Sponsor
Nicholas J. Begich
Representative · R-AK
Representative · R-AK
The bill provides continuity and predictable, modest funding for volcanic monitoring and early warning through 2029, but caps funding at $470,000/year which may leave monitoring needs underfunded while imposing a small new federal cost and minor administrative adjustments.
Communities near volcanoes (rural and urban) will continue to receive monitoring and early‑warning support because the Volcano Observatory System is reauthorized for FY2026–2029 with annual funding.
State and local governments, and researchers, gain predictable, modest federal funding ($470,000/year) through 2026–2029, enabling program continuity and planning for volcanic monitoring.
Communities near volcanoes risk underfunded monitoring and warning capabilities because the bill caps annual funding at $470,000 rather than authorizing 'such sums as may be necessary.'
Taxpayers face an explicit new federal expense of $470,000 per year for FY2026–2029.
State and local governments may need to absorb short-term administrative adjustments because the bill shifts and renames agency references, creating implementation overhead.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Updates statutory terminology, extends authorization to FY2026–2029, and authorizes $470,000 per year for the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Updates the law that governs the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System by changing agency references to defined terms, extending the authorization period, and specifying annual authorized funding. It replaces prior open-ended or outdated funding language with a fixed annual authorization of $470,000 for each of fiscal years 2026–2029 and updates terminology to refer to the "Secretary" and the "Secretary of Commerce."
Official title: To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Introduced May 5, 2025 by Nicholas J. Begich · Last progress December 16, 2025