[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4073 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4073
To reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 23, 2025
Ms. Bonamici (for herself and Mr. Issa) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Tsunami Warning, Research, and
Education Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) Title Heading.--The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (enacted
as title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-479)) is
amended, in the title heading, by inserting ``RESEARCH,'' after
``WARNING,'';
(b) Purposes.--Section 803 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act
(33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``timeliness and''
before ``accuracy'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, archived,
and made fully available for operations, research, education,
and mitigation activities.''.
(c) Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program.--Section 804 of the
Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, using
industry and scientific best practices,'' after
``operational condition'';
(B) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``global seismic network'' and inserting
``Global Seismic Network'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D),
(E), (F), and (G), as subparagraphs (E), (F),
(G), and (H), respectively; and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following new subparagraph:
``(D) the global navigation satellite system (GNSS)
network;'';
(C) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
``(6) ensure data quality and management systems, support
data and metadata access and archiving, and support the
requirements of the program pursuant to the Foundations for
Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435)
and chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code;'';
(D) in paragraph (7)--
(i) by amending the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``include
a cooperative effort among the Administration,
the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), and the National Science Foundation
(NSF) under which the Director of USGS, the
Director of the NSF, and the Administrator of
NASA shall--'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraphs:
``(C) provide reliable and real-time support for
the GNSS network data streams from NSF, NASA, and USGS
maintained networks, and supplement instrumentation
coverage for rapid earthquake assessment;
``(D) assess the data and information relating to
warning systems of collaborating agencies for potential
utilization in NOAA's warning system, taking into
consideration advancements in research and technology;
and
``(E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami
notifications and warnings in the USGS Earthquake Early
Warning System;'';
(E) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by inserting `` and decision support
aides'' after ``graphical warning products,'';
and
(ii) by inserting ``-prone'' after
``tsunami'';
(F) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(G) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(H) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, or other
geographic products, in order to best support, as appropriate,
relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation and recovery
activities.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2),
respectively; and
(B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated--
(i) by striking ``the Atlantic Ocean,
including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico,
that are determined--'' and inserting ``the
Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans, including
the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are
determined to pose significant risks of tsunami
for States and United States territories along
the coastal areas of such regions; and''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);
(3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as
subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsections:
``(d) Tsunami Warning Alert Level Evaluation.--The Administrator,
in collaboration with social scientists, emergency personnel, and high-
risk communities, shall--
``(1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, timing,
and effectiveness;
``(2) determine if such alerts produce the desired response
and understanding from possible tsunami-prone communities; and
``(3) if necessary, update the alert level system for
increased effectiveness.
``(e) Review of NOAA Weather Radio Coverage.--The Administrator
shall--
``(1) conduct a review of the extent to which NOAA Weather
Radio coverage extends to populated areas at risk of tsunami;
and
``(2) make the results of such review available to the
public.'';
(5) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``responsible for Alaska, the
continental United States, Hawaii, United
States territories, and international entities
the Administrator determines appropriate''
before the period;
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``which is primarily responsible for Alaska and
the continental United States''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``which is primarily responsible for Hawaii,
the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific
not covered by the National Center'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting
``current,'' after ``sea level,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and
volcanic eruptions'' and inserting ``volcanic
eruptions, or other sources'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``buoy data and tidal'' and inserting ``and
coastal'';
(iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``Integrated Ocean Observing System of the
Administration'' and inserting ``United States
and global ocean and coastal observing
system'';
(v) in subparagraph (H), by inserting
``monitoring needs,'' after ``response,''; and
(vi) by amending subparagraph (I) to read
as follows:
``(I) Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator to
coordinate with partners and stakeholders products and
services of the centers supported or maintained under
paragraph (1).'';
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The Administrator
shall support and maintain fail-safe warning capability for the
tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph
(1), and such centers shall conduct at least one service back
up drill biannually.'';
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by amending the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``The
Administrator shall coordinate with the weather
forecast offices of the National Weather
Service, the centers supported or maintained
under paragraph (1), and such national and
regional program offices of the Administration
as the Administrator or the coordinating
committee, as established in section 805(b),
consider appropriate to ensure that regional
and local weather forecast offices--'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) conduct education and outreach efforts to
help prepare coastal communities for tsunami
hazards.''; and
(E) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in the section heading, by striking
``Uniform'' and inserting ``Standardized'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking
``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(7) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter until
such time as all relevant requirements have been satisfied, the
Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate an update briefing on the progress of the following:
``(A) Standardizing products and procedures under
paragraph (5), including tsunami assessments, forecast
guidance, and related products.
``(B) Migrating the message generation systems of
the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1)
to the Advanced Weather Information Processing Systems,
or successor systems.
``(C) The structural reorganization effort, if
necessary, to align such centers' organizational
charts.
``(D) The expected timeline for the full completion
of standardizing such centers' products and
procedures.'';
(6) in subsection (g), as so redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``detect, measure, and''
after ``used to'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``and the Advanced National Seismic System''
and inserting ``the Advanced National Seismic
System, and the global navigation satellite
system (GNSS); and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) ensure research is coordinated with tsunami
warning operations;''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``in accordance
with industry best practices'' before the period;
(7) in subsection (i)(2)(A), as so redesignated, by
striking ``accuracy of the tsunami model used'' and inserting
``timeliness and accuracy of the forecast used to issue the
warning''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(j) Use of IPAWS to Deliver Tsunami Alerts.--The Administrator,
in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, shall
clarify and document the responsibilities and decision-making process
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Communications Commission
with respect to the use of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning
System to deliver tsunami alerts to the Emergency Alert System.''.
(d) National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.--Section 805(c) of
the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D),
(E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F),
(G), and (H), respectively;
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following new subparagraph:
``(B) Coastal digital elevation models (DEMs) to
support the development of inundation maps.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(I) Evaluation of the variation of inundation
impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment
transport.
``(J) Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on
critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in
section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C.
5195c(e))) and lifelines.
``(K) High-resolution and high-quality digital
elevation models needed for at-risk coastlines, ports,
and harbors, particularly for regions not covered by
existing inundation maps.''; and
(2) in paragraph (7)(C), by inserting ``and behavioral''
after ``social'';
(e) Tsunami Research Program.--Section 806 of the Tsunami Warning
and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``section 805(d)'' and inserting
``section 805(b)''; and
(B) by inserting ``and management'' after ``data
collection'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``deployment
and'' after ``may include'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``social science
research'' and inserting ``social and behavioral
science research, including data collection,'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(8); and
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following
new paragraphs:
``(5) develop and maintain a data portal for advancing
research and model development;
``(6) develop decision support tools;
``(7) leverage and prioritize research opportunities;
and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Research and Development Plan.--Not later than 12 months
after the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less
frequently than every 36 months thereafter, the Administrator, in
consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological
Services, shall develop a research and development, and research to
operations, plan to improve tsunami detection and forecasting
capabilities that--
``(1) identifies and prioritizes research and development
priorities to satisfy section 804;
``(2) identifies key research needs for better detecting
tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and along the coastlines
of the United States and its territories, improve forecasting
of tsunamis that are not seismically driven, and other
opportunities determined appropriate;
``(3) develops plans for transitioning research to
operations; and
``(4) identifies collaboration opportunities that may
further and align tsunami research, development, warnings, and
operations between the centers supported or maintained under
section 804, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for
Tsunami Research, the National Science Foundation, the United
States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, institutions of higher education, private entities,
stakeholders, and others determined appropriate.'';
(f) Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network.--Section 807(d)
of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206(d)) is amended
by inserting ``and management'' after ``data sharing'';
(g) Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel.--Section
808(b)(1) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C.
3206a(b)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and behavioral'' after
``social'';
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 809 of the Tsunami
Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3207) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 808. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to
carry out this title $32,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030, of which--
``(1) not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated
for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the
State level under the national tsunami hazard mitigation
program under section 805; and
``(2) not less than eight percent of the amount
appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program under
section 806.''.
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