WASHINGTON, D.C., October 8, 2004 – The House of Representatives gave final approval today to Committee legislation (H.R. 2608) to mitigate damage from earthquakes and windstorms. The President is expected to sign the bill into law.

The version of H.R. 2608 that was passed today reflected negotiations between the House and Senate. As a result, two bills were combined and relatively minor changes were made to both measures.

The House passed H.R. 2608 today by unanimous consent. The final version combined language from the original H.R. 2608, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2003, introduced by Research Subcommittee Chairman Nick Smith (R-MI) and Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), and language from H.R. 3980, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004, which was introduced by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS).

Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) said, “I am pleased that this important piece of legislation has finally made its way through Congress and will soon be enacted into law. Untold costs in terms of human lives and personal property will be spared because of the focus this bill places on finding ways to mitigate the destructive capabilities of earthquakes and windstorms. I applaud my colleagues, especially Mr. Smith and Mr. Neugebauer, for their leadership in pushing this bill through Congress.”

H.R. 2608 authorizes $900 million over nine years for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), a federal program involving four agencies that is designed to help prevent loss of lives and property due to earthquakes by developing better ways to prevent structures from collapsing from earthquakes. Congress established NEHRP in 1976.

Smith said, “Over the past two weeks, significant earthquake events in California and Washington have garnered our attention and concern. Thanks to NEHRP-supported monitoring equipment managed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation, scientists have been able to collect an unprecedented harvest of data from both of these geologic events. This information will undoubtedly lead to important advances in our understanding of earthquakes, and ultimately in our ability to prepare for and respond to them, and it underscores the value and importance of the NEHRP Program. I’m pleased that this legislation will continue and strengthen those efforts.”

The bill’s major NEHRP provisions include: (1) shifting lead responsibility for NEHRP from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); (2) establishment of an external Advisory Committee to provide suggestions for improvements in NEHRP; (3) reauthorization of funds for completion of the Advanced National Seismic System, an integrated seismic monitoring network; and (4) significant funding increases for NIST, reflecting the call for increased emphasis on promoting the adoption into practice of hazard reduction applications.

The bill’s major wind provisions create a program, modeled on NEHRP, to provide a focused, federal effort to mitigate windstorm damage. The bill directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an interagency working group to plan, manage, and coordinate Program activities to improve the understanding of windstorms and their impacts. The working group would include representatives of the National Science Foundation, FEMA, NIST, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Rep. Neugebauer said, “I am so pleased that my bill was included as part of this package. This year’s treacherous hurricane and tornado season has shown us just how vulnerable we are to the weather and the human costs are all too painful. My bill will get the practical effects of research out of the laboratory and into the hands of homeowners and businesses.”

“With this legislation, we will take proactive steps to save lives and property,” said Rep. Moore. “It is imperative in an age this technologically advanced that we transfer the benefits of that technology to states, communities, and individuals.”

According to the National Weather Service, windstorms have resulted in an estimated $4.5 billion in damage each year between 1995 and 2002. In recent decades, rapid population growth and development in high-risk coastal areas has accelerated these vulnerabilities. To date, federal efforts to address windstorm impacts have been relatively limited. For example, a National Academy of Sciences review of federal programs to mitigate windstorms found that “there is still a lack of leadership, focus, and coordination of wind-hazard mitigation activities across all agencies, and funding for research and development specifically targeting wind-hazard reduction issues is insufficient.”

The legislation has been endorsed by the Wind Hazard Reduction Coalition, which includes the American Society of Civil Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, American Association for Wind Engineering, International Code Council, and Manufactured Housing Institute.

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