Congress’ first votes of 2026 saw a pair of earth-shaking bills pass the Senate with little fanfare or discussion.
The Senate voted unanimously on Monday to pass two measures to the House for further consideration.
The first was The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, a measure amending the 1977 Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act with a range of language updates and new definitions reflecting advancements in the science of geophysics.
Among other things, the bill includes a requirement for each state to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a list of essential buildings and infrastructure that are susceptible to seismic impacts. It also continues to provide funding to various science organizations including the U.S Geological Survey and the National Science foundation for earthquake-related programs through the 2028 fiscal year.
The other bill was The National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act, which, as the name suggests, amends the 2021 National Landslide Preparedness Act with new language.
Germane to Hawai‘i, the bill inserts the phrase “Native Hawaiian organizations” throughout the 2021 law amid references to local and tribal organizations, and requires the creation of a landslide hazards database that identifies areas potentially vulnerable to landslides due to geologic activity such as volcanic eruptions.
Hawai‘i Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz did not comment on either bill.
Meanwhile, the House discussed the first new bills of 2026 on Monday, both of which were introduced by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. One of those bills would require people to provide a government photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections; the other would eliminate a non-immigrant visa program. Neither one has yet been brought to a vote.
