Tsunami Preparedness Act

Bill: 109-s-50
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2005-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic and polar regions
Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
Atlantic Ocean
Caribbean area
Coastal zone
Communication satellites
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Commerce
Earth resources satellites
Earthquakes
Electronic mail systems
Emergency communication systems
Evacuation of civilians
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government publicity
Gulf of Mexico
Hawaii
International Affairs
International agencies
International cooperation
International cooperation in science
Internet
Latin America
Maintenance and repair
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Ocean currents
Oceanographic research
Pacific Ocean
Pacific area
Radio broadcasting
Remote sensing
Rescue work
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Seismology
Space activities
Technical assistance
Technological innovations
Technology assessment
Technology transfer
Telephone
Television broadcasting
Tsunamis
Weather forecasting
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-24
text: 
Tsunami Preparedness Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate regional tsunami detection and warning systems for the Pacific Ocean region and for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico region that will provide maximum detection capability for U.S. coastal tsunami. Requires the Administrator to establish tsunami warning centers to provide a link between the detection and warning system and the tsunami hazard mitigation program established under this Act in order to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas. 
 
Directs the Administrator to establish a tsunami research program to develop detection, prediction, communication, and mitigation science and technology that supports tsunami forecasts and warnings.
 
Directs the Administrator to take certain actions to upgrade and modernize the U.S. tsunami detection and warning system.
 
Directs the Administrator to provide technical assistance and advice to certain international organizations as part of an international effort to develop a fully functional global tsunami warning system composed of regional tsunami warning networks.

action_date: 2005-04-19
text: 
Tsunami Preparedness Act - (Sec. 2) Sets forth the purposes of this Act, including improvement of tsunami detection, forecast, warnings, notification, preparedness, and mitigation in order to protect life and property both in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate regional tsunami detection and warning systems for the Pacific Ocean region and for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico regions that will provide maximum detection capability for U.S. coastal tsunamis. Requires the Administrator to establish tsunami warning centers to provide a link between the detection and warning system and the tsunami hazard mitigation program established under this Act in order to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas.
 
Directs the Administrator to maintain national and regionally-based data management systems to support and establish data management requirements for the tsunami detection and monitoring system.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator to develop and conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to establish a tsunami research program to develop detection, prediction, communication, and mitigation science and technology that supports tsunami forecasts and warnings, including advanced sensing techniques, information and communication technology, data collection, analysis and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical forecast modeling that will, among other things, help determine the likely path, severity, duration, and travel time of a tsunami.
 
Requires the Administrator to investigate the potential for improved communications systems for tsunami and other hazard warnings by incorporating into the existing network a full range of options for providing those warnings to the public, including telephones, the Internet, automatic alert televisions and radios, and other technologies that may be developed.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Administrator to take certain actions to upgrade and modernize the U.S. tsunami detection and warning system. Requires the Administrator to report annually to Congress on the status of the tsunami detection and warning system, as well as progress and accomplishments of the national tsunami hazard mitigation program.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Administrator to provide technical assistance and advice to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization, the Group on Earth Observations, and other international entities as part of an international effort to develop a fully functional global tsunami warning system comprised of regional tsunami warning networks. Requires the Administrator to seek funding assistance from participating nations to ensure establishment of such warning system.
 
Requires the Administrator to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for all Pacific Ocean nations participating in the International Tsunami Warning System of the Pacific, and which may also provide such assistance to other nations participating in a global tsunami warning system established through the International Oceanographic Committee of UNESCO. 
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Administrator to establish an integrated coastal vulnerability and adaptation program focused on improving the resilience of coastal communities to natural hazards and disasters.
 
Requires the Administrator to establish three regional pilot projects to assess the vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to hazards associated with tsunami and other coastal hazards. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress regional adaptation plans based on the information contained in the regional assessments that recommend targets and strategies to address coastal impacts associated with tsunami, climate change, sea level rise, or climate variability.
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2006 through 2012.

action_date: 2005-07-01
text: 
Tsunami Preparedness Act - (Sec. 2) Sets forth the purposes of this Act, including improvement of tsunami detection, forecast, warnings, notification, preparedness, and mitigation in order to protect life and property both in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate regional tsunami detection and warning systems for the Pacific Ocean region and for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico regions that will provide maximum detection capability for U.S. coastal tsunamis. Requires the Administrator to establish tsunami warning centers to provide a link between the detection and warning system and the tsunami hazard mitigation program established under this Act.
 
Directs the Administrator to maintain national and regionally-based data management systems to support and establish data management requirements for the tsunami detection and monitoring system.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator to develop and conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to establish a tsunami research program to develop detection, prediction, communication, and mitigation science and technology that supports tsunami forecasts and warnings, including advanced sensing techniques, information and communication technology, data collection, analysis and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical forecast modeling that will, among other things, help determine the likely path, severity, duration, and travel time of a tsunami. Requires the Administrator to investigate the potential for improved technology for tsunami and other hazard warnings by incorporating into the existing system a full range of options for providing such warnings to the public.
 
Requires the Administrator to investigate the potential for improved communications systems for tsunami and other hazard warnings by incorporating into the existing network a full range of options for providing those warnings to the public, including telephones, the Internet, automatic alert televisions and radios, and other technologies that may be developed.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Administrator to take certain actions to upgrade and modernize the U.S. tsunami detection and warning system. Requires the Administrator to report annually to Congress on the status of the tsunami detection and warning system, as well as progress and accomplishments of the national tsunami hazard mitigation program.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Administrator to provide technical assistance and advice to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization, the Group on Earth Observations, and other international entities as part of an international effort to develop a fully functional global tsunami warning system comprised of regional tsunami warning networks. Requires the Administrator to seek funding assistance from participating nations to ensure establishment of such warning system.
 
Requires the Administrator to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for all Pacific Ocean nations participating in the International Tsunami Warning System of the Pacific, and which may also provide such assistance to other nations participating in a global tsunami warning system established through the International Oceanographic Committee of UNESCO. 
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Administrator to establish an integrated coastal vulnerability and adaptation program focused on improving the resilience of coastal communities to natural hazards and disasters.
 
Requires the Administrator to establish three regional pilot projects to assess the vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to hazards associated with tsunami and other natural hazards or coastal disasters. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress regional adaptation plans based on the information contained in the regional assessments that recommend appropriate targets and strategies.
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2012.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans.
action_date: 2005-07-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2005-07-11
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7930-7936; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S7930-7935)
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 109-59.
action_date: 2005-04-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 109-59.
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2005-02-02
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-93.
action_date: 2005-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S238-240)
action_date: 2005-01-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S237-238, S240-241)
action_date: 2005-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate