June 3, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 92 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 92
(House of Representatives - June 03, 2019)
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[Pages H4198-H4201] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1261) to establish a national program to identify and reduce losses from landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1261 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 ``National Landslide Preparedness Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) 3D.--The term ``3D'' means 3-dimensional. (2) 3D elevation data.-- (A) In general.--The term ``3D elevation data'' means 3D, high-resolution data obtained using LiDAR, IfSAR, or other methods over the United States (including territories and freely associated states). (B) Inclusions.--The term ``3D elevation data'' includes terrestrial and bathymetric elevation data. (3) 3D elevation program.--The term ``3D Elevation Program'' means the 3D Elevation Program established under section 5(a). (4) Freely associated states.--The term ``freely associated states'' means-- (A) the Federated States of Micronesia; (B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and (C) the Republic of Palau. (5) IfSAR.--The term ``IfSAR'' means interferometric synthetic aperture radar. (6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (7) Lahar.--The term ``lahar'' means a large debris flow of mostly volcanic material that is-- (A) often fast-moving; and (B) a hazard in watersheds downstream of volcanic peaks. (8) LiDAR.--The term ``LiDAR'' means light detection and ranging. (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey. (10) State.--The term ``State'' means-- (A) a State; and (B) the District of Columbia. (11) State office.--The term ``State office'' means any unit of State government that handles the identification, mapping, assessment, and research of landslide hazards or responding to landslide events, including-- (A) a State geological survey office; (B) a State department of emergency response; and (C) a State department of transportation. (12) Territory.--The term ``territory'' means-- (A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (B) Guam; (C) American Samoa; (D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (E) the United States Virgin Islands. SEC. 3. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the ``National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program'' (referred to in this section as the ``program'')-- (1) to identify and understand landslide hazards and risks; (2) to reduce losses from landslides; (3) to protect communities at risk of landslide hazards; and (4) to help improve communication and emergency preparedness, including by coordinating with communities and entities responsible for infrastructure that are at risk of landslide hazards. (b) Description of Program.-- (1) Program activities.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards established by subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as the ``Committee'') and in coordination with existing activities of the United States Geological Survey and other Federal agencies, shall-- (A) identify, map, assess, and research landslide hazards; (B) respond to landslide events; and (C) in coordination with State offices, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes-- (i) establish working groups with State offices, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes to identify regional and local priorities for researching, identifying, mapping, and assessing landslide hazards; and (ii) develop and implement landslide hazard guidelines for-- (I) geologists; (II) geological and geotechnical engineers; (III) emergency management personnel; and (IV) land use and other decisionmakers. (2) National strategy.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Committee, shall develop and publish a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduction, and response in the United States (including territories and freely associated states), which shall include-- (A) goals and priorities for the program; (B) priorities for data acquisition, research, communications, and risk management on landslides and landslide hazards across relevant Federal agencies; and (C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall take into consideration national disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks, to carry out the national strategy, including details about the programs, projects, and budgets that will be used to implement the national strategy. (3) National landslide hazards database.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with State offices, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes, shall develop and maintain a publicly accessible national landslide hazard and risk inventory database to compile, maintain, standardize, and evaluate data regarding-- (A) landslide hazards and risks; (B) the impact of landslides on-- (i) health and safety; (ii) the economy and infrastructure; and (iii) the environment; (C) landslide hazard stabilization; and (D) reduction of losses from landslides. (4) Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for communities.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and in consultation with State offices, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes, shall develop and disseminate-- (A) landslide planning and risk reduction guidance, guidelines, maps, tools, and training materials to help inform State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal governments and decisionmakers with respect to-- (i) the use and implementation of landslide hazard assessments; (ii) the applied use of the database developed under paragraph (3); (iii) reducing losses from landslides; and (iv) resources available for communities working to improve landslide hazard preparedness; and (B) landslide preparedness curricula and training modules for-- (i) State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal officials; (ii) Federal, State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal emergency managers; and (iii) the National Guard. (5) Debris flow early warning system.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall expand the early warning system for debris flow by-- (A) expanding the early warning system for post-wildfire debris flow to include recently burned areas across the western United States; (B) developing procedures with State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal governments to monitor stormwater drainage in areas with high debris flow risk; and (C) identifying high-risk debris flow areas, such as recently burned land and potential lahar hazard areas. [[Page H4199]] (6) Emergency response activities.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, States offices, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes, shall establish and support emergency response procedures for the rapid deployment of Federal scientists, equipment, and services to areas impacted by a significant landslide event-- (A) to support emergency response efforts and improve the safety of emergency responders; (B) to improve data collection; and (C) to conduct research to advance the understanding of the causes, impacts, and reduction of landslide hazards and risks. (c) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards.-- (1) In general.--There is established a committee, to be known as the ``Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards''. (2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the following members (or their designees): (A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Committee. (B) The Secretary of Agriculture. (C) The Secretary of the Army. (D) The Secretary of Commerce. (E) The Secretary of Homeland Security. (F) The Secretary of Transportation. (G) The Director of the National Science Foundation. (H) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (I) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (4) Purpose and duties.--The Committee shall-- (A) advise and oversee the program; (B) facilitate communication and coordination across Federal agencies in the planning, management, budgeting, and execution of landslide activities; and (C) support the development and execution of the national strategy under subsection (b)(2), including by-- (i) supporting the development of national goals and priorities for the national strategy; (ii) articulating Federal agency roles, responsibilities, and resources for carrying out the national strategy; and (iii) overseeing the implementation of the national strategy. (d) Advisory Committee.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the ``Advisory Committee on Landslides'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``Advisory Committee''). (2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed of not fewer than 11 members-- (A) of whom none may be an individual described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code; and (B) who shall be representatives of-- (i) States, including State geological organizations; (ii) territories and freely associated states, including territorial and freely associated state geological organizations; (iii) Indian tribes, including Tribal geological organizations; (iv) research institutions and institutions of higher education that are qualified-- (I) to provide advice regarding landslide hazard and risk reduction; and (II) to represent related scientific, architectural, engineering, and planning disciplines; (v) industry standards development organizations; and (vi) State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal emergency management agencies. (3) Recommendations.-- (A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Committee recommendations for the implementation of the program, including recommendations regarding-- (i) landslide hazard and risk reduction and planning; (ii) tools for communities; (iii) research; and (iv) such other topics as the Advisory Committee determines appropriate. (B) Consideration.--The Secretary and the agency heads described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of subsection (c)(2) shall take into consideration any recommendation of the Advisory Committee submitted under subparagraph (A). (e) Grant Programs.-- (1) Cooperative landslide hazard mapping and assessment program.-- (A) In general.--Subject to appropriations, the Secretary may-- (i) provide grants, on a competitive basis, to State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess, and collect data on landslide hazards within the jurisdictions of those governments; and (ii) accept and use funds received from other Federal and non-Federal partners to advance the purposes of the program. (B) Priority.-- (i) In general.--The Secretary shall consult annually with the Committee, States, units of local government, territories, freely associated states, and Indian tribes to establish priorities for the grant program under this paragraph. (ii) Funding prioritization.--In providing grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to projects-- (I) that will achieve the greatest landslide hazard and risk reduction; (II) that reflect the goals and priorities of the national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A); (III) not less than 50 percent of the total cost of which is matched by non-Federal sources; and (IV) that include acquisition of enhanced elevation data consistent with the 3D Elevation Program. (2) National landslide research grants.-- (A) In general.--To advance the goals and priorities of the national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A), subject to appropriations, the Director of the National Science Foundation (referred to in this paragraph as the ``Director'') may provide grants to eligible entities for landslide research, including research on-- (i) the causes, mechanisms, triggers, hydrology, and geology of landslides; (ii) ways to reduce landslide hazards and risks to minimize loss of life and property, including landslide hazard and risk communication, perception, decisionmaking, tools, and technologies; and (iii) other goals and priorities of the national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A). (B) Eligible entities.--The Director shall determine whether an entity is eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph. (C) Requirements.--In providing grants under this paragraph, the Director shall-- (i) ensure that the grants are provided on a competitive basis; and (ii) consider grant applications submitted by eligible entities that have developed the application in partnership with 1 or more State geological surveys. (f) Biennial Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a biennial report, including a description of, with respect to the preceding 2 calendar years-- (1) the goals and accomplishments of the Secretary and the agency heads described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of subsection (c)(2) in carrying out the national strategy developed under subsection (b)(2), expressed-- (A) by agency, program, and budgetary resource; and (B) by the goals and priorities of the national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) the results of the activities of the Committee under this section; (3) the extent to which any recommendations of the Advisory Committee under subsection (d)(3)(A) have been implemented; (4) the grants provided under this section during the preceding 2 calendar years, including a description of-- (A) each activity carried out using such a grant; and (B) the results of those activities; and (5) for each significant landslide event in the United States (including territories and freely associated states) during the preceding 2 calendar years-- (A) a description of the landslide event and the implications of the event on communities, including life and property; (B) recommendations on how the identification of the landslide risk could have been improved prior to the event; (C) a description of the effectiveness of any warning and risk communication, including the dissemination of warnings by State, territorial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal partners in the affected area; (D) recommendations to improve risk identification, reduction, and communication to landowners and units of local government; (E) recommendations to improve landslide hazard preparedness and emergency response activities under this section; and (F) such other findings as the Secretary determines appropriate. (g) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $37,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023, of which-- (1) $25,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to the United States Geological Survey; (2) $11,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to the National Science Foundation; and (3) $1,000,000 each fiscal year shall be made available to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. SEC. 4. GROUND SUBSIDENCE. As the Secretary determines to be appropriate and subject to appropriations, the Secretary, through existing programs, shall advance the identification, mapping, research, monitoring, restoration, and mitigation of subsidence and groundwater resource accounting, losses from subsidence, including saltwater intrusion, particularly in areas affected by drought and sea level rise. SEC. 5. 3D ELEVATION PROGRAM. (a) Establishment of 3D Elevation Program.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the ``3D Elevation Program''-- (A) to provide 3D elevation data coverage for the United States; (B) to coordinate and facilitate the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D elevation data among Federal departments and agencies and non-Federal entities; (C) to produce standard, publicly accessible 3D elevation data products for the United States; and (D) to promote the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D elevation data among Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, communities, institutions of higher education, and the private sector through-- (i) cooperative agreements; (ii) the development and maintenance of spatial data infrastructure to provide quality control and deliver to the public 3D elevation data products; (iii) in coordination with the 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b), States, and industry and standards bodies, the development of [[Page H4200]] standards and guidelines for 3D elevation data acquisition to increase accessibility to 3D elevation data in a standard, easy-to-use format; and (iv) the identification, assessment, and adoption of emerging technologies to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the 3D Elevation Program. (2) Management.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the 3D Elevation Program-- (i) to ensure efficiency with respect to related activities of the Department of the Interior and other participating Federal departments and agencies; and (ii) to meet the needs of Department of the Interior programs, stakeholders, and the public. (B) Other federal departments and agencies.--The head of each Federal department and agency involved in the acquisition, production, distribution, or application of 3D elevation data shall-- (i) coordinate with the 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b) to acquire additional, enhanced 3D elevation data; (ii) submit to the Secretary a description of priority areas of interest for 3D elevation data collection for use in providing grants and cooperative agreements under subsection (d); (iii) implement policies and procedures for data acquisition and sharing that are consistent with standards and guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program; (iv) participate in, and share the results and benefits of, the 3D Elevation Program, in accordance with standards and guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program; and (v) ensure that any 3D elevation data acquired with Federal grant funding-- (I) meets 3D Elevation Program standards; and (II) is included in the national holdings of those data. (b) 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee.-- (1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish an interagency coordinating committee, to be known as the ``3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``Committee''), to better coordinate 3D elevation data management across the Federal Government. (2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the following members (or their designees): (A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Committee. (B) The Secretary of Agriculture. (C) The Secretary of Commerce. (D) The Secretary of Homeland Security. (E) The Director of the National Science Foundation. (F) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (G) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (H) The head of any other Federal department or agency, at the request of the Secretary. (3) Coordination.--The Committee shall coordinate, as appropriate, with the existing activities of-- (A) the 3D Elevation Program Executive Forum; (B) the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee; (C) the 3D Elevation Working Group; (D) the 3D National Elevation Subcommittee; and (E) State offices. (4) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (5) Duties.--The Committee shall-- (A) oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the 3D Elevation Program; and (B) develop, by not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and update periodically thereafter-- (i) a strategic plan that establishes goals and priorities for activities carried out under the 3D Elevation Program; and (ii) a detailed management plan to implement the strategic plan. (c) Subcommittee of National Geospatial Advisory Committee.-- (1) Establishment.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, within the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, a subcommittee (referred to in this subsection as the ``Subcommittee''). (B) Membership.--The Subcommittee shall-- (i) consist of not fewer than 11 members, of whom none may be a Federal officer or employee; and (ii) include representatives of-- (I) research and academic institutions; (II) industry standards development organizations; (III) units of State and local government; and (IV) the private sector. (2) Duties.-- (A) Assessment.--The Subcommittee shall conduct an assessment of-- (i) trends and developments in-- (I) the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D elevation data; and (II) science and technology relating to 3D elevation data; (ii) the effectiveness of the 3D Elevation Program in carrying out the activities described in subsection (a)(1); (iii) the need to revise or reorganize the 3D Elevation Program; and (iv) the management, coordination, implementation, and activities of the 3D Elevation Program. (B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Subcommittee shall submit to the Secretary and the 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee established under subsection (b) a report that includes-- (i) the findings of the assessment under subparagraph (A); and (ii) recommendations of the Subcommittee based on those findings, if any. (d) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants and enter into cooperative agreements with other Federal departments and agencies, units of State, local, or Tribal government, institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions, or other organizations to facilitate the improvement of nationwide coverage of 3D elevation data. (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (3) Terms and conditions.--A grant or cooperative agreement under this subsection shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including making data publically available and interoperable with other Federal datasets. (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Kevin Hern) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii. General Leave Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Hawaii? There was no objection. Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene). Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, a little over 5 years ago, on March 22, 2014, Washington State experienced one of the worst natural disasters to date. In a matter of seconds, a tragic landslide near Oso killed 43 people, destroyed over 40 homes, and severely damaged public infrastructure and private property. That day forever changed the people of Oso, Darrington, Arlington, and the Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes. They are an inspiring community who did everything possible and came together to help their neighbors. The Federal Government declared a major disaster in the State of Washington and made sure that Federal resources were available to supplement State, Tribal, and local recovery efforts. While the recovery was slow, these agencies responded to calls for aid when our communities needed roads rebuilt, an extension to file taxes, assistance to get kids to school, or to find new housing. Unfortunately, this type of event is not unique to Oso or to Washington State. Every State in the country faces some amount of landslide risk, a risk that has not been well identified or addressed when compared to earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods. Substantial work needs to be done to gain a better understanding of landslides and their potential impacts in order to reduce losses of life and property. According to the U.S. Geological Survey and National Research Council, landslides result in an estimated 20 to 50 deaths and between $1 billion and $2 billion of damage each year. There is no one collective landslide inventory for most counties, States, or the entire country, and there isn't an agreed-upon methodology for creating one. The establishment of a program addressing landslide hazards as well as increased funding for mapping, education, and risk assessment is crucial and could help save many lives, homes, and infrastructure in the future. We need to do more to ensure that we fund programs and research efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies. That is why I introduced this bill, the National Landslide Preparedness Act. This legislation would establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program through the U.S. Geological Survey to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities and property, improve emergency preparedness, and, most importantly, save lives. My bill would also direct the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program [[Page H4201]] to update and coordinate the collection of enhanced high-resolution elevation data across the country. This is crucial for numerous reasons: To help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; To update the Nation's topographical maps; and To inform a myriad of uses, including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, administration, agriculture, and natural resource management. Currently, much of the country still relies on data collected more than 30 years ago using older technologies that do not provide the same resolution and benefits. It is time that landslide hazards are addressed properly and in a collaborative fashion. This legislation will allow significant progress to be made in landslide science and will allow communities to be better prepared for when landslides do occur. We will never forget those who were lost in the slide and the incredible community that worked so hard to rebuild. Five years ago at the Oso firehouse, President Obama said that the Nation was with the community every step of the way in the rebuilding process. Part of that process is making sure we do everything in our power to make sure that all communities have the necessary information to be better prepared for dangerous landslides. Mr. Speaker, given the importance of this issue to communities across the country, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1261, the National Landslide Preparedness Act. This straightforward piece of legislation will help prepare and protect us from landslides. Landslides are a dangerous and expensive national hazard. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, landslides cause as much as $2 billion in damages each year and around 25 fatalities. Wildfires, earthquakes, and severe weather all make landslides more likely. As cities and towns across our country continue to develop, the chances of being affected by these events, likewise, increases. Since the 1970s, one of the core missions of the U.S. Geological Survey has been to use scientific data to minimize the loss of life and property damage from hazards like landslides. H.R. 1261 supports that goal by establishing the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program, which will help identify and understand landslide risk; and when those hazards eventually occur, this bill will help prepare us by improving communication and emergency preparedness. H.R. 1261 also establishes a national 3D Elevation Program to create and maintain standardized, publicly available 3D elevation data for the United States. Not only will this program assess landslide hazards, but could also help identify energy, mineral, and water resources, geological hazards such as active faults, and other potential dangers, including swelling soils, floodplains, and abandoned mine lands. In Oklahoma, we have had lots of floods, so if there are other things we can do that will help get us some understanding of what is going on, people will be better for it. I am confident that this bill will help prepare for and prevent against damage from landslides and, most importantly, save American lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1261, the ``National Landslide Preparedness Act.'' H.R. 1261 establishes a national program to identify and reduce losses from landslide hazards and a national 3D Elevation Program. The bill also authorizes a study of ground subsidence. Climate change charges us with the responsibility to study significant landslide threats to mitigate damages and protect our citizens. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), authorized under H.R. 1261, systematically collects 3D elevation data in the form of light detection and ranging (lidar) data for the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories, with data acquired over an 8-year period. Mr. Speaker, due to global warming, high river levels provoke floods and landslides, which block roads and hinder people from escaping life- threatening situations. More than 30,000 people worldwide were killed by landslides between 2004 and 2010, according to the Geological Society of America. And in the U.S. between 25 and 50 people are killed by landslides every year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Slides can occur in all 50 states, but regions like the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coastal Ranges have ``severe landslide problems,'' according to the USGS. Mother Nature is unpredictable and can endanger our constituents' lives and homes if advanced warning procedures are not established. Continued wet weather has also resulted in rivers reaching increasingly dangerous levels. As of 25 February, National Weather Service data showed over 250 rivers in the Midwest, South and East to be above flood stage. In February 2019, one person died in flash flooding in Tennessee after a storm system was caused by a landslide brought on by record- breaking rain to the Nashville area. The Cincinnati metropolitan area is another region that faces constant threats of landslides. It sits in part on what's called the Kope shale formation, which breaks down easily and is highly prone to landslides. In 2010, the Cincinnati metro area faced landslides that wrecked properties and caused damages that were difficult to assess. Losses from landslides in the United States were estimated in 1980 to exceed $1 billion per year. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated annual losses to be between $2 billion and $4 billion per year. However, landslide costs across the country are not currently tracked or measured in a uniform way by any one agency. Passage of H.R. 1261 will result in the: publication of a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduction, and response in the United States (including territories); Development and maintenance of a publicly accessible national landslide hazard and risk inventory database; an expanded early warning system for debris flow; and the establishment of emergency response procedures for the rapid deployment of federal scientists, equipment, and services to areas impacted by a significant landslide event. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1261 incentivizes geologic investigations, good engineering practices, and effective enforcement of land-use management regulations to reduce landslide hazards. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1261 to establish and strengthen the nation's emergency preparedness procedures to assess and evaluate landslide damages and threats. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1261, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________
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