Hazard Related Legislation in the 111th Congress

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• Avalanches
• Drought
• Earthquakes
• Emergency Preparedness/Response/Assistance
• Floods
• Fires
• Tsunami
• Weather/Climate-Related Issues
• Wind Hazards: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Storms
• Volcanic Hazards

Legislation from: 110th Congress, 109th Congress, 108th Congress

Avalanches

H.R. 4407/S. 2907: Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2009
To establish a coordinated avalanche protection program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Don Young (R-AK); Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and 2 others
Most Recent Action: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee on Agriculture; Referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Drought

S. 601: Weather Mitigation Research and Development Policy Authorization Act of 2009
A bill to establish the Weather Mitigation Research Office.
Sponsor: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) and 1 other
Most Recent Action: Hearings held in Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R. 1145: National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009
To implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative.
Sponsor: Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and 15 others
Most Recent Action: Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

H.R. 1914:
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.
Sponsor: Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) and 3 others
Most Recent Action: Referred to Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Earthquakes

Oversight hearings:
June 11, 2009: House Science and Technology Committee Technology and Innovation Subcommittee Hearing on “The Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: R&D For Disaster Resilient Communities”

Emergency Preparedness/Response/Assistance

H.R. 83: Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2009
To establish a program to provide reinsurance for State 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, and to better assist in the financial recovery from such catastrophes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)     
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

H.R. 308: Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2009
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against tax for hurricane and tornado mitigation expenditures.
Sponsor: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R. 308/S. 412: FEMA Independence Act of 2009
To establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a cabinet-level independent agency in the executive branch, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) and 26 others; Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs

H.R. 2160: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009
To promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the uses of amateur radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses of amateur radio communications in Homeland Security planning and response.
Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and 6 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 2231/S. 957: Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009
To amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services.
Sponsor: Rep. Lois Capps and 2 others; Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and 4 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce; Introduced, referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R. 3027: Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Enhancement Program Act of 2009
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish a grant program for predisaster hazard mitigation enhancement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.  

H.R. 3028: First Responder Innovation and Support Act of 2009
 To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish a grant program to assist innovative natural disaster first responder programs, and for other purposes.
 Sponsor: Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

H.R. 3377: Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Enhancement Act of 2009
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to enhance the Nation's disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation capabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN) and 3 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

H.R. 3453: Disaster Recovery Improvement Act of 2009
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to make improvements in the provision of Federal disaster assistance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and 1 other
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

H.R. 3466:
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Floods

H.R. 1264: Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2009
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 21 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the House Committee on Financial Services

Oversight hearings:
May 19, 2009: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing titled "Recommendations of the National Committee on Levee Safety"

Tsunami

S. 171: Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009
A bill 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 9 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Note: Passed in part as "Intergrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009" within the Public Lands Omnibus (H.R. 146).

Volcanic Hazards

S. 782: National Volcano Warning and Monitoring System
A bill to provide for the establishment of the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Sponsor: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held in Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Weather/Climate Related Issues

S. 601: Weather Mitigation Research and Development Policy Authorization Act of 2009
A bill to establish the Weather Mitigation Research Office.
Sponsor: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

H.R. 2192: Climate Change Safeguards for Natural Resources Conservation Act
To establish an integrated Federal program to protect, restore, and conserve the Nation's natural resources in response to the threats of climate change and ocean acidification.
Sponsor: Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and 10 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

H.R. 2306: National Climate Service Act of 2009
To provide for the establishment of a National Climate Service.
Sponsor: Rep. Norman D. Dicks (D-WA)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

H.R. 2407: National Climate Service Act of 2009
To establish a National Climate Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Sponsor: Rep Bart Gordon
Most Recent Action: Ordered to be reported on by the House Committee on Science and Technology

H.R.2685: National Climate Enterprise Act of 2009
To establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a National Climate Enterprise, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Madeleine Z. Bordallo
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Committee on Natural Resources

Wildfires

S. 601: Weather Mitigation Research and Development Policy Authorization Act of 2009
A bill to establish the Weather Mitigation Research Office.
Sponsor: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S. 762: Fire Safe Communities Act of 2009
A bill to promote fire safe communities through grants for responsible development, fire mitigation and structure retrofit, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

H.R. 1404/S. 561: Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act
To authorize a supplemental funding source for catastrophic emergency wildland fire suppression activities on Department of the Interior and National Forest System lands, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a cohesive wildland fire management strategy, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and 15 others; Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and 12 others
Most Recent Action: Passed House; Hearings held in Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

H.R. 2899: California Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention and Community Protection Act
To address the public health and safety threat presented by the risk of catastrophic wildfire on Federal forestlands of the State of California by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to expedite forest management projects relating to hazardous fuels reduction, forest restoration, and forest health.
Sponsor: Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) and 3 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Legislative hearings:
July 21, 2009: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing on “The Preparedness of Federal Land Management Agencies for the 2009 Wildfire Season”

S. 171: Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009
A bill 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 9 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Note: Passed in part as "Intergrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009" within the Public Lands Omnibus (H.R. 146).

S. 601: Weather Mitigation Research and Development Policy Authorization Act of 2009
A bill to establish the Weather Mitigation Research Office.
Sponsor: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably

H.R. 327/S. 1485: National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2009
To establish the National Hurricane Research Initiative to improve hurricane preparedness, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and 17 others
Most Recent Action: Introduced, referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

H.R. 2627: National Windstorm Impact Reduction Reauthorization Act of 2009
To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsors: Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS) and 5 others
Most Recent Action: Referred to House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

Oversight hearings:
July 28, 2009: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing on “Weathering the Storm: The Need for a National Hurricane Initiative”

• July 28, 2009: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing on “Weathering the Storm: The Need for a National Hurricane Initiative”
• July 21, 2009: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing on “The Preparedness of Federal Land Management Agencies for the 2009 Wildfire Season”
• June 11, 2009: House Science and Technology Committee Technology and Innovation Subcommittee Hearing on “The Reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: R&D For Disaster Resilient Communities”
• May 19, 2009: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing titled "Recommendations of the National Committee on Levee Safety"

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