Rep. Lofgren Applauds Passage of Earthquake-Windstorm Bill

Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072

Washington DC -- Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D – San Jose) applauds the passage of National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, a bill that she co-sponsored to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and to establish the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. The bill passed the House on Friday night by unanimous vote. This legislation is designed to help prevent loss of lives and property due to earthquakes and windstorms.

“Californians are all too familiar with the threat of earthquakes and while we cannot prevent natural disasters, we can mitigate their impact. I am happy that this legislation passed unanimously because it will strengthen coordination and focus so that we can make inter-agency efforts more effective,” said Rep. Lofgren, a member of the Committee on Science. “It is essential that we continue to foster innovation and research to advance the ability to understand and predict earthquakes. I also applaud Senators Boxer and Feinstein’s efforts to get this measure passed in the Senate.”

Congress established NEHRP in 1977 to be the inter-agency entity tasked with improving the understanding of earthquakes through research and monitoring, developing measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and promoting the adoption and application of those measures by relevant stakeholders. The program consists of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Originally introduced as in H.R. 3980, The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program seeks to achieve major measurable reductions in losses of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated federal effort, in cooperation with other public and private entities. The Interagency Working Group on Windstorm Impact Reduction will consist of representatives from NSF, NIST, FEMA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other federal agencies.