Title: Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017
This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2021 the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.
The tsunami warning systems for the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and for the Atlantic Ocean are consolidated into a single warning system. The system must support international tsunami forecasting and warning efforts.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must support or maintain tsunami warning centers to support the national warning system and develop uniform operational procedures for the centers. Warning centers are given additional responsibilities, including maintaining a fail-safe warning capability and an ability to perform back-up duties for each other.
The tsunami hazard mitigation program must provide for: (1) technical and financial assistance; (2) activities to support the development of regional hazard and risk assessments; (3) activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports and harbors; and (4) dissemination of guidelines and standards for community planning, education, and training products, programs, and tools.
The tsunami research program must develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami maps, models, and forecasts.
NOAA no longer has to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for Pacific Ocean nations.
NOAA must: (1) designate an existing working group to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to provide advice on matters regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness; (2) maintain a coordinating committee to assist in the national tsunami hazard mitigation program; and (3) develop formal outreach activities to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of resilient communities.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 53 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 53

 To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, 
     research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and 
          Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 5, 2017

Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Schatz) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, 
     research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and 
          Atmospheric Administration, 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, Education, and 
Research Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION 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 provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act enacted as title VIII of Public Law 109-479 (33 U.S.C. 
3201 et seq.).

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF PURPOSES OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT.

    Section 803 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``research,'' after 
        ``warnings,'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) to enhance and modernize the existing tsunami warning 
        system in the United States 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 follows:
            ``(3) to improve and develop standards and guidelines for 
        mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to improve tsunami 
        detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation, 
        resiliency, response, 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 following:
            ``(4) to improve research efforts related to improving 
        tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, 
        evacuation, mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and 
        recovery;'';
            (6) in paragraph (5), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``and increase'' and inserting ``, 
                increase, and develop uniform standards and guidelines 
                for''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, including the warning signs of 
                locally generated tsunami'' after ``approaching'';
            (7) in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by striking ``, 
        including the Indian Ocean; and'' and inserting a semicolon; 
        and
            (8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(7) to foster resilient communities in the face of 
        tsunami and other similar coastal hazards; and''.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 804 (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 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``established'' and 
        inserting ``supported or maintained'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (3) through (10), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 80 
        percent of the Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis 
        buoy array at operational capacity to optimize data 
        reliability;'';
            (4) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (2), to read as follows:
            ``(5) provide tsunami forecasting capability based on 
        models and measurements, including tsunami inundation models 
        and maps for use in increasing the preparedness of communities 
        and safeguarding port and harbor operations, that incorporate 
        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 system;
                    ``(E) tsunami model validation using historical and 
                paleotsunami data;
                    ``(F) digital elevation models and bathymetry; and
                    ``(G) newly developing tsunami detection 
                methodologies using satellites and airborne remote 
                sensing;'';
            (5) by amending paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (2), to read as follows:
            ``(7) include a cooperative effort among the 
        Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the 
        National Science Foundation under which the Director of the 
        United States Geological Survey, in coordination with the 
        Administrator, and the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall--
                    ``(A) provide rapid and reliable seismic 
                information to the Administrator from international and 
                domestic seismic networks; and
                    ``(B) support seismic stations installed before the 
                date of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, 
                Education, and Research Act of 2017 to supplement 
                coverage in areas of sparse instrumentation;'';
            (6) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, including graphical warning 
                products,'' after ``warnings'';
                    (B) by inserting ``, territories,'' after 
                ``States''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``and Wireless Emergency Alerts'' 
                after ``Hazards Program''; and
            (7) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``provide and'' before ``allow''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``and commercial and Federal 
                undersea communications cables'' after ``observing 
                technologies''.
    (c) Tsunami Warning System.--Subsection (c) of section 804 (33 
U.S.C. 3203(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Tsunami Warning System.--The program under this section shall 
operate a tsunami warning system that--
            ``(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including 
        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 Atlantic Ocean, 
                Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and
            ``(3) supports other international tsunami forecasting and 
        warning efforts.''.
    (d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--Subsection (d) of section 804 (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). Such centers shall include--
                    ``(A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, located 
                in Alaska, which is primarily responsible for Alaska 
                and the continental United States;
                    ``(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located 
                in Hawaii, which is primarily responsible 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 paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) Continuously monitoring data from 
                seismological, deep-ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal 
                monitoring stations and other data sources as may be 
                developed and deployed.
                    ``(B) In coordination with the United States 
                Geological Survey and State geological surveys, 
                evaluating earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic 
                activity that have the potential to generate tsunami.
                    ``(C) Evaluating deep-ocean buoy data and tidal 
                monitoring stations for indications of tsunami 
                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, flooding 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 calculate new inundation 
                estimates and periodically update existing inundation 
                estimates.
                    ``(F) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami warning 
                bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, and local 
                government officials, critical infrastructure 
                operators, and the public.
                    ``(G) Coordinating with the national tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program conducted under section 805 to 
                ensure ongoing sharing of information between 
                forecasters and Federal, State, tribal and local 
                emergency management officials.
                    ``(H) In coordination with the Coast Guard, 
                evaluating and recommending procedures for ports and 
                harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, including review 
                of readiness, response, and communication strategies, 
                and data sharing policies.
                    ``(I) Making data gathered under this Act and post-
                warning analyses conducted by the National Weather 
                Service or other relevant Administration offices 
                available to the public.
                    ``(J) Integrating and modernizing the program 
                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 warning 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, the Centers supported or maintained 
        under paragraph (1), and such program offices of the 
        Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating 
        committee, as established in section 805(d), consider 
        appropriate to ensure that regional and local forecast 
        offices--
                    ``(A) have the technical knowledge and capability 
                to disseminate tsunami warnings for the communities 
                they serve;
                    ``(B) leverage connections with local emergency 
                management officials for optimally disseminating 
                tsunami warnings and forecasts; and
                    ``(C) implement mass communication tools in effect 
                on the day before the date of the enactment 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 
                developed 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--
                    ``(A) develop uniform operational procedures for 
                the centers supported or maintained under paragraph 
                (1), including the use of software applications, 
                checklists, decision support tools, and tsunami warning 
                products that have been standardized across the program 
                supported 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
                            ``(ii) are applied in a uniform manner 
                        across such warning system;
                    ``(D) establish a systematic method for information 
                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 Administrator, through the 
        National Weather Service, shall ensure that resources are 
        available to fulfill the obligations of this Act. This includes 
        ensuring supercomputing 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 804 (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 Administrator shall--
            ``(1) develop requirements for the equipment used to 
        forecast tsunami, including--
                    ``(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 Observation 
                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 806 into the 
        program under this section; and
            ``(3) ensure that the Administration's operational tsunami 
        detection equipment is properly maintained.''.
    (f) Federal Cooperation.--Subsection (f) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 
3203(f)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Federal Cooperation.--When deploying and maintaining tsunami 
detection technologies under the program under this section, the 
Administrator shall--
            ``(1) identify which assets of other Federal agencies are 
        necessary to support such program; and
            ``(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 804 (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 subsection (g).
    (h) Congressional Notifications.--Subsection (g) of section 804 (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 moving such 
        subparagraphs 2 ems to the right;
            (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1), by striking ``The Administrator'' and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator'';
            (3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated by 
                paragraph (1), 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 tsunami 
                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 subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, such 
        notice shall include, as appropriate, brief information and 
        analysis of--
                    ``(A) the accuracy of the tsunami model used;
                    ``(B) the specific deep-ocean or other monitoring 
                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 
                communication, including the dissemination of warnings 
                with State, territory, local, and tribal partners in 
                the affected area under the jurisdiction of the 
                National Weather Service; and
                    ``(D) such other findings as the Administrator 
                considers appropriate.''.

SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 805 (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 Emergency 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 Program.--Section 805 (33 
U.S.C. 3204) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(c) Program Components.--The program under this section shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) Technical and financial assistance to coastal States, 
        territories, tribes, and local governments to develop and 
        implement activities under this section.
            ``(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and mitigation 
        programs into ongoing State-based hazard warning, resilience 
        planning, and risk management activities, including predisaster 
        planning, emergency response, evacuation planning, disaster 
        recovery, hazard mitigation including Natural Hazard Mitigation 
        Plans, and community development and redevelopment planning 
        programs in affected areas.
            ``(3) Activities to promote the adoption of tsunami 
        resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitigation measures by 
        Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local governments and 
        nongovernmental entities, including educational and risk 
        communication programs 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, including 
                paleotsunami data.
                    ``(B) Inundation models and maps of critical 
                infrastructure and socioeconomic vulnerability in areas 
                subject to tsunami inundation.
                    ``(C) Maps of evacuation areas and evacuation 
                routes, including, when appropriate, traffic studies 
                that evaluate the viability of evacuation routes.
                    ``(D) Evaluations of the size of populations that 
                will require evacuation, including populations 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-field 
                generated tsunami.
                    ``(F) Evaluation of at-risk ports and harbors.
                    ``(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 coordination and 
                data sharing with the Coast Guard.
            ``(6) Activities to support the development of community-
        based outreach and education programs to ensure community 
        readiness and resilience, including the following:
                    ``(A) The development, implementation, and 
                assessment of technical training and public education 
                programs, including education programs that address 
                unique characteristics of distant and near-field 
                tsunami.
                    ``(B) The development of decision support tools.
                    ``(C) The incorporation of social science research 
                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, and response 
                procedures in coordination with the Coast Guard.
    ``(d) Authorized Activities.--In addition to activities conducted 
under subsection (c), the program under this section may include the 
following:
            ``(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment research, 
        education, and training to help integrate risk management and 
        resilience objectives with community development planning and 
        policies.
            ``(2) Risk management training for local officials and 
        community organizations to enhance understanding and 
        preparedness.
            ``(3) Interagency, Federal, State, tribal, and territorial 
        intergovernmental tsunami response exercise 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 submarine 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
                    ``(B) development and maintenance of new integrated 
                data products to support risk management, risk 
                assessment, and resilience programs.
            ``(6) Risk notification systems that coordinate with and 
        build upon existing systems and actively engage decisionmakers, 
        State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and agencies, 
        business communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
        media.
    ``(e) No Preemption With Respect to Designation of At-Risk Areas.--
The establishment of national standards for inundation models under 
this section shall not prevent States, territories, tribes, and local 
governments 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 regulatory authority for any Federal 
agency.''.
    (c) Report on Accreditation of TsunamiReady Program.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment 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 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 
Accreditation Program.

SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 806 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``The 
        Administrator shall'' and all that follows through ``establish 
        or maintain'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with 
such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, and territorial 
governments, and academic institutions as the Administrator considers 
appropriate, the coordinating committee under section 805(d), and the 
panel under section 808(a), support or maintain'';
            (2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical 
        forecast modeling. Such research program shall--'' and 
        inserting the following: ``assessment for tsunami tracking and 
        numerical forecast modeling, and standards development.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The research program supported or 
maintained under subsection (a) shall--''; and
            (3) in subsection (b), as designated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) consider other appropriate and cost effective 
        solutions to mitigate the impact of tsunami, including the 
        improvement of near-field and distant tsunami detection and 
        forecasting capabilities, which may include use of a new 
        generation of the Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of 
        Tsunamis array, integration of tsunami sensors into commercial 
        and Federal telecommunications cables, and other real-time 
        tsunami monitoring systems and supercomputer capacity of the 
        Administration to develop a rapid tsunami forecast for all 
        United States coastlines;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``include'' and inserting 
                        ``conduct''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (5);
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami 
        maps, numerical tsunami models, digital elevation models, and 
        forecasts; and''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (C), by striking ``to the scientific 
                community,'' and inserting ``to the public and the 
                scientific community.''.

SEC. 7. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION NETWORK.

    Section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Support for Development of an International Tsunami Warning 
System.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with the Secretary of 
State and in consultation with such other agencies as the Administrator 
considers relevant, provide technical assistance, operational support, 
and training to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the 
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the 
World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and such other 
international entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, as 
part of the international efforts to develop a fully functional global 
tsunami forecast and warning system comprised of regional tsunami 
warning networks.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shall'' both places 
        that term appears and inserting ``may''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establishing'' 
                and inserting ``supporting''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``establish'' and inserting 
                        ``support''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``establishing'' and 
                        inserting ``supporting''.

SEC. 8. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.

    The Act is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 808 (33 U.S.C. 3207) as 
        section 809; and
            (2) by inserting after section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) the 
        following:

``SEC. 808. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.

    ``(a) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate an existing 
working group within the Science Advisory Board of the Administration 
to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to 
provide advice to the Administrator on matters regarding tsunami 
science, technology, and regional preparedness.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) Composition.--The Panel shall be composed of no fewer 
        than 7 members selected by the Administrator from among 
        individuals from academia or State agencies who have academic 
        or practical expertise in physical sciences, social sciences, 
        information technology, coastal resilience, emergency 
        management, or such other disciplines as the Administrator 
        considers appropriate.
            ``(2) Federal employment.--No member of the Panel may be a 
        Federal employee.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
years, the Panel shall--
            ``(1) review the activities of the Administration, and 
        other Federal activities as appropriate, relating to tsunami 
        research, detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
        resiliency, and preparation; and
            ``(2) submit to the Administrator and such others as the 
        Administrator considers appropriate--
                    ``(A) the findings of the Panel with respect to the 
                most recent review conducted under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Panel considers 
                appropriate to improve Federal tsunami research, 
                detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, 
                resiliency, and preparation.
    ``(d) Reports to Congress.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the 
findings and recommendations received by the Administrator under 
subsection (c)(2).''.

SEC. 9. REPORTS.

    (a) Report on Implementation of Tsunami Warning and Education 
Act.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to Congress 
        a report on the implementation of the Tsunami Warning and 
        Education Act, as enacted as title VIII of Public Law 109-479 
        (33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A detailed description of the progress made in 
                implementing sections 804(d)(6), 805(b)(6), and 
                806(b)(4) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, as 
                enacted as title VIII of Public Law 109-479 (33 U.S.C. 
                3201 et seq.).
                    (B) A description of the ways that tsunami warnings 
                and warning products issued by the program for tsunami 
                forecasting and warning established under section 804 
                of such Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 
                3203) may be standardized and streamlined with warnings 
                and warning products for hurricanes, coastal storms, 
                and other coastal flooding events.
    (b) Report on National Efforts That Support Rapid Emergency 
Response Following Near-Field Tsunami Events.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security shall jointly, in coordination with the 
        Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Commandant 
        of the Coast Guard, the Commander of the United States Northern 
        Command, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and the heads 
        of such other Federal agencies as the Administrator considers 
        appropriate, submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the national efforts in effect on the day before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act that support and facilitate 
        rapid emergency response following a domestic near-shore near-
        field tsunami event to better understand domestic effects of 
        earthquake derived tsunami on people, infrastructure, 
        communities, and coastal economies in the United States.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of scientific or other 
                measurements being collected on the day before the date 
                of the enactment of this Act which allow for the quick 
                identification and assessment of lost or degraded 
                infrastructure and terrestrial formations post 
                disaster.
                    (B) A description of scientific or other 
                measurements necessary to quickly identify and quantify 
                lost or degraded infrastructure and terrestrial 
                formations.
                    (C) Identification and evaluation of Federal, 
                State, local, tribal, territorial, and military first 
                responder and search and rescue operation centers, 
                bases, and other facilities as well as other critical 
                response assets and infrastructure, including search 
                and rescue aircraft and vessels, located within, and 
                adjacent to, near-field and distant tsunami inundation 
                areas on the day before the date of the enactment of 
                this Act.
                    (D) An evaluation of Federal, State, and local 
                near-field tsunami response plans in areas described in 
                subparagraph (C) in effect on the day before the date 
                of the enactment of this Act, how those response plans 
                would be affected by the loss of search and rescue and 
                first responder infrastructure described in such 
                subparagraph.
                    (E) A description of redevelopment plans and 
                reports in effect on the day before the date of the 
                enactment of this Act for communities in areas that are 
                at high risk for near-field tsunami, as well as 
                identification of States or communities that do not 
                have redevelopment plans.
                    (F) Recommendations to enhance near-field tsunami 
                preparedness and response plans, including recommended 
                responder exercises, predisaster planning, mitigation 
                needs and recommendations to enhance coordination 
                between Federal, State, and local response agencies.
                    (G) Such other data and analysis information as the 
                Administrator and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                consider appropriate.
            (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security 
                and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
                Representatives.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 809, as redesignated by section 8(1) of this Act, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) $31,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 
        2021, of which--
                    ``(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for 
                activities conducted at the State level under the 
                tsunami hazard mitigation program under section 805; 
                and
                    ``(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program 
                under section 806.''.

SEC. 11. OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITIES.

    The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, in coordination with State and local emergency 
managers, shall develop and carry out formal outreach activities to 
improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of 
resilient communities. Outreach activities may include--
            (1) the development of outreach plans to ensure the close 
        integration of tsunami warning centers supported or maintained 
        under section 804(d) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act 
        enacted as title VIII of Public Law 109-479 (33 U.S.C. 3201 et 
        seq.), (33 U.S.C. 3203(d)) with local Weather Forecast Offices 
        of the National Weather Service and emergency managers;
            (2) working with appropriate local Weather Forecast Offices 
        to ensure they have the technical knowledge and capability to 
        disseminate tsunami warnings to the communities they serve; and
            (3) evaluating the effectiveness of warnings and of 
        coordination with local Weather Forecast Offices after 
        significant tsunami events.

SEC. 12. MODIFICATION OF COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.

    Section 201(c) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Of the sums'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--Of the sums''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Regional coastal risk management coalitions.--The 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration may form regional coastal risk management 
        coalitions comprised of representatives of Federal, State, 
        local, and tribal governments, community groups, academic 
        institutions, and nongovernmental groups to advance the goals 
        of this section for communities facing common coastal hazards 
        and risks. Such coalitions may enter into an agreement with an 
        organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a nonprofit foundation in 
        order to accept gifts and donations to support the goals of 
        this subsection.''.

SEC. 13. REPEAL OF DUPLICATE PROVISIONS.

    The Tsunami Warning and Education Act enacted by Public Law 109-424 
(120 Stat. 2902) is repealed.
                                 <all>