Amata Highlights Provision to Consider Pacific Volcano Warning System

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata voted on 15 bills in the Natural Resources Committee, as part of the Committee's final series of votes for 2017, including passage of the "National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act" with the Bordallo-Radewagen Amendment to study placing a Pacific warning system in American Samoa, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands.

"This legislation would establish a warning system to improve monitoring of volcanic activity, and our amendment ensures that the three U.S. territories in the Pacific are studied for placement of this system," said Aumua Amata. "In American Samoa, we know from our 2009 experience with a tsunami, that early warning of a natural disaster can save lives. Volcanic activity and other forces of nature can have devastating consequences or environmental impacts, and early detection and more data will be helpful to scientists."

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The "National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act" was introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), now the longest-serving Member in the House. Congresswoman Amata teamed up with Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo of Guam on their bipartisan amendment to specify consideration of American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as part of the monitoring system for Pacific volcanic activity.

During the markup, the Committee considered and passed legislation to update federal Magnuson-Stevens fisheries programs, facilitate land transfers that assist with tribal health and economic development, improve access to public lands for disabled Americans, clarify the boundaries of national parks and specify title of certain submerged national refuge lands, provide for mapping of national geologic resources, along with a Colorado River fish and wildlife recovery program, and finally, establishment of a system to better monitor volcanic activity.

"Thank you to Chairman Bishop for his leadership on these legislative efforts and to all my colleagues for the accomplishments of this Committee throughout the year," continued Congresswoman Amata. "Congratulations to Congressman Don Young of Alaska, now the Dean of the House, on the advancement of his legislation today, including this warning system for volcanic activity."

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