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Hazard Related Legislation in the 110th Congress

 

Legislation from: 108th Congress, 109th Congress

Avalanches

H.R. 1751/S. 3042: The Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2007
To establish a coordinated avalanche protection program, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Mark Udall (D-CO); Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry, and to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Drought

S. 2156: Science and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance (SECURE) Water Act
A bill to authorize and facilitate the improvement of water management by the Bureau of Reclamation, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy to increase the acquisition and analysis of water resources for irrigation, hydroelectric power, municipal, and environmental uses, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and 5 others
Most Recent Action: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, hearings held.

H.R. 135/S. 2728: Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2007
To study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address future water needs.
Sponsors: Rep. John Linder (R-GA) and 29 others; Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Most Recent Action: Places on the House legislative calendar, and ordered to be reported on by Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

H.R. 3847/S. 2165: Amendment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension of each provision of the Act during periods of drought with respect to Federal and State agencies that manage Federal river basins that are located in each region affected by the drought.
Sponsors: Rep. Nathan Beal (R-GA) and 13 others; Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans, and to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Earthquakes

No current legislation as of July 7, 2008.

Oversight Hearing:
December 4, 2007: "The New Madrid Seismic Zone: Whose Fault Is It Anyway?" Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration

Emergency Preparedness/Response/Assistance

S. 928: Homeowners Protection Act of 2007
A bill to establish a program to provide more protection at lower cost through a national backstop for natural catastrophe insurance programs to help the United States better prepare for and protect its citizens against the ravages of natural catastrophes, to encourage and promote mitigation and prevention for, and recovery and rebuilding from such catastrophes, to better assist in the financial recovery from such catastrophes, and to develop a rigorous process of continuous improvement.
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

H.R. 419: The Natural Disaster Relief Act
To provide assistance to agricultural producers for crop and livestock losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007 as a result of natural disasters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and six others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, executive comment requested from USDA

Floods

H.R. 1495: Water Resources Development Act of 2007
To provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN)
Most Recent Action: Passed over President veto in House and Senate, became Public Law No: 110-114.

S. 564: The Water Resources Planning and Modernization Act of 2007
A bill to modernize water resources planning, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

H.R. 920: The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007
To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide for the national flood insurance program to make available multiperil coverage for damage resulting from windstorms or floods, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS) and twenty-three others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

H.R. 1682 : The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007
To restore the financial solvency of the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and twelve others
Most Recent Action: Hearings held by the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

Oversight Hearing:
April 2, 2008: "National Flood Plain Remapping: The Practical Impact" House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management

Tsunami

H.R. 21: Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act
To establish a national policy for our oceans, to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a national and regional ocean governance structure, and for other purposes including tsunami warnings.
Sponsor: Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and 70 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to Committee on Science and Technology and forwarded by Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceansto Committee on Natural Resources (Amended).

S. 950: The Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2007
To develop and maintain an integrated system of coastal and ocean observations for the Nation's coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes, to improve warnings of tsunami, hurricanes, El Nino events, and other natural hazards, to enhance homeland security, to support maritime operations, to improve management of coastal and marine resources, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and 14 others
Most Recent Action: Placed on Senate legislative calendar.


Volcanic Hazards

No current legislation as of July 7, 2008.

Weather/Climate Related Issues

S. 1807/H.R. 3445: Weather Mitigation Research and Development Policy Authorization Act of 2007
To develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national weather mitigation policy and a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather mitigation research and development.
Sponsors: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX); Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and to House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.


Wildfires

S. 2593: Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008
A bill to establish a program at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to carry out collaborative ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes on public land, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and 10 others
Related Bills: H.R. 5263
Most Recent Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar.

H.R. 5263: Forest Landscape Restoration Act
To encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes on Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service through a joint Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, and for other purposes including establishing a scientific advisory panel to evaluate reductions in long-term wildfire management costs.
Sponsors: Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Oversight Hearing:
June 18, 2008: "Preparedness of Federal Land Management Agencies for the 2008 Wildfire Season" Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources



Wind Hazards: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Storms

H.R. 2407: The National Hurricane Research Initiative of 2007
To establish the National Hurricane Research Initiative to improve hurricane preparedness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and 41 others
Related Bills: H.R. 1832, S. 931
Most Recent Action: Referred to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, hearings held.

Legislative Hearing:
June 26, 2008: "The State of Hurricane Research and H.R.2407, the National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2007" House Committee on Science and Technology; Subcommittee on Energy and Environment and Subcommittee on Research and Science Education

H.R. 1832/S. 931: The National Hurricane Research Initiative of 2007
To establish the National Hurricane Research Initiative to improve hurricane preparedness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and six others; Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and four others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R. 2531: The Improved Hurricane Tracking and Forecasting Act of 2007
To improve United States hurricane forecasting, monitoring, and warning capabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.

Oversight Hearing:
July 10, 2007: "FEMA and Gulf Coast Rebuilding" Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Relief
May 22, 2007: "Implementing FEMA Reform: Are We Prepared for the 2007 Hurricane Season?" Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

H.R. 1495: Water Resources Development Act of 2007
To provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN)
Most Recent Action: Passed over President veto in House and Senate, became Public Law No: 110-114.

 

All Congressional Hearings Covered by the American Geological Institute

  • June 26, 2008: "The State of Hurricane Research and H.R.2407, the National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2007" House Committee on Science and Technology; Subcommittee on Energy and Environment and Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
  • June 18, 2008: "Preparedness of Federal Land Management Agencies for the 2008 Wildfire Season" Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • April 2, 2008: "National Flood Plain Remapping: The Practical Impact" House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
  • July 10, 2007: "FEMA and Gulf Coast Rebuilding" Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Relief
  • May 22, 2007: "Implementing FEMA Reform: Are We Prepared for the 2007 Hurricane Season?" Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  • December 4, 2007: "The New Madrid Seismic Zone: Whose Fault Is It Anyway?" Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration

 


Contributed by Corina Cerovski-Darriau, AGI/AIPG intern; Erin Gleeson, Sargon de Jesus, and Linda Rowan, AGI Government Affairs Staff

Last Updated: July 7, 2008

Please send any comments or questions about this web site to Linda Rowan .