National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program

The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 is amended— (1)in section 204 (42 U.S.C. 15703)— (A)in subsection (a), by striking the purpose of which is to achieve through cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. and inserting the following: “the purpose of which is to—

(1)achieve major measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of government, academia, scientific organizations, and the private sector, aimed at improving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts, including wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge impacts; and (2)develop and encourage the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce the impacts described in paragraph (1), which can be applied to communities with different types of housing and infrastructure in urban and rural areas across the United States.

;

(B)in subsection (b)— (i)in paragraph (1)— (I)in subparagraph (A)— (aa)by striking Federal, State, and local and inserting Federal, State, local, and Tribal; and (bb)by inserting , including with respect to existing buildings and manufactured housing before the semicolon; (II)by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (C), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; (III)by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

(B)ensure the Program supports interdisciplinary research, including collaborations that include social scientists and emergency managers, and collaborations between atmospheric scientists and engineers, that seek to increase the relevance of atmospheric measurements and models for buildings engineering applications;

; and

(IV)by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, the following new subparagraphs:

(D)support integration of emerging tools and technologies in research and engineering activities carried out by the Program, including relating to artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced manufacturing technologies, and new materials; (E)support property owner utilization of products and construction methods which strengthen residential and commercial properties from the impact of windstorms, wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge impacts, including building methodologies and certification standards;

;

(ii)in paragraph (2), by inserting to increase resilience to windstorms and resulting wind-driven rain and storm surge impacts before the period; (iii)in paragraph (3)— (I)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking support research in; (II)in subparagraph (A)— (aa)by inserting support research in before engineering and the atmospheric sciences; and (bb)by striking and after the semicolon; (III)by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:

(B)support research in economic, behavioral, and social factors influencing development, implementation, and adoption of windstorm and resulting wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge impacts risk assessment, risk communication, and risk reduction measures by individuals, property owners, communities, and policymakers; and

; and

(IV)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)support an analysis of the scientific need, opportunity, and challenges to supporting the design, development, and construction of a tornado research facility for the study of tornado impacts on buildings at scale.;

;

(iv)in paragraph (4)— (I)by striking The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and all that follows through the period and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall support atmospheric sciences research to improve the understanding of the behavior of windstorms, and resulting wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge, and their impacts on buildings, structures, and lifelines.

; and

(II)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(B)

Advisory Committee

(i)

Establishment

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall establish a Scientific Windstorm Studies Advisory Committee (in this subparagraph referred to as the Advisory Committee). (ii)

Organization

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration— (I)shall establish procedures for selection to the Advisory Committee of individuals not employed by the Federal Government who are qualified in the atmospheric and oceanic sciences and other appropriate fields; and (II)may, pursuant to such procedures, select up to ten individuals, one of whom shall be designated Chair of the Advisory Committee. (iii)

Selection

Selection of individuals to the Advisory Committee shall be based solely on established records of distinguished service, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall ensure a reasonable cross-section of views and expertise is represented. In selecting individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall seek and give due consideration to recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, professional societies, and other appropriate organizations. (iv)

Meetings

The Advisory Committee shall meet at such times and places as may be designated by the Chair, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (v)

Duties

The Advisory Committee shall advise the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on matters relating to the Administration’s participation in the Program, including the Administration’s roles, goals, and objectives within the Program, its capabilities and research needs, guidance on achieving major objectives, and establishing and measuring performance goals. (vi)

Report

The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a biennial report for submission to Congress. Each such biennial report shall describe the Advisory Committee’s activities and address policy issues or matters that affect the Administration’s participation in the Program. (vii)

Termination

The Advisory Committee shall terminate four years after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph.

; and

(v)in paragraph (5)— (I)in subparagraph (A)— (aa)in clause (i), by inserting , maintenance, and updating after development; and (bb)in clause (ii), inserting , including making such data available and interoperable to the extent practicable before the semicolon; and (II)in subparagraph (B), by inserting and scientific organizations after National Institutes of Standards and Technology; (C)in subsection (c)— (i)in paragraph (2)— (ii)in paragraph (2), by striking to improve knowledge of and data collection on the impact of severe wind on buildings, structures, and infrastructure. and inserting the following:

to— (A)improve knowledge of and data collection on the impact of severe wind on buildings, structures, infrastructure, and community response; and (B)understand the impacts of climate variability and climate change on the behavior of windstorms and the changing nature of windstorm risks, including future projections of storm frequency, intensity, and other factors.

;

(iii)in paragraph (3)— (I)in subparagraph (A), by inserting and technologies after mechanisms; (II)in subparagraph (B), by striking and after the semicolon; (III)in subparagraph (C)— (aa)by inserting near-surface winds and after modeling of; and (bb)by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (IV)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(D)research and development to enhance understanding of factors that influence public responses to windstorm risks.

; and

(iv)in paragraph (4)— (I)in subparagraph (A), by striking and local officials and inserting local, and Tribal officials; and (II)in subparagraph (C)— (aa)by striking and local officials and inserting local, and Tribal officials; and (bb)by inserting academia, scientific organizations, after construction industry,; and (D)in subsection (e)— (i)in paragraph (2)(A)— (I)in clause (iv), by striking and after the semicolon; and (II)by adding at the end the following new clause:

(vi)the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

;

(ii)in paragraph (5)— (I)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015 and inserting not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2024; (II)in subparagraph (A), by inserting and resulting wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge impacts before the semicolon; (III)in subparagraph (C), by inserting , including efforts to cooperate with other levels of government, academia, scientific organizations, and the private sector before the semicolon; (IV)in subparagraph (D), by striking and after the semicolon; (V)by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and (VI)by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:

(E)an analysis of future research infrastructure needs, including facilities and deployable equipment in support of the Program, and a plan for meeting such needs; and

; and

(iii)in paragraph (6)— (I)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015 and inserting Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2024; (II)in subparagraph (B), by inserting and after the semicolon; (III)in subparagraph (C), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and (IV)by striking subparagraph (D); and (2)in section 207 (42 U.S.C. 15706)— (A)in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

(1)$5,332,000 for fiscal year 2025. (2)$5,332,000 for fiscal year 2026. (3)$5,332,000 for fiscal year 2027. (4)$5,332,000 for fiscal year 2028. (5)$5,332,000 for fiscal year 2029.

;

(B)in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

(1)$9,682,000 for fiscal year 2025. (2)$9,682,000 for fiscal year 2026. (3)$9,682,000 for fiscal year 2027. (4)$9,682,000 for fiscal year 2028. (5)$9,682,000 for fiscal year 2029.

;

(C)in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

(1)$5,564,000 for fiscal year 2025. (2)$5,564,000 for fiscal year 2026. (3)$5,564,000 for fiscal year 2027. (4)$5,564,000 for fiscal year 2028. (5)$5,564,000 for fiscal year 2029.

; and

(D)in subsection (d), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:

(1)$17,219,000 for fiscal year 2025. (2)$17,219,000 for fiscal year 2026. (3)$17,219,000 for fiscal year 2027. (4)$17,219,000 for fiscal year 2028. (5)$17,219,000 for fiscal year 2029.