[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1485 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1485

    To improve hurricane preparedness by establishing the National 
         Hurricane Research Initiative, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 21, 2009

  Mr. Martinez (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Florida) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To improve hurricane preparedness by establishing the National 
         Hurricane Research Initiative, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Hurricane 
Research Initiative Act of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. National Hurricane Research Initiative.
Sec. 6. National Hurricane Research Task Force.
Sec. 7. National Hurricane Research.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 9. Independent review.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Hurricanes and other tropical cyclones have directly 
        caused more than 2,000 deaths in the United States since 2003 
        and account for approximately 66 percent of insured losses due 
        to natural hazards.
            (2) While the ability to understand and predict hurricanes 
        and other tropical cyclones has improved since 1999, 
        particularly with respect to storm tracking, much remains 
        unknown concerning--
                    (A) storm dynamics, rapid intensity change, and 
                impact on extratropical cyclones;
                    (B) the interactions of storms with natural and 
                built environments; and
                    (C) the impacts to and response of society to 
                destructive storms.
            (3) Several expert assessments of the state of hurricane 
        science and research needs have been published, including--
                    (A) the January 2007 report by the National Science 
                Board titled, ``Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need 
                for a National Hurricane Initiative'';
                    (B) the February 2007 report by the Office of the 
                Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and 
                Supporting Research entitled, ``Interagency Strategic 
                Research Plan for Tropical Cyclones: The Way Ahead''; 
                and
                    (C) reports from the Hurricane Intensity Working 
                Group of the National Science Advisory Board of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            (4) In the June 2005 publication, ``Grand Challenges for 
        Disaster Reduction'', and in related 2008 implementation plans 
        for hurricane and coastal inundation hazards the Subcommittee 
        on Disaster Reduction of the Committee on Environment and 
        Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology 
        Council prioritized Federal science and technology investments 
        needed to reduce future loss of life and property caused, both 
        directly and indirectly, by hurricanes and other coastal 
        storms.
            (5) A National Hurricane Research Initiative complements 
        the objectives of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
        Program.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that, consistent with the findings of 
the expert assessments and strategies described in paragraphs (3) and 
(4) of section 2, a National Hurricane Research Initiative should be 
established to address the urgent and compelling need to undertake 
long-term, coordinated, multi-entity hurricane research focused on--
            (1) conducting high priority scientific, engineering, and 
        related social and behavioral studies; and
            (2) effectively applying the research results of such 
        studies to mitigate the impacts of hurricanes on society.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the National 
        Hurricane Research Task Force established under section 6(a).
            (2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entities'' 
        means State, regional, and local government agencies and 
        departments, tribal governments, universities, research 
        institutes, and nongovernmental organizations.
            (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 102 of the Federally 
        Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a).
            (4) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the National 
        Hurricane Research Initiative established under section 
        5(a)(1).
            (5) National windstorm impact reduction program.--The term 
        ``National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program'' means the 
        program established by section 204 of the National Windstorm 
        Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703).
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, 
        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, 
        and the Virgin Islands.
            (7) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal government'' 
        means the governing body of an Indian tribe.
            (8) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
        the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
        the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall 
        establish an initiative to be known as the ``National Hurricane 
        Research Initiative'' for the purposes described in paragraph 
        (2). The Initiative shall consist of--
                    (A) the activities of the Under Secretary under 
                this section;
                    (B) the activities of the Task Force under section 
                6; and
                    (C) the research carried out under section 7.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this paragraph are 
        as follows:
                    (A) To improve understanding and prediction of 
                hurricanes and other tropical storms, including--
                            (i) storm tracking and prediction;
                            (ii) forecasting of storm formation, 
                        intensity, and wind and rain patterns, both 
                        within the tropics and as the storms move 
                        poleward;
                            (iii) storm surge modeling, inland flood 
                        modeling, and coastal erosion;
                            (iv) the interaction with and impacts of 
                        storms with the natural and built environment; 
                        and
                            (v) the impacts to and response of society 
                        to destructive storms, including the socio-
                        economic impacts requiring emergency 
                        management, response, and recovery.
                    (B) To develop infrastructure that is resilient to 
                the forces associated with hurricanes and other 
                tropical storms.
                    (C) To mitigate the impacts of hurricanes on 
                coastal populations, the coastal built environment, and 
                natural resources, including--
                            (i) coral reefs;
                            (ii) mangroves;
                            (iii) wetlands; and
                            (iv) other natural systems that can reduce 
                        hurricane wind and flood forces.
                    (D) To provide training for the next generation of 
                hurricane researchers and forecasters.
    (b) Implementation Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a 
        detailed, 5-year implementation plan for the Initiative that--
                    (A) incorporates the priorities for Federal science 
                and technology investments set forth in the June 2005 
                publication, ``Grand Challenges for Disaster 
                Reduction'', and in related 2008 implementation plans 
                for hurricane and coastal inundation hazards of the 
                Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction of the Committee on 
                Environment and Natural Resources of the National 
                Science and Technology Council;
                    (B) to the extent practicable and as appropriate, 
                establishes benchmarks, milestones, goals, and 
                performance measures to track progress of the research 
                carried out under the Initiative and the application of 
                research results for reducing hurricane losses and 
                related public benefits, as recommended by the Task 
                Force under section 6(f)(2); and
                    (C) identifies opportunities to leverage the 
                results of the research carried out under section 7 
                with other Federal and non-Federal hurricane research, 
                coordination, and loss-reduction initiatives, such as--
                            (i) the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
                        Program established by section 204(a) of the 
                        National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
                        (15 U.S.C. 15703);
                            (ii) the National Flood Insurance Program 
                        established under chapter 1 of the National 
                        Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et 
                        seq.);
                            (iii) the initiatives of the Robert T. 
                        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
                            (iv) wind hazard mitigation initiatives 
                        carried out by a State;
                            (v) the Hurricane Forecast Improvement 
                        Project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration; and
                            (vi) the Working Group for Tropical Cyclone 
                        Research of the Office of the Federal 
                        Coordinator for Meteorological Services and 
                        Supporting Research.
            (2) Review.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall ensure that 
        the implementation plan required by paragraph (1) is reviewed 
        by--
                    (A) the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation;
                    (B) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
                    (C) the Director of the National Institute for 
                Standards and Technology;
                    (D) the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps 
                of Engineers;
                    (E) the Commander of the Naval Meterorology and 
                Oceanography Command;
                    (F) the Associate Administrator for Science Mission 
                Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration; and
                    (G) the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
            (3) Revisions.--The Under Secretary shall revise the 
        implementation plan required by paragraph (1) not less 
        frequently than once every 5 years to address and respond to 
        the findings and recommendations of the Task Force.
    (c) Research.--
            (1) Establishment of research objectives.--The Under 
        Secretary shall, in consultation with the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation, establish objectives for research 
        carried out pursuant to section 7 that are based on the 
        findings of the expert assessments and strategies described in 
        paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 2.
            (2) Coordination.--In carrying out the provisions of this 
        subsection, the Under Secretary shall coordinate with the Task 
        Force to the extent practicable.
    (d) National Workshops and Conferences.--The Under Secretary, in 
coordination with the Director of the National Science Foundation and 
the Task Force, shall carry out a series of national workshops and 
conferences that assemble a broad collection of scientific 
disciplines--
            (1) to address hurricane-related research questions; and
            (2) to encourage researchers to work collaboratively to 
        carry out the purposes described in subsection (a)(2).
    (e) Public Internet Website.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
with the Task Force, shall facilitate the establishment of a public 
Internet website for the Initiative--
            (1) to foster collaboration and interactive dialogues among 
        the Under Secretary, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, the Task Force, and the public; and
            (2) to enhance public access to Initiative documents and 
        products, including--
                    (A) information about the members of the Task 
                Force, including their affiliation and contact 
                information;
                    (B) meeting agenda and minutes of the Task Force;
                    (C) reports and publications of the Initiative;
                    (D) the most recent 5-year implementation plan 
                developed under subsection (b); and
                    (E) the most recent annual report submitted to 
                Congress under subsection (f).
    (f) Annual Report.--
            (1) Requirement for annual crosscut budget and report.--The 
        Under Secretary, in conjunction with members of the Task Force 
        who represent Federal agencies, the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy, and the Office of Management and Budget, 
        shall submit to Congress each year, together with documents 
        submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the President 
        for the fiscal year beginning in such year (as submitted 
        pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code), a 
        coordinated annual report for the Initiative for the fiscal 
        year in which the report is submitted and the last fiscal year 
        ending before such submittal.
            (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) document the funds transferred by the Under 
                Secretary to the heads of other Federal agencies under 
                section 8(b);
                    (B) document the grants and contracts awarded to 
                eligible entities under section 7;
                    (C) for each agency that receives funds under 
                section 8(b) and eligible entity that receives a grant 
                or contract under section 7, identify what major 
                activities were undertaken with such funds, grants, and 
                contracts; and
                    (D) for each research activity or group of 
                activities described in section 7(c), as appropriate, 
                identify any accomplishments, which may include full or 
                partial achievement of benchmarks, milestones, goals, 
                performance measure targets established for the 
                implementation plan under subsection (b)(1)(B).

SEC. 6. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a task force 
to be known as the ``National Hurricane Research Task Force'' to 
facilitate and coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies and eligible 
entities in support of the Initiative.
    (b) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of the following:
            (1) The Under Secretary, or the Under Secretary's designee.
            (2) The Director of the National Science Foundation, or the 
        Director's designee.
            (3) The Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, or the Director's designee.
            (4) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary's 
        designee.
            (5) The Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of 
        Engineers, or the Commanding General's designee.
            (6) The Director of the United States Geological Survey, or 
        the Director's designee.
            (7) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration, or the Administrator's designee.
            (8) One member shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
        Defense, who shall be a representative of the Office of Naval 
        Research or the Chief of Naval Operations.
            (9) The Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and 
        Supporting Research.
            (10) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy, or the Director's designee.
            (11) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
        or the Director's designee.
            (12) The Chair of the Executive Committee of the Federal 
        Geographic Data Committee, or the Chair's designee.
            (13) Such other members from Federal agencies as the 
        chairpersons of the Task Force jointly consider appropriate.
            (14) Members who are not employees of the Federal 
        Government, selected jointly by the chairpersons of the Task 
        Force in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences and 
        the National Academy of Engineering, as follows:
                    (A) At least 3 members who are prominent in the 
                fields of hurricane science, engineering, social 
                science, or related fields.
                    (B) At least 1 member who represents a State 
                government agency responsible for emergency management 
                and response.
                    (C) At least 3 members who represent the views of 
                local governments, tribal governments, and 
                nongovernmental organizations.
                    (D) At least 2 members who represent private sector 
                interests engaged in hurricane research, preparedness, 
                response, or recovery.
                    (E) At least 1 member who represents a State 
                floodplain or coastal zone manager.
                    (F) Such other members as may be appropriate.
    (c) Chairpersons.--The concurrent chairpersons of the Task Force 
shall be the following:
            (1) The Under Secretary, or the Under Secretary's designee 
        under subsection (b)(1).
            (2) The Director of the National Science Foundation, or the 
        Director's designee under subsection (b)(2).
            (3) The Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, or the Director's designee under subsection (b)(3).
    (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall hold its first meeting.
    (e) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of the 
chairpersons of the Task Force, but not less frequently than twice each 
year.
    (f) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force are as follows:
            (1) To provide assistance to the Under Secretary with the 
        development of the 5-year implementation plan required by 
        section 5(b).
            (2) Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act and in consideration of the expert findings 
        referred to in section 2(3)--
                    (A) to develop and furnish to the Under Secretary 
                findings and recommendations, as appropriate, for 
                monitoring research progress and for a set of 
                benchmarks, milestones, goals, and performance measures 
                to track the transition and application of research 
                results for reducing hurricane losses and related 
                public benefits under the Initiative;
                    (B) to identify interim and long-term goals of the 
                research program under section 7; and
                    (C) to prioritize the activities of the Initiative 
                over a 10-year period.
            (3) To improve communication and coordination among Federal 
        agencies with respect to hurricane-related research, 
        developments in hurricane forecasting and operations, and best 
        practices for applying results of Initiative research to reduce 
        loss of life and property damage resulting from hurricanes.
            (4) To identify opportunities to leverage the activities 
        and products of the Initiative with the National Windstorm 
        Impact Reduction Program and other Federal and non-Federal 
        hurricane research, coordination, and loss reduction programs.
            (5) To recommend a model described in section 7(c)(1)(A) 
        and monitor progress on development of such model.
            (6) To make recommendations to the Under Secretary and the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation on research 
        priorities and content and structure of the program established 
        under section 7(a)(1).
            (7) To make recommendations on national hurricane research 
        observation and data requirements.
            (8) To assess opportunities to leverage the capabilities of 
        the following stakeholders:
                    (A) Federal, State, and local governments.
                    (B) Tribal governments.
                    (C) Academic and research institutions.
                    (D) Entities from the private sector.
                    (E) Nongovernmental organizations.
            (9) To evaluate the extent to which the stakeholders 
        described in paragraph (8) have been engaged as partners and 
        collaborators in the Initiative.
            (10) To assist the Under Secretary in facilitating the 
        development of the annual report required by section 5(f).
            (11) To review such report and provide comments to the 
        Under Secretary.
            (12) To submit to the National Science and Technology 
        Council and to Congress, together with documents submitted to 
        Congress in support of the budget of the President for the 2012 
        fiscal year (as submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, 
        United States Code), a report containing a comprehensive review 
        of the progress of the Initiative in meeting the needs of the 
        United States to understand hurricanes, their impacts on 
        natural and built environment, and methods to mitigate such 
        impacts.
    (g) Advisory Bodies.--
            (1) Authority to establish.--The Task Force may establish 
        such advisory bodies as the Task Force considers necessary to 
        assist the Task Force in its duties under subsection (f).
            (2) Criteria.--An advisory body established under paragraph 
        (1) shall represent a broad variety of private and public 
        interests.
    (h) Advisors to the Task Force.--The Task Force may seek advice and 
input from any interested, knowledgeable, or affected party as the Task 
Force considers necessary to carry out the duties under subsection (f).
    (i) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--All members of the Task Force who are 
        officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
        compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
        officers or employees of the United States.
            (2) Travel expenses.--The members of the Task Force shall 
        be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the Task Force.
    (j) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairpersons may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of such title.
    (k) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and 
uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.
    (l) Exemption From FACA Notice Requirement for Task Force Advisory 
Bodies.--An advisory body established by the Task Force under 
subsection (g) shall not be subject to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 10(a)(2)).
    (m) Termination of Task Force.--The Task Force shall terminate on 
September 30, 2018.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH.

    (a) National Science Foundation Competitive Grant Research 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, in coordination with the Under Secretary, shall 
        establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to 
        carry out--
                    (A) research described in subsection (c); or
                    (B) other research that is consistent with the 
                research objectives established under section 5(c)(1).
            (2) Selection.--The National Science Foundation shall 
        select grant recipients under this section through its merit 
        review process.
    (b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Research 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall carry out a 
        program of research described in subsection (c) or other 
        research that is consistent with the research objectives 
        established under section 5(c)(1).
            (2) Research activities.--Research carried out under 
        paragraph (1) may be carried out through--
                    (A) intramural research;
                    (B) awarding grants to eligible entities to carry 
                out research;
                    (C) contracting with eligible entities to carry out 
                research; or
                    (D) entering into cooperative agreements to carry 
                out research.
    (c) Research.--The research described in this subsection is 
research that is consistent with the purposes described in section 
5(a)(2) and is described by one or more of the following:
            (1) Fundamental hurricane research.--Fundamental hurricane 
        research, which may consist of the following:
                    (A) Community research models.--Research to support 
                continued development and maintenance of community 
                weather research and forecast models recommended by the 
                Task Force under section 6(f)(5), including advanced 
                methods of observing storm structure and assimilating 
                observations into the models, in which the agency or 
                institution hosting the models ensures broad access and 
                use of the model by members of the Task Force and the 
                civilian research community.
                    (B) Predicting hurricane intensity and structure.--
                Research to improve understanding and prediction of--
                            (i) storm formation and tracking with 
                        extended time scale to weeks in advance;
                            (ii) rapid changes in storm size, motion, 
                        structure, and intensity;
                            (iii) the internal dynamics of storms;
                            (iv) the transition to extratropical 
                        characteristics as storms move poleward; and
                            (v) the interactions of storms with 
                        environmental conditions, including the 
                        atmosphere, ocean, and land surface.
                    (C) Understanding air and sea interactions.--
                Research regarding observations, theory, and modeling 
                to improve understanding of air and sea interaction in 
                hurricanes and other high wind speed environments.
                    (D) Predicting storm surge, waves, rainfall, inland 
                flooding, and strong winds produced by hurricanes.--
                Research to understand, model, and predict rainfall, 
                coastal and riverline flooding, high winds, and the 
                potential occurrence of tornadoes, including 
                probabilistic modeling, mapping, and visualization of 
                risk.
                    (E) Relationships between hurricanes and climate 
                variability and change.--Research to improve the 
                understanding of the complex relationships between 
                hurricanes and climate on seasonal to decadal time 
                scales, such as research to determine the most 
                effective methods to use observational information and 
                numerical-model simulations to examine short-term and 
                long-term impacts of climate on changes in storm 
                intensity, geographic distribution, and frequency.
                    (F) Relationships between hurricanes and 
                ecosystems.--Research to improve the understanding of 
                how hurricanes affect ecosystems, landscapes, and 
                natural resources and to develop assessments for 
                hurricane vulnerability and risk, including--
                            (i) how ecosystems have been influenced by 
                        past hurricanes and the ability and capacity of 
                        ecosystems to recover from the effects of 
                        hurricanes;
                            (ii) how ecosystem management practices can 
                        minimize disruptions to ecosystem functions and 
                        dependent economic uses as a result of 
                        hurricanes; and
                            (iii) the role of natural features, such as 
                        barrier islands, wetlands, and mangroves, in--
                                    (I) acting as natural buffers to 
                                wind and flood forces; and
                                    (II) improving coastal resiliency.
            (2) Technology assessment and development.--Technology 
        assessment and development, which may consist of the following:
                    (A) Improved observation of hurricanes and tropical 
                storms.--Research to improve hurricane and tropical 
                storm observations and to improve the understanding of 
                the complex nature of storms and their interaction with 
                the natural and built environment through development 
                and application of new technologies, such as--
                            (i) mobile radars and advanced airborne 
                        observing technologies;
                            (ii) global positioning system technology;
                            (iii) unmanned vehicles;
                            (iv) satellite-based sensors;
                            (v) ground-based and aerial wireless 
                        sensors; and
                            (vi) other geospatial technologies and 
                        geospatial data, including bathymetry and 
                        elevation.
                    (B) Computational capability.--Research and 
                development of robust computational capabilities and 
                facilities required to conduct numerical and other 
                types of modeling that support the scientific studies 
                and research carried out under the Initiative as well 
                as data acquisition and modeling during hurricane 
                events, including research to improve understanding of 
                the efficient utility of multiple models that--
                            (i) require sharing and interoperability of 
                        databases, computing environments, networks, 
                        visualization tools, and analytic systems that 
                        improve on such technologies that are available 
                        on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) are used for transitioning hurricane 
                        research assets into operational practice.
                    (C) Technologies for disaster response and 
                recovery.--Research to improve damage assessments after 
                a hurricane and emergency communications during 
                hurricane response and recovery, including improvements 
                to--
                            (i) communications networks for government 
                        agencies and nongovernmental entities;
                            (ii) network interoperability;
                            (iii) cyber-security during hurricane or 
                        storm related emergencies; and
                            (iv) use of models, remote sensing, and 
                        statistically based ground sampling to support 
                        effective and rapid damage assessment to scale 
                        disaster response and recovery needs.
            (3) Research integration, transition, and application.--
        Research on integration, transition, and application of 
        research results, which may consist of the following:
                    (A) Transition of research to operations.--Research 
                to develop mechanisms to accelerate the application of 
                improved models, observations, communication, and risk 
                assessment systems, and related research products to 
                forecasting and other operational settings, including 
                use of 1 or more developmental test beds.
                    (B) Assessing vulnerable infrastructure.--
                Developing a national engineering assessment and 
                clearinghouse of coastal infrastructure by leveraging 
                and building upon existing Federal activities, 
                resources, and research, including infrastructure 
                related to levees, sea walls, and similar coastal 
                flood-protection structures, drainage systems, bridges, 
                water and sewage utilities, power, and communications, 
                to determine the level of vulnerability of such 
                infrastructure to damage from hurricanes.
                    (C) Interaction of hurricanes with engineered 
                structures.--Research to improve understanding of the 
                impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms on buildings, 
                structures, and housing combined with modeling that is 
                essential for guiding the creation of improved building 
                designs and construction codes in locations 
                particularly vulnerable to hurricanes.
                    (D) Evacuation planning.--Research to improve the 
                manner in which hurricane-related information is 
                provided to, and utilized by, the public and government 
                officials, including research to assist officials of 
                State, tribal, regional, or local governments in--
                            (i) determining the circumstances in which 
                        evacuations are required; and
                            (ii) carrying out such evacuations.
                    (E) Decision support.--Research to--
                            (i) assess the social, behavioral, and 
                        economic factors that influence decision making 
                        by the public, government officials, 
                        nongovernmental entities, the private sector, 
                        and other impacted populations before, during, 
                        and in the aftermath of hurricanes;
                            (ii) improve the translation of natural 
                        science and engineering research carried out 
                        under the Initiative into informed decision 
                        making that enables communities, economies, and 
                        the man-made and natural environments to become 
                        resilient to hurricane impacts, including 
                        development of effective risk and vulnerability 
                        assessment and risk communication tools; and
                            (iii) develop methods of assessing disaster 
                        recovery costs, both government and 
                        nongovernment, and of comparing the relative 
                        benefits of disaster mitigation methods with 
                        disaster recovery costs.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
years 2010 through 2015 amounts as follows:
            (1) To the Under Secretary, $18,750,000 to carry out 
        sections 5, 6, and 7(b), of which not less than $13,750,000 
        shall be used to carry such section 7(b).
            (2) To the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
        $56,250,000 to carry out sections 5 and 7(a).
    (b) Interagency Transfer of Funds.--
            (1) Transfers by under secretary for oceans and 
        atmosphere.--Of amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)(1), the 
        Under Secretary may transfer to the heads of other Federal 
        agencies such amounts as the Under Secretary considers 
        appropriate to carry out sections 5, 6, and 7(b).
            (2) Transfers by director of the national science 
        foundation.--Of amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under subsection (a)(2), the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation may transfer to the 
        heads of other Federal agencies such amounts as the Director 
        considers appropriate to carry out sections 5 and 7(a).

SEC. 9. INDEPENDENT REVIEW.

    (a) Agreement.--
            (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall seek to enter 
        into an agreement with the National Research Council of the 
        National Academies for the National Research Council to perform 
        the services covered by this section.
            (2) Timing.--The Under Secretary shall seek to enter into 
        the agreement described in paragraph (1) not later than 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Independent Review of National Hurricane Research Initiative.--
Under an agreement between the Under Secretary and the National 
Research Council under this section, the National Research Council 
shall carry out an independent review of the Initiative. In carrying 
out the review, the National Research Council shall review the 
following:
            (1) Whether the Initiative has well-defined, prioritized, 
        and appropriate research objectives.
            (2) Whether the Initiative is properly coordinated among 
        relevant Federal agencies and stakeholders.
            (3) Whether the Initiative has allocated appropriate 
        resources to each of the research objectives.
            (4) Whether suitable mechanisms exist for transitioning the 
        research results from the Initiative into operational 
        technologies and procedures and activities in a timely manner.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on 
the results of the review carried out under this section.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Under Secretary, $750,000 to carry out this 
section.
                                 <all>