H.R. 3168 · Where this bill is now
Waiting for a House vote
Approved by committee Jan 12, 2026; no House vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens earthquake warnings and hazard mapping
This bill funds and expands the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake monitoring and warning work through 2030. The USGS runs a nationwide network of seismic stations that detect earthquakes and issue early warnings. The bill requires the USGS to work with the FCC to broadcast warnings as quickly as possible, expand warning systems to more high-risk areas, issue forecasts for aftershocks following major earthquakes, and include tsunamis and other earthquake-related hazards in hazard maps. It also updates building standards to focus on how quickly people can safely return to buildings after earthquakes.
How it affects you
People living in areas prone to earthquakes would benefit from faster and broader warning systems, giving them more time to take shelter. Communities in high-risk earthquake zones would have better maps showing which areas are most vulnerable. If you live in a region covered by this expanded system, you'd potentially receive quicker alerts before seismic waves arrive, and buildings designed under these new standards would be built to recover faster after major earthquakes.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Jan 12, 2026)
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). It also expands certain USGS activities under NEHRP relating to earthquake warnings and mapping and expands other NEHRP activities.
NEHRP is a coordinated earthquake hazards reduction program administered by four federal agencies: the National Institute of Standards and Technology, USGS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Science Foundation. Under NEHRP, USGS is responsible for monitoring and early warnings (including operating the Advanced National Seismic System, a nationwide network of seismic stations), hazard assessments and mapping, and research regarding earthquakes. The bill reauthorizes such USGS activities through FY2030.
Additionally, the bill requires USGS to
• coordinate with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure alerts and early warnings are broadcast as rapidly as possible for maximum warning time,
• expand the early warning system to additional high-risk areas,
• issue forecasts for aftershocks following significant earthquakes, and
• include tsunamis and other hazards associated with earthquakes in seismic hazard maps.
Also, NEHRP activities to develop building codes and standards must include recovery objectives addressing post-earthquake occupancy and functionality of infrastructure.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3168
A BILL
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. David G. Valadao (R-CA-22) · Introduced May 1, 2025 · Emergency Management · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 21, 2026: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.”