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Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Tsunami Detection

House approves bill on tsunami detection and warning

6 December 2006

Two years after a devastating tsunami claimed the lives of almost 250,000 people in 12 Indian Ocean countries, the U.S. House of Representatives took action to help prevent a similar tragedy.

The chamber passed a bill, sponsored by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and others, that would improve tsunami detection, warning and preparedness in the U.S. and abroad.

"On Dec. 24, 2004, scientists knew within minutes that a massive earthquake took place off the island of Sumatra, but they had no way to know it generated a tsunami.

"The problem isn't technological - companies like Sound Ocean Systems and Paroscientific in my district make components of buoys that can detect the smallest of tsunamis," said Inslee, who represents coastal residents in the Puget Sound area, during a speech on the House floor. "This bill will deploy the technology scientists need to detect waves and governments need to warn citizens."

The United States Tsunami Warning and Education Act, H.R. 1674, will increase the number of tsunami detection devices near U.S. coastlines, require timely reports to Congress on malfunctioning equipment, fund educational programs on tsunami preparedness in the United States, promote tsunami research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and direct the federal agency to help foreign nations improve detection and warning systems.

The Boehlert-Inslee bill was approved by a voice vote in the House. A companion is expected to pass the Senate on Thursday and the legislation will go to the president for his signature before the end of the year.

"This not only will bring peace of mind to people who live on shorelines in Washington state and other coastal areas, it also will present opportunities to innovators in our backyard who are developing more reliable, sensitive and cost-effective detection technologies," Inslee added.

Inslee floor speech on tsunami detection and warning legislation