February 26, 2015                                                             

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee marked up and passed the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 (H.R.34) on February 26. The legislation reauthorizes programs that support tsunami forecasting and coastal mitigation efforts and includes a new authorization for tsunami detection research. This research involves developing a test near-field warning system for the Northwest U.S., where tsunami waves generated by an offshore earthquake could reach the coast in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) supported the bill, stating “we want a preparedness plan, and we want to do everything we can to make sure people are ready. Twenty minutes is not enough time to evacuate everyone from coastal communities.”

The bill, which passed the House in January, may move to the Senate floor for consideration.

Source: Congress.gov, E&E News