PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-307.

Official summary

Version 49 · Public Law · Dec 11, 2018

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018

This bill amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to reauthorize through FY2023, and expand activities under, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to include: (1) gathering information on community resilience (i.e., the ability of a community to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to earthquakes); (2) publishing a systematic set of maps of active faults and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, susceptibility for earthquake-induced landslides, and other seismically induced hazards; and (3) continuing the development of the Advanced National Seismic System, including earthquake early warning capabilities.

(Sec. 2) The bill modifies the Act's findings to include Puerto Rico as vulnerable to the hazards of earthquakes, and adds Oregon and Tennessee to the list of states cited as having major or moderate seismic risk.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

(Sec. 3) With respect to earthquake hazard reduction activities, the bill revises or expands the duties of: (1) the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction, (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), (3) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), (4) the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and (5) the National Science Foundation.

(Sec. 4) The Government Accountability Office shall complete a review of federal earthquake hazard risk reduction efforts.

(Sec. 5) NIST and FEMA must jointly convene a committee of experts to assess and recommend options for improving seismic safety standards.

(Sec. 6) The USGS must submit to Congress a five-year management plan for the continued operation of the Advanced National Seismic System.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

  • Natural Resources Committee
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 115-307.

  2. Became Public Law No: 115-307.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9581-9584)

  9. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9581-9584)

  10. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1768.

  11. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9581-9586)

  12. Mr. Rohrabacher moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  13. Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

  14. Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural 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.

  15. Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural 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.

  16. Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural 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.

  17. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  18. Received in the House.

  19. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  20. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  21. The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (CR S6364)

  22. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6364)

  23. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 568.

  24. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-336.

  25. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-336.

  26. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  27. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  28. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1768 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1768 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1768 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1768 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources