[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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