Quick Passage of Tsunami Warning Bill
Oregon lawmakers praised the passage of Congresswoman Bonamici’s bipartisan Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act, highlighting how the bill will help Oregon’s coastal residents prepare for a tsunami and better protect their lives and property.
The bill was among the first pieces of legislation passed by the 114th Congress. It comes just two weeks after the tenth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 200,000 people and devastated communities in more than a dozen countries in Southeast Asia.
The legislation will update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) tsunami detection, warning, research, and mitigation system and support community-specific outreach and hazard resilience planning.
“This bill will provide vulnerable communities with the most accurate information, early notification, and guidance on proper action in the event of a tsunami,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “Planning for a tsunami is a critical step and this bill will support and strengthen local preparedness programs in communities that are at greatest risk. I am grateful for the support of my coastal colleagues, who understand just how devastating a tsunami could be for Oregon’s coast and the surrounding region. Although we hope to never experience the devastation a tsunami event would bring, this bill improves preparedness and forecasting to better protect our residents.”
“Whether you live, work or take trips on the Oregon coast, we all have a stake in preparing our communities for major events such as a tsunami by improving local coordination and updating the technology,” said Congressman Peter DeFazio, a cosponsor of the bill. “There is no excuse for the U.S. to lag so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to protecting our coastlines. I’m proud to support this bill because it’s another step toward saving lives and mitigating disaster.”
“When disaster strikes, even a few minutes could make a big difference for our residents in our coastal communities,” said Congressman Kurt Schrader, a cosponsor of the bill. “We should be making every effort to modernize our notification systems and our preparedness techniques should we find ourselves in the path of a tsunami. This legislation has broad support, not just from our region, but from members of Congress from across the country who understand how devastating natural disasters can be. I’m hopeful that the Senate will take quick action to get this bill to the President’s desk.”
As a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congresswoman Bonamici introduced the bipartisan bill, H.R. 5309, which passed the House with overwhelming support last Congress. The House passed H.R. 34 today without objection. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
