[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3820 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 244
111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3820

                      [Report No. 111-424, Part I]

  To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2009

Mr. Wu (for himself, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Grayson, and Mr. Moore 
  of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committees 
   on Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

                           February 26, 2010

      Additional sponsors: Mr. Gordon of Tennessee and Mr. Schiff

                           February 26, 2010

Reported from the Committee on Science and Technology with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                           February 26, 2010

 Committees on Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure 
discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 
                 of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 
                               15, 2009]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for 
                            other purposes.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act 
of 2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States faces significant risks from many 
        types of natural hazards, including earthquakes, hurricanes, 
        tornadoes, wildfires, and floods. Increasing numbers of 
        Americans are living in areas prone to these hazards.
            (2) Earthquakes occur without warning and can have 
        devastating effects. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 
        two recent earthquakes, the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, and 
        the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, killed nearly 100 people, 
        injured 12,757, and caused $33 billion in damages. Nearly all 
        States face some level of seismic risk. Twenty-six urban areas 
        in 14 States have a significant seismic risk.
            (3) Severe weather is the most costly natural hazard, 
        measured on a per year basis. According to data from the 
        National Weather Service over the last 10 years, tornadoes, 
        thunderstorms, and hurricanes have caused an average of 226 
        fatalities and $16 billion of property damage per year. The 
        2005 hurricane season was one of the most destructive in United 
        States history, killing 1,836 people, and causing $80 billion 
        in damage.
            (4) The United States Fire Administration reports that 38 
        percent of new home construction in 2002 was in areas adjacent 
        to, or intermixed with, wildlands. Fires in the wildland-urban 
        interface are costly. For example, the 2007 California Witch 
        fire alone caused $1.3 billion in insured property losses, 
        according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO). In addition, 
        Government Accountability Office reported in 2007 that the 
        Federal spending for wildfire suppression between 2001 and 2005 
        was, on average, $2.9 billion per year.
            (5) Developing better knowledge about natural hazard 
        phenomena and their effects is crucial to assessing the risks 
        these hazards pose to communities. Instrumentation, monitoring, 
        and data gathering to characterize earthquakes and wind events 
        are important activities to increase this knowledge.
            (6) Current building codes and standards can mitigate the 
        damages caused by natural hazards. The Institute for Business 
        and Home Safety estimated that the $19 billion in damage caused 
        by Hurricane Andrew in 1994 could have been reduced by half if 
        such codes and standards were in effect. Research for the 
        continuous improvement of building codes, standards, and design 
        practices--and for developing methods to retrofit existing 
        structures--is crucial to mitigating losses from natural 
        hazards.
            (7) Since its creation in 1977, the National Earthquake 
        Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) has supported research to 
        develop seismic codes, standards, and building practices that 
        have been widely adopted. The NEHRP Recommended Provisions for 
        Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures and 
        the Guidance for Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings 
        are two examples.
            (8) Research to understand the institutional, social, 
        behavioral, and economic factors that influence how households, 
        businesses, and communities perceive risk and prepare for 
        natural hazards, and how well they recover after a disaster, 
        can increase the implementation of risk mitigation measures.
            (9) A major goal of the Federal natural hazards-related 
        research and development effort should be to reduce the loss of 
        life and damage to communities and infrastructure through 
        increasing the adoption of hazard mitigation measures.
            (10) Research, development, and technology transfer to 
        secure infrastructure is vitally important. Infrastructure that 
        supports electricity, transportation, drinking water, and other 
        services is vital immediately after a disaster, and their quick 
        return to function speeds the economic recovery of a disaster-
        impacted community.

                          TITLE I--EARTHQUAKES

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``National Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2009''.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

    Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7701) is repealed.

SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7703) is amended by striking paragraphs (8) and (9).

SEC. 104. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7704) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Program activities.--The activities of the Program 
        shall be designed to--
                    ``(A) research and develop effective methods, 
                tools, and technologies to reduce the risk posed by 
                earthquakes to the built environment, especially to 
                lessen the risk to existing structures and lifelines;
                    ``(B) improve the understanding of earthquakes and 
                their effects on households, businesses, communities, 
                buildings, structures, and lifelines, through 
                interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that 
                involves engineering, natural sciences, and social 
                sciences; and
                    ``(C) facilitate the adoption of earthquake risk 
                reduction measures by households, businesses, 
                communities, local, State, and Federal governments, 
                national standards and model building code 
                organizations, architects and engineers, building 
                owners, and others with a role in planning for 
                disasters and planning, constructing, retrofitting, and 
                insuring buildings, structures, and lifelines through--
                            ``(i) grants, contracts, cooperative 
                        agreements, and technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) development of standards, 
                        guidelines, voluntary consensus standards, and 
                        other design guidance for earthquake hazards 
                        risk reduction for buildings, structures, and 
                        lifelines;
                            ``(iii) outreach and information 
                        dissemination to communities on location-
                        specific earthquake hazards and methods to 
                        reduce the risks from those hazards; and
                            ``(iv) development and maintenance of a 
                        repository of information, including technical 
                        data, on seismic risk and hazards reduction.''; 
                        and
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (3) through (5);
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Responsibilities of Program Agencies.--
            ``(1) Lead agency.--The National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology (in this section referred to as the `Institute') 
        shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Program. 
        In carrying out this paragraph, the Director of the Institute 
        shall--
                    ``(A) ensure that the Program includes the 
                necessary components to promote the implementation of 
                earthquake hazards risk reduction measures by 
                households, businesses, communities, local, State, and 
                Federal governments, national standards and model 
                building code organizations, architects and engineers, 
                building owners, and others with a role in preparing 
                for disasters, or the planning, constructing, 
                retrofitting, and insuring of buildings, structures, 
                and lifelines;
                    ``(B) support the development of performance-based 
                seismic engineering tools, and work with the 
                appropriate groups to promote the commercial 
                application of such tools, through earthquake-related 
                building codes, standards, and construction practices;
                    ``(C) ensure the use of social science research and 
                findings in informing research and technology 
                development priorities, communicating earthquake risks 
                to the public, developing earthquake risk mitigation 
                strategies, and preparing for earthquake disasters;
                    ``(D) coordinate all Federal post-earthquake 
                investigations; and
                    ``(E) when warranted by research or investigative 
                findings, issue recommendations for changes in model 
                codes to the relevant code development organizations, 
                and report back to Congress on whether such 
                recommendations were adopted.
            ``(2) National institute of standards and technology.--In 
        addition to the lead agency responsibilities described under 
        paragraph (1), the Institute shall be responsible for carrying 
        out research and development to improve building codes and 
        standards and practices for buildings, structures, and 
        lifelines. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director of the 
        Institute shall--
                    ``(A) work, in conjunction with other appropriate 
                Federal agencies, to support the development of 
                improved seismic standards and model codes;
                    ``(B) in coordination with other appropriate 
                Federal agencies, work closely with standards and model 
                code development organizations, professional societies, 
                and practicing engineers, architects, and others 
                involved in the construction of buildings, structures, 
                and lifelines, to promote better building practices, 
                including by--
                            ``(i) developing technical resources for 
                        practitioners on new knowledge and standards of 
                        practice; and
                            ``(ii) developing methods and tools to 
                        facilitate the incorporation of earthquake 
                        engineering principles into design and 
                        construction practices;
                    ``(C) develop tools, technologies, methods, and 
                practitioner guidance to feasibly and cost-effectively 
                retrofit existing buildings and structures to increase 
                their earthquake resiliency; and
                    ``(D) work closely with national standards 
                organizations, and other interested parties, to develop 
                seismic safety standards and practices for new and 
                existing lifelines.
            ``(3) Federal emergency management agency.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency (in this paragraph referred to as the `Agency') 
                shall be responsible for facilitating the development 
                and adoption of standards, model building codes, and 
                better seismic building practices, developing tools to 
                assess earthquake hazards, promoting the adoption of 
                hazard mitigation measures, and carrying out a program 
                of direct assistance to States and localities to 
                mitigate earthquake risks to buildings, structures, 
                lifelines, and communities.
                    ``(B) Director's duties.--The Director of the 
                Agency shall--
                            ``(i) work closely with other relevant 
                        Federal agencies, standards and model building 
                        code development organizations, architects, 
                        engineers, and other professionals, to 
                        facilitate the development and adoption of 
                        standards, model codes, and design and 
                        construction practices to increase the 
                        earthquake resiliency of new and existing 
                        buildings, structures, and lifelines in the--
                                    ``(I) preparation, maintenance, and 
                                wide dissemination of design guidance, 
                                model building codes and standards, and 
                                practices to increase the earthquake 
                                resiliency of new and existing 
                                buildings, structures, and lifelines;
                                    ``(II) development of performance-
                                based design guidelines and 
                                methodologies supporting model codes 
                                for buildings, structures, and 
                                lifelines; and
                                    ``(III) development of methods and 
                                tools to facilitate the incorporation 
                                of earthquake engineering principles 
                                into design and construction practices;
                            ``(ii) develop tools, technologies, and 
                        methods to assist local planners, and others, 
                        to model and predict the potential impact of 
                        earthquake damage in seismically hazardous 
                        areas; and
                            ``(iii) support the implementation of a 
                        comprehensive earthquake education and public 
                        awareness program, including the development of 
                        materials and their wide dissemination to all 
                        appropriate audiences, and support public 
                        access to locality-specific information that 
                        may assist the public in preparing for, 
                        mitigating against, responding to, and 
                        recovering from earthquakes and related 
                        disasters.
                    ``(C) State assistance grant program.--The Director 
                of the Agency shall operate a program of grants and 
                assistance to enable States to develop mitigation, 
                preparedness, and response plans, compare inventories 
                and conduct seismic safety inspections of critical 
                structures and lifelines, update building and zoning 
                codes and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, 
                increase earthquake awareness and education, and 
                encourage the development of multistate groups for such 
                purposes. In order to qualify for assistance under this 
                subparagraph, a State must--
                            ``(i) demonstrate that the assistance will 
                        result in enhanced seismic safety in the State;
                            ``(ii) provide 50 percent of the costs of 
                        the activities for which assistance is being 
                        given, except that the Director may lower or 
                        waive the cost-share requirement for these 
                        activities in exceptional cases of economic 
                        hardship; and
                            ``(iii) meet such other requirements as the 
                        Director of the Agency shall prescribe.
            ``(4) United states geological survey.--The United States 
        Geological Survey (in this paragraph referred to as the 
        `Survey') shall conduct research and other activities necessary 
        to characterize and identify earthquake hazards, assess 
        earthquake risks, monitor seismic activity, and provide real-
        time earthquake information. In carrying out this paragraph, 
        the Director of the Survey shall--
                    ``(A) conduct a systematic assessment of the 
                seismic risks in each region of the Nation prone to 
                earthquakes, including, where appropriate, the 
                establishment and operation of intensive monitoring 
                projects on hazardous faults, detailed seismic hazard 
                and risk studies in urban and other developed areas 
                where earthquake risk is determined to be significant, 
                and engineering seismology studies;
                    ``(B) work with officials of State and local 
                governments to ensure that they are knowledgeable about 
                the specific seismic risks in their areas;
                    ``(C) develop standard procedures, in consultation 
                with the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency, for issuing earthquake alerts, including 
                aftershock advisories;
                    ``(D) issue when justified, and notify the Director 
                of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of, an 
                earthquake prediction or other earthquake advisory, 
                which may be evaluated by the National Earthquake 
                Prediction Evaluation Council;
                    ``(E) operate, as integral parts of the Advanced 
                National Seismic Research and Monitoring System, a 
                National Earthquake Information Center and a national 
                seismic network, together providing timely and accurate 
                information on earthquakes world-wide;
                    ``(F) support the operation of regional seismic 
                networks in areas of higher seismic risk;
                    ``(G) develop and support seismic instrumentation 
                of buildings and other structures to obtain data on 
                their response to earthquakes for use in engineering 
                studies and assessment of damage;
                    ``(H) monitor and assess Earth surface deformation 
                as it pertains to the evaluation of earthquake hazards 
                and impacts;
                    ``(I) work with other Program agencies to maintain 
                awareness of, and where appropriate cooperate with, 
                earthquake risk reduction efforts in other countries, 
                to ensure that the Program benefits from relevant 
                information and advances in those countries;
                    ``(J) maintain suitable seismic hazard maps in 
                support of building codes for structures and lifelines, 
                including additional maps needed for performance-based 
                design approaches;
                    ``(K) conduct a competitive, peer-reviewed process 
                which awards grants and cooperative agreements to 
                complement and extend related internal Survey research 
                and monitoring activities; and
                    ``(L) operate, in cooperation with the National 
                Science Foundation, a Global Seismographic Network for 
                detection of earthquakes around the world and research 
                into fundamental earth processes.
            ``(5) National science foundation.--The National Science 
        Foundation shall be responsible for funding basic research that 
        furthers the understanding of earthquakes, earthquake 
        engineering, and community preparation and response to 
        earthquakes. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation shall--
                    ``(A) support multidisciplinary and 
                interdisciplinary research that will improve the 
                resiliency of communities to earthquakes, including--
                            ``(i) research that improves the safety and 
                        performance of buildings, structures, and 
                        lifelines, including the use of the large-scale 
                        experimental and computational facilities of 
                        the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for 
                        Engineering Earthquake Simulation;
                            ``(ii) research to support more effective 
                        earthquake mitigation and response measures, 
                        such as developing better knowledge of the 
                        specific types of vulnerabilities faced by 
                        segments of the community vulnerable to 
                        earthquakes, addressing the barriers they face 
                        in adopting mitigation and preparation 
                        measures, and developing methods to better 
                        communicate the risks of earthquakes and to 
                        promote mitigation; and
                            ``(iii) research on the response of 
                        communities, households, businesses, and 
                        emergency responders to earthquakes;
                    ``(B) support research to understand earthquake 
                processes, earthquake patterns, and earthquake 
                frequencies;
                    ``(C) encourage prompt dissemination of significant 
                findings, sharing of data, samples, physical 
                collections, and other supporting materials, and 
                development of intellectual property so research 
                results can be used by appropriate organizations to 
                mitigate earthquake damage;
                    ``(D) work with other Program agencies to maintain 
                awareness of, and where appropriate cooperate with, 
                earthquake risk reduction research efforts in other 
                countries, to ensure that the Program benefits from 
                relevant information and advances in those countries; 
                and
                    ``(E) include to the maximum extent practicable 
                diverse institutions, including Historically Black 
                Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving 
                institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska 
                Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-
                serving institutions.''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)(1) by inserting ``on Natural Hazards 
        Risk Reduction established under section 301 of the Natural 
        Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2009'' after ``Interagency 
        Coordinating Committee''.

SEC. 105. POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM.

    Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7705e) is amended by striking ``There is established'' and all 
that follows through ``conduct of such earthquake investigations.'' and 
inserting ``The Program shall include a post-earthquake investigations 
program, the purpose of which is to investigate major earthquakes so as 
to learn lessons which can be applied to reduce the loss of lives and 
property in future earthquakes. The lead Program agency, in 
consultation with each Program agency, shall organize investigations to 
study the implications of the earthquakes in the areas of 
responsibility of each Program agency. The investigations shall begin 
as rapidly as possible and may be conducted by grantees and 
contractors. The Program agencies shall ensure that the results of the 
investigations are disseminated widely.''.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:
    ``(9) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this Act--
            ``(A) $10,238,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(B) $10,545,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(C) $10,861,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(D) $11,187,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(E) $11,523,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
            (2) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following:
    ``(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States 
Geological Survey for carrying out this Act, including the Advanced 
National Seismic Research and Monitoring System--
            ``(A) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(B) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(C) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(D) $76,491,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(E) $78,786,000 for fiscal year 2014.'';
            (3) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following:
    ``(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation for carrying out this Act--
            ``(A) $64,125,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(B) $66,049,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(C) $68,030,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(D) $70,071,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(E) $72,173,000 for fiscal year 2014.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following:
    ``(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this Act--
            ``(A) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(B) $7,700,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(C) $7,931,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(D) $8,169,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(E) $8,414,000 for fiscal year 2014.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 14 of the National Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7708) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(a) Establishment.--''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b).

                             TITLE II--WIND

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2009''.

SEC. 202. PURPOSE.

    Section 202 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
(42 U.S.C. 15701) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 202. PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of the Congress in this title to achieve a 
major measurable reduction in losses of life and property from 
windstorms through the establishment and maintenance of an effective 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. The objectives of such Program 
shall include--
            ``(1) the education of households, businesses, and 
        communities about the risks posed by windstorms, and the 
        identification of locations, structures, lifelines, and 
        segments of the community which are especially vulnerable to 
        windstorm damage and disruption, and the dissemination of 
        information on methods to reduce those risks;
            ``(2) the development of technologically and economically 
        feasible design and construction methods and procedures to make 
        new and existing structures, in areas of windstorm risk, 
        windstorm resilient, giving high priority to the development of 
        such methods and procedures for lifelines, structures 
        associated with a potential high loss of life, and structures 
        that are especially needed in times of disasters, such as 
        hospitals and public safety and shelter facilities;
            ``(3) the implementation, in areas of major windstorm risk, 
        of instrumentation to record and gather data on windstorms and 
        the characteristics of the wind during those events, and 
        continued research to increase the understanding of windstorm 
        phenomena;
            ``(4) the development, publication, and promotion, in 
        conjunction with State and local officials and professional 
        organizations, of model building codes and standards and other 
        means to encourage consideration of information about windstorm 
        risk in making decisions about land use policy and construction 
        activity; and
            ``(5) the facilitation of the adoption of windstorm risk 
        mitigation measures in areas of windstorm risk by households, 
        businesses, and communities through outreach, incentive 
        programs, and other means.''.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 203(1) of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 
2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702(1)) is amended by striking ``Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy'' and inserting ``Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology''.

SEC. 204. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
(42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 204. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Program.
    ``(b) Program Activities.--The activities of the Program shall be 
designed to--
            ``(1) research and develop cost-effective, feasible 
        methods, tools, and technologies to reduce the risks posed by 
        windstorms to the built environment, especially to lessen the 
        risk to existing structures and lifelines;
            ``(2) improve the understanding of windstorms and their 
        impacts on households, businesses, communities, buildings, 
        structures, and lifelines, through interdisciplinary and 
        multidisciplinary research that involves engineering, natural 
        sciences, and social sciences; and
            ``(3) facilitate the adoption of windstorm risk reduction 
        measures by households, businesses, communities, local, State 
        and Federal governments, national standards and model building 
        code organizations, architects and engineers, building owners, 
        and others with a role in planning for disasters and planning, 
        constructing, retrofitting, and insuring buildings, structures, 
        and lifelines through--
                    ``(A) grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, 
                and technical assistance;
                    ``(B) development of hazard maps, standards, 
                guidelines, voluntary consensus standards, and other 
                design guidance for windstorm risk reduction for 
                buildings, structures, and lifelines;
                    ``(C) outreach and information dissemination to 
                communities on site specific windstorm hazards and ways 
                to reduce the risks from those hazards; and
                    ``(D) development and maintenance of a repository 
                of information, including technical data, on windstorm 
                hazards and risk reduction;
    ``(c) Responsibilities of Program Agencies.--
            ``(1) Lead agency.--The National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology (in this section referred to as the `Institute') 
        shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Program. 
        In carrying out this paragraph, the Director of the Institute 
        shall--
                    ``(A) ensure that the Program includes the 
                necessary components to promote the implementation of 
                windstorm risk reduction measures by households, 
                businesses, communities, local, State, and Federal 
                governments, national standards and model building code 
                organizations, architects and engineers, building 
                owners, and others with a role in planning and 
                preparing for disasters, and planning constructing, and 
                retrofitting, and insuring buildings, structures, and 
                lifelines;
                    ``(B) support the development of performance-based 
                engineering tools, and work with the appropriate groups 
                to promote the commercial application of such tools, 
                through wind-related building codes, standards, and 
                construction practices;
                    ``(C) ensure the use of social science research and 
                findings in informing the development of technology and 
                research priorities, in communicating windstorm risks 
                to the public, in developing windstorm risk mitigation 
                strategies, and in preparing for windstorm disasters;
                    ``(D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm 
                investigations; and
                    ``(E) when warranted by research or investigative 
                findings, issue recommendations for changes in model 
                codes to the relevant code development organizations, 
                and report back to Congress on whether such 
                recommendations were adopted.
            ``(2) National institute of standards and technology.--In 
        addition to the lead agency responsibilities described under 
        paragraph (1), the Institute shall be responsible for carrying 
        out research and development to improve model codes, standards, 
        design guidance and practices for the construction and retrofit 
        of buildings, structures, and lifelines. In carrying out this 
        paragraph, the Director of the Institute shall--
                    ``(A) support the development of instrumentation, 
                data processing, and archival capabilities, and 
                standards for the instrumentation and its deployment, 
                to measure wind, wind loading, and other properties of 
                severe wind and structure response;
                    ``(B) coordinate with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies to make the data described in subparagraph (A) 
                available to researchers, standards and code 
                developers, and local planners;
                    ``(C) support the development of tools and methods 
                for the collection of data on the loss of and damage to 
                structures, and data on surviving structures after 
                severe windstorm events;
                    ``(D) improve the knowledge of the impact of severe 
                wind on buildings, structures, lifelines, and 
                communities;
                    ``(E) develop cost-effective windstorm impact 
                reduction tools, methods, and technologies;
                    ``(F) work, in conjunction with other appropriate 
                Federal agencies, to support the development of wind 
                standards and model codes; and
                    ``(G) in conjunction with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies, work closely with standards and model code 
                development organizations, professional societies, and 
                practicing engineers, architects, and others involved 
                in the construction of buildings, structures, and 
                lifelines, to promote better building practices, 
                including by--
                            ``(i) supporting the development of 
                        technical resources for practitioners to 
                        implement new knowledge; and
                            ``(ii) supporting the development of 
                        methods and tools to incorporate wind 
                        engineering principles into design and 
                        construction practices.
            ``(3) Federal emergency management agency.--The Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency shall support the development of 
        risk assessment tools and effective mitigation techniques, 
        assist with windstorm-related data collection and analysis, and 
        support outreach, information dissemination, and implementation 
        of windstorm preparedness and mitigation measures by 
        households, businesses, and communities, including by--
                    ``(A) working to develop or improve risk-assessment 
                tools, methods, and models;
                    ``(B) work closely with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies to develop and facilitate the adoption of 
                windstorm impact reduction measures, including by--
                            ``(i) developing cost-effective retrofit 
                        measures for existing buildings, structures, 
                        and lifelines to improve windstorm performance;
                            ``(ii) developing methods, tools, and 
                        technologies to improve the planning, design, 
                        and construction of new buildings, structures, 
                        and lifelines;
                            ``(iii) supporting the development of model 
                        wind codes and standards for buildings, 
                        structures, and lifelines; and
                            ``(iv) developing technical resources for 
                        practitioners that reflect new knowledge and 
                        standards of practice; and
                    ``(C) develop and disseminate guidelines for the 
                construction of windstorm shelters.
            ``(4) National oceanic and atmospheric administration.--The 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall support 
        atmospheric sciences research and data collection to improve 
        the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their 
        impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines, including by--
                    ``(A) working with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies to develop and deploy instrumentation to 
                measure speed and other characteristics of wind, and to 
                collect, analyze, and make available such data;
                    ``(B) working with officials of State and local 
                governments to ensure that they are knowledgeable 
                about, and prepared for, the specific windstorm risks 
                in their area;
                    ``(C) supporting the development of suitable wind 
                speed maps and other derivative products that support 
                building codes and other hazard mitigation approaches 
                for buildings, structures, and lifelines;
                    ``(D) conducting a competitive, peer-reviewed 
                process which awards grants and cooperative agreements 
                to complement the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration's wind-related and storm surge-related 
                research and data collection activities;
                    ``(E) working with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies and State and local governments to develop or 
                improve risk-assessment tools, methods, and models; and
                    ``(F) working with other appropriate Federal 
                agencies to develop storm surge models to better 
                understand the interaction between windstorms and 
                bodies of water.
            ``(5) National science foundation.--The National Science 
        Foundation shall be responsible for funding basic research that 
        furthers the understanding of windstorms, wind engineering, and 
        community preparation and response to windstorms. In carrying 
        out this paragraph, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall--
                    ``(A) support multidisciplinary and 
                interdisciplinary research that will improve the 
                resiliency of communities to windstorms, including--
                            ``(i) research that improves the safety and 
                        performance of buildings, structures, and 
                        lifelines;
                            ``(ii) research to support more effective 
                        windstorm mitigation and response measures, 
                        such as developing better knowledge of the 
                        specific types of vulnerabilities faced by 
                        segments of the community vulnerable to 
                        windstorms, addressing the barriers they face 
                        in adopting mitigation and preparation 
                        measures, and developing methods to better 
                        communicate the risks of windstorms and to 
                        promote mitigation; and
                            ``(iii) research on the response of 
                        communities to windstorms, including on the 
                        effectiveness of the emergency response, and 
                        the recovery process of communities, 
                        households, and businesses;
                    ``(B) support research to understand windstorm 
                processes, windstorm patterns, and windstorm 
                frequencies;
                    ``(C) encourage prompt dissemination of significant 
                findings, sharing of data, samples, physical 
                collections, and other supporting materials, and 
                development of intellectual property so research 
                results can be used by appropriate organizations to 
                mitigate windstorm damage;
                    ``(D) work with other Program agencies to maintain 
                awareness of, and where appropriate cooperate with, 
                windstorm risk reduction research efforts in other 
                countries, to ensure that the Program benefits from 
                relevant information and advances in those countries; 
                and
                    ``(E) include to the maximum extent practicable 
                diverse institutions, including Historically Black 
                Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving 
                institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska 
                Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-
                serving institutions.''.

SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program of 
2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying 
out this title--
            ``(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(2) $9,972,500 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(3) $10,271,600 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(4) $10,579,800 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(5) $10,897,200 for fiscal year 2014.
    ``(b) National Science Foundation.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for carrying out this 
title--
            ``(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(2) $9,972,500 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(3) $10,271,600 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(4) $10,579,800 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(5) $10,897,200 for fiscal year 2014.
    ``(c) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology for carrying out this title--
            ``(1) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(2) $4,243,600 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(3) $4,370,900 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(4) $4,502,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(5) $4,637,100 for fiscal year 2014.
    ``(d) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration for carrying out this title--
            ``(1) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(2) $2,334,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(3) $2,404,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            ``(4) $2,476,100 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(5) $2,550,400 for fiscal year 2014.''.

 TITLE III--INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL HAZARDS RISK 
                               REDUCTION

SEC. 301. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL HAZARDS RISK 
              REDUCTION.

    (a) In General.--There is established an Interagency Coordinating 
Committee on Natural Hazards Risk Reduction, chaired by the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (1) Membership.--In addition to the chair, the Committee 
        shall be composed of--
                    (A) the directors of--
                            (i) the Federal Emergency Management 
                        Agency;
                            (ii) the United State Geological Survey;
                            (iii) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration;
                            (iv) the National Science Foundation;
                            (v) the Office of Science and Technology 
                        Policy; and
                            (vi) the Office of Management and Budget; 
                        and
                    (B) the head of any other Federal agency the 
                Committee considers appropriate.
            (2) Meetings.--The Committee shall not meet less than 2 
        times a year at the call of the Director of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (3) General purpose and duties.--The Committee shall 
        oversee the planning and coordination of the National 
        Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and the National Windstorm 
        Impact Reduction Program, and shall make proposals for planning 
        and coordination of any other Federal research for natural 
        hazard mitigation that the Committee considers appropriate.
            (4) Strategic plans.--The Committee shall develop and 
        submit to Congress, not later than one year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act--
                    (A) a Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake 
                Hazards Reduction Program that includes--
                            (i) prioritized goals for such Program that 
                        will mitigate against the loss of life and 
                        property from future earthquakes;
                            (ii) short-term, mid-term, and long-term 
                        research objectives to achieve those goals;
                            (iii) a description of the role of each 
                        Program agency in achieving the prioritized 
                        goals;
                            (iv) the methods by which progress towards 
                        the goals will be assessed;
                            (v) an explanation of how the Program will 
                        foster the transfer of research results onto 
                        outcomes, such as improved building codes;
                            (vi) a description of the role of social 
                        science in informing the development of the 
                        prioritized goals and research objectives; and
                            (vii) a description of how the George E. 
                        Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering 
                        Simulation and the Advanced National Seismic 
                        Research and Monitoring System will be used in 
                        achieving the prioritized goals and research 
                        objectives; and
                    (B) a Strategic Plan for the National Windstorm 
                Impact Reduction Program that includes--
                            (i) prioritized goals for such Program that 
                        will mitigate against the loss of life and 
                        property from future windstorms;
                            (ii) short-term, mid-term, and long-term 
                        research objectives to achieve those goals;
                            (iii) a description of the role of each 
                        Program agency in achieving the prioritized 
                        goals;
                            (iv) the methods by which progress towards 
                        the goals will be assessed;
                            (v) an explanation of how the Program will 
                        foster the transfer of research results onto 
                        outcomes, such as improved building codes; and
                            (vi) a description of the role of social 
                        science in informing the development of the 
                        prioritized goals and research objectives.
            (5) Progress reports.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, and at least once every two 
        years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the Congress--
                    (A) a report on the progress of the National 
                Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program that includes--
                            (i) a description of the activities funded 
                        for the previous two years of the Program, a 
                        description of how these activities align with 
                        the prioritized goals and research objectives 
                        established in the Strategic Plan, and the 
                        budgets, per agency, for these activities;
                            (ii) the outcomes achieved by the Program 
                        for each of the goals identified in the 
                        Strategic Plan;
                            (iii) a description of any recommendations 
                        made to change existing building codes that 
                        were the result of Program activities; and
                            (iv) a description of the extent to which 
                        the Program has incorporated recommendations 
                        from the Advisory Committee on Earthquake 
                        Hazards Reduction; and
                    (B) a report on the progress of the National 
                Windstorm Impact Reduction Program that includes--
                            (i) a description of the activities funded 
                        for the previous two years of the Program, a 
                        description of how these activities align with 
                        the prioritized goals and research objectives 
                        established in the Strategic Plan, and the 
                        budgets, per agency, for these activities;
                            (ii) the outcomes achieved by the Program 
                        for each of the goals identified in the 
                        Strategic Plan;
                            (iii) a description of any recommendations 
                        made to change existing building codes that 
                        were the result of Program activities; and
                            (iv) a description of the extent to which 
                        the Program has incorporated recommendations 
                        from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact 
                        Reduction.
            (6) Coordinated budget.--The Committee shall develop a 
        coordinated budget for the National Earthquake Hazards 
        Reduction Program and a coordinated budget for the National 
        Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. These budgets shall be 
        submitted to the Congress at the time of the President's budget 
        submission for each fiscal year.
    (b) Advisory Committees on Natural Hazards Reduction.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology shall establish an Advisory Committee 
        on Earthquake Hazards Reduction, an Advisory Committee on 
        Windstorm Impact Reduction, and other such advisory committees 
        as the Director considers necessary to advise the Institute on 
        research, development, and technology transfer activities to 
        mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
            (2) Advisory committee on earthquake hazards reduction.--
        The Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction shall be 
        composed of at least 11 members, none of whom may be employees 
        of the Federal Government, including representatives of 
        research and academic institutions, industry standards 
        development organizations, State and local government, and 
        business communities who are qualified to provide advice on 
        earthquake hazards reduction and represent all related 
        scientific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 
        recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be considered 
        by Federal agencies in implementing the National Earthquake 
        Hazards Reduction Program.
            (3) Advisory committee on windstorm impact reduction.--The 
        Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction shall be 
        composed of at least 7 members, none of whom may be employees 
        of the Federal Government, including representatives of 
        research and academic institutions, industry standards 
        development organizations, State and local government, and 
        business communities who are qualified to provide advice on 
        windstorm impact reduction and represent all related 
        scientific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 
        recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be considered 
        by Federal agencies in implementing the National Windstorm 
        Impact Reduction Program.
            (4) Assessments.--The Advisory Committee on Earthquake 
        Hazards Reduction and the Advisory Committee on Windstorm 
        Impact Reduction shall offer assessments on--
                    (A) trends and developments in the natural, social, 
                and engineering sciences and practices of earthquake 
                hazards or windstorm impact mitigation;
                    (B) the priorities of the Programs' Strategic 
                Plans;
                    (C) the coordination of the Programs; and
                    (D) and any revisions to the Programs which may be 
                necessary.
            (5) Reports.--At least every two years, the Advisory 
        Committees shall report to the Director of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology on the assessments 
        carried out under paragraph (4) and their recommendations for 
        ways to improve the Programs. In developing recommendations for 
        the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, the Advisory 
        Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction shall consider the 
        recommendations of the United States Geological Survey 
        Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee.
    (c) Coordination of Federal Disaster Research, Development, and 
Technology Transfer.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction of the 
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science 
and Technology Council shall submit a report to the Congress 
identifying--
            (1) current Federal research, development, and technology 
        transfer activities that address hazard mitigation for natural 
        disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, 
        wildfires, floods, and the current budgets for these 
        activities;
            (2) areas of research that are common to two or more of the 
        hazards identified in paragraph (1); and
            (3) opportunities to create synergies between the research 
        activities for the hazards identified in paragraph (1).

       TITLE IV--NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY TEAM ACT AMENDMENTS

SEC. 401. NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY TEAM ACT AMENDMENTS.

    The National Construction Safety Team Act (15 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.) 
is amended--
            (1) in section 2(a)--
                    (A) by striking ``a building or buildings'' and 
                inserting ``a building, buildings, or infrastructure''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``To the maximum extent 
                practicable, the Director shall establish and deploy a 
                Team within 48 hours after such an event.'' and 
                inserting ``The Director shall make a decision whether 
                to deploy a Team within 72 hours after such an 
                event.'';
            (2) in section 2(b)(1), by striking ``buildings'' and 
        inserting ``buildings or infrastructure'';
            (3) in section 2(b)(2)(A), by striking ``building'' and 
        inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (4) in section 2(b)(2)(D), by striking ``buildings'' and 
        inserting ``buildings or infrastructure'';
            (5) in section 2(c)(1), by striking ``the United States 
        Fire Administration and'';
            (6) in section 2(c)(1)(G), by striking ``building'' and 
        inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (7) in section 2(c)(1)(J)--
                    (A) by striking ``building'' and inserting 
                ``building or infrastructure''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and the National Windstorm 
                Impact Reduction Act of 2004'' after ``Act of 1977'';
            (8) in section 4(a), by striking ``investigating a 
        building'' and inserting ``investigating building and 
        infrastructure'';
            (9) in section 4(a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``a building'' and inserting ``a 
                building or infrastructure''; and
                    (B) by striking ``building'' both of the other 
                places it appears and inserting ``building or 
                infrastructure'';
            (10) in section 4(a)(3), by striking ``building'' both 
        places it appears and inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (11) in section 4(b), by striking ``building'' both places 
        it appears and inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (12) in section 4(c)(1) and (2), by striking ``building'' 
        both places it appears and inserting ``building or 
        infrastructure'';
            (13) in section 4(d)(3) and (4), by striking ``building'' 
        both places it appears and inserting ``building or 
        infrastructure'';
            (14) in section 7(a), by striking ``on request and at 
        reasonable cost'';
            (15) in section 7(c), by striking ``building'' and 
        inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (16) in section 8(1) and (4), by striking ``building'' both 
        places it appears and inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (17) in section 9, by striking ``the United States Fire 
        Administration and'';
            (18) in section 9(2)(C), by striking ``building'' and 
        inserting ``building or infrastructure'';
            (19) in section 10(3), by striking ``building'' and 
        inserting ``building and infrastructure'';
            (20) in section 11(a), by striking ``the United States Fire 
        Administration and''; and
            (21) by striking section 12.

                     TITLE V--FIRE RESEARCH PROGRAM

SEC. 501. FIRE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 16(a)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278f(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``fires at the 
        wildland-urban interface,'' after ``but not limited to,''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``fires at the 
        wildland-urban interface,'' after ``types of fires, 
        including''.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 244

111th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 3820

                      [Report No. 111-424, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           February 26, 2010

Reported from the Committee on Science and Technology with an amendment

                           February 26, 2010

 Committees on Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure 
discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 
                 of the Union and ordered to be printed