[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1992-S1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
  S. 692. A bill to improve hurricane preparedness by establishing the 
National Hurricane Research Initiative, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce 
legislation on a subject that is never far from the minds of citizens 
in my home State of Florida, folks along the Gulf Coast, or on the 
Atlantic seaboard: the threat of hurricanes, and the devastation that 
these storms leave in their wake. This threat is ever nearer as we 
approach the 2011 hurricane season.
  Hurricane damage is certainly not new to Florida. On September 1926, 
the Great Miami Hurricane was a harbinger of things to come. Two years 
later, a category four hurricane caused Lake Okeechobee to flood its 
banks killing 2500 out of South Florida's 50,000 residents. In August 
1992, Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida causing an estimated $26 
billion in damage to the United States. And we all when in August of 
2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast 
region, causing more than $91 billion in economic losses, forcing more 
than 770,000 people from their homes, and killing an estimated 1833 
people.
  According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance companies 
had estimated losses of $40.6 billion on 1.7 million claims in 6 States 
from Hurricane Katrina, the largest loss in the history of insurance. 
Insured losses are predicted to double every decade as development 
along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts increases.
  The sheer magnitude of this loss is staggering and underscores the 
need for increased funding for hurricane research and improved 
forecasting. But hurricanes do not just affect those living along the 
coasts. These extreme events have national consequences with increased 
fuel prices and severe inland flooding.
  U.S. Census data indicates that more than 35 million people live in 
areas that are most vulnerable to hurricanes. Emergency managers need 
to know exactly where a hurricane will strike and how hard it will 
strike before they can issue an evacuation warning.
  Improvements in track and intensity forecasts will translate into 
better preparedness for coastal and inland communities, saving lives 
and reducing devastating impacts.
  The impacts felt in the wake of Hurricane Katrina--despite a good 
meteorological forecast of the hurricane--emphasize the need for 
additional research and development in these areas.
  I am committed to the protection of life and property. Hurricanes 
pose a serious threat to the Nation, and losses are growing. So today I 
am introducing the National Hurricane Research Initiative. This bill 
calls for prudent investments that will protect lives and prevent 
economic devastation, reducing our vulnerability to hurricanes.
  The National Hurricane Research Initiative will dramatically expand 
the scope of fundamental research on hurricanes, including enhanced 
data collection and analysis in critical research areas, and the 
translation of research results into improved forecasts and planning. 
Specifically, the National Hurricane Research Initiative will improve 
our understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical 
cyclones, including, storm tracking and prediction, storm surge 
modeling, and inland flood modeling. This research will expand our 
understanding of the impacts of hurricanes on and response of society 
and help us to develop infrastructure that is resilient to the forces 
associated with hurricanes.
  We never know when the next big storm will hit. This type of research 
is urgently needed, and that research needs to be well coordinated. I 
look forward to working with Chairman Rockefeller and the members of 
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on this 
important legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 692

       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 Hurricane Research 
     Initiative Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entities'' 
     means Federal, State, regional, and local government agencies 
     and departments, tribal governments, universities, research 
     institutes, for-profit entities, and nongovernmental 
     organizations.
       (2) 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).
       (3) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the National 
     Hurricane Research Initiative established under section 
     3(a)(1).
       (4) 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.
       (5) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal government'' 
     means the governing body of an Indian tribe.
       (6) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
     the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--The Under Secretary 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 carried out under this section; and
       (B) the research carried out under section 4.
       (2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this paragraph are 
     as follows:
       (A) To conduct research, incorporating to the maximum 
     extent practicable the needs of eligible entities, to enable 
     the following:
       (i) Improvement of the 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 socioeconomic impacts requiring 
     emergency management, response, and recovery.

       (ii) Development of infrastructure that is resilient to the 
     forces associated with hurricanes and other tropical storms.
       (iii) Mitigation of 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.

       (iv) Improvement of communication with the public about 
     hurricane forecasts and risks associated with hurricanes to 
     reduce the harmful impacts of hurricanes and improve the 
     response of society to destructive storms.
       (B) To provide training for the next generation of 
     hurricane researchers and forecasters.
       (b) Implementation Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall, in 
     coordination with the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, 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 strategic goals, benchmarks, milestones, and a 
     set of systematic criteria and performance metrics by which 
     the overall effectiveness of the Initiative

[[Page S1993]]

     may be evaluated on a periodic basis, including evaluation of 
     mechanisms for the effective transition of research to 
     operations and the application of research results for 
     reducing hurricane losses and related public benefits; and
       (C) identifies opportunities to leverage the results of the 
     research carried out under section 4 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 Science Advisory Board, Social Science Working 
     Group, and 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 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall make the 
     implementation plan required by paragraph (1) available for 
     review by the following:
       (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 Meteorology and Oceanography 
     Command.
       (F) The Associate Administrator for Science Mission 
     Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration.
       (G) The Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
       (H) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
     Policy.
       (I) The Director of the National Economic Council.
       (3) Revisions.--The Under Secretary shall revise the 
     implementation plan required by paragraph (1) not less 
     frequently than once every 5 years.
       (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 4 that are--
       (A) consistent with the purposes described in subsection 
     (a)(2); and
       (B) based on the findings of the expert assessments and 
     strategies published in the following:
       (i) The June 2005 publication entitled, ``Grand Challenges 
     for Disaster Reduction'', and the 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.
       (ii) The January 2007 report by the National Science Board 
     entitled, ``Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for a 
     National Hurricane Initiative''.
       (iii) 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''.
       (iv) Reports from the Hurricane Intensity Working Group of 
     the National Science Advisory Board of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration.
       (2) Areas of concentration.--The objectives required by 
     paragraph (1) shall provide for 3 areas of concentration as 
     follows:
       (A) Fundamental hurricane research, which may include 
     research to support continued development and maintenance of 
     community weather research and forecast models, 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 the civilian research community.
       (B) Technology assessment and development.
       (C) Research on integration, transition, and application of 
     research results.
       (d) National Workshops and Conferences.--The Under 
     Secretary may, in coordination with the Director of the 
     National Science Foundation, 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 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, and the public;
       (2) to enhance public access to Initiative documents and 
     products, including--
       (A) reports and publications of the Initiative;
       (B) the most recent 5-year implementation plan developed 
     under subsection (b); and
       (C) each annual cross-cut budget and report submitted to 
     Congress under subsection (f); and
       (3) that includes a publicly accessible clearinghouse of 
     Federal research and development centers engaged in research 
     and development efforts that are complementary to the 
     Initiative.
       (f) Annual Cross-Cut Budget and Report.--
       (1) Requirement for annual cross-cut budget and report.--
     Beginning with the first fiscal year beginning after the date 
     the Under Secretary completes the implementation plan 
     required by subsection (b), the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy shall, in conjunction with the 
     Under Secretary, the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, and the Director of the Office of Management and 
     Budget, 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) a coordinated annual report for the Initiative for the 
     last fiscal year ending before the date on which the report 
     is submitted; and
       (B) a cross-cut budget for the Initiative for the first 
     fiscal year beginning after the date on which the report is 
     submitted.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1)(A) 
     shall--
       (A) document the grants and contracts awarded to eligible 
     entities under section 4;
       (B) for each eligible entity that receives a grant or 
     contract under section 4, identify what major activities were 
     undertaken with such funds, grants, and contracts; and
       (C) for each research activity or group of activities in an 
     area of concentration described in subsection (c)(2), as 
     appropriate, identify any accomplishments, which may include 
     full or partial achievement of any strategic goals, 
     benchmarks, milestones, or systematic criteria and 
     performance metrics established for the implementation plan 
     under subsection (b)(1)(B).

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH.

       (a) National Science Foundation Competitive Grant Research 
     Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary, 
     establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to 
     carry out research that is consistent with the research 
     objectives established under section 3(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, in coordination 
     with the Director of the National Science Foundation, carry 
     out a program of research that is consistent with the 
     research objectives established under section 3(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.
       (3) Demonstration projects authorized.--Research carried 
     out under this subsection may include demonstration projects.
       (c) Collaboration.--To the maximum extent practicable, each 
     entity carrying out research under this section shall 
     collaborate with existing Federal and Federally funded 
     research centers operating in related fields, for-profit 
     organizations, and international, regional, State, local, and 
     tribal governments--
       (1) to gather and share experiential information; and
       (2) to advance scientific and engineering knowledge, 
     technology transfer, and technology commercialization in the 
     course of conduct of hurricane-related research and its 
     application to mitigating the impacts of hurricanes and other 
     tropical storms on society.

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