May 1, 2025
Mr. Valadao (for himself and Mr. Costa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To reauthorize the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Improvements to National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
(a) Program activities
Subsection (a)(2)(B) of section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704) is amended—
(1)
in the matter before clause (i)—
(A)
by striking and local
and inserting local, and Tribal
; and
(B)
by striking and constructing
and inserting , designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting
;
(2)
in 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;;
(3)
in clause (iii), by striking and hazards reduction; and
and inserting functional recovery, and other hazards reduction topics;
; and
(4)
in clause (iv)—
(A)
by inserting and maintaining
after publishing
; and
(B)
by inserting in coordination with the National Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program, tsunami susceptibility,
after liquefaction susceptibility,
.
(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
; and
(2)
by striking and local government
and inserting , local, and Tribal governments
.
(e) 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 (I) through (P), 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
after including
.
Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations
Subsection 12(b)(2) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(b)(2)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (I), by striking and
at the end;
(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)
$83,403,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System established under section 13;
(L)
$83,403,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System established under section 13;
(M)
$83,403,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System established under section 13;
(N)
$83,403,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System established under section 13; and
(O)
$83,403,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System established under section 13.