Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Natural Resources Committee passed with unanimous support Congresswoman Suzan DelBene’s (WA-01) National Landslide Preparedness Act – a bipartisan, bicameral bill she introduced earlier this year with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

“Lawmakers need to do more to ensure we fund resources and research efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies,” DelBene said. “It is time that landslide hazards are addressed properly and in a collaborative fashion and I’m glad the House Natural Resources Committee passed my legislation to boost significant scientific progress and help communities better prepare for when landslides do occur.”

The National Landslide Preparedness Act would establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities, save lives and property and help improve emergency preparedness. The bill now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

According to the USGS and National Research Council, landslide hazards claim 25 to 50 lives each year and cause between $1.6 and $3.2 billion in damages in the United States.

DelBene introduced the legislation after a massive landslide near Oso, Washington, killed 43 people, engulfed 42 homes and severely damaged public infrastructure and private property on March 22, 2014.

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