Earthquake Hazards Reduction Authorization Act of 2000
Held at the desk.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 24, 1999
Earth, Wind, and Fire Authorization Act of 1999 - Title I: Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act - Amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for FY 2000 through 2002 for: (1) the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to carry out specified activities under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program; (2) the Secretary of the Interior for responsibilities assigned to the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with specified funds earmarked for the Global Seismic Network and for carrying out a competitive, peer-reviewed program under which FEMA awards grants to or enters into cooperative agreements with State and local governments and persons or entities from the academic community and the private sector; (3) the National Science Foundation (NSF) for engineering research and geosciences research; and (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology.(Sec. 102) Repeals provisions of the Act concerning: (1) non-Federal cost sharing for certain supplemental funds; (2) the authorization of appropriations in prior fiscal years for certain required adjustments in employee salaries and benefits; and (3) the availability of FY 1991-1993 funding.(Sec. 103) Requires the USGS Director to establish and operate an Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System to organize, modernize, and standardize U.S. national, regional, and urban seismic monitoring systems. Requires such Director to transmit to Congress a five-year management plan for establishing and operating the System. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2005, and additional amounts for FY 2001 and 2002 for System operation.(Sec. 104) Requires the NSF Director to establish a Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation that will upgrade, link, and integrate a system of geographically distributed experimental facilities for earthquake engineering testing of full-sized structures and partial-scale models. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004.(Sec. 105) Directs FEMA to: (1) annually provide guidance to other agencies involved in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (Program) concerning the preparation of requests for appropriations for Program activities; and (2) prepare and submit to the Office of Management and Budget an annual Program budget. Requires each Program agency to specify Program activities in their annual request for appropriations.(Sec. 106) Requires the FEMA Director to report to Congress describing Program elements that specifically address the needs of at-risk populations.(Sec. 107) Requires FEMA's comprehensive earthquake education and public awareness program to include increasing public access to available locality-specific information to assist the public in preparing for or responding to earthquakes.Title II: National Weather Service and Related Agencies Authorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 and 2001 to the Secretary of Commerce to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out: (1) Operations, Research, and Facilities activities of the National Weather Service (NWS); (2) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction activities of NWS; (3) Atmospheric Research Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and development activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OOAR); (4) Atmospheric Research Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction environmental research and development activities of OOAR; (5) Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and development and related activities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); and (6) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction environmental research and development and related activities of NESDIS.(Sec. 205) Directs the NOAA Administrator to make available through the NOAA Internet home page information relating to all research grants and awards made with funds authorized by this Act.Title III: Fire Administration Authorization Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for FY 2000 through 2002 for Federal fire prevention and control activities. Prohibits the obligation of such funds until the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration (USFA) has verified to specified congressional committees that such obligation is consistent with the strategic plan.(Sec. 302) Directs the USFA Administrator to prepare and submit to such committees: (1) a five-year strategic plan of USFA program activities; and (2) a report describing USFA's research agenda and a plan for implementing such agenda.(Sec. 303) Directs the USFA Administrator to make publicly available, including through the Internet, information on procedures for: (1) acquiring surplus and excess equipment or property that may be useful to State and local fire, emergency, and hazardous material handling service providers; and (2) establishing cooperative agreements between State and local fire and emergency services and Federal facilities in their region for the coordinated provision of such services.(Sec. 306) Directs the USFA Administrator to conduct and report to Congress on an assessment of the need for additional capabilities for Federal counterterrorism training of emergency response personnel.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text as passed Senate: CR 10/19/2000 S10835-10836)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text as passed Senate: CR 10/19/2000 S10835-10836)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10737-10740; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S10737-10740)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 760.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/26/2000 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-384.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/26/2000 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-384.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11438)
Introduced in Senate
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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