[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2250 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2250
To reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 2025
Ms. DelBene (for herself, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Schrier, Ms. Perez, Ms.
Randall, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Larsen of Washington, and Ms.
Strickland) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the
Committee on Natural Resources, 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 reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, 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 ``National Landslide Preparedness Act
Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS UNDER FLOOD LEVEL OBSERVATION, OPERATIONS,
AND DECISION SUPPORT ACT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation,
Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting before paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(1) Atmospheric river.--The term `atmospheric river'
means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the
atmosphere that--
``(A) produces significant quantities of rain or
snow; and
``(B) may be primarily beneficial to the water
supply or hazardous due to flooding.
``(2) Atmospheric river flooding event.--The term
`atmospheric river flooding event' means an atmospheric river
that--
``(A) results in flooding of rivers and streams or
other hazards to human life, property, or the economy;
and
``(B) is of particular concern to human health,
property, and the economy, as determined by the
Secretary of Commerce.
``(3) Extreme precipitation event.--The term `extreme
precipitation event' means precipitation quantities exceeding
the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific
location.''.
(b) Requirements.--Section 12(d)(1) of the Flood Level Observation,
Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(d)(1)) is amended
by inserting ``, such as precipitation resulting from hurricanes,
atmospheric river flooding events, and extreme precipitation events''
before the period at the end.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the National Landslide Preparedness
Act (43 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (12) as
paragraphs (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16),
respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Atmospheric river.--The term `atmospheric river' has
the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level
Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C.
9707(a)).
``(5) Atmospheric river flooding event.--The term
`atmospheric river flooding event' has the meaning given the
term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation,
Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).
``(6) Extreme precipitation event.--The term `extreme
precipitation event' has the meaning given the term in section
12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision
Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)).'';
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(9) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).'';
(4) by inserting after paragraph (11), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(12) Native hawaiian organization.--The term `Native
Hawaiian organization' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517), except that the term includes the
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(17) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).''.
(b) National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Section 3(a)(3) of the National
Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(a)(3)) is amended by
striking ``protect'' and inserting ``contribute to
protecting''.
(2) Program activities.--Section 3(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C.
3102(b)(1)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking ``implement'' and
inserting ``disseminate''.
(3) National strategy.--Section 3(b)(2) of the National
Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(2)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``Not later than'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Not later than''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Assessment.--For purposes of the first
national strategy published after the date of enactment
of the National Landslide Preparedness Act
Reauthorization Act of 2025 under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of
Commerce, shall include an assessment of the risks that
atmospheric river flooding events and extreme
precipitation events pose to the safety of life and
property in the United States with respect to landslide
hazards.''.
(4) National landslide hazards database.--Section 3(b)(3)
of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C.
3102(b)(3)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the
following:
``(C) the identification of areas in need of
additional hazard risk assessment, including areas that
may be at risk due to--
``(i) hydrology or changes in hydrology
that may include erosion, drought, or other
characteristics that could impact landslide
risk;
``(ii) atmospheric river flooding events
and extreme precipitation events, as identified
by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;
``(iii) geologic activity, such as volcanic
eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; or
``(iv) data-poor areas or hazards with poor
monitoring that could contribute to increased
landslide risk;''.
(5) Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for
communities.--Section 3(b)(4) of the National Landslide
Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(4)) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``Native Hawaiian organizations and other
stakeholders, as appropriate,'' before ``and Indian
tribes'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``local, and Tribal governments and
decisionmakers'' and inserting ``and local
governments, Indian tribes, Tribal
organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
and other decisionmakers'';
(ii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting
the following:
``(iii) health and safety with respect to
landslides;'';
(iii) by redesignating clause (iv) as
clause (v); and
(iv) by inserting after clause (iii) the
following:
``(iv) reducing losses from landslides,
including the threats caused by atmospheric
rivers and other extreme precipitation events;
and''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``local, and
Tribal officials'' and inserting ``and local
officials, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations,
and Native Hawaiian organizations''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``local,
and Tribal emergency managers'' and inserting
``and local emergency managers and emergency
managers of Indian tribes, Tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations''.
(6) Debris flow early warning system.--Section 3(b)(5) of
the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(5))
is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``State,
territorial, local, and Tribal governments'' and
inserting ``State, territorial, and local governments,
Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native
Hawaiian organizations'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(C) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``In carrying out'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--In carrying out''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Consultation.--In carrying out subparagraph
(A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of
higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv)
and other stakeholders to establish and support
emergency response procedures, as appropriate.''.
(7) Emergency response activities.--Section 3(b)(6) of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(6)) is
amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``In carrying'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--In carrying'';
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by inserting ``Native
Hawaiian organizations,'' before ``and Indian
tribes'';
(ii) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated),
by striking ``and'' at the end;
(iii) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated),
by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) to improve real-time risk management
during landslide events, including with respect
to landslide events caused by--
``(I) hydrology or changes in
hydrology that may include erosion,
drought, or other characteristics that
could impact landslide risk;
``(II) atmospheric river flooding
events and extreme precipitation
events, as identified by the Secretary
of Commerce and the Secretary;
``(III) geologic activity, such as
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or
tsunamis;
``(IV) data-poor areas or hazards
with poor monitoring that could
contribute to increased landslide risk;
or
``(V) thawing permafrost and
glacial retreat causing destabilization
of slopes.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Consultation.--In carrying out subparagraph
(A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of
higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv)
and the private sector.''.
(8) Interagency coordinating committee on landslide
hazards.--Section 3(c)(2) of the National Landslide
Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(c)(2)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(J) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.''.
(9) Advisory committee.--Section 3(d)(2)(B) of the National
Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(d)(2)(B)) is
amended--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``geological'';
and
(B) in clause (vi), by striking ``local, and Tribal
emergency management agencies'' and inserting ``and
local emergency management agencies and emergency
management agencies of Indian tribes and Native
Hawaiian organizations''.
(10) Regional partnerships.--Section 3 of the National
Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as
subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (d) the
following:
``(e) Regional Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act
Reauthorization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish in
the State of Alaska and other regions, as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate, a regional partnership with an
eligible partner described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Eligible partners.--An organization or institution of
higher education with expertise in landslide mapping, research,
and monitoring shall be eligible for a regional partnership
under paragraph (1).
``(3) Purposes and duties.--A regional partnership
established under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) allow the Secretary to leverage applicable
expertise in regional organizations;
``(B) coordinate long-term landslide research
specific to the applicable region; and
``(C) align interagency landslide monitoring
efforts.''.
(11) Grant programs.--Section 3 of the National Landslide
Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in paragraph (1)
of subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``local,
and Tribal governments to research, map, assess'' and
inserting ``and local governments, Indian tribes,
Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations
to research, map, assess, monitor'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting
``institutions of higher education described in
subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv),'' before ``and Indian
tribes''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by redesignating subclauses
(II) through (IV) as subclauses (III)
through (V), respectively; and
(II) by inserting after subclause
(I) the following:
``(II) in regions that have
recently experienced loss of life due
to landslides;''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ``awarded''
after ``grants''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``made''
and inserting ``or other accomplishments
resulting''.
(12) Significant events.--Section 3 of the National
Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in
subsection (h)(3) (as so redesignated), by striking ``local,
and Tribal partners'' and inserting ``and local partners,
Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations''.
(13) Funding.--Section 3 of the National Landslide
Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in subsection (i)
(as so redesignated)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2030''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``there is
authorized to be appropriated to the United