[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 116 (Thursday, July 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5557-S5558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2015
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 114, H.R. 23.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 23) to reauthorize the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Program, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
H.R. 23
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 one 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;
[[Page S5558]]
``(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.''.
Mr. SULLIVAN. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
substitute be agreed to, that the bill, as amended, be read a third
time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made
and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was
agreed to.
The amendment was ordered to be engrossed, and the bill to be read a
third time.
The bill was read the third time.
The bill (H.R. 23), as amended, was passed.
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