Political Quotes

“Mr. President, yesterday, along with several of my colleagues, I introduced the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 2017. This bill would reauthorize a national program to improve the Nation's earthquake preparedness. Senators Murkowski, Gardner, Murray, Wyden, Harris, Merkley, and Cantwell are original cosponsors of this bill, and I thank them for their support. I firmly believe that, when it comes to a catastrophic earthquake, it is not a matter of if it will occur, it is a matter of when. It is important that we recognize the threats posed by earthquakes and do all we can to plan for the worst. By reauthorizing the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, we will ensure that vital research, assistance to States, and development of early-warning systems continue. Earthquakes threaten many areas in the United States--some densely populated, some not. The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program helps four Federal agencies--the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Science Foundation--coordinate earthquake research and education activities, as well as develop and disseminate information and best practices in order to protect public safety. The most recent reauthorization expired in 2009. While there is still much that we do not know about earthquakes, we do know that there are many actions that we can take to reduce earthquake risk.…”