To reauthorize the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill reauthorizes the National Landslide Preparedness Act for another 10 years (through 2034) and significantly expands federal programs to monitor and respond to landslides, floods, and extreme weather events. It creates a new "Next Generation Water Observing System" within the U.S. Geological Survey to provide real-time water data and establishes regional partnerships for landslide research.
Who Benefits and How
U.S. Geological Survey receives expanded authority and increased funding ($40M annually, up from $25M) to deploy landslide early warning systems and modernize water monitoring infrastructure. Institutions of higher education gain new partnership opportunities for landslide research and emergency response consultation. Native Hawaiian Communities and Tribal organizations are explicitly included in consultation requirements and grant eligibility, gaining access to federal disaster preparedness resources they may have been excluded from previously. State and local governments in high-risk areas benefit from improved early warning systems and hazard mapping.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers bear the cost of increased appropriations ($40M/year for landslide preparedness, $42.5M for the water observing system, $100M/year for streamgages). The Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce face new coordination and reporting requirements, including developing national strategies that assess atmospheric river risks. No significant new burdens are placed on private industry or individuals.
Key Provisions
- Extends funding authorization from 2024 to 2034 and increases annual appropriations from $25M to $40M, with $15M earmarked for landslide early warning systems
- Establishes the Next Generation Water Observing System to provide real-time water quantity/quality data with $42.5M in initial funding
- Adds new definitions for "atmospheric river," "atmospheric river flooding event," and "extreme precipitation event" to guide hazard assessment
- Requires regional partnerships with universities and organizations for landslide research in high-hazard areas
- Expands consultation requirements to include Native Hawaiian Communities and Tribal organizations throughout the act
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Reauthorizes and expands the National Landslide Preparedness Act through 2034, increases funding for landslide early warning systems, adds provisions for atmospheric river and extreme precipitation monitoring, and establishes the Next Generation Water Observing System within USGS.
Key Policy Areas
Natural Disasters, Water Resources, Scientific Research, Indigenous Affairs
Primary Purpose
Reauthorizes and expands the National Landslide Preparedness Act through 2034, increases funding for landslide early warning systems, adds provisions for atmospheric river and extreme precipitation monitoring, and establishes the Next Generation Water Observing System within USGS.
Policy Domains
National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2024
Identified Gains
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Institutions of higher education
- Native Hawaiian Communities
- Tribal organizations
- State and local emergency management agencies
- Environmental monitoring equipment manufacturers
Identified Costs
- Federal taxpayers
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Commerce
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Indian tribes and Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian Communities, Tribal organizations
Environmental monitoring equipment manufacturers, Environmental sensor and monitoring equipment manufacturers, Environmental sensor manufacturers
State and local emergency management agencies, State water resource agencies
Water resource managers in drought-prone regions, Water utilities and resource managers
Institutions of higher education with geoscience expertise
Communities in permafrost regions (Alaska)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "secretary_of_commerce"
- → Secretary of Commerce
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that produces significant quantities of rain or snow and may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding
The distinct Native Hawaiian indigenous political community that Congress, exercising its plenary power over Native American affairs, has recognized and with which Congress has implemented a special political and trust relationship
Has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
Has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))
An atmospheric river that results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy, and is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce
Precipitation quantities exceeding the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific location
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology