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“PACIFIC NORTHWEST EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2017” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2450-H2452 on March 27, 2017.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PACIFIC NORTHWEST EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2017
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 654) to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to carry out a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 654
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITION.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017''.
(b) Cascadia Subduction Zone Defined.--In this Act, the term ``Cascadia Subduction Zone'' means the landward-dipping fault that is approximately 684 miles long, separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates, and stretches along a portion of the western coast of the United States beginning off Cape Mendocino, California, along the State of Oregon, the State of Washington, to Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
SEC. 2. EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CASCADIA
SUBDUCTION ZONE.
(a) Plan for Purchase and Installation.--
(1) Development and funding.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall--
(A) develop a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone; and
(B) identify the funds necessary for implementation of the plan.
(2) Submission to congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a copy of the plan.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that summarizes the actions taken to implement the plan.
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Earthquake early warning system.--The term ``earthquake early warning system'' includes--
(A) improvements to regional and geodetic networks that support building a capability for an earthquake early warning system; and
(B) seismometers, Global Positioning System receivers, and associated infrastructure.
SEC. 3. EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--The President shall establish an Earthquake and Tsunami Task Force for the purpose of developing a comprehensive strategy and recommendations on how the Nation should prepare and plan for, mitigate against, respond to, recover from, and more successfully adapt to a covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
(b) Task Force.--
(1) Membership.--The membership of the Task Force shall include a cross section of subject matter experts representing the following:
(A) Relevant Federal agencies.
(B) The States of Oregon, Washington, and California.
(C) Indian tribes, local governments, and private sector representatives that may be impacted by a covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
(D) Universities, academia, and research institutions with expertise in topics relevant to the work of the Task Force.
(2) Chairperson.--The Administrator (or the Administrator's designee) shall serve as the chairperson of the Task Force.
(3) Detailed employees.--Members of the Task Force may detail employees to assist the Administrator (or the Administrator's designee) in fulfilling the responsibilities of the Task Force.
(c) Comprehensive Strategy.--
(1) Strategy.--The comprehensive strategy to be developed under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(A) A description of how Federal agencies will coordinate to develop the ability to prepare and plan for, mitigate against, respond to, recover from, and more successfully adapt to the impacts of a covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
(B) A strategy to ensure collaboration between the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, and other Federal agencies, as appropriate, for purposes of--
(i) completing a needs assessment of Federal facilities in need of hardening for a covered event; and
(ii) developing a strategic plan to mitigate and retrofit Federal, State, tribal, and local critical assets for freight, energy, and transit purposes to withstand a covered event and to help save lives during and immediately after a covered event.
(C) A strategy--
(i) to assist State, tribal, and local governments in developing and implementing a coordinated and comprehensive plan to prioritize Federal, State, tribal, local, and private investments and activities to develop the ability to prepare and plan for, mitigate against, respond to, recover from, and more successfully adapt to the impacts of a covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone; and
(ii) to link any existing statewide mitigation plan with such a coordinated and comprehensive plan.
(D) With respect to the strategy described in subparagraph
(C), an examination of the feasibility of the public sector, the private sector, and individuals to acquire earthquake insurance.
(E) An identification of funding opportunities to implement the comprehensive strategy and any recommendations made by the Task Force, including--
(i) existing funding opportunities across Federal agencies and other sources; and
(ii) potential new funding opportunities.
(F) An identification of barriers to obtaining funding for the implementation of the comprehensive strategy and recommendations on how to remove the barriers.
(G) A strategy for appropriate Federal agencies to collaborate with and assist State, tribal, and local governments in developing recommendations for cost-effective mitigation alternatives for aging State, tribal, and locally owned critical infrastructure.
(H) A strategy for assisting State, tribal, and local governments in developing a recovery plan prior to a covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone that addresses how State, tribal, and local governments may want to rebuild after the event.
(I) An identification of the steps taken to date to develop an onshore and offshore earthquake early warning system and a description of the purpose and scope of such a system.
(J) An evaluation of the types of offshore earthquake early warning systems and recommendations and a cost estimate for an earthquake early warning system appropriate for the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
(K) Recommendations on how an earthquake early warning system should operate, including whether and how the system should interface with the private sector.
(L) A description of appropriate roles and responsibilities for Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, including who should operate and maintain an earthquake early warning system, the cost of the system, and possible funding sources for the system.
(M) A plan on how to integrate an earthquake early warning system into existing and new public alert warning systems and technologies, including mobile systems.
(2) Use of existing plans.--In developing the comprehensive strategy, the Task Force may use existing plans, studies, and other resources.
(d) Recommendations.--The recommendations to be developed by the Task Force under subsection (a) shall include recommendations on--
(1) potential administrative or legislative changes required to implement the comprehensive strategy;
(2) the funding required to implement the comprehensive strategy and the recommendations; and
(3) the order of priority for implementation of the comprehensive strategy.
(e) National Academies.--
(1) Collaboration.--The Task Force shall work simultaneously and collaboratively with the National Academies.
(2) Agreement.--The Task Force shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies under which the National Academies shall develop recommendations for a Federal research strategy to advance scientific understanding of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and resulting tsunami preparedness, including the following:
(A) Geologic conditions, ground motions, and tsunami hazards.
(B) Implications of an effective automated early warning system.
(C) Effects of mega-earthquake and tsunami events on the built and natural environment.
(D) Social and behavioral factors for effective disaster preparedness and response.
(E) Cost-effective mitigation alternatives for legacy and aging infrastructure.
(F) Strategic planning for freight, energy, and transit network robustness.
(G) Tools that help communities invest their resources for the greatest benefit.
(H) Any other topics identified as necessary by the Task Force or the National Academies.
(f) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report of the Task Force that includes the following:
(1) The comprehensive strategy to be developed under subsection (a).
(2) The recommendations to be developed under subsections
(a), (d), and (e).
(g) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Covered event.--The term ``covered event'' means an earthquake, tsunami, or combined earthquake and tsunami event.
(3) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Federal interagency task force to be established under subsection
(a).
SEC. 4. NATIONAL PREPARATION AND RESPONSE EFFORTS RELATING TO
EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMIS.
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be responsible for the Nation's efforts to reduce the loss of life and property, and to protect the Nation, from an earthquake, tsunami, or combined earthquake and tsunami event by developing the ability to prepare and plan for, mitigate against, respond to, recover from, and more successfully adapt to such an event.
SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Use of Assistance.--Recipients of hazard mitigation assistance provided under this section and section 203 may use the assistance to conduct activities to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by earthquake hazards, including--
``(1) improvements to regional seismic networks in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning;
``(2) improvements to geodetic networks in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning; and
``(3) improvements to seismometers, Global Positioning System receivers, and associated infrastructure in support of building a capability for earthquake early warning.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. BARLETTA. 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 H.R. 654, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We know earthquakes pose one of the greatest natural hazards here in the United States. They strike without warning and result in potentially catastrophic casualties and damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The Pacific Northwest is at risk of severe earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. According to the experts, a massive earthquake is coming to the area. We just don't know when. Six years ago this month, a 9.0 earthquake in Japan created a tsunami that killed over 15,000 people and caused a nuclear disaster.
Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but their impacts on life, property, and the economy can be managed. FEMA is responsible for coordinating the Federal response to a catastrophic earthquake, and has been diligently working to help States plan and prepare for an earthquake. Good planning and preparedness can save lives and property.
H.R. 654, the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017, directs FEMA to plan the development of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The bill also directs the President to establish an earthquake and tsunami task force to develop a comprehensive strategy and recommendations on how to prepare and plan for seismic events.
I want to commend the ranking member for his leadership on this critical national issue. He has been an advocate for his State and the Pacific Northwest, supporting preparedness and mitigation efforts and the development of a public West Coast earthquake early warning system.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC, March 27, 2017.Hon. Bill Shuster,Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 654, the
``Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017,'' which was reported by your Committee on March 9, 2017.
H.R. 654 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. In order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.
I would request that, in any final version of the legislation, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology be included as a recipient of the reports called for in Sections 2 and 3 of the bill.
I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, March 27, 2017.Hon. Lamar Smith,Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 654, the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2017. I appreciate your willingness to expedite consideration of this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will not seek to litigate its claim of jurisdictional interest in this bill.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure concurs with the mutual understanding that by foregoing the litigation of its claim of jurisdictional interest in the bill at this time, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology does not waive any claim to jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill become necessary, I would work with the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to litigate its jurisdictional claim and, if such a claim is established by the Parliamentarians, support your request to be represented on the conference committee.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during consideration on the House floor. I look forward to working with the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as the bill moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank the chairman for his kind words for the work I have been doing for a number of years on this issue.
I traveled with the committee last year to Japan to see what lessons they learned from the horrible earthquake 6 years ago, in which more than 15,000 people perished. They did have in place a land-based and near-ocean early warning system, which gave them enough time to shut down the high-speed trains, get people out of elevators in buildings, shut down production lines, mitigating economic losses and property damage. But, unfortunately, the system was not adequate to predict the height of the tsunami, and 15,000 people died.
They are now deploying a realtime deep ocean system. It is time for the United States to emulate that. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, off the coast of northern California and Oregon, has had at least a dozen massive earthquakes over the last 5,000 years. It is currently well overdue for an earthquake. If we had in place a deep ocean system near the southern end of that fault where they expect the major quake will start, it would give enough warning time for people on the coast of Oregon, and at least those a little further up the coast, to seek higher ground and not be inundated. It would provide more time in the valleys, and up in Portland and up in Seattle for transit systems to be shut down and people to take shelter. So this could save many lives.
This bill directs FEMA to develop a plan to identify the necessary funds and the potential costs to purchase the equipment for an earthquake early warning system. It is basically off-the-shelf technology.
It requires the President to establish an earthquake and tsunami task force. The task force will consist of representatives from potentially impacted areas, as well as earthquake and tsunami experts to develop comprehensive strategy recommendations on how the Nation should prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, recover from, and adapt to an earthquake, tsunami, or combined event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
I strongly recommend this bill to my colleagues. We should learn from the disaster in Japan and take action here to save lives and property in the event of this quake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to vote
``yes'' on H.R. 654, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 654, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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