Sherwood Boehlert: “Mr. Speaker, first I would like to point out that the passage of this legislation shows what can happen when we all work…”

“Mr. Speaker, first I would like to point out that the passage of this legislation shows what can happen when we all work together. Since its inception in 1977, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program has contributed greatly to what we now know about the science of earthquakes as well as how to reduce the damage that they can cause. This bill enables the program to continue its good work through continued research, hazard assessment, and public education. As my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or Stafford Act, as it is commonly referred to, is the primary authority under which FEMA operates many of its preparedness and response programs. The Stafford Act and, in general, Federal management of emergencies and natural disasters falls under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and, more specifically, under the Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment which I chair. The relationship between the Stafford Act and NEHRP has always been complementary, and I just want to clarify how this bill fits in with the Stafford Act.”