National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Alex Padilla
Passed Senate
Summary
Expanded earthquake resilience and tribal inclusion. This Act reauthorizes and reshapes the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to add Tribal governments, emphasize post‑quake recovery and rapid reoccupancy, and strengthen early warning and standards.
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- Tribal governments and vulnerable people: The law explicitly includes Tribal governments in program authorities, planning, partnerships, and outreach. It also requires housing and care facilities for vulnerable populations to be considered in evaluations and retrofits.
- Communities and infrastructure: Agencies must expand inventories of high seismic‑risk buildings and infrastructure and prioritize replacement or retrofitting. A FEMA report cited by the Act estimates annualized building losses of about $14.7 billion and total economic exposure of about $107.8 trillion.
- Science, warnings, and funding: The Act elevates USGS, NSF, and NIST roles for data sharing, forecasting, and aftershock analysis, and requires coordination with the FCC and FEMA for alerts and technical help. It authorizes multi‑year appropriations for 2024–2028 and sets a minimum of $36 million per year for the Advanced National Seismic System.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Faster, broader earthquake and tsunami alerts
USGS would work with NOAA and FEMA on ocean quakes and tsunamis. USGS would expand earthquake early warning into more high‑risk areas and improve warning lead time. Alerts would be sent quickly, in main local languages, with FCC coordination. USGS would coordinate with State and Tribal governments on upgrades. After large U.S. quakes, USGS could issue aftershock forecasts when appropriate.
Five-year funding and budget controls
If enacted, the bill would authorize yearly NEHRP funding for FY2024–FY2028. It would authorize $8.5 million each year for program activities. It would authorize $54 million for NSF, $5.9 million for NIST, and $92.427 million for USGS each year. At least $36 million of USGS’s amount each year would go to finish the Advanced National Seismic System. Agencies would only use money Congress authorizes and appropriates, and cancelled funds would reduce the federal deficit.
Better quake, tsunami, and liquefaction maps
NSF would include updated tsunami and liquefaction risk maps in its hazard work. It would update which minority‑serving colleges are eligible using a Higher Education Act reference. The bill would define “Tribal government,” “functional recovery,” and “earthquake forecast” to guide program work.
FEMA help for recovery and evacuations
FEMA would add performance evaluations, not just safety inspections, after earthquakes. It would aim to speed functional recovery for communities. FEMA outreach would include Tribal governments. FEMA would give technical help to create evacuation plans for earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and related hazards.
Stronger building retrofits and resilience planning
The bill would expand NEHRP to cover design, evaluation, and retrofitting of buildings and lifeline systems. It would develop standards and voluntary codes that set recovery‑based goals for reoccupancy and downtime. Agencies would publish susceptibility information, including tsunami risk. If funds are available and a government asks, agencies could help create inventories, run evaluations, and find cost‑effective retrofits. The bill cites $14.7 billion in yearly quake losses and $107.8 trillion in exposure, and stresses inventories and retrofit programs.
Stronger post-earthquake investigations and follow-up
Post‑earthquake investigations would cover major U.S. and international quakes, with FEMA’s role noted. Program agencies would carry out recommendations to improve reoccupancy and functional recovery. Each agency would report progress by September 30, 2025, and at least every two years after. The interagency committee would include this in its biennial report and plan needed budgets.
Stronger quake standards for affordable housing
The bill would shift affordable housing rules from “safety” to “performance” that targets faster post‑earthquake recovery. This could make units safer to reoccupy after quakes. It might also raise compliance or building costs for housing providers. It applies to units covered by Section 947 of the Cranston‑Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Cosponsors
Lisa Murkowski
AK • R
Sponsored 1/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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