S 320 — National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change 
is proposed is shown in roman):

 CRANSTON-GONZALES NATIONAL
 AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT

 * * * * * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7704a]

SEC. 947. REPORT ON SEISMIC SAFETY PROPERTY STANDARDS.

 (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
shall assess the risk of earthquake-related damage to 
properties assisted under programs administered by the 
Secretary and shall develop seismic [safety] performance 
standards for such properties. This section may not be 
construed to prohibit the Secretary from deferring to local 
building codes that meet the requirements of the seismic 
[safety] performance standards developed under this section.
 (b) Standards.--The standards shall be designed to reduce the 
risk of loss of life to building occupants to the maximum 
extent feasible and to reduce the risk of [shake-related 
property damage] seismic-related property damage to improve the 
post-earthquake functional recovery time to the maximum extent 
practicable.
 (c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency and may utilize the resources under 
the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (established 
under the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 and any 
other resources as may be required to carry out the activities 
under this section.

 * * * * * * *

 EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
 ACT OF 1977

 * * * * * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7701]

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 The Congress finds and declares the following:
 (1) All [50 States, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
 Rico,] States and Tribal jurisdictions are vulnerable 
 to the hazards of earthquakes, and at least 39 [of 
 them] States are subject to major or moderate seismic 
 risk, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, 
 Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, 
 New York, Oregon, South Carolina [Tennessee,,], 
 Tennessee, Utah, and Washington. [A large portion of 
 the population of the United States lives in areas 
 vulnerable to earthquake hazards] 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 2025.
 (2) Earthquakes have caused, and can cause in the 
 future, enormous loss of life, injury, destruction of 
 property, and economic and social disruption. 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. With respect to future 
 earthquakes, such loss, destruction, and disruption can 
 be substantially reduced through the development and 
 implementation of earthquake hazards reduction 
 measures, including (A) improved design [and 
 construction], construction, evaluation, and 
 retrofitting methods and practices, (B) land-use 
 controls and redevelopment, (C) early-warning systems, 
 (D) coordinated emergency preparedness plans, [and (E)] 
 (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) public education and involvement 
 programs.
 (3) An expertly staffed and adequately financed 
 earthquake hazards reduction program, based on Federal, 
 State, local, Tribal, and private research, planning, 
 decisionmaking, and contributions would reduce the risk 
 of such loss, destruction, and disruption in seismic 
 areas by an amount far greater than the cost of such 
 program.
 (4) A well-funded seismological research program 
 [could provide the scientific understanding needed to 
 fully implement an effective earthquake early warning 
 system.] is necessary to provide the scientific 
 understanding needed to improve and expand the 
 earthquake early warning system.
 (5) * * *
 (6) * * *
 (7) * * *
 (8) The implementation of earthquake hazards 
 reduction measures would, as an added benefit, also 
 reduce the risk of loss, destruction, and disruption 
 from other natural hazards and man-made hazards, 
 including hurricanes, tornadoes, accidents, explosions, 
 landslides, building and structural [cave-ins] 
 collapse, and fires.
 (9) Reduction of loss, destruction, and disruption 
 from earthquakes will depend on the actions of 
 individuals, and organizations in the private sector 
 and governmental units at Federal, State, [and local] 
 local, and Tribal government levels. The current 
 capability to [transfer knowledge and information to] 
 exchange knowledge and information between these 
 sectors is insufficient. Improved mechanisms are needed 
 to translate existing information and research findings 
 into reasonable and usable [specifications, criteria] 
 guidelines, codes, standards, and practices so that 
 individuals, organizations, and governmental units may 
 make informed decisions and take appropriate actions.
 (10) * * *
 (11) * * *
 (12) The built environment has generally been 
 constructed and maintained to meet the needs of the 
 users under normal conditions. [When earthquakes occur, 
 the built environment is generally] Relatively newer 
 buildings and infrastructure have generally been 
 designed to prevent severe injuries or loss of human 
 life [and is] when earthquakes occur, but most are not 
 expected to remain operational or able to recover under 
 any specified schedule. 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.
 (13) The National Research Council published a study 
 in 2011 on reducing hazards and risks associated with 
 earthquakes based on the goals and objectives for 
 achieving national earthquake resilience described in 
 the strategic plan entitled ``Strategic Plan for the 
 National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program''. The 
 study and an accompanying report called for work in 18 
 tasks focused on research, preparedness, and mitigation 
 and annual funding of approximately $300,000,000 (in 
 2011 dollars) per year for 20 years. The cost of actual 
 seismic retrofits to reduce known risks is not included 
 in such valuation.

 [42 U.S.C. 7702]

 SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

 It is the purpose of the Congress in this Act to reduce the 
risks of life and property from future earthquakes and increase 
the resilience of communities in the United States through the 
establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake 
hazards reduction program. The objectives of such program shall 
include--
 (1) the education of the public, including State [and 
 local], local, and Tribal government officials, as to 
 earthquake phenomena, the identification of [locations 
 and structures] buildings and infrastructure which are 
 especially susceptible to earthquake damage, ways to 
 reduce the adverse consequences of an earthquake to 
 individuals and the communities, and related matters;
 (2) the development of technologically and 
 economically feasible design [and construction], 
 construction, evaluation, and retrofitting methods and 
 procedures to make new and existing structures, in 
 areas of seismic risk, earthquake resistant, giving 
 priority to the development of such methods and 
 procedures for power generating plants, dams, 
 hospitals, schools, public utilities and other lifeline 
 infrastructure, public safety structures, high 
 occupancy buildings, housing and care facilities for 
 vulnerable populations, and other structures which are 
 especially needed to facilitate community-wide post-
 earthquake recovery and in times of disaster;
 (3) * * *
 (4) the development, publication, and promotion, in 
 conjunction with State [and local], local, and Tribal 
 government officials and professional organizations, of 
 model building and planning codes and other means to 
 [encourage consideration of] incorporate information 
 about seismic risk in making decisions about land-use 
 policy and construction activity;
 (5) * * *
 (6) * * *
 (7) * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7703]

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

 As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:
 (1) * * *
 (2) * * *
 (3) The term ``seismic'' and variants thereof mean 
 having to do with, or caused by earthquakes, including 
 secondary effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis.
 (4) * * *
 (5) * * *
 (6) * * *
 (7) * * *
 (8) * * *
 (9) * * *
 (10) * * *
 (11) The term ``Tribal government'' has the meaning 
 given the term ``tribal government'' 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.

 [42 U.S.C. 7704]

SEC. 5. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.

 (a) Establishment.--
 (1) In general.--There is established the National 
 Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
 (2) Program activities.--The activities of the 
 Program shall be designed to--
 (A) develop effective measures for earthquake 
 hazards reduction;
 (B) promote the adoption of earthquake 
 hazards reduction measures by Federal, State, 
 [and local] local, and Tribal governments, 
 national standards and model code 
 organizations, architects and engineers, 
 building owners, and others with a role in 
 planning [and constructing], designing, 
 constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting 
 buildings, structures, and lifeline 
 infrastructure through--
 (i) grants, contracts, cooperative 
 agreements, and technical assistance;
 [(ii) development of standards, 
 guidelines, and voluntary consensus 
 codes for earthquake hazards reduction 
 for buildings, structures, and lifeline 
 infrastructure;]
 (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;
 (iii) development and maintenance of 
 a repository of information, including 
 technical data, on seismic risk, 
 community resilience, [and hazards 
 reduction; and] functional recovery, 
 and other hazards reduction topics;
 (iv) publishing and maintaining a 
 systematic set of maps of active faults 
 and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, 
 in coordination with the National 
 Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program, 
 tsunami susceptibility, susceptibility 
 for earthquake induced landslides, and 
 other seismically induced hazards[; 
 and];
 (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.
 (C) improve the understanding of earthquakes 
 and their effects on communities, buildings, 
 structures, and lifeline infrastructure, 
 through interdisciplinary research that 
 involves engineering, natural sciences, and 
 social, economic, and decisions sciences[; 
 and];
 (D) improve the understanding of--
 (i) the multiple hazards associated 
 with earthquakes, including 
 liquefaction, tsunamis, landslides, and 
 structural fires; and
 (ii) potential mitigation measures 
 for such hazards; and
 [(D)](E) continue the development of the 
 Advanced National Seismic System, including 
 earthquake early warning capabilities and the 
 Global Seismographic Network.
 (3) Interagency coordinating committee on earthquake 
 hazards reduction.--
 (A) In general.--There is established an 
 Interagency Coordinating Committee on 
 Earthquake Hazards Reduction chaired by the 
 Director of the National Institute of Standards 
 and Technology (referred to in this subsection 
 as the ``Director'').
 (B) Membership.--In addition to the Director, 
 the committee shall be composed of--
 (i) the Administrator of the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency;
 (ii) the Director of the United 
 States Geological Survey;
 (iii) the Director of the National 
 Science Foundation;
 (iv) the Director of the Office of 
 Science and Technology Policy; and (v) 
 the Director of the Office of 
 Management and Budget.
 (C) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not 
 less frequently than once each year at the call 
 of the Director.
 (D) Duties.--
 (i) General duty.--The Interagency 
 Coordinating Committee shall oversee 
 the planning, management, and 
 coordination of the Program.
 (ii) Specific duties.--The duties of 
 the Interagency Coordinating Committee 
 include the following:
 (I) Developing, not later 
 than 6 months after the date of 
 the enactment of the National 
 Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
 Program Reauthorization Act of 
 2004 and updating 
 periodically--
 (aa) a strategic plan 
 that establishes goals 
 and priorities for the 
 Program activities 
 described under 
 subsection (a)(2); and
 (bb) a detailed 
 management plan to 
 implement such 
 strategic plan.
 (II) Developing a coordinated 
 interagency budget for the 
 Program that will ensure 
 appropriate balance among the 
 Program activities described 
 under subsection (a)(2), and, 
 in accordance with the plans 
 developed under subclause (I), 
 submitting such budget to the 
 Director of the Office of 
 Management and Budget at the 
 time designated by the Director 
 for agencies to submit biennial 
 budgets.
 (III) Developing interagency 
 memorandums of understanding 
 with any relevant Federal 
 agencies on data sharing and 
 resource commitment in the 
 event of an earthquake 
 disaster.
 (IV) Coordinating with the 
 Interagency Coordinating 
 Committee on Windstorm Impact 
 Reduction and other natural 
 hazards coordination committees 
 as the Director determines 
 appropriate to share data and 
 best practices.
 (V) Coordinating with the 
 Administrator of the National 
 Aeronautics and Space 
 Administration and the 
 Administrator of the National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration on data sharing 
 and resource allocation to 
 ensure judicious use of 
 Government resources and the 
 free-flowing exchange of 
 information related to 
 earthquakes and associated 
 secondary hazards.
 (VI) Coordinating with the 
 Secretary of Agriculture and 
 the Secretary of the Interior 
 on the use of public lands for 
 earthquake monitoring and 
 research stations, and related 
 data collection.
 (VII) Coordinating with the 
 Secretary of Transportation and 
 the Secretary of Housing and 
 Urban Development on the 
 effects of earthquakes on 
 transportation and housing 
 stocks.
 (VIII) Coordinating with the 
 Chair of the Federal 
 Communications Commission on 
 the timely broadcasting of 
 emergency alerts generated by 
 the earthquake early warning 
 system.
 (iii) Assistance from secretary of 
 agriculture and secretary of the 
 interior.--To the extent practicable, 
 the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
 Secretary of the Interior shall 
 expedite any request for a permit to 
 use public land under clause (ii)(VI).
 (4) Biennial report.--
 (A) In general.--Not less frequently than 
 once every two years, the Interagency 
 Coordinating Committee shall submit to the 
 Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
 Transportation, the Committee on Energy and 
 Natural Resources, and the Committee on 
 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
 the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, 
 and Technology, the Committee on Energy and 
 Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, 
 and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
 House of Representatives a report on the 
 Program. Such report shall include--
 (i) the Program budget for the 
 current fiscal year for each agency 
 that participates in the Program, and 
 for each major goal established for the 
 Program activities [under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(i)(I)] under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(ii)(I);
 (ii) the proposed Program budget for 
 the next fiscal year for each agency 
 that participates in the Program, and 
 for each major goal established for the 
 Program activities [under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(i)(I)] under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(ii)(I);
 (iii) a description of the activities 
 and results of the Program during the 
 previous year, including an assessment 
 of the effectiveness of the Program in 
 furthering the goals established in the 
 strategic plan [under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(i)(I)] under paragraph 
 (3)(D)(ii)(I);
 (iv) a description of the extent to 
 which the Program has incorporated the 
 recommendations of the Advisory 
 Committee;
 (v) a description of activities, 
 including budgets for the current 
 fiscal year and proposed budgets for 
 the next fiscal year, that are carried 
 out by Program agencies and contribute 
 to the Program, but are not included in 
 the Program;
 (vi) a description of the activities, 
 including budgets for the current 
 fiscal year and proposed budgets for 
 the following fiscal year, related to 
 the grant program carried out under 
 subsection (b)(2)(A)(i); and
 (vii) a statement regarding whether 
 the Administrator of the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency has lowered 
 or waived the cost share requirement 
 for assistance provided under 
 subsection (b)(2)(A)(i).
 (B) Support for preparation of report.--Each 
 head of a Program agency shall submit to the 
 Director of the National Institute of Standards 
 and Technology such information as the Director 
 may request for the preparation of a report 
 under subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days 
 after the date on which the Director requests 
 such information.
 (5) Advisory committee.--
 (A) In general.--The Director shall establish 
 an Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards 
 Reduction of at least 11 members, none of whom 
 may be an employee (as defined in subparagraphs 
 (A) through (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 
 5, United States Code, including the Chair of 
 the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory 
 Committee and representatives of research and 
 academic institutions, industry standards 
 development organizations, State [and local 
 government], local, and Tribal governments, and 
 financial communities who are qualified to 
 provide advice on earthquake hazards reduction 
 and represent all related scientific, 
 architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 
 recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall 
 be considered by Federal agencies in 
 implementing the Program.
 (B) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall 
 assess--
 (i) trends and developments in the 
 science and engineering of earthquake 
 hazards reduction;
 (ii) effectiveness of the Program in 
 carrying out the activities under 
 (a)(2);
 (iii) the need to revise the Program; 
 and
 (iv) the management, coordination, 
 implementation, and activities of the 
 Program.
 (C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
 date of enactment of the National Earthquake 
 Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act 
 of 2004 and at least once every 2 years 
 thereafter, the Advisory Committee shall report 
 to the Director on its findings of the 
 assessment carried out under subparagraph (B) 
 and its recommendations for ways to improve the 
 Program. In developing recommendations, the 
 Committee shall consider the recommendations of 
 the United States Geological Survey Scientific 
 Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee.
 (D) Application of chapter 10 of title 5, 
 united states code.--Section 1013 of title 5, 
 United States Code, shall not apply to the 
 Advisory Committee.
 (b) Responsibilities of program agencies.--
 (1) Lead agency.--The National Institute of Standards 
 and Technology shall have the primary responsibility 
 for planning and coordinating the Program. In carrying 
 out this paragraph, the Director of the Institute 
 shall--
 (A) ensure that the Program includes the 
 necessary steps to promote the implementation 
 of earthquake hazard reduction measures by 
 Federal, State, [and local governments, 
 national standards and model building code 
 organizations, architects and engineers, and 
 others with a role in planning and constructing 
 buildings and lifeline infrastructure;] local, 
 and Tribal governments, national standards and 
 model building code organizations, architects 
 and engineers, and others with a role in 
 planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, 
 and retrofitting buildings and lifeline 
 infrastructure;
 (B) support the development of performance-
 based seismic engineering tools, and work with 
 appropriate groups to promote the commercial 
 application of such tools, through earthquake-
 related building codes, standards, and 
 construction practices;
 (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;
 [(C)](F) request the assistance of Federal 
 agencies other than the Program agencies, as 
 necessary to assist in carrying out this Act; 
 and
 [(D)](G) work with the Federal Emergency 
 Management Agency, the National Science 
 Foundation, and the United States Geological 
 Survey, to develop a comprehensive plan for 
 earthquake engineering research to provide new 
 and effectively use existing testing facilities 
 and laboratories (existing at the time of the 
 development of the plan), upgrade facilities 
 and equipment as needed, and integrate new, 
 innovative testing approaches to the research 
 infrastructure in a systematic manner.
 (2) Department of homeland security; federal 
 emergency management agency.--
 (A) Program responsibilities.--The 
 Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
 Management Agency--
 (i) shall operate a program of grants 
 and assistance to enable States and 
 Tribal governments to develop 
 mitigation, preparedness, and response 
 plans, purchase necessary 
 instrumentation, prepare inventories 
 and conduct seismic safety inspections 
 and performance evaluations of critical 
 structures and lifeline infrastructure, 
 update building, land use planning, and 
 zoning codes and ordinances to enhance 
 seismic safety and improve post-
 earthquake functional recovery, 
 increase earthquake awareness and 
 education, and provide assistance to 
 multi-State groups for such purposes;
 (ii) shall support the implementation 
 of a comprehensive earthquake 
 education, outreach, and public 
 awareness program, including 
 development of materials and their wide 
 dissemination to all appropriate 
 audiences, including Tribal entities, 
 and support public access to locality-
 specific information that may assist 
 the public in preparing for, mitigating 
 against, responding to and recovering 
 from earthquakes and related disasters;
 (iii) shall, in conjunction with the 
 Director of the National Institute of 
 Standards and Technology, other Federal 
 agencies, and private sector groups, 
 use research results to support the 
 preparation, maintenance, and wide 
 dissemination [of seismic resistant] to 
 all appropriate audiences, including 
 Tribal governments, of design guidance 
 and related information on building 
 codes, standards, and practices for new 
 and existing buildings, structures, and 
 lifeline infrastructure that enhance 
 seismic safety, improve post-earthquake 
 functional recovery, and reduce losses 
 from earthquakes, aid in the 
 development of performance-based design 
 guidelines and methodologies, and 
 support model codes that are cost 
 effective and affordable in order to 
 promote better practices within the 
 design and construction industry and 
 reduce losses from earthquakes;
 (iv) shall enter into cooperative 
 agreements or contracts with States 
 [and local], local, and Tribal 
 jurisdictions and other Federal 
 agencies to establish demonstration 
 projects on earthquake hazard 
 mitigation, to link earthquake research 
 and mitigation efforts with emergency 
 management programs, or to prepare 
 educational materials for national 
 distribution[; and];
 (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
 [(v)](vi) shall support the Director 
 of the National Institute of Standards 
 and Technology in the completion of 
 programmatic goals.
 (B) State and tribal assistance program 
 criteria.--In order to qualify for assistance 
 under subparagraph (A)(i), a State or Tribal 
 government must--
 (i) demonstrate that the assistance 
 will result in enhanced seismic 
 [safety] performance, community 
 resilience, or public awareness in the 
 State;
 (ii) provide 25 percent of the costs 
 of the activities for which assistance 
 is being given, except that the 
 Administrator may lower or waive the 
 cost-share requirement for these 
 activities for a small impoverished 
 community, as defined in section 203 of 
 the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 
 U.S.C. 5133(a)); and
 (iii) meet such other requirements as 
 the Administrator shall prescribe.
 (3) United states geological survey.--The United 
 States Geological Survey shall report on significant 
 domestic and international earthquakes and conduct 
 research and other activities necessary to characterize 
 and identify earthquake hazards, assess earthquake 
 risks, monitor seismic activity, and improve earthquake 
 forecasts. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 
 of the United States Geological Survey shall--
 (A) conduct a systematic assessment of the 
 seismic risks in each region of the Nation 
 prone to earthquakes, including, where 
 appropriate, the establishment and operation of 
 intensive monitoring projects on hazardous 
 faults, seismic microzonation studies in urban 
 and other developed areas where earthquake risk 
 is determined to be significant, and 
 engineering seismology studies;
 (B) work with officials of State [and local], 
 local, and Tribal governments to ensure that 
 they are knowledgeable about the specific 
 seismic risks in their areas;
 (C) develop standard procedures, in 
 consultation with the Administrator of the 
 Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Chair 
 of the Federal Communications Commission, and 
 the Director of the National Institute of 
 Standards and Technology, for issuing 
 earthquake alerts and early warnings;
 (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;
 [(D)](I) issue when necessary and feasible, 
 and notify the Administrator of the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency, the Chair of the 
 Federal Communications Commission, the Director 
 of the National Institute of Standards and 
 Technology, and State and local officials, an 
 alert and an earthquake warning;
 [(E)](J) operate, including the National 
 Earthquake Information Center, a forum for the 
 international exchange of earthquake 
 information which shall--
 (i) promote the exchange of 
 information on earthquake research and 
 earthquake preparedness between the 
 United States and other nations;
 (ii) maintain a library containing 
 selected reports, research papers, and 
 data produced through the Program;
 (iii) answer requests from other 
 nations for information on United 
 States earthquake research and 
 earthquake preparedness programs; and
 (iv) direct foreign requests to the 
 agency involved in the Program which is 
 best able to respond to the request;
 [(F)](K) operate a National Seismic System;
 [(G)](L) support regional seismic networks, 
 which shall complement the National Seismic 
 Network[; and];
 [(H)](M) work with the National Science 
 Foundation, the Federal Emergency Management 
 Agency, and the National Institute of Standards 
 and Technology to develop a comprehensive plan 
 for earthquake engineering research to 
 effectively use existing testing facilities and 
 laboratories (in existence at the time of the 
 development of the plan), upgrade facilities 
 and equipment as needed, and integrate new, 
 innovative testing approaches to the research 
 infrastructure in a systematic manner[.];
 [(I)](N) work with other Program agencies to 
 coordinate Program activities with similar 
 earthquake hazards reduction efforts in other 
 countries, to ensure that the Program benefits 
 from relevant information and advances in those 
 countries;
 [(J)](O) maintain suitable seismic hazard 
 maps and data in support of building codes for 
 structures and lifeline infrastructure, 
 including maps of natural hazards associated 
 with earthquakes and additional maps needed for 
 performance-based design approaches; and
 [(K)](P) support the Director of the National 
 Institute of Standards and Technology in the 
 completion of programmatic goals.
 (4) National science foundation.--
 (A) In general.--The National Science 
 Foundation shall be responsible for funding 
 research on earth sciences to improve the 
 understanding of the causes and behavior of 
 earthquakes, on earthquake engineering, and on 
 human response to earthquakes. In carrying out 
 this paragraph, the Director of the National 
 Science Foundation shall--
 (i) encourage prompt dissemination of 
 significant findings, sharing of data, 
 samples, physical collections, and 
 other supporting materials, and 
 development of intellectual property so 
 research results can be used by 
 appropriate organizations to mitigate 
 earthquake damage;
 (ii) in addition to supporting 
 individual investigators, support 
 university research consortia, State 
 agencies, State geological surveys, and 
 centers for research in geosciences and 
 in earthquake engineering;
 (iii) work closely with the United 
 States Geological Survey to support 
 applied science in the production of a 
 systematic series of earthquake-related 
 geologic hazard maps, including updated 
 tsunami and liquefaction risk maps, and 
 to identify geographic regions of 
 national concern that should be the 
 focus of targeted solicitations for 
 earthquake-related research proposals;
 (iv) support research that improves 
 the safety and performance of 
 buildings, structures, and lifeline 
 systems using experimental and 
 computational facilities;
 (v) emphasize, in earthquake 
 engineering research, development of 
 economically feasible methods to 
 retrofit existing buildings and to 
 protect lifeline infrastructure to 
 mitigate earthquake damage; (vi) 
 support research that studies the 
 political, economic, and social factors 
 that influence the implementation of 
 hazard reduction measures;
 (vii) include to the maximum extent 
 practicable diverse institutions, 
 including [Historically Black Colleges 
 and Universities and those serving 
 large proportions of Hispanics, Native 
 Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and 
 other underrepresented populations] 
 institutions described in section 
 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a));
 (viii) develop, in conjunction with 
 the Federal Emergency Management 
 Agency, the National Institute of 
 Standards and Technology, and the 
 United States Geological Survey, a 
 comprehensive plan for earthquake 
 engineering research to effectively use 
 existing testing facilities and 
 laboratories (in existence at the time 
 of the development of the plan), 
 upgrade facilities and equipment as 
 needed, and integrate new, innovative 
 testing approaches to the research 
 infrastructure in a systematic manner; 
 and
 (ix) support the Director of the 
 National Institute of Standards and 
 Technology in the completion of 
 programmatic goals.

 * * * * * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7705b]

SEC. 8. SEISMIC STANDARDS.

 (a) * * *
 (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than June 30, 2020, the 
committee convened [under paragraph (1)] under subsection (a) 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
a report on recommended options for improving the built 
environment and critical infrastructure to reflect performance 
goals stated in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and 
functional recovery time.
 (c) Implementation of Recommendations.--Each Program agency, 
as part of their Program responsibilities, shall implement, 
within the Program activities authorized by this Act, the 
applicable 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).

 * * * * * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7705e]

SEC. 11. POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM.

 There is established within the United States Geological 
Survey a post-earthquake investigations program, the purpose of 
which is to investigate major domestic and international 
earthquakes, so as to learn lessons which can be applied to 
reduce the loss of lives and property in future earthquakes. 
The United States Geological Survey, in consultation with each 
Program agency, shall organize investigations to study the 
implications of the earthquake in the areas of responsibility 
of each Program agency. The investigations shall begin as 
rapidly as possible and may be conducted by grantees and 
contractors. The Program agencies shall ensure that the results 
of investigations are disseminated widely. The Director of the 
Survey is authorized to utilize earthquake expertise from the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Science 
Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
other Federal agencies, and private contractors, on a 
reimbursable basis, in the conduct of such earthquake 
investigations. At a minimum, investigations under this section 
shall include--
 (1) * * *
 (2) * * *
 (3) * * *

 [42 U.S.C. 7706]

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 (a)(1) * * *
 (2) * * *
 (3) * * *
 (4) * * *
 (5) * * *
 (6) * * *
 (7) * * *
 (8) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
 Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out 
 this title--
 (A) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
 (B) $21,630,000 for fiscal year 2006,
 (C) $22,280,000 for fiscal year 2007,
 (D) $22,950,000 for fiscal year 2008,
 (E) $23,640,000 for fiscal year 2009,
 (F) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2019,
 (G) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2020,
 (H) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2021,
 (I) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2022[, and],
 (J) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2023,
 (K) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2024,
 (L) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2025,
 (M) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2026,
 (N) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
 (O) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2028,
 of which not less than 10 percent of available program 
 funds actually appropriated shall be made available 
 each such fiscal year for supporting the development of 
 performance-based, cost-effective, and affordable 
 design guidelines and methodologies in codes for 
 buildings, structures, and lifeline infrastructure.
 (b) Geological Survey.--(1) * * *
 (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the United 
States Geological Survey for carrying out this title--
 (A) $77,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which not 
 less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for 
 completion of the Advanced National Seismic System 
 established under section 13;
 (B) $84,410,000 for fiscal year 2006, 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) $85,860,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which not 
 less than $36,000,000 shall be made available for 
 completion of the Advanced National Seismic System 
 established under section 13;
 (D) $87,360,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which not 
 less than $36,000,000 shall be made available for 
 completion of the Advanced National Seismic System 
 established under section 13;
 (E) $88,900,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which not 
 less than $36,000,000 shall be made available for 
 completion of the Advanced National Seismic System 
 established under section 13;
 (F) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2019, of 
 which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made 
 available for completion of the Advanced 
 National Seismic System established under 
 section 7707 of this title;
 (G) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2020, of 
 which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made 
 available for completion of the Advanced 
 National Seismic System established under 
 section 7707 of this title;
 (H) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2021, of 
 which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made 
 available for completion of the Advanced 
 National Seismic System established under 
 section 7707 of this title;
 (I) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2022, of 
 which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made 
 available for completion of the Advanced 
 National Seismic System established under 
 section 7707 of this title[; and];
 (J) $83,403,000 for fiscal year 2023, of 
 which not less than $30,000,000 shall be made 
 available for completion of the Advanced 
 National Seismic System established under 
 section 7707 of this title[.];
 (K) $92,427,000 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) $92,427,000 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) $92,427,000 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) $92,427,000 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) $92,427,000 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.--(1)* * *
 (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation for carrying out this title--
 (A) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
 (B) $39,140,000 for fiscal year 2006;
 (C) $40,310,000 for fiscal year 2007;
 (D) $41,520,000 for fiscal year 2008;
 (E) $42,770,000 for fiscal year 2009;
 (F) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2019,
 (G) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2020,
 (H) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2021,
 (I) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2022[, and],
 (J) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2023[.],
 (K) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024,
 (L) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2025,
 (M) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2026,
 (N) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
 (O) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
 (d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--(1) * * 
*
 (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this 
title--
 (A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
 (B) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2006,
 (C) $12,100,000 for fiscal year 2007,
 (D) $13,310,000 for fiscal year 2008,
 (E) $14,640,000 for fiscal year 2009,
 (F) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2019,
 (G) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2020,
 (H) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2021,
 (I) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2022[, and],
 (J) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2023[.],
 (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,
of which $2,000,000 shall be made available each such fiscal 
year for supporting the development of performance-based, cost-
effective, and affordable codes for buildings, structures, and 
lifeline infrastructure.

 * * * * * * *