entities that have developed the application in partnership
with 1 or more State geological surveys.
(f) Biennial Report.--The Secretary shall submit to
Congress a biennial report, including a description of, with
respect to the preceding 2 calendar years--
(1) the goals and accomplishments of the Secretary and the
agency heads described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of
subsection (c)(2) in carrying out the national strategy
developed under subsection (b)(2), expressed--
(A) by agency, program, and budgetary resource; and
(B) by the goals and priorities of the national strategy
established under subsection (b)(2)(A);
(2) the results of the activities of the Committee under
this section;
(3) the extent to which any recommendations of the Advisory
Committee under subsection (d)(3)(A) have been implemented;
(4) the grants provided under this section during the
preceding 2 calendar years, including a description of--
(A) each activity carried out using such a grant; and
(B) the results of those activities; and
(5) for each significant landslide event in the United
States (including territories and freely associated states)
during the preceding 2 calendar years--
(A) a description of the landslide event and the
implications of the event on communities, including life and
property;
(B) recommendations on how the identification of the
landslide risk could have been improved prior to the event;
(C) a description of the effectiveness of any warning and
risk communication, including the dissemination of warnings
by State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and
Tribal partners in the affected area;
(D) recommendations to improve risk identification,
reduction, and communication to landowners and units of local
government;
(E) recommendations to improve landslide hazard
preparedness and emergency response activities under this
section; and
(F) such other findings as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(g) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $37,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2020 through 2023, of which--
(1) $25,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to
the United States Geological Survey;
(2) $11,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to
the National Science Foundation; and
(3) $1,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SEC. 4. GROUND SUBSIDENCE.
As the Secretary determines to be appropriate and subject
to appropriations, the Secretary, through existing programs,
shall advance the identification, mapping, research,
monitoring, restoration, and mitigation of subsidence and
groundwater resource accounting, losses from subsidence,
including saltwater intrusion, particularly in areas affected
by drought and sea level rise.
SEC. 5. 3D ELEVATION PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment of 3D Elevation Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``3D Elevation Program''--
(A) to provide 3D elevation data coverage for the United
States;
(B) to coordinate and facilitate the collection,
dissemination, and use of 3D elevation data among Federal
departments and agencies and non-Federal entities;
(C) to produce standard, publicly accessible 3D elevation
data products for the United States; and
(D) to promote the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D
elevation data among Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments, communities, institutions of higher education,
and the private sector through--
(i) cooperative agreements;
(ii) the development and maintenance of spatial data
infrastructure to provide quality control and deliver to the
public 3D elevation data products;
(iii) in coordination with the 3D Elevation Federal
Interagency Coordinating Committee established under
subsection (b), States, and industry and standards bodies,
the development of
[[Page H4200]]
standards and guidelines for 3D elevation data acquisition to
increase accessibility to 3D elevation data in a standard,
easy-to-use format; and
(iv) the identification, assessment, and adoption of
emerging technologies to improve the accuracy and efficiency
of the 3D Elevation Program.
(2) Management.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the 3D
Elevation Program--
(i) to ensure efficiency with respect to related activities
of the Department of the Interior and other participating
Federal departments and agencies; and
(ii) to meet the needs of Department of the Interior
programs, stakeholders, and the public.
(B) Other federal departments and agencies.--The head of
each Federal department and agency involved in the
acquisition, production, distribution, or application of 3D
elevation data shall--
(i) coordinate with the 3D Elevation Federal Interagency
Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b) to
acquire additional, enhanced 3D elevation data;
(ii) submit to the Secretary a description of priority
areas of interest for 3D elevation data collection for use in
providing grants and cooperative agreements under subsection
(d);
(iii) implement policies and procedures for data
acquisition and sharing that are consistent with standards
and guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program;
(iv) participate in, and share the results and benefits of,
the 3D Elevation Program, in accordance with standards and
guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program; and
(v) ensure that any 3D elevation data acquired with Federal
grant funding--
(I) meets 3D Elevation Program standards; and
(II) is included in the national holdings of those data.
(b) 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating
Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security,
shall establish an interagency coordinating committee, to be
known as the ``3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating
Committee'' (referred to in this subsection as the
``Committee''), to better coordinate 3D elevation data
management across the Federal Government.
(2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the
following members (or their designees):
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the
Committee.
(B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(C) The Secretary of Commerce.
(D) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
(E) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
(F) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
(G) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(H) The head of any other Federal department or agency, at
the request of the Secretary.
(3) Coordination.--The Committee shall coordinate, as
appropriate, with the existing activities of--
(A) the 3D Elevation Program Executive Forum;
(B) the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee;
(C) the 3D Elevation Working Group;
(D) the 3D National Elevation Subcommittee; and
(E) State offices.
(4) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(5) Duties.--The Committee shall--
(A) oversee the planning, management, and coordination of
the 3D Elevation Program; and
(B) develop, by not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and update periodically thereafter--
(i) a strategic plan that establishes goals and priorities
for activities carried out under the 3D Elevation Program;
and
(ii) a detailed management plan to implement the strategic
plan.
(c) Subcommittee of National Geospatial Advisory
Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, within the
National Geospatial Advisory Committee, a subcommittee
(referred to in this subsection as the ``Subcommittee'').
(B) Membership.--The Subcommittee shall--
(i) consist of not fewer than 11 members, of whom none may
be a Federal officer or employee; and
(ii) include representatives of--
(I) research and academic institutions;
(II) industry standards development organizations;
(III) units of State and local government; and
(IV) the private sector.
(2) Duties.--
(A) Assessment.--The Subcommittee shall conduct an
assessment of--
(i) trends and developments in--
(I) the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D elevation
data; and
(II) science and technology relating to 3D elevation data;
(ii) the effectiveness of the 3D Elevation Program in
carrying out the activities described in subsection (a)(1);
(iii) the need to revise or reorganize the 3D Elevation
Program; and
(iv) the management, coordination, implementation, and
activities of the 3D Elevation Program.
(B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Subcommittee shall submit to the Secretary and the 3D
Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee
established under subsection (b) a report that includes--
(i) the findings of the assessment under subparagraph (A);
and
(ii) recommendations of the Subcommittee based on those
findings, if any.
(d) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants and enter
into cooperative agreements with other Federal departments
and agencies, units of State, local, or Tribal government,
institutions of higher education, nonprofit research
institutions, or other organizations to facilitate the
improvement of nationwide coverage of 3D elevation data.
(2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant or
enter into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, an
entity described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(3) Terms and conditions.--A grant or cooperative agreement
under this subsection shall be subject to such terms and
conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate,
including making data publically available and interoperable
with other Federal datasets.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Case) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Kevin Hern) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii.
General Leave
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Hawaii?
There was no objection.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).
Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, a little over 5 years ago, on March 22,
2014, Washington State experienced one of the worst natural disasters
to date. In a matter of seconds, a tragic landslide near Oso killed 43
people, destroyed over 40 homes, and severely damaged public
infrastructure and private property.
That day forever changed the people of Oso, Darrington, Arlington,
and the Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes. They are an inspiring
community who did everything possible and came together to help their
neighbors.
The Federal Government declared a major disaster in the State of
Washington and made sure that Federal resources were available to
supplement State, Tribal, and local recovery efforts. While the
recovery was slow, these agencies responded to calls for aid when our
communities needed roads rebuilt, an extension to file taxes,
assistance to get kids to school, or to find new housing.
Unfortunately, this type of event is not unique to Oso or to
Washington State. Every State in the country faces some amount of
landslide risk, a risk that has not been well identified or addressed
when compared to earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods.
Substantial work needs to be done to gain a better understanding of
landslides and their potential impacts in order to reduce losses of
life and property.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey and National Research
Council, landslides result in an estimated 20 to 50 deaths and between
$1 billion and $2 billion of damage each year.
There is no one collective landslide inventory for most counties,
States, or the entire country, and there isn't an agreed-upon
methodology for creating one. The establishment of a program addressing
landslide hazards as well as increased funding for mapping, education,
and risk assessment is crucial and could help save many lives, homes,
and infrastructure in the future.
We need to do more to ensure that we fund programs and research
efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national
tragedies. That is why I introduced this bill, the National Landslide
Preparedness Act.
This legislation would establish a National Landslide Hazards
Reduction Program through the U.S. Geological Survey to better identify
and understand landslide risks, protect communities and property,
improve emergency preparedness, and, most importantly, save lives.
My bill would also direct the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation
Program
[[Page H4201]]
to update and coordinate the collection of enhanced high-resolution
elevation data across the country. This is crucial for numerous
reasons:
To help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards;
To update the Nation's topographical maps; and
To inform a myriad of uses, including public safety, national
security, planning, infrastructure, administration, agriculture, and
natural resource management.
Currently, much of the country still relies on data collected more
than 30 years ago using older technologies that do not provide the same
resolution and benefits. It is time that landslide hazards are
addressed properly and in a collaborative fashion. This legislation
will allow significant progress to be made in landslide science and
will allow communities to be better prepared for when landslides do
occur.
We will never forget those who were lost in the slide and the
incredible community that worked so hard to rebuild.
Five years ago at the Oso firehouse, President Obama said that the
Nation was with the community every step of the way in the rebuilding
process. Part of that process is making sure we do everything in our
power to make sure that all communities have the necessary information
to be better prepared for dangerous landslides.
Mr. Speaker, given the importance of this issue to communities across
the country, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1261, the National
Landslide Preparedness Act. This straightforward piece of legislation
will help prepare and protect us from landslides.
Landslides are a dangerous and expensive national hazard. According
to the U.S. Geological Survey, landslides cause as much as $2 billion
in damages each year and around 25 fatalities.
Wildfires, earthquakes, and severe weather all make landslides more
likely. As cities and towns across our country continue to develop, the
chances of being affected by these events, likewise, increases.
Since the 1970s, one of the core missions of the U.S. Geological
Survey has been to use scientific data to minimize the loss of life and
property damage from hazards like landslides. H.R. 1261 supports that
goal by establishing the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program,
which will help identify and understand landslide risk; and when those
hazards eventually occur, this bill will help prepare us by improving
communication and emergency preparedness.
H.R. 1261 also establishes a national 3D Elevation Program to create
and maintain standardized, publicly available 3D elevation data for the
United States. Not only will this program assess landslide hazards, but
could also help identify energy, mineral, and water resources,
geological hazards such as active faults, and other potential dangers,
including swelling soils, floodplains, and abandoned mine lands.
In Oklahoma, we have had lots of floods, so if there are other things
we can do that will help get us some understanding of what is going on,
people will be better for it. I am confident that this bill will help
prepare for and prevent against damage from landslides and, most
importantly, save American lives.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1261, the ``National
Landslide Preparedness Act.''
H.R. 1261 establishes a national program to identify and reduce
losses from landslide hazards and a national 3D Elevation Program.
The bill also authorizes a study of ground subsidence.
Climate change charges us with the responsibility to study
significant landslide threats to mitigate damages and protect our
citizens.
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), authorized under H.R. 1261,
systematically collects 3D elevation data in the form of light
detection and ranging (lidar) data for the conterminous United States,
Hawaii, and the U.S. territories, with data acquired over an 8-year
period.
Mr. Speaker, due to global warming, high river levels provoke floods
and landslides, which block roads and hinder people from escaping life-
threatening situations.
More than 30,000 people worldwide were killed by landslides between
2004 and 2010, according to the Geological Society of America.
And in the U.S. between 25 and 50 people are killed by landslides
every year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Slides can occur in all 50 states, but regions like the Appalachian
Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coastal Ranges have
``severe landslide problems,'' according to the USGS.
Mother Nature is unpredictable and can endanger our constituents'
lives and homes if advanced warning procedures are not established.
Continued wet weather has also resulted in rivers reaching
increasingly dangerous levels.
As of 25 February, National Weather Service data showed over 250
rivers in the Midwest, South and East to be above flood stage.
In February 2019, one person died in flash flooding in Tennessee
after a storm system was caused by a landslide brought on by record-
breaking rain to the Nashville area.
The Cincinnati metropolitan area is another region that faces
constant threats of landslides.
It sits in part on what's called the Kope shale formation, which
breaks down easily and is highly prone to landslides.
In 2010, the Cincinnati metro area faced landslides that wrecked
properties and caused damages that were difficult to assess.
Losses from landslides in the United States were estimated in 1980 to
exceed $1 billion per year.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated annual losses to be between $2
billion and $4 billion per year.
However, landslide costs across the country are not currently tracked
or measured in a uniform way by any one agency.
Passage of H.R. 1261 will result in the:
publication of a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk
reduction, and response in the United States (including territories);
Development and maintenance of a publicly accessible national
landslide hazard and risk inventory database;
an expanded early warning system for debris flow; and
the establishment of emergency response procedures for the rapid
deployment of federal scientists, equipment, and services to areas
impacted by a significant landslide event.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1261 incentivizes geologic investigations, good
engineering practices, and effective enforcement of land-use management
regulations to reduce landslide hazards.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1261
to establish and strengthen the nation's emergency preparedness
procedures to assess and evaluate landslide damages and threats.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1261, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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