I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 312 
To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, re-
search, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2017 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Ms. BEUTLER, Mr. YOUNG 
of Alaska, Mr. CRIST, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. ISSA, 
Mr. DEFAZIO, and Ms. JAYAPAL) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, 
warning, research, and mitigation program of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tsunami Warning, 
Education, and Research Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDU-
CATION ACT. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (Public Law 109–424; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et 
seq.). 
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF PURPOSES OF TSUNAMI WARNING 
AND EDUCATION ACT. 
Section 3 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘research,’’ 
after ‘‘warnings,’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) to enhance and modernize the existing 
United States Tsunami Warning System to increase 
the accuracy of forecasts and warnings, to ensure 
full coverage of tsunami threats to the United States 
with a network of detection assets, and to reduce 
false alarms;’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) to improve and develop standards and 
guidelines for mapping, modeling, and assessment 
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efforts to improve tsunami detection, forecasting, 
warnings, notification, mitigation, resiliency, re-
sponse, outreach, and recovery;’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and 
(6) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (8), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) to improve research efforts related to im-
proving tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, no-
tification, mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, 
and recovery;’’; 
(6) in paragraph (5), as redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and increase’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, increase, and develop uniform standards 
and guidelines for’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, including the warning 
signs of locally generated tsunami’’ after ‘‘ap-
proaching’’; 
(7) in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘, including the Indian Ocean; and’’ and insert-
ing a semicolon; and 
(8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(7) to foster resilient communities in the face 
of tsunami and other similar coastal hazards; and’’. 
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SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND 
WARNING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 4 (33 
U.S.C. 3203(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Atlantic Ocean, 
Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico region’’ and inserting 
‘‘Atlantic Ocean region, including the Caribbean Sea and 
the Gulf of Mexico’’. 
(b) COMPONENTS.—Subsection (b) of section 4 (33 
U.S.C. 3203(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘established’’ 
and inserting ‘‘supported or maintained’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through 
(9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less 
than 80 percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and 
Reporting of Tsunamis buoy array at operational ca-
pacity to optimize data reliability;’’. 
(5) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated 
by paragraph (3), to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) provide tsunami forecasting capability 
based on models and measurements, including tsu-
nami inundation models and maps for use in in-
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creasing the preparedness of communities and safe-
guarding port and harbor operations, that incor-
porate inputs, including— 
‘‘(A) the United States and global ocean 
and coastal observing system; 
‘‘(B) the global Earth observing system; 
‘‘(C) the global seismic network; 
‘‘(D) the Advanced National Seismic sys-
tem; 
‘‘(E) tsunami model validation using his-
torical and paleotsunami data; 
‘‘(F) digital elevation models and bathym-
etry; and 
‘‘(G) newly developing tsunami detection 
methodologies using satellites and airborne re-
mote sensing;’’; 
(6) by amending paragraph (7), as redesignated 
by paragraph (3), to read as follows: 
‘‘(7) include a cooperative effort among the Ad-
ministration, the United States Geological Survey, 
and the National Science Foundation under which 
the Director of the United States Geological Survey 
and the Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall— 
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(c) TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM.—Subsection (c) of 
section 4 (33 U.S.C. 3203(c)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM.—The program 
under this section shall operate a tsunami warning system 
that— 
‘‘(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, includ-
ing forecasting tsunami arrival time and inundation 
estimates, anywhere in the Pacific and Arctic Ocean 
regions and providing adequate warnings; 
‘‘(2) is capable of forecasting and providing 
adequate warnings, including tsunami arrival time 
and inundation models where applicable, in areas of 
the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and 
Gulf of Mexico, that are determined— 
‘‘(A) to be geologically active, or to have 
significant potential for geological activity; and 
‘‘(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami 
for States along the coastal areas of the Atlan-
tic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; 
and 
‘‘(3) supports other international tsunami fore-
casting and warning efforts.’’. 
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(d) TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERS.—Subsection (d) 
of section 4 (33 U.S.C. 3203(d)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(d) TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
support or maintain centers to support the tsunami 
warning system required by subsection (c). The Cen-
ters shall include— 
‘‘(A) the National Tsunami Warning Cen-
ter, located in Alaska, which is primarily re-
sponsible for Alaska and the continental United 
States; 
‘‘(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, 
located in Hawaii, which is primarily respon-
sible for Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other 
areas of the Pacific not covered by the National 
Center; and 
‘‘(C) any additional forecast and warning 
centers determined by the National Weather 
Service to be necessary. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities 
of the centers supported or maintained under para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) Continuously monitoring data from 
seismological, deep ocean, coastal sea level, and 
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tidal monitoring stations and other data sources 
as may be developed and deployed. 
‘‘(B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, 
and volcanic eruptions that have the potential 
to generate tsunami. 
‘‘(C) Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and 
tidal monitoring stations for indications of tsu-
nami resulting from earthquakes and other 
sources. 
‘‘(D) To the extent practicable, utilizing a 
range of models, including ensemble models, to 
predict tsunami, including arrival times, flood-
ing estimates, coastal and harbor currents, and 
duration. 
‘‘(E) Using data from the Integrated 
Ocean Observing System of the Administration 
in coordination with regional associations to cal-
culate new inundation estimates and periodi-
cally update existing inundation estimates. 
‘‘(F) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami 
warning bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, and 
local government officials and the public. 
‘‘(G) Coordinating with the tsunami haz-
ard mitigation program conducted under section 
5 to ensure ongoing sharing of information be-
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tween forecasters and emergency management 
officials. 
‘‘(H) In coordination with the Coast 
Guard, evaluating and recommending proce-
dures for ports and harbors at risk of tsunami 
inundation, including review of readiness, re-
sponse, and communication strategies, and data 
sharing policies, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable. 
‘‘(I) Making data gathered under this Act 
and post-warning analyses conducted by the 
National Weather Service or other relevant Ad-
ministration offices available to the public. 
‘‘(J) Integrating and modernizing the pro-
gram operated under this section with advances 
in tsunami science to improve performance 
without compromising service. 
‘‘(3) FAIL-SAFE
WARNING
CAPABILITY.—The 
tsunami warning centers supported or maintained 
under paragraph (1) shall maintain a fail-safe warn-
ing capability and perform back-up duties for each 
other. 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION WITH NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE.—The Administrator shall coordinate with 
the forecast offices of the National Weather Service, 
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the centers supported or maintained under para-
graph (1), and such program offices of the Adminis-
tration as the Administrator or the coordinating 
committee, as established in section 5(d), consider 
appropriate to ensure that regional and local fore-
cast offices— 
‘‘(A) have the technical knowledge and ca-
pability to disseminate tsunami warnings for 
the communities they serve; 
‘‘(B) leverage connections with local emer-
gency management officials for optimally dis-
seminating tsunami warnings and forecasts; 
and 
‘‘(C) implement mass communication tools 
in effect on the day before the date of the en-
actment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, 
and Research Act of 2017 used by the National 
Weather Service on such date and newer mass 
communication technologies as they are devel-
oped as a part of the Weather-Ready Nation 
program of the Administration, or otherwise, 
for the purpose of timely and effective delivery 
of tsunami warnings. 
‘‘(5) UNIFORM OPERATING PROCEDURES.—The 
Administrator shall— 
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‘‘(A) develop uniform operational proce-
dures for the centers supported or maintained 
under paragraph (1), including the use of soft-
ware applications, checklists, decision support 
tools, and tsunami warning products that have 
been standardized across the program sup-
ported under this section; 
‘‘(B) ensure that processes and products of 
the warning system operated under subsection 
(c)— 
‘‘(i) reflect industry best practices 
when practicable; 
‘‘(ii) conform to the maximum extent 
practicable with internationally recognized 
standards for information technology; and 
‘‘(iii) conform to the maximum extent 
practicable with other warning products 
and practices of the National Weather 
Service; 
‘‘(C) ensure that future adjustments to 
operational protocols, processes, and warning 
products— 
‘‘(i) are made consistently across the 
warning system operated under subsection 
(c); and 
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‘‘(ii) are applied in a uniform manner 
across such warning system; 
‘‘(D) establish a systematic method for in-
formation technology product development to 
improve long-term technology planning efforts; 
and 
‘‘(E) disseminate guidelines and metrics 
for evaluating and improving tsunami forecast 
models. 
‘‘(6) AVAILABLE
RESOURCES.—The Adminis-
trator, through the National Weather Service, shall 
ensure that resources are available to fulfill the obli-
gations of this Act. This includes ensuring super-
computing resources are available to run, as rapidly 
as possible, such computer models as are needed for 
purposes of the tsunami warning system operated 
under subsection (c).’’. 
(e) TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY; MAINTENANCE AND 
UPGRADES.—Subsection (e) of section 4 (33 U.S.C. 
3203(e)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) TRANSFER
OF TECHNOLOGY; MAINTENANCE 
AND UPGRADES.—In carrying out this section, the Admin-
istrator shall— 
‘‘(1) develop requirements for the equipment 
used to forecast tsunami, including— 
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‘‘(A) provisions for multipurpose detection 
platforms; 
‘‘(B) reliability and performance metrics; 
and 
‘‘(C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
requirements for the integration of equipment 
with other United States and global ocean and 
coastal observation systems, the global Earth 
observing system of systems, the global seismic 
networks, and the Advanced National Seismic 
System; 
‘‘(2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer 
of technology from ongoing research conducted as 
part of the program supported or maintained under 
section 6 into the program under this section; and 
‘‘(3) ensure that the Administration’s oper-
ational tsunami detection equipment is properly 
maintained.’’. 
(f) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—Subsection (f) of sec-
tion 4 (33 U.S.C. 3203(f)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—When deploying and 
maintaining tsunami detection technologies under the pro-
gram under this section, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) identify which assets of other Federal 
agencies are necessary to support such program; and 
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‘‘(2) work with each agency identified under 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) to acquire the agency’s assistance; 
and 
‘‘(B) to prioritize the necessary assets in 
support of the tsunami forecast and warning 
program.’’. 
(g) UNNECESSARY
PROVISIONS.—Section 4 (33 
U.S.C. 3203) is further amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (g); 
(2) by striking subsections (i) through (k); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (g). 
(h) CONGRESSIONAL
NOTIFICATIONS.—Subsection 
(g) of section 4 (33 U.S.C. 3203(g)), as redesignated by 
subsection (g)(3), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and mov-
ing such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; 
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as 
redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The Ad-
ministrator’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by para-
graph (3)— 
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(A) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
by paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated 
by paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) the occurrence of a significant tsu-
nami warning.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—In a case in which notice is 
submitted under paragraph (1) within 30 days of a 
significant tsunami warning described in subpara-
graph (C) of such paragraph, such notice shall in-
clude, as appropriate, brief information and analysis 
of— 
‘‘(A) the accuracy of the tsunami model 
used; 
‘‘(B) the specific deep ocean or other moni-
toring equipment that detected the incident, as 
well as the deep ocean or other monitoring 
equipment that did not detect the incident due 
to malfunction or other reasons; 
‘‘(C) the effectiveness of the warning com-
munication, including the dissemination of 
warnings with State, territory, local, and tribal 
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partners in the affected area under the jurisdic-
tion of the National Weather Service; and 
‘‘(D) such other findings as the Adminis-
trator considers appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD 
MITIGATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(a) (33 U.S.C. 3204(a)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Administrator, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency and the heads of such other 
agencies as the Administrator considers relevant, shall 
conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation 
program to improve tsunami preparedness and resiliency 
of at-risk areas in the United States and the territories 
of the United States.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PRO-
GRAM.—Section 5 (33 U.S.C. 3204) is amended by strik-
ing subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—The Program con-
ducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) Technical and financial assistance to 
coastal States, territories, tribes, and local govern-
ments to develop and implement activities under this 
section. 
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‘‘(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and 
mitigation programs into ongoing State-based haz-
ard warning, resilience planning, and risk manage-
ment activities, including predisaster planning, emer-
gency response, evacuation planning, disaster recov-
ery, hazard mitigation, and community development 
and redevelopment planning programs in affected 
areas. 
‘‘(3) Activities to promote the adoption of tsu-
nami resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitiga-
tion measures by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, 
and local governments and nongovernmental entities, 
including educational and risk communication pro-
grams to discourage development in high-risk areas. 
‘‘(4) Activities to support the development of 
regional tsunami hazard and risk assessments. Such 
regional risk assessments may include the following: 
‘‘(A) The sources, sizes, and other relevant 
historical data of tsunami in the region, includ-
ing paleotsunami data. 
‘‘(B) Inundation models and maps of crit-
ical infrastructure and socioeconomic vulner-
ability in areas subject to tsunami inundation. 
‘‘(C) Maps of evacuation areas and evacu-
ation routes, including, when appropriate, traf-
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fic studies that evaluate the viability of evacu-
ation routes. 
‘‘(D) Evaluations of the size of populations 
that will require evacuation, including popu-
lations with special evacuation needs. 
‘‘(E) Evaluations and technical assistance 
for vertical evacuation structure planning for 
communities where models indicate limited or 
no ability for timely evacuation, especially in 
areas at risk of near shore generated tsunami. 
‘‘(F) Evaluation of at-risk ports and har-
bors. 
‘‘(G) Evaluation of the effect of tsunami 
currents on the foundations of closely spaced, 
coastal high-rise structures. 
‘‘(5) Activities to promote preparedness in at- 
risk ports and harbors, including the following: 
‘‘(A) Evaluation and recommendation of 
procedures for ports and harbors in the event of 
a distant or near-field tsunami. 
‘‘(B) A review of readiness, response, and 
communication strategies to ensure coordina-
tion and data sharing with the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(6) Activities to support the development of 
community-based outreach and education programs 
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to ensure community readiness and resilience, in-
cluding the following: 
‘‘(A) The development, implementation, 
and assessment of technical training and public 
education programs, including education pro-
grams that address unique characteristics of 
distant and near-field tsunami. 
‘‘(B) The development of decision support 
tools. 
‘‘(C) The incorporation of social science re-
search into community readiness and resilience 
efforts. 
‘‘(D) The development of evidence-based 
education guidelines. 
‘‘(7) Dissemination of guidelines and standards 
for community planning, education, and training 
products, programs, and tools, including— 
‘‘(A) standards for— 
‘‘(i) mapping products; 
‘‘(ii) inundation models; and 
‘‘(iii) effective emergency exercises; 
and 
‘‘(B) recommended guidance for at-risk 
port and harbor tsunami warning, evacuation, 
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and response procedures in coordination with 
the Coast Guard. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—In addition to ac-
tivities conducted under subsection (c), the program con-
ducted under subsection (a) may include the following: 
‘‘(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment 
research, education, and training to help integrate 
risk management and resilience objectives with com-
munity development planning and policies. 
‘‘(2) Risk management training for local offi-
cials and community organizations to enhance un-
derstanding and preparedness. 
‘‘(3) Interagency, Federal, State, tribal, and 
territorial intergovernmental tsunami response exer-
cise planning and implementation in high risk areas. 
‘‘(4) Development of practical applications for 
existing or emerging technologies, such as modeling, 
remote sensing, geospatial technology, engineering, 
and observing systems, including the integration of 
tsunami sensors into Federal and commercial sub-
marine telecommunication cables if practicable. 
‘‘(5) Risk management, risk assessment, and 
resilience data and information services, including— 
‘‘(A) access to data and products derived 
from observing and detection systems; and 
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‘‘(B) development and maintenance of new 
integrated data products to support risk man-
agement, risk assessment, and resilience pro-
grams. 
‘‘(6) Risk notification systems that coordinate 
with and build upon existing systems and actively 
engage decisionmakers, State, local, tribal, and terri-
torial governments and agencies, business commu-
nities, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
media. 
‘‘(e) NO PREEMPTION WITH RESPECT TO DESIGNA-
TION OF AT-RISK AREAS.—The establishment of national 
standards for inundation models under this section shall 
not prevent States, territories, tribes, and local govern-
ments from designating additional areas as being at risk 
based on knowledge of local conditions. 
‘‘(f) NO NEW REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—Nothing 
in this Act may be construed as establishing new regu-
latory authority for any Federal agency.’’. 
(c) REPORT ON ACCREDITATION OF TSUNAMIREADY 
PROGRAM.—Not later than 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
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Technology of the House of Representatives a report on 
which authorities and activities would be needed to have 
the TsunamiReady program of the National Weather 
Service accredited by the Emergency Management Accred-
itation Program. 
SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 6 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended— 
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘The Administrator shall’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘establish or maintain’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, in con-
sultation with such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, 
and territorial governments, and academic institutions as 
the Administrator considers appropriate, the coordinating 
committee under section 5(d), and the panel under section 
8(a), support or maintain’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), as designated by para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘and assessment for tsunami 
tracking and numerical forecast modeling. Such re-
search program shall—’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical 
forecast modeling, and standards development. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:19 Jan 13, 2017
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SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS