What changed between these versions
A substantive set of changes. v3 reduces authorized appropriations for the General Program, USGS, and NSF, and adds new funding controls. It also refines legislative instructions, corrects a renumbering error, and broadens the scope of entities for lead agency coordination while narrowing how agencies implement recommendations.
Overview
A handful of substantive changes and several technical corrections. · v3 narrows the authorized funding levels for several agencies, clarifies legislative instructions, and adds new fiscal controls, while also expanding coordination requirements in some areas.
The most significant changes in v3 are the reductions in authorized appropriations for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program's general fund, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Science Foundation for fiscal years 2024 through 2028. Additionally, v3 introduces a new Section 10 on funding controls, specifying that funds must come from authorized appropriations and any cancelled funds will be used for deficit reduction. Other notable changes include the removal of "compounding effects of climate on these hazards" from program activities, the expansion of entities for lead agency coordination, and a clarification of how program agencies implement recommendations.
Major additions
This new section adds two subsections. Subsection (e) mandates that funds for carrying out the Act must come from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the respective agency. Subsection (f) stipulates that any appropriated funds cancelled under 31 U.S.C. 1552(a) (related to expired appropriations) shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury for deficit reduction.
This addition introduces new fiscal accountability and control mechanisms. It ensures that funding is tied directly to agency-specific appropriations and establishes a clear process for handling unspent or cancelled funds, potentially impacting agencies' flexibility in managing program budgets and contributing to broader deficit reduction efforts.
Deletions
The phrase "and the compounding effects of climate on these hazards" was part of the description of multiple hazards associated with earthquakes that the program aims to improve understanding of.
This deletion removes the explicit mandate for the program to study the interaction between climate change and earthquake hazards, potentially narrowing the scope of research and understanding in this area.
This instruction in v2 added "social," after "scientific," in the description of the Advisory Committee's required expertise (Section 5(a)(5)(A)).
The removal of this instruction means that "social" expertise is no longer explicitly mandated for the Advisory Committee, potentially shifting the interdisciplinary focus of the committee away from social science perspectives on earthquake hazards reduction.
Modifications
The actual content of the findings is minimally affected, primarily by a minor typo correction. The core finding about population at risk remains consistent between versions.
Before
V2 instructed to add a new sentence regarding the population at risk from earthquakes at the end of paragraph (1) of the findings.
After
V3 instructs to fix a typo ("Tennessee,,") and then strike an existing sentence ("A large portion of the population...") and insert the new sentence regarding the population at risk. The resulting text of the finding is largely the same, but the legislative instruction is more precise.
This change clarifies the legislative intent for the placement of the new text within the definition of "earthquake hazards," ensuring proper grammatical and contextual integration, though the substantive meaning of the definition is likely unchanged from the intent of v2.
Before
V2 instructed to insert the phrase ", including secondary effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis" into paragraph (3) of the definitions, without specifying an exact insertion point.
After
V3 instructs to insert the same phrase ", including secondary effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis" specifically "after 'earthquakes'" in paragraph (3) of the definitions.
This significantly broadens the range of stakeholders with whom the lead agency is mandated to coordinate on planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting infrastructure, potentially leading to more comprehensive and integrated hazard reduction strategies across various sectors and professions.
Before
V2 expanded the list of entities with whom the lead agency (NIST) should coordinate to include "local, and Tribal governments".
After
V3 further expands this list to include "local, and Tribal governments, national standards and model building code organizations, architects and engineers, and others with a role in planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting buildings and lifeline infrastructure;".
This correction ensures the proper sequencing and referencing of responsibilities for the United States Geological Survey, preventing potential confusion or omissions that would have resulted from the erroneous renumbering in v2.
Before
V2 instructed to redesignate subparagraphs (D) through (K) as subparagraphs (L) through (Q), which was an inconsistent renumbering (8 items to 6 items).
After
V3 corrects this instruction, redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (K) as subparagraphs (I) through (P), which is a consistent renumbering (8 items to 8 items).
The specific modifications intended by these instructions are now applied to the correct programmatic responsibilities of the USGS, ensuring the intended policy changes (e.g., FCC coordination, punctuation fixes, hazard map details) are accurately reflected in the statutory text.
Before
These instructions in v2 applied specific modifications (inserting text, changing punctuation) to subparagraphs (I), (L), (M), and (O) as they would have been redesignated by the erroneous renumbering in v2.
After
These same instructions in v3 apply to different subparagraphs (I), (L), (M), and (O) as correctly redesignated by the corrected renumbering in v3. Additionally, SEC. 5(g)(8) in v3 clarifies the insertion point for its text.
This change clarifies the legislative intent for the placement of the new text within the description of NSF's research responsibilities, ensuring proper grammatical and contextual integration, though the substantive meaning is likely unchanged from the intent of v2.
Before
V2 instructed to insert the phrase "including updated tsunami and liquefaction risk maps," into clause (iii) of the NSF's responsibilities, without specifying an exact insertion point.
After
V3 instructs to insert the same phrase "including updated tsunami and liquefaction risk maps," specifically "after 'maps,'" in clause (iii) of the NSF's responsibilities.
This modification limits agencies to implementing recommendations *only* through activities explicitly authorized by the Act, potentially restricting their flexibility to pursue broader research, projects, or grants that might otherwise support these recommendations but fall outside the strict definition of "Program activities authorized by this Act."
Before
V2 stated that each Program agency "shall execute research, projects, grants, and other activities that support, promote, advance, or otherwise implement" recommendations for improving post-earthquake recovery.
After
V3 states that each Program agency "shall implement, within the Program activities authorized by this Act, the applicable recommendations" for improving post-earthquake recovery.
This change reduces the overall authorized funding for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program by $2,090,000 annually, potentially limiting the program's capacity to undertake new initiatives or maintain existing efforts at previous levels.
Before
V2 authorized $10,590,000 annually for the General Program for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
After
V3 authorizes $8,500,000 annually for the General Program for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
This change reduces the authorized funding for the USGS by $8,473,000 annually, which may impact its ability to conduct research, monitoring, and early warning system expansion, especially given that the specific earmark for the Advanced National Seismic System remains constant, meaning other areas of USGS activity will bear the brunt of the reduction.
Before
V2 authorized $100,900,000 annually for the United States Geological Survey for fiscal years 2024 through 2028, with $36,000,000 earmarked for the Advanced National Seismic System.
After
V3 authorizes $92,427,000 annually for the United States Geological Survey for fiscal years 2024 through 2028, with the same $36,000,000 earmark for the Advanced National Seismic System.
This change reduces the authorized funding for the NSF by $4,000,000 annually, potentially affecting its capacity to fund earthquake-related research, education, and infrastructure development.
Before
V2 authorized $58,000,000 annually for the National Science Foundation for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
After
V3 authorizes $54,000,000 annually for the National Science Foundation for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — Changes are scattered throughout the bill, affecting findings, definitions, program activities, agency responsibilities, and appropriations. A new section is also added. — V3 represents a meaningful shift in policy direction by reducing overall authorized funding for the program and introducing new fiscal controls, while also refining the scope of certain activities and expanding stakeholder coordination in specific areas. — The renumbering correction in Section 5(g)(3) directly impacts the application of subsequent instructions in Section 5(g)(5)-(8). The new funding controls in Section 10 interact with all authorized appropriations throughout the bill.
Impact analysis
Federal agencies participating in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), specifically the overall program, USGS, and NSF.
Loss of potential funding.
Authorized appropriation levels for these agencies are reduced for fiscal years 2024-2028.
Federal agencies managing appropriated funds under this Act.
Procedural change, potentially restricting funding flexibility.
New requirements for funding sources and deficit reduction for cancelled funds are introduced.
Researchers and programs focused on the "compounding effects of climate on earthquake hazards."
Loss of explicit programmatic focus.
The explicit mandate to study this specific interaction is removed from the program activities.
The Advisory Committee for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
Procedural change, potentially altering the interdisciplinary composition of the committee.
The explicit requirement for "social" expertise on the committee is removed.
National standards and model building code organizations, architects, engineers, and other professionals involved in planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting buildings and lifeline infrastructure.
Gain in formal coordination and influence.
The lead agency (NIST) is now explicitly required to coordinate with these expanded groups.
Program agencies implementing recommendations for post-earthquake recovery.
Procedural change, potentially restricting flexibility.
The scope of implementation is narrowed to "within the Program activities authorized by this Act."