National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 · Introduced in Senate (2025-01-29)

SEC. 2. Modification of findings

Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7701

Modification of findings

in paragraph (1)—
- by striking 50 States, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,and inserting States and Tribal jurisdictions;
- by striking of themand inserting States; and
- by adding at the end the following: ; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025.
in paragraph (2)—
- by inserting after the first sentence the following: ; and
- in the third sentence—
  - (i) by striking and constructionand inserting , construction, evaluation, and retrofitting; and
  - (ii) by striking and (E)and inserting the following: ;
in paragraph (3), by inserting after ;
in paragraph (4), by striking could provideand 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.;
in paragraph (8), by striking cave-insand inserting collapse;
in paragraph (9)—
- in the first sentence, by striking and localand inserting local, and Tribal government;
- in the second sentence, by striking transfer knowledge and information toand inserting exchange knowledge and information between; and
- in the third sentence, by striking specifications, criteriaand inserting guidelines, codes, standards;
in paragraph (12)—
- in the second sentence—
  - (i) by striking When earthquakes occur, the built environment is generallyand inserting Relatively newer buildings and infrastructure have generally been; and
  - (ii) by striking and isand inserting when earthquakes occur, but most are; and
- by adding at the end the following: ; and
in paragraph (13)—
- in the first sentence, by inserting after ;
- in the second sentence, by inserting after ; and
- 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 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7702

Modification of purpose

in paragraph (1)—
- by striking and localand inserting , local, and Tribal government; and
- by striking locations and structuresand inserting buildings and infrastructure;
in paragraph (2)—
- by striking and constructionand inserting , construction, evaluation, and retrofitting; and
- by inserting after ; and
in paragraph (4)—
- by striking and localand inserting , local, and Tribal government; and
- by striking encourage consideration ofand inserting incorporate.

SEC. 4. Modification of definitions

Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7703

Modification of definitions

in paragraph (3), by inserting , including secondary effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis ; and
by adding at the end the following:
- The term Tribal government has the meaning given the term in section 421 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (). The term has the meaning given the term in section 421 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (). tribal government 2 U.S.C. 658
- 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.
- 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

Improvements to National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

(a) Program activities

Subsection (a)(2) of section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7704
Program activities
- in subparagraph (B)—
  - in the matter before clause (i)—
    - (i) by striking and localand inserting , local, and Tribal; and
    - (ii) by striking and constructingand inserting , designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting;
  - 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;
  - in clause (iii), by striking and hazards reduction; andand inserting functional recovery, and other hazards reduction topics;;
  - in clause (iv)—
    - (i) by inserting after ;
    - (ii) by inserting after ; and
    - (iii) by striking and inserting a semicolon; and; and
  - 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—
    - the creation of an inventory of buildings, structures, and lifeline infrastructure;
    - the performance of seismic performance evaluations; and
    - cost-effective best practices for retrofitting existing buildings, structures, and lifeline infrastructure.
- in subparagraph (C), by striking and inserting a semicolon;
- by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and
- by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
  - 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—

SEC. 6. Seismic performance property standards

Section 947 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7704a

Seismic performance property standards

in subsection (a), by striking both places it appears and inserting performance; and
in subsection (b), by striking shake-related property damageand 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 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7705b

Seismic standards

in subsection (b), by striking under paragraph (1)and inserting under subsection (a); and
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.
  - Implementation of recommendations
- (d) Biennial reports
  - 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).
    - Biennial reports to Interagency Coordinating Committee
  - (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).
    - Inclusion in biennial reports of Interagency Coordinating Committee

SEC. 9. Authorization of appropriations

Authorization of appropriations

(a) General authorization for program

Subsection (a)(8) of section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 7706
General authorization for program
- in subparagraph (I), by striking and inserting a comma; and
- by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
  - $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2024,
  - $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2025,
  - $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2026,
  - $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
  - $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2028,

(b) United States Geological Survey

Subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended—
United States Geological Survey
- in subparagraph (I), by striking and inserting a semicolon;
- in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
- by adding at the end the following:
  - $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;
  - $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;
  - $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;
  - $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
  - $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.

Subsection (c)(2) of such section is amended—
National Science Foundation
- in subparagraph (I), by striking and inserting a comma;
- in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting a comma; and
- by adding at the end the following:
  - $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2024,
  - $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2025,
  - $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2026,
  - $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
  - $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.

(d) National Institute of Standards and Technology

Subsection (d)(2) of such section is amended—
National Institute of Standards and Technology
- in subparagraph (I), by striking and inserting a comma;
- in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting a comma; and

S. 320

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title