[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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