I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 890
To provide for the establishment of national and global tsunami warning 
systems and to provide assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of 
victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami and for the reconstruction of tsu-
nami-affected countries. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 17, 2005
Mr. PALLONE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on 
Resources and Science, 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 provide for the establishment of national and global tsu-
nami warning systems and to provide assistance for the 
relief and rehabilitation of victims of the Indian Ocean 
tsunami and for the reconstruction of tsunami-affected 
countries.
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 Early Warn-
ing and Relief Act of 2005’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) A tremendous undersea earthquake near 
Sumatra, Indonesia, created a tsunami whose devas-
tation spread throughout South Asia, Southeast 
Asia, and East Africa, leading to the death of more 
than 160,000 people on December 26, 2004. As of 
February 4, 2005, more than 140,000 people are 
still missing. The tsunami-affected countries include 
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, 
Seychelles, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Somalia, 
Kenya, and Tanzania. 
(2) The tsunami resulted in massive destruction 
affecting millions of people who now require a great 
amount of short-term survival assistance and long-
term rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance. 
(3) Compared to past disasters, the Indian 
Ocean earthquake and tsunami led to historic de-
struction of the social service infrastructure, busi-
nesses, and livelihoods. The devastation caused by 
the tsunami has resulted in many separated families 
and countless unaccompanied and orphaned chil-
dren. 
(4) An effective global tsunami warning system 
is critical for preventing future humanitarian disas-
ters and for protecting national security, since
tsunamis occurring anywhere around the globe could 
impact the United States at home and United States 
national interests abroad. 
(5) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration has already built a system of tsunami 
buoys in the Pacific Ocean which has been proven to 
provide critical information and enhance the Na-
tion’s response to tsunamis. The National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration has the technical 
capability to upgrade and expand this system so that 
it covers the entire globe and is integrated into larg-
er ocean observing efforts. 
(6) Consistent funding and international co-
operation would be needed to deploy a broader global 
tsunami warning system. 
(7) Effective local emergency management ca-
pabilities are needed to relay tsunami warning infor-
mation to coastal communities and their residents. 
TITLE I—TSUNAMI WARNING 
SYSTEMS 
SEC. 101. GLOBAL PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce 
shall establish a Global Tsunami Disaster Reduction Pro-
gram within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration for the establishment of a tsunami warning
system to protect vulnerable areas around the world, in-
cluding Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, In-
dian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and European areas. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.—The Secretary 
of State, in consultation with the Director of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall work with 
foreign countries that would benefit from the warning sys-
tem described in subsection (a), and through international 
organizations, for the purposes of—
(1) sharing costs; 
(2) sharing relevant data; 
(3) sharing technical advice for the implementa-
tion of dissemination and evacuation plans; and 
(4) ensuring that the Global Earth Observation 
System of Systems program has access to and 
shares openly all relevant information worldwide. 
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES TSUNAMI READY 
PROGRAM. 
The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall work with coastal communities 
throughout the United States to build upon local coastal 
and ocean observing capabilities, improve abilities to dis-
seminate tsunami information and prepare evacuation 
plans according to the requirements of the Tsunami Ready 
program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration, and encourage more communities to participate 
in the program. 
SEC. 103. SEISMIC ACTIVITY MONITORING. 
The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall coordinate with the United 
States Geological Survey and the Department of State to 
work with other countries to enhance the monitoring, 
through the Global Seismic Network (GSN), of seismic ac-
tivities that could lead to tsunamis, to support the pro-
grams described in sections 101 and 102. 
SEC. 104. ANNUAL REPORT. 
The Director of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall transmit an annual report to 
Congress on progress in carrying out this title. 
SEC. 105. DEFINITION. 
For purposes of this title, the term ‘‘United States’’ 
means the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or posses-
sion of the United States. 
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce for carrying out this title—
(1) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
(2) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and for 
each subsequent fiscal year. 
TITLE II—RELIEF, REHABILITA-
TION, AND RECONSTRUCTION 
ASSISTANCE RELATING TO IN-
DIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI 
SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President, acting through 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, is authorized to provide assistance 
for—
(1) the relief and rehabilitation of individuals 
who are victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami; and 
(2) the reconstruction of the infrastructures of 
countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami, in-
cluding Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, 
Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, 
Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. 
(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Assistance under this 
section may be provided on such terms and conditions as 
the President may determine. 
SEC. 202. REPORT. 
The President shall transmit to Congress, on a quar-
terly basis in 2005, on a biannual basis in 2006, and as
determined to be appropriate by the President thereafter, 
a report on progress in carrying out this title. 
SEC. 203. DEFINITION. 
In this title, the term ‘‘Indian Ocean tsunami’’ means 
the tsunami that resulted from the earthquake that oc-
curred off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, 
on December 26, 2004. 
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Presi-
dent to carry out this title such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 2006 and each subsequent fiscal year.
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