Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
- Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 12, 2026
Bottom line
This bill aims to strengthen the nation's tsunami preparedness, warning, and mitigation capabilities through enhanced technology, improved coordination, and increased focus on vulnerable communities, particularly indigenous populations.
What it actually does
This bill reauthorizes the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, expanding its scope to explicitly include Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in all aspects of tsunami preparedness, warning, and mitigation. It mandates significant updates to warning systems, interagency coordination, research programs, and hazard mapping, while authorizing $35 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Proponents argue
Supporters would argue that this reauthorization is crucial for protecting coastal communities, especially in seismically active regions, by modernizing warning systems, improving data sharing, and ensuring equitable outreach to all at-risk populations, including indigenous communities. They would highlight the importance of continuous investment in research and infrastructure to save lives and minimize economic damage from tsunamigenic events.
Opponents contend
No direct opposition is immediately apparent for a reauthorization bill focused on natural disaster preparedness. Potential concerns, if any, might revolve around the efficiency of allocated funds, the scope of federal mandates on local entities, or the pace of implementation, but these are not explicitly stated in the provided context.
The bill is moderately detailed but structured logically, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 2(a)
Expansion of Definitions
This section adds specific definitions for "Indian Tribe," "Native Hawaiian organization," and "Tribal organization" to the Tsunami Warning and Education Act. These definitions align with existing federal law, ensuring that these groups are explicitly recognized and included in the Act's scope for tsunami preparedness and response.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that explicitly defining and including these groups ensures that federal tsunami warning and education efforts are culturally appropriate and reach all vulnerable populations, addressing historical gaps in outreach and coordination.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against this provision, as it aims to enhance inclusivity and improve disaster preparedness for all communities.
Tradeoffs
None apparent, primarily an expansion of scope for inclusivity.
Section 2(b)
Updated Program Purposes
This section updates the core purposes of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act. It emphasizes the importance of "timeliness" in warnings, explicitly includes "coordination with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations," and adds a new purpose to "ensure data and metadata are managed, archived, and made fully available for operations, research, education, and mitigation activities."
Section 2(c)(1)
Modernizing Tsunami Forecasting and Warning
This extensive section significantly updates the Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program. It mandates the use of scientific best practices, integrates new data sources like global navigation satellite systems and advanced water level gauges, and expands interagency collaboration with USGS, NSF, and NASA. It requires the USGS to integrate tsunami notifications into its earthquake early warning system and ensures that warning products and mitigation support reach Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. The section also introduces Tsunami Warning Coordinators, mandates regular drills, standardizes warning protocols across centers while allowing for regional differences, and requires annual reports to Congress on implementation progress.
Section 2(c)(2)
Tsunami Alert Level System Review
This provision requires the Administrator, in collaboration with social scientists, emergency personnel, and at-risk communities (including Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations), to conduct a study within 60 days of enactment. The study will evaluate the terminology, timing, and effectiveness of current tsunami alert levels and determine if they elicit the desired response. Within one year, the Administrator must update the alert level system for increased effectiveness and brief Congress on the findings.
Section 2(c)(5)
GAO Study on Tsunami Program Coordination
This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to initiate a comprehensive study within 90 days of enactment. The study will assess coordination efforts between various federal tsunami programs and relevant federal agencies, as well as state, local, and tribal governments and Native Hawaiian organizations. The study will identify the effectiveness of internal and external collaboration, information sharing, and communication protocols, and provide recommendations for enhancing coordination to strengthen U.S. tsunami warning capabilities. A report to Congress and public availability are required within 15 months of enactment, followed by an Administrator's report on implementation of recommendations.
Section 2(d)
Strengthening Tsunami Hazard Mitigation
This section amends the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program to explicitly include "Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations" in its collaborative efforts. It emphasizes the importance of vertical evacuation structures, sirens, and other life-saving measures for TsunamiReady communities. The program's mapping capabilities are expanded to include coastal digital elevation models, probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis maps, and evaluations of tsunami-driven sediment transport and debris impact on critical infrastructure. It also mandates the development and maintenance of a user-friendly repository of inundation and evacuation maps and standardized evacuation mapping guidelines.
Section 2(e)
Advancing Tsunami Research
This section expands the Tsunami Research Program to include Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, as well as Tribal Colleges or Universities, in its collaborative efforts. It directs research towards tsunamis with seismic and non-seismic sources, including deployment and observation systems. It also mandates the development and maintenance of a data portal for research, decision support tools, and requires the Administrator to develop a research and development plan every 36 months. This plan will identify and prioritize research needs, transition research to operations, and foster collaboration among various federal agencies, academic institutions, and stakeholders.
Section 2(i)
Funding Reauthorization
This section reauthorizes appropriations for the Tsunami Warning and Education Act at $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. It specifies that not less than 27 percent of the appropriated amount shall be for the tsunami hazard mitigation program and not less than 8 percent shall be for the tsunami research program.
Requires a cooperative effort between NOAA and USGS for USGS to incorporate tsunami notifications and warnings into its Earthquake Early Warning System.
Section 2(c)(1)(A)(vi), inserting new paragraph (8) into 33 U.S.C. 3203(b)
Why it matters:Standard legislative practice for amending existing acts by inserting new paragraphs.
Case for: Proponents would argue this integration streamlines warning dissemination, leveraging existing infrastructure (USGS's ShakeAlert system) to provide more comprehensive and rapid alerts for communities at risk from both seismic and tsunamigenic events.
Case against: No specific opposition. Potential challenges could involve technical integration complexities or resource allocation between the two agencies.
Estimated impact: Enhances the reach and speed of tsunami warnings, potentially affecting millions in earthquake-prone coastal areas.
Requires the Administrator to establish standardized procedures, processes, products, and protocols for tsunami warning centers, ensuring consistency. However, it also explicitly allows for regional differences in communication methods and decision support tools to meet unique community needs.
Section 2(c)(1)(C)(v), amending 33 U.S.C. 3203(d)(5)
Why it matters:Standard legislative practice for providing flexibility within a general mandate.
Case for: Proponents would argue this balances the need for national consistency in warning messaging (reducing confusion) with the necessity of tailoring communication to local cultural contexts, languages, and specific geographic vulnerabilities, which is crucial for effective public response.
Case against: Critics might argue that allowing regional differences could still lead to some level of inconsistency or that it complicates national training and outreach efforts. However, the bill explicitly states the goal of consistency.
Estimated impact: Improves the clarity and effectiveness of tsunami warnings for diverse coastal communities across the U.S.
Requires the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program to include the "Evaluation of the variation of inundation impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment transport" and "Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on critical infrastructure... and lifelines."
Section 2(d)(2)(C)(v), adding new subparagraphs (J) and (K) to 33 U.S.C. 3204(c)(5)
Why it matters:Standard legislative practice for detailing specific program requirements.
Case for: Proponents would argue that these evaluations are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of tsunami impacts, moving beyond just water inundation to secondary effects like sediment deposition and debris, which can severely hinder recovery and damage vital infrastructure.
Case against: No specific opposition. Potential concerns could be the technical complexity and resource intensity of such detailed modeling.
Estimated impact: Leads to more accurate risk assessments and resilient planning for critical infrastructure and recovery efforts.