[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 180 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6853-S6855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2024
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 523, S.
3606.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3606) to reauthorize the Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF FINDINGS.
Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7701) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``50 States, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico,'' and inserting ``States and Tribal jurisdictions'';
(B) by striking ``of them'' and inserting ``States''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: ``Almost half of
the United States population resides in areas that are at
risk or experiencing a damaging earthquake during the 50-year
period beginning on the date of the enactment of the National
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of
2024'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting after the first sentence the following:
``A 2023 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and the United States Geological Survey (FEMA P-366)
estimates the annualized earthquake losses to the national
building stock is $14,700,000,000 per year and the total
economic exposure to earthquake losses (buildings and
contents) across the nation is $107,800,000,000,000.''; and
(B) in the third sentence--
(i) by striking ``and construction'' and inserting ``,
construction, evaluation, and retrofitting'';
(ii) by striking ``and (E)'' and inserting the following:
``(E) inventories of buildings and infrastructure with high
seismic risk, especially those that are critical to community
resilience, (F) programs that require or incentivize
replacement or retrofit of existing buildings and
infrastructure with high seismic risk, especially those that
are critical to community resilience, and (G)'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``Tribal,'' after
``local,'';
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``could provide'' and all
that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``is
necessary to provide the scientific understanding needed to
improve and expand the earthquake early warning system.'';
(5) in paragraph (8), by striking ``cave-ins'' and
inserting ``collapse'';
(6) in paragraph (9)--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``and local'' and
inserting ``local, and Tribal government''; and
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``transfer
knowledge and information to'' and inserting ``exchange
knowledge and information between''; and
(C) in the third sentence, by striking ``specifications,
criteria'' and inserting ``guidelines, codes, standards'';
(7) in paragraph (12)--
(A) in the second sentence--
(i) by striking ``When earthquakes occur, the built
environment is generally'' and inserting ``Relatively newer
buildings and infrastructure have generally been'';
(ii) by striking ``and is'' and inserting ``when
earthquakes occur, but most are''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following: ``In addition,
buildings and infrastructure built to older codes and
standards may pose significant risk of injury, loss of life,
or irreparable damage. A 2021 report submitted to Congress
pursuant to section 8(b), as amended by section 5 of the
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-307), by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (FEMA P2090/NST SP-1254) provides recommendations
for improving post-earthquake functional recovery time of the
built environment to support community resilience goals and
many of these recommendations still need to be
implemented.''; and
(8) in paragraph (13)--
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``in 2011'' after
``a study'';
(B) in the second sentence, by inserting ``(in 2011
dollars)'' after ``$300,000,000''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: ``The cost of
actual seismic retrofits to reduce known risks is not
included in such valuation.''.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF PURPOSE.
Section 3 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7702) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and
Tribal government''; and
(B) by striking ``locations and structures'' and inserting
``buildings and infrastructure'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``and construction'' and inserting ``,
construction, evaluation, and retrofitting''; and
(B) by inserting ``housing and care facilities for
vulnerable populations,'' after ``occupancy buildings''; and
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and
Tribal government''; and
(B) by striking ``encourage consideration of'' and
inserting ``incorporate''.
SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7703) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including secondary
effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
[[Page S6854]]
``(11) The term `Tribal government' has the meaning given
the term `tribal government' in section in section 421 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 658).
``(12) The term `functional recovery' means a post-
earthquake performance state in which a building or lifeline
infrastructure system is maintained, or restored, to safely
and adequately support the basic intended functions
associated with the pre-earthquake use or occupancy of a
building, or the pre-earthquake service level of a lifeline
infrastructure system.
``(13) The term `earthquake forecast' means a statement of
probabilities that 1 or more earthquakes within a clearly
specified magnitude range may occur within a specified time
interval and geographic region.''.
SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
PROGRAM.
(a) 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 the matter before clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and
Tribal''; and
(ii) by striking ``and constructing'' and inserting ``,
designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting'';
(B) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) development of standards, guidelines, and voluntary
standards, guidelines, and consensus codes for earthquake
hazards reduction for buildings, structures, and lifeline
infrastructure, including post-earthquake recovery-based
performance objectives that address reoccupancy and downtime
of community-prioritized buildings, structures, and services
provided by lifeline infrastructure;'';
(C) in clause (iii), by striking ``and hazards reduction;
and'' and inserting ``functional recovery, and other hazards
reduction topics;'';
(D) in clause (iv)--
(i) by inserting ``and maintaining'' after ``publishing'';
(ii) by inserting ``in coordination with the National
Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program, tsunami susceptibility,''
after ``liquefaction susceptibility,''; and
(iii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) subject to the availability of funds, development of
best practices and guidelines to create an inventory of and
conduct seismic performance evaluations of buildings,
structures, and lifeline infrastructure with high seismic
risk, especially those that are critical to community
resilience; and
``(vi) subject to the availability of funds, the provision
of technical assistance upon request by a State, local, or
Tribal government regarding--
``(I) the creation of an inventory of buildings,
structures, and lifeline infrastructure;
``(II) the performance of seismic performance evaluations;
and
``(III) cost-effective best practices for retrofitting
existing buildings, structures, and lifeline
infrastructure.'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) improve the understanding of--
``(i) the multiple hazards associated with earthquakes,
including liquefaction, tsunamis, landslides, structural
fires, and the compounding effects of climate on these
hazards; and
``(ii) potential mitigation measures for such hazards;
and''.
(b) Duties of Interagency Coordinating Committee on
Earthquake Hazards Reduction.--Subsection (a)(3)(D)(ii) of
such section is amended--
(1) in subclause (V), by inserting ``and associated
secondary hazards'' before the period at the end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(VIII) Coordinating with the Chair of the Federal
Communications Commission on the timely broadcasting of
emergency alerts generated by the earthquake early warning
system.''.
(c) Biennial Report.--Subsection (a)(4)(A) of such section
is amended by striking ``under paragraph (3)(D)(i)(I)'' each
place it appears and inserting ``under paragraph
(3)(D)(ii)(I)''.
(d) Advisory Committee.--Subsection (a)(5)(A) of such
section is amended--
(1) by inserting ``the Chair of the Scientific Earthquake
Studies Advisory Committee and'' after ``including'';
(2) by striking ``and local government'' and inserting ``,
local, and Tribal governments''; and
(3) by inserting ``social,'' after ``scientific,''.
(e) Lead Agency for Responsibilities of Program Agencies.--
Subsection (b)(1) of such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``local, and
Tribal governments''; and
(B) by striking ``plan and constructing'' and inserting
``planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, and
retrofitting'';
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) improve the understanding of earthquake-caused fires
and support the development of engineering tools and
construction methods that mitigate the risk of fire following
earthquakes;
``(D) develop, in coordination with the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, best practices and
guidelines for a State, local, or Tribal government to create
an inventory of buildings, structures, or lifeline
infrastructure that are critical to community resilience or
otherwise have high seismic risk;
``(E) provide, in coordination with the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, technical assistance
to a State, local, or Tribal government requesting such
assistance with respect to the creation of an inventory of
buildings, structures, or lifeline infrastructure;''.
(f) Responsibilities of Federal Emergency Management
Agency.--Subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (i)--
(i) by inserting ``and Tribal governments'' after
``States'';
(ii) by inserting ``and performance evaluations'' after
``safety inspections''; and
(iii) by inserting ``and improve post-earthquake functional
recovery'' after ``seismic safety'';
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, including Tribal
entities,'' after ``appropriate audiences'';
(C) in clause (iii)--
(i) by striking ``of seismic resistant'' and inserting ``to
all appropriate audiences, including Tribal governments,
of''; and
(ii) by inserting ``that enhance seismic safety, improve
post-earthquake functional recovery, and reduce losses from
earthquakes'' after ``and lifeline infrastructure'';
(D) in clause (iv)--
(i) in striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and
Tribal''; and
(ii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(E) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and
(F) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
``(v) shall provide technical assistance to State, local,
or Tribal governmental entities in the creation of evacuation
plans in the event of an earthquake, landslide, tsunami, or
other earthquake-related hazard; and''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``and
tribal'' after ``State'';
(B) in the matter before clause (i), by inserting ``or
Tribal government'' after ``State''; and
(C) in clause (i), by striking ``safety'' and inserting
``performance, community resilience, or public awareness''.
(g) Responsibilities of United States Geological Survey.--
Subsection (b)(3) of such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and local'' and
inserting ``, local, and Tribal'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, the Chair of the
Federal Communications Commission,'' after ``Agency'';
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (K) as
subparagraphs (L) through (Q), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) coordinate with the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on data sharing
and resource allocation to support a timely response to
oceanic earthquakes and tsunamis;
``(E) in consultation with the Chair of the Federal
Communications Commission, ensure that earthquake alerts and
early warnings are broadcast as rapidly and reliably as
possible, in the predominant languages in the affected
region, to ensure maximum warning time for nearby persons;
``(F) expand the earthquake early warning system within and
to additional high risk hazard areas, including making
improvements as practicable to improve detection and increase
the time between warning messages and perceptible ground
motion;
``(G) coordinating with affected State and Tribal
governments on earthquake early warning system improvements;
``(H) issue earthquake forecasts, when appropriate, for
aftershocks associated with significant earthquakes in the
United States;'';
(5) in subparagraph (I), as redesignated by paragraph (3),
by inserting ``the Chair of the Federal Communications
Commission,'' after ``Agency,'';
(6) in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by paragraph (3),
by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(7) in subparagraph (M), as redesignated by paragraph (3),
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(8) in subparagraph (O), as redesignated by paragraph (3),
by inserting ``maps of natural hazards associated with
earthquakes and''.
(h) Responsibilities of National Science Foundation.--
Subsection (b)(4)(A) of such section is amended--
(1) in clause (iii), by inserting ``including updated
tsunami and liquefaction risk maps,''; and
(2) in clause (vii), by striking ``Historically Black
Colleges and Universities and those serving large proportions
of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and
other underrepresented populations'' and inserting
``institutions described in section 371(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))''.
SEC. 6. SEISMIC PERFORMANCE PROPERTY STANDARDS.
Section 947 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable
Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 7704a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``safety'' both places
it appears and inserting ``performance''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shake-related property
damage'' and inserting ``seismic-related property damage to
improve the post-earthquake functional recovery time''.
SEC. 7. SEISMIC STANDARDS.
Section 8 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7705b) is amended--
[[Page S6855]]
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``under paragraph (1)''
and inserting ``under subsection (a)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Implementation of Recommendations.--Each Program
agency, as part of their Program responsibilities, shall
execute research, projects, grants, and other activities that
support, promote, advance, or otherwise implement the
recommendations in the report submitted pursuant to
subsection (b) to improve the performance of the built
environment in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and
functional recovery time.
``(d) Biennial Reports.--
``(1) Biennial reports to interagency coordinating
committee.--No later than September 30, 2025, and not less
frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, each Program
agency shall submit to the Interagency Coordinating Committee
a report on activities and progress made to support, promote,
or advance the implementation of the recommendations included
in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b).
``(2) Inclusion in biennial reports of interagency
coordinating committee.--The Interagency Coordinating
Committee shall include the information received under
paragraph (1) in each biennial report submitted under section
5(a)(4), including consideration of a prioritized work plan
to coordinate activities among the Program agencies and the
necessary Program budget to fully implement the
recommendations described in paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 8. IMPROVEMENTS TO POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS
PROGRAM.
Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7705e) is amended, in the matter before paragraph
(1)--
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``domestic and
international'' after ``investigate major''; and
(2) in the fifth sentence, by inserting ``Federal Emergency
Management'' before ``Agency''.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) General Authorization for Program.--Subsection (a)(8)
of section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
(42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and
inserting a comma; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
``(K) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2024,
``(L) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2025,
``(M) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2026,
``(N) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
``(O) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2028,''.
(b) United States Geological Survey.--Subsection (b)(2) of
such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less
than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 13;
``(L) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which not less
than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 13;
``(M) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which not less
than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 13;
``(N) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which not less
than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 13; and
``(O) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which not less
than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of
the Advanced National Seismic System established under
section 13.''.
(c) National Science Foundation.--Subsection (c)(2) of such
section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and
inserting a comma;
(2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a comma; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2024,
``(L) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2025,
``(M) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2026,
``(N) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
``(O) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.''.
(d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--
Subsection (d)(2) of such section is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and
inserting a comma;
(2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a comma; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
``(K) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2024,
``(L) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2025,
``(M) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2026,
``(N) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
``(O) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2028,''.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; the bill, as
amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
agreed to.
The bill (S. 3606), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
____________________