[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 23 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.23

                     One Hundred Fourteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen


                                 An Act


 
To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, 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 ``National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Act Reauthorization of 2015''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
    (a) Director.--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''.
    (b) Lifelines.--Section 203 of the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702) is further amended--
        (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs 
    (3) through (5), respectively; and
        (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
    paragraph:
        ``(2) Lifelines.--The term `lifelines' means public works and 
    utilities, including transportation facilities and infrastructure, 
    oil and gas pipelines, electrical power and communication 
    facilities and infrastructure, and water supply and sewage 
    treatment facilities.''.
    (c) Windstorm.--Paragraph (5) of such section, as redesignated by 
subsection (b), is amended by inserting ``northeaster,'' after 
``tropical storm,''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.
    Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
(42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended--
        (1) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and inserting the 
    following:
    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Program, the purpose of which is to achieve major 
measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from 
windstorms through a coordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with 
other levels of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at 
improving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts and 
developing and encouraging the implementation of cost-effective 
mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.
    ``(b) Responsibilities of Program Agencies.--
        ``(1) Lead agency.--The National Institute of Standards and 
    Technology shall have the primary responsibility for planning and 
    coordinating the Program. In carrying out this paragraph, the 
    Director shall--
            ``(A) ensure that the Program includes the necessary 
        components to promote the implementation of windstorm risk 
        reduction measures by Federal, State, and local governments, 
        national standards and model building code organizations, 
        architects and engineers, and others with a role in planning 
        and constructing buildings and lifelines;
            ``(B) support the development of performance-based 
        engineering tools, and work with appropriate groups to promote 
        the commercial application of such tools, including through 
        wind-related model building codes, voluntary standards, and 
        construction best practices;
            ``(C) request the assistance of Federal agencies other than 
        the Program agencies, as necessary to assist in carrying out 
        this Act;
            ``(D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm investigations 
        to the extent practicable; and
            ``(E) when warranted by research or investigative findings, 
        issue recommendations to assist in informing the development of 
        model codes, and provide information to Congress on the use of 
        such recommendations.
        ``(2) National institute of standards and technology.--In 
    addition to the lead agency responsibilities described under 
    paragraph (1), the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
    shall be responsible for carrying out research and development to 
    improve model building codes, voluntary standards, and best 
    practices for the design, construction, and retrofit of buildings, 
    structures, and lifelines.
        ``(3) National science foundation.--The National Science 
    Foundation shall support research in--
            ``(A) engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve 
        the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their 
        impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines; and
            ``(B) economic and social factors influencing windstorm 
        risk reduction measures.
        ``(4) National oceanic and atmospheric administration.--The 
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall support 
    atmospheric sciences research to improve the understanding of the 
    behavior of windstorms and their impact on buildings, structures, 
    and lifelines.
        ``(5) Federal emergency management agency.--The Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency shall--
            ``(A) support--
                ``(i) the development of risk assessment tools and 
            effective mitigation techniques;
                ``(ii) windstorm-related data collection and analysis;
                ``(iii) public outreach and information dissemination; 
            and
                ``(iv) promotion of the adoption of windstorm 
            preparedness and mitigation measures, including for 
            households, businesses, and communities, consistent with 
            the Agency's all-hazards approach; and
            ``(B) work closely with national standards and model 
        building code organizations, in conjunction with the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology, to promote the 
        implementation of research results and promote better building 
        practices within the building design and construction industry, 
        including architects, engineers, contractors, builders, and 
        inspectors.'';
        (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c), and by 
    striking subsections (e) and (f); and
        (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so redesignated, the 
    following new subsections:
    ``(d) Budget Activities.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall each include in their agency's annual budget request to 
Congress a description of their agency's projected activities under the 
Program for the fiscal year covered by the budget request, along with 
an assessment of what they plan to spend on those activities for that 
fiscal year.
    ``(e) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact 
Reduction.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--There is established an Interagency 
    Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, chaired by 
    the Director or the Director's designee.
        ``(2) Membership.--In addition to the chair, the Committee 
    shall be composed of--
            ``(A) the heads or such designees of--
                ``(i) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
                ``(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
            Administration;
                ``(iii) the National Science Foundation;
                ``(iv) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
                ``(v) the Office of Management and Budget; and
            ``(B) the head of any other Federal agency, or such 
        designee, the chair considers appropriate.
        ``(3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not less than once a 
    year at the call of the Director of the National Institute of 
    Standards and Technology.
        ``(4) General purpose and duties.--The Committee shall oversee 
    the planning and coordination of the Program.
        ``(5) Strategic plan.--The Committee shall develop and submit 
    to Congress, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
    the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 
    2015, a Strategic Plan for the Program that includes--
            ``(A) prioritized goals for the Program that will mitigate 
        against the loss of life and property from future windstorms;
            ``(B) short-term, mid-term, and long-term research 
        objectives to achieve those goals;
            ``(C) a description of the role of each Program agency in 
        achieving the prioritized goals;
            ``(D) the methods by which progress towards the goals will 
        be assessed; and
            ``(E) an explanation of how the Program will foster the 
        transfer of research results into outcomes, such as improved 
        model building codes.
        ``(6) Progress report.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
    of enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act 
    Reauthorization of 2015, the Committee shall submit to the Congress 
    a report on the progress of the Program that includes--
            ``(A) a description of the activities funded under 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;
            ``(B) the outcomes achieved by the Program for each of the 
        goals identified in the Strategic Plan;
            ``(C) a description of any recommendations made to change 
        existing building codes that were the result of Program 
        activities; and
            ``(D) a description of the extent to which the Program has 
        incorporated recommendations from the Advisory Committee on 
        Windstorm Impact Reduction.
        ``(7) Coordinated budget.--The Committee shall develop a 
    coordinated budget for the Program, which shall be submitted to the 
    Congress not later than 60 days after the date of the President's 
    budget submission for each fiscal year.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION.
    Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
(42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to read as follows:
    ``SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM IMPACT 
      REDUCTION.
    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall establish an Advisory Committee on 
Windstorm Impact Reduction, which shall be composed of at least 7 and 
not more than 15 members who are qualified to provide advice on 
windstorm impact reduction and represent related scientific, 
architectural, and engineering disciplines, none of whom may be 
employees of the Federal Government, including--
        ``(1) representatives of research and academic institutions;
        ``(2) industry standards development organizations;
        ``(3) emergency management agencies;
        ``(4) State and local government; and
        ``(5) business communities, including the insurance industry.
    ``(b) Assessments.--The Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact 
Reduction shall offer assessments and recommendations on--
        ``(1) trends and developments in the natural, engineering, and 
    social sciences and practices of windstorm impact mitigation;
        ``(2) the priorities of the Program's Strategic Plan;
        ``(3) the coordination of the Program;
        ``(4) the effectiveness of the Program in meeting its purposes; 
    and
        ``(5) any revisions to the Program which may be necessary.
    ``(c) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Committee 
established under this section shall serve without compensation.
    ``(d) Reports.--At least every 2 years, the Advisory Committee 
shall report to the Director on the assessments carried out under 
subsection (b) and its recommendations for ways to improve the Program.
    ``(e) Charter.--Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Advisory Committee shall 
not be required to file a charter subsequent to its initial charter, 
filed under section 9(c) of such Act, before the termination date 
specified in subsection (f) of this section.
    ``(f) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate on 
September 30, 2017.
    ``(g) Conflict of Interest.--An Advisory Committee member shall 
recuse himself from any Advisory Committee activity in which he has an 
actual pecuniary interest.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act 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) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2015;
        ``(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
        ``(3) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2017.
    ``(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 2015;
        ``(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
        ``(3) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2017.
    ``(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 2015;
        ``(2) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
        ``(3) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2017.
    ``(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 2015;
        ``(2) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
        ``(3) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2017.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.