[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1626 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 249
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1626
[Report No. 119-92]
To reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 6, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
November 3, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
<DELETED>SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS
ACT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the National Landslide
Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11)
as paragraphs (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16),
respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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)).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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)).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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)).'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so
redesignated, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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)).'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by inserting after paragraph (11), as so
redesignated, the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) National strategy.--Section 3(b)(2) of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(2)) is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively,
and indenting appropriately;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``Not later than'' and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--Not later than'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) National landslide hazards database.--Section
3(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C.
3102(b)(3)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and
(D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) the identification of areas in need
of additional hazard risk assessment, including areas
that may be at risk due to--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) hydrology or changes in
hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or
other characteristics that could impact
landslide risk;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) atmospheric river flooding
events and extreme precipitation events, as
identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the
Secretary;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) geologic activity, such as
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) data-poor areas or hazards
with poor monitoring that could contribute to
increased landslide risk;''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``Native Hawaiian organizations and
other stakeholders, as appropriate,'' before ``and
Indian tribes'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (A)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking clause (iii) and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) health and safety with
respect to landslides;'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) by redesignating clause (iv)
as clause (v); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) by inserting after clause
(iii) the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) reducing losses from
landslides, including the threats caused by
atmospheric rivers and other extreme
precipitation events; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in clause (i), by striking
``local, and Tribal officials'' and inserting
``and local officials, Indian tribes, Tribal
organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively,
and indenting appropriately;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``In carrying out'' and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--In carrying out'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Emergency response activities.--Section
3(b)(6) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C.
3102(b)(6)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively,
and indenting appropriately;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``In carrying'' and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--In
carrying'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subparagraph (A) (as so
designated)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the matter preceding clause
(i) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``Native
Hawaiian organizations,'' before ``and Indian
tribes'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in clause (ii) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``and'' at the
end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) in clause (iii) (as so
redesignated), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) to improve real-time risk
management during landslide events, including
with respect to landslide events caused by--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) hydrology or changes
in hydrology that may include erosion,
drought, or other characteristics that
could impact landslide risk;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) atmospheric river
flooding events and extreme
precipitation events, as identified by
the Secretary of Commerce and the
Secretary;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) geologic activity,
such as volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, or tsunamis;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV) data-poor areas or
hazards with poor monitoring that could
contribute to increased landslide risk;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(V) thawing permafrost
and glacial retreat causing
destabilization of slopes.'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(J) The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Advisory committee.--Section 3(d)(2)(B) of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102(d)(2)(B))
is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in clause (iii), by striking
``geological''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) Regional partnerships.--Section 3 of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by redesignating subsections (e)
through (i) as subsections (f) through (j),
respectively; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by inserting after subsection (d) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(e) Regional Partnerships.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(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).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Purposes and duties.--A regional partnership
established under paragraph (1) shall--</DELE