[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 3606. A bill to reauthorize the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the NEHRP 
Reauthorization Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would 
reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, NEHRP, 
and improve the Nation's earthquake preparedness.
  This bill would reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
Program, NEHRP, and authorize a total of $175.4 million per year from 
fiscal year 2024 to 2028 across the four Federal Agencies responsible 
for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, NIST, the National Science Foundation, NSF, and the 
United States Geological Survey, USGS.
  Specifically, the NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2023 would authorize 
$10.6 million for FEMA, $5.9 million for NIST, $58 million for NSF, and 
$100.9 million for USGS per year from fiscal year 2024 to 2028. This 
funding would support research, development, and implementation 
activities related to earthquake safety and risk reduction.
  In California and across the Nation, earthquakes threaten lives, 
infrastructure, and communities. NEHRP allows vulnerable communities 
across the State to better prepare and respond to earthquakes through 
crucial tools like the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System 
Program and working to advance the scientific understanding of 
earthquakes.
  I want to thank Senator Murkowski for introducing this important 
legislation with me in the Senate, and I hope all of our colleagues 
will join us in supporting this bipartisan bill to improve our nation's 
earthquake preparedness.

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