(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 Di-
rector 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 re-
search of landslide hazards or responding to land-
slide events, including— 
(A) a State geological survey office; 
(B) a State department of emergency re-
sponse; 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 PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program, to be known as the ‘‘National Landslide Haz-
ards Reduction Program’’ (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘program’’)— 
(1) to identify and understand landslide haz-
ards and risks; 
(2) to reduce losses from landslides; 
(3) to protect communities at risk of landslide 
hazards; and 
(4) to help improve communication and emer-
gency preparedness, including by coordinating with 
communities and entities responsible for infrastruc-
ture 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 ac-
tivities 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 as-
sociated states, and Indian tribes— 
(i) establish working groups with 
State offices, units of local government, 
territories, freely associated states, and In-
dian tribes to identify regional and local 
priorities for researching, identifying, map-
ping, 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 decision-
makers. 
(2) NATIONAL
STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Committee, shall develop and publish 
a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduc-
tion, 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, re-
search, communications, and risk management 
on landslides and landslide hazards across rel-
evant Federal agencies; and 
(C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall 
take into consideration national disaster pre-
paredness, response, and recovery frameworks, 
to carry out the national strategy, including de-
tails about the programs, projects, and budgets 
that will be used to implement the national 
strategy.
(3) NATIONAL
LANDSLIDE
HAZARDS
DATA-
BASE.—In carrying out the program, the Secretary, 
in coordination with State offices, units of local gov-
ernment, territories, freely associated states, and In-
dian tribes, shall develop and maintain a publicly ac-
cessible 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 PREPARED-
NESS FOR COMMUNITIES.—In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of the Army, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of 
Transportation, and the heads of other relevant Fed-
eral agencies, and in consultation with State offices, 
units of local government, territories, freely associ-
ated states, and Indian tribes, shall develop and dis-
seminate— 
(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 commu-
nities 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 emer-
gency managers; and 
(iii) the National Guard.
(5) DEBRIS FLOW EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.— 
In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in co-
ordination 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, ter-
ritorial, 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. 
(6) EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
ACTIVITIES.—In 
carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, the heads of other rel-
evant 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 respond-
ers; 
(B) to improve data collection; and 
(C) to conduct research to advance the un-
derstanding of the causes, impacts, and reduc-
tion of landslide hazards and risks. 
(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE
ON 
LANDSLIDE HAZARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a com-
mittee, to be known as the ‘‘Interagency Coordi-
nating Committee on Landslide Hazards’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be 
composed of the following members (or their des-
ignees): 
(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 Manage-
ment 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 coordina-
tion across Federal agencies in the planning, 
management, budgeting, and execution of land-
slide activities; and 
(C) support the development and execution 
of the national strategy under subsection (b)(2), 
including by— 
(i) supporting the development of na-
tional 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 ‘‘Advi-
sory 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 de-
scribed 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 asso-
ciated state geological organizations; 
(iii) Indian tribes, including Tribal ge-
ological organizations; 
(iv) research institutions and institu-
tions of higher education that are quali-
fied— 
(I) to provide advice regarding 
landslide hazard and risk reduction; 
and
(II) to represent related sci-
entific, architectural, engineering, and 
planning disciplines; 
(v) industry standards development 
organizations; and 
(vi) State, territorial, freely associated 
state, local, and Tribal emergency manage-
ment agencies. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall submit to the Committee rec-
ommendations for the implementation of the 
program, including recommendations regard-
ing— 
(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 subpara-
graph (A). 
(e) GRANT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) COOPERATIVE
LANDSLIDE
HAZARD
MAP-
PING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to appropria-
tions, the Secretary may— 
(i) provide grants, on a competitive 
basis, to State, territorial, freely associated 
state, local, and Tribal governments to re-
search, 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 part-
ners to advance the purposes of the pro-
gram. 
(B) PRIORITY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
consult annually with the Committee, 
States, units of local government, terri-
tories, 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 es-
tablished 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 estab-
lished under subsection (b)(2)(A), subject to ap-
propriations, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation (referred to in this para-
graph 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 prop-
erty, including landslide hazard and risk 
communication, 
perception, 
decision-
making, tools, and technologies; and 
(iii) other goals and priorities of the 
national strategy established under sub-
section (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 pro-
vided on a competitive basis; and 
(ii) consider grant applications sub-
mitted by eligible entities that have devel-
oped the application in partnership with 
one 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 Sec-
retary and the agency heads described in subpara-
graphs (B) through (I) of subsection (c)(2) in car-
rying out the national strategy developed under sub-
section (b)(2), expressed— 
(A) by agency, program, and budgetary re-
source; and 
(B) by the goals and priorities of the na-
tional strategy established under subsection 
(b)(2)(A); 
(2) the results of the activities of the Com-
mittee 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 dur-
ing the preceding 2 calendar years, including a de-
scription 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 asso-
ciated 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 identi-
fication 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, terri-
torial, freely associated state, local, and Tribal 
partners in the affected area; 
(D) recommendations to improve risk iden-
tification, 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 appro-
priated to carry out this section $37 million for each of 
fiscal years 2020 through 2023, of which— 
(1) $25 million each fiscal year shall be made 
available to the United States Geological Survey;
(2) $11 million each fiscal year shall be made 
available to the National Science Foundation; and 
(3) $1 million 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, re-
search, monitoring, restoration, and mitigation of subsid-
ence 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
PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program, to be known as the ‘‘3D Elevation Pro-
gram’’— 
(A) to provide 3D elevation data coverage 
for the United States; 
(B) to coordinate and facilitate the collec-
tion, dissemination, and use of 3D elevation 
data among Federal departments and agencies 
and non-Federal entities;
(C) to produce standard, publicly acces-
sible 3D elevation data products for the United 
States; and 
(D) to promote the collection, dissemina-
tion, and use of 3D elevation data among Fed-
eral, State, local, and Tribal governments, com-
munities, 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 Ele-
vation Federal Interagency Coordinating 
Committee established under subsection 
(b), States, and industry and standards 
bodies, the development of 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 im-
prove 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 depart-
ment and agency involved in the acquisition, 
production, distribution, or application of 3D 
elevation data shall— 
(i) coordinate with the 3D Elevation 
Federal Interagency Coordinating Com-
mittee established under subsection (b) to 
acquire additional, enhanced 3D elevation 
data; 
(ii) submit to the Secretary a descrip-
tion of priority areas of interest for 3D ele-
vation 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 Pro-
gram; 
(iv) participate in, and share the re-
sults 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 CO-
ORDINATING COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in co-
ordination 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 des-
ignees): 
(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 Manage-
ment and Budget. 
(H) The head of any other Federal depart-
ment or agency, at the request of the Secretary. 
(3) COORDINATION.—The Committee shall co-
ordinate, as appropriate, with the existing activities 
of— 
(A) the 3D Elevation Program Executive 
Forum; 
(B) the Alaska Mapping Executive Com-
mittee;
(C) the 3D Elevation Working Group; 
(D) the 3D National Elevation Sub-
committee; 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 AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish, 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 mem-
bers, of whom none may be a Federal offi-
cer or employee; and 
(ii) include representatives of— 
(I) research and academic insti-
tutions; 
(II) industry standards develop-
ment organizations; 
(III) units of State and local gov-
ernment; 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 relat-
ing to 3D elevation data; 
(ii) the effectiveness of the 3D Ele-
vation Program in carrying out the activi-
ties 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 estab-
lished under subsection (b) a report that in-
cludes— 
(i) the findings of the assessment 
under subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) recommendations of the Sub-
committee 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 informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. 
(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—A grant or coop-
erative agreement under this subsection shall be sub-
ject 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 
million for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 3, 2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1261 
AN ACT 
To establish a national program to identify and re-
duce losses from landslide hazards, to establish a 
national 3D Elevation Program, and for other 
purposes.