Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
Public Law 95-124 · S. 126 · 95th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 7, 1977 · Emergency Management
Sponsor: Sen. Alan Cranston (D-CA)
Cosponsors (16): Sen. Samuel Hayakawa, Sen. Fritz Hollings,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act - Directs the President to establish a coordinated earthquake hazards reduction program. Requires the President to: (1) designate a Federal department or agency responsible for the development of an implementation plan; and (2) submit, to the appropriate Congressional committees, such implementation plan.
Sets forth: (1) the objectives of the earthquake hazards reduction program; (2) the agencies involved with the program; and (3) the research elements of the program.
Specifies that the President shall prepare an implementation plan which shall: (1) set year-by-year targets through at least 1980; (2) specify the role of Federal agencies; and (3) recommend appropriate roles for State and local units of government, individuals and private organizations.
Provides for an assistance program to aid the States in implementing the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 by making available research results and other necessary information.
Directs the President to submit an annual report to Congress on the progress achieved in reducing the risks of earthquake hazards.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Oct 7, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-124.
- Sep 27, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 26, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 23, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- Sep 9, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 6683.
- May 12, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 10, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jan 10, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.