[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14591-14596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3980) to establish a National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3980

       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 of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and 
     thunderstorms can cause significant loss of life, injury, 
     destruction of property, and economic and social disruption. 
     All States and regions are vulnerable to these hazards.
       (2) The United States currently sustains several billion 
     dollars in economic damages each year due to these 
     windstorms. In recent decades, rapid development and 
     population growth in high-risk areas has greatly increased 
     overall vulnerability to windstorms.
       (3) Improved windstorm impact reduction measures have the 
     potential to reduce these losses through--
       (A) cost-effective and affordable design and construction 
     methods and practices;
       (B) effective mitigation programs at the local, State, and 
     national level;
       (C) improved data collection and analysis and impact 
     prediction methodologies;
       (D) engineering research on improving new structures and 
     retrofitting existing ones to better withstand windstorms, 
     atmospheric-related research to better understand the 
     behavior and impact of windstorms on the built environment, 
     and subsequent application of those research results; and
       (E) public education and outreach.
       (4) There is an appropriate role for the Federal Government 
     in supporting windstorm impact reduction. An effective 
     Federal program in windstorm impact reduction will require 
     interagency coordination, and input from individuals, 
     academia, the private sector, and other interested non-
     Federal entities.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
     of Science and Technology Policy.

[[Page 14592]]

       (2) The term ``State'' means each of the States of the 
     United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
     Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
     any other territory or possession of the United States.
       (3) The term ``windstorm'' means any storm with a damaging 
     or destructive wind component, such as a hurricane, tropical 
     storm, tornado, or thunderstorm.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the National 
     Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (in this Act referred to 
     as the ``Program'').
       (b) Objective.--The objective of the Program is the 
     achievement of major measurable reductions in losses of life 
     and property from windstorms. The objective is to be achieved 
     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 implementation of 
     cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.
       (c) Interagency Working Group.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
     establish an Interagency Working Group consisting of 
     representatives of the National Science Foundation, the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology, the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency, and other Federal agencies as appropriate. 
     The Director shall designate an agency to serve as Chair of 
     the Working Group and be responsible for the planning, 
     management, and coordination of the Program, including budget 
     coordination. Specific agency roles and responsibilities 
     under the Program shall be defined in the implementation plan 
     required under subsection (e). General agency 
     responsibilities shall include the following:
       (1) The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     shall support research and development to improve building 
     codes and standards and practices for design and construction 
     of buildings, structures, and lifelines.
       (2) The National Science Foundation shall support research 
     in engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve the 
     understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact 
     on buildings, structures, and lifelines.
       (3) 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.
       (4) The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall support 
     the development of risk assessment tools and effective 
     mitigation techniques, windstorm-related data collection and 
     analysis, public outreach, information dissemination, and 
     implementation of mitigation measures consistent with the 
     Agency's all-hazards approach.
       (d) Program Components.--
       (1) In general.--The Program shall consist of three primary 
     mitigation components: improved understanding of windstorms, 
     windstorm impact assessment, and windstorm impact reduction. 
     The components shall be implemented through activities such 
     as data collection and analysis, risk assessment, outreach, 
     technology transfer, and research and development. To the 
     extent practicable, research activities authorized under this 
     Act shall be peer-reviewed, and the components shall be 
     designed to be complementary to, and avoid duplication of, 
     other public and private hazard reduction efforts.
       (2) Understanding of windstorms.--Activities to enhance the 
     understanding of windstorms shall include research to improve 
     knowledge of and data collection on the impact of severe wind 
     on buildings, structures, and infrastructure.
       (3) Windstorm impact assessment.--Activities to improve 
     windstorm impact assessment shall include--
       (A) development of mechanisms for collecting and 
     inventorying information on the performance of buildings, 
     structures, and infrastructure in windstorms and improved 
     collection of pertinent information from sources, including 
     the design and construction industry, insurance companies, 
     and building officials;
       (B) research, development, and technology transfer to 
     improve loss estimation and risk assessment systems; and
       (C) research, development, and technology transfer to 
     improve simulation and computational modeling of windstorm 
     impacts.
       (4) Windstorm impact reduction.--Activities to reduce 
     windstorm impacts shall include--
       (A) development of improved outreach and implementation 
     mechanisms to translate existing information and research 
     findings into cost-effective and affordable practices for 
     design and construction professionals, and State and local 
     officials;
       (B) development of cost-effective and affordable windstorm-
     resistant systems, structures, and materials for use in new 
     construction and retrofit of existing construction; and
       (C) outreach and information dissemination related to cost-
     effective and affordable construction techniques, loss 
     estimation and risk assessment methodologies, and other 
     pertinent information regarding windstorm phenomena to 
     Federal, State, and local officials, the construction 
     industry, and the general public.
       (e) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 1 year after date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working Group shall 
     develop and transmit to the Congress an implementation plan 
     for achieving the objectives of the Program. The plan shall 
     include--
       (1) an assessment of past and current public and private 
     efforts to reduce windstorm impacts, including a 
     comprehensive review and analysis of windstorm mitigation 
     activities supported by the Federal Government;
       (2) a description of plans for technology transfer and 
     coordination with natural hazard mitigation activities 
     supported by the Federal Government;
       (3) a statement of strategic goals and priorities for each 
     Program component area;
       (4) a description of how the Program will achieve such 
     goals, including detailed responsibilities for each agency; 
     and
       (5) a description of plans for cooperation and coordination 
     with interested public and private sector entities in each 
     program component area.
       (f) Biennial Report.--The Interagency Working Group shall, 
     on a biennial basis, and not later than 180 days after the 
     end of the preceding 2 fiscal years, transmit a report to the 
     Congress describing the status of the windstorm impact 
     reduction program, including progress achieved during the 
     preceding two fiscal years. Each such report shall include 
     any recommendations for legislative and other action the 
     Interagency Working Group considers necessary and 
     appropriate. In developing the biennial report, the 
     Interagency Working Group shall consider the recommendations 
     of the Advisory Committee established under section 5.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM IMPACT 
                   REDUCTION.

       (a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a National 
     Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, consisting 
     of not less than 11 and not more than 15 non-Federal members 
     representing a broad cross section of interests such as the 
     research, technology transfer, design and construction, and 
     financial communities; materials and systems suppliers; 
     State, county, and local governments; the insurance industry; 
     and other representatives as designated by the Director.
       (b) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall assess--
       (1) trends and developments in the science and engineering 
     of windstorm impact reduction;
       (2) the effectiveness of the Program in carrying out the 
     activities under section 4(d);
       (3) the need to revise the Program; and
       (4) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
     activities of the Program.
       (c) Biennial Report.--At least once every two years, the 
     Advisory Committee shall report to Congress and the 
     Interagency Working Group on the assessment carried out under 
     subsection (b).
       (d) Sunset Exemption.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
     Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee 
     established under this section.

     SEC. 6. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

       Nothing in this Act supersedes any provision of the 
     National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety 
     Standards Act of 1974. No design, construction method, 
     practice, technology, material, mitigation methodology, or 
     hazard reduction measure of any kind developed under this Act 
     shall be required for a home certified under section 616 of 
     the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety 
     Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5415), pursuant to standards 
     issued under such Act, without being subject to the consensus 
     development process and rulemaking procedures of that Act.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency for carrying out this Act--
       (1) $8,700,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (2) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (b) National Science Foundation.--From sums otherwise 
     authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the National Science Foundation for carrying 
     out this Act--
       (1) $8,700,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (2) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (c) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--From 
     sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology for carrying out this Act--
       (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (d) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.--From 
     sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration for carrying out this Act--
       (1) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (2) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2007.

     SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

       Section 37(a) of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.

[[Page 14593]]

     1885d(a)) is amended by striking ``By January 30, 1982, and 
     biennially thereafter'' and inserting ``By January 30 of each 
     odd-numbered year''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 3980, as amended, the bill now 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Boehlert) and his staff for their leadership and support for allowing 
me to bring this important piece of legislation before the Committee on 
Science. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Moore), who introduced this bill with me, and all of the cosponsors of 
H.R. 3980 for their support.
  Windstorms in the United States, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, 
continue to cause high levels of injuries, deaths, business 
interruption, and property damage. Unfortunately, the level of losses 
due to the windstorms increase each year and will continue to escalate 
unless technology generation, education, and public policies are 
improved.
  On May 11, 1970, tragedy struck my hometown of Lubbock, Texas. An F5 
tornado ripped through downtown Lubbock. Six people were killed, and 
500 were injured. The tornado had winds estimated in excess of 200 
miles an hour and damaged or destroyed a large portion of our city.
  In a few moments between 9:35 p.m. and the time the funnel lifted 
into the cloud, the tornado devastated a community along an 8\1/2\ 
mile-wide path. It wrought havoc along a track that was 1\1/2\ miles 
wide in downtown Lubbock to one-fourth mile wide as it passed over the 
National Weather Bureau's office located at the airport. The twister 
was responsible for $125 million in damage, and an estimated 15 square 
miles of the city was damaged or destroyed.
  The National Weather Service estimates that between 1995 and 2002, 
hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorm winds caused an average of $4.5 
billion in damage every year. Texas alone averages 124 tornadoes every 
year, which is more than double the average of any other State.
  Over this past Memorial Day weekend, for example, 175 tornadoes were 
reported across the country, bringing the preliminary total for May to 
544. The storms were responsible for 8 deaths and millions of dollars 
in damages in 12 States.
  June 1 was the official start of hurricane season, and forecasters 
are predicting an above-normal Atlantic season. Officials anticipate 12 
to 15 tropical storms for the season, with six to eight systems 
becoming hurricanes, with two to four of those becoming major 
hurricanes.
  Last year, Hurricane Isabel, one of the storms to affect the United 
States, caused 17 deaths and more than $3 billion in damages. 
Technological advancements in the second half of the century have 
contributed to better, more accurate severe weather watches and 
warnings from the National Weather Service, ultimately saving countless 
lives. Advancements in computer technology also led to progress in 
numerical weather prediction, allowing meteorologists to apply physics 
in replicating motions of the atmosphere.
  But even as we build on our current weather prediction successes and 
create new resources to predict windstorms at a greater rate, the 
United States continues to sustain billions of dollars each year in 
property damage and economic losses due to wind storms, and the human 
costs are all too painful.
  Over the last 5 years, Texas Tech University Wind Engineering 
Research Center has received funding under a cooperative agreement with 
the National Institute For Standards and Technology to research the 
detrimental effects of windstorms on buildings and to reduce the loss 
of life from windstorm events. Their work has led to many 
accomplishments on the national scope. This year alone, they will 
receive $900,000 to carry on research to improve the economy of 
shelters and wind-resistant construction.
  A variety of cost-effective windstorm hazard mitigation measures 
exist, and many more are undergoing important research and development 
at universities like Texas Tech University across this Nation. However, 
these efforts are not being coordinated at the Federal level to improve 
the general public's understanding of windstorm impacts, and we are not 
doing a good job of encouraging implementation of cost-effective 
mitigation measures for our citizens.
  Improving the wind resistance of buildings can only be achieved when 
there is a demand for wind-resistant construction by homeowners. 
Hurricane Isabel, the tornado in Lubbock that was so destructive more 
than 30 years ago, and the 544 tornadoes in the month of May alone are 
serious reminders of how vulnerable we are and how serious we should be 
about severe weather safety and preparedness.
  Here is what we can do about it. The objective of the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program is to achieve measurable reduction 
in loss of life and property from windstorms. In a coordinated effort 
between academia, the private sector and the Federal Government, this 
legislation will improve distribution of current research findings, 
develop cost-effective and affordable windstorm-resistant systems, and 
develop outreach techniques for the general public.
  The aim of this act is also to enable the marketplace to form 
incentives. Improving our understanding of how wind impacts buildings, 
enhancing the scope and detail of damage data collection, and measuring 
the degree to which varying mitigation techniques can lessen that 
impact will make it possible to quantify the value of mitigation. This 
information will give policymakers, private industry, and individual 
homeowners the tools to make decisions that take windstorm 
vulnerability into consideration.
  An investment in windstorm impact reduction will pay significant 
dividends and will save lives, decrease property damage, and reduce the 
cost of Federal disaster relief in the future. Therefore, I urge 
Members to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3980.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for 
following through on his promise to mark up legislation on windstorms 
in the 108th Congress. I would also like to thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) for sponsoring with me this important 
legislation. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Mario Diaz-Balart) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) and 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), who have worked with me 
over the past three Congresses. And finally, staff member Jim Turner of 
the Committee on Science staff and Brian Pallasch of the American 
Society of Civil Engineers, and my staff person, Jana Denning, have 
worked tirelessly over the past 5 years on this legislation, and they 
all deserve thanks.
  Almost 6 years ago, my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, was hit by an F4 
tornado which plowed through the suburb of Haysville, killing six, 
injuring 150, and causing over $140 million in damage. The devastation 
of this attack motivated me to try to do something.
  I put together a bill modeled after NEHRP, the successful earthquake 
research program begun over 30 years ago. My goal is to mitigate loss 
of life and damage to property due to wind and related hazards. We can 
do this through early warning of tornadoes, better emergency response, 
and better

[[Page 14594]]

design and construction of buildings. I reviewed comments from the 
American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Association of Home 
Builders, the insurance industry, meteorologists, emergency managers, 
academia, industry, and the manufactured housing associations to try to 
fine-tune this legislation.
  On May 4, just last year, almost 4 years to the day after the deadly 
1999 Kansas and Oklahoma tornadoes, tornadoes touched down again in 
metropolitan Kansas City and the surrounding suburbs, as well as in 
many of my congressional colleagues' districts, destroying property, 
killing people and injuring our constituents.

                              {time}  1115

  These tornadoes, Mr. Speaker, did not check to find out if they were 
hitting a Republican or Democratic district. Tornadoes are truly an 
equal-opportunity destroyer. This is not a Republican bill. It is not a 
Democratic issue. It is a human issue, and it is a human tragedy. And 
we need to deal with this, and we are dealing with this. And I am 
grateful to my colleagues across the aisle for dealing with this on a 
bipartisan basis. These windstorms destroy lives. I have seen it in my 
own district, and I know that many of my colleagues have as well.
  I thank, again, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) for his 
work on this legislation with me.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I wanted to just summarize a little bit about this bill 
and to also let folks know that this bill has a lot of endorsements 
from people that are very active in this type of engineering: the 
American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Association of Mutual 
Insurance Companies, the Manufacturing Housing Institute, the National 
Association of Wind Engineering, Applied Technology Council, and the 
International Code Council. These are the organizations that are 
actively involved in this kind of research, and they wholeheartedly 
support and endorse this bill.
  One of the things that this bill does is it creates a national 
windstorm impact reduction program, and it improves our understanding 
of windstorm issues. And it also brings about a collaboration of the 
private sector and the public sector so that we can begin to 
commercialize a lot of the important research that is going on. It 
really does not do us any good to do a lot of good research in this 
country if we do not get it into the hands of the people that can 
actually use that, and those are the homeowners and the building owners 
around this country.
  It also brings some oversight to the process and creates a National 
Advisory Committee who will oversee the various research. They will be 
reported back to and given an opportunity to give progress reports to 
the Congress to make sure that we are providing adequate oversight for 
the important research dollars that we are providing for this type of 
research.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart).
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the 
gentleman from Texas, and I also want to thank the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moore), who has also worked awfully hard on this 
legislation.
  But I have to admit, Mr. Speaker, that I am a bit in awe of the work 
that the gentleman from Texas has done to get this bill this far. As 
has been said, many lives and billions of dollars are lost during 
hurricanes and tornadoes due to really poor mitigation techniques, from 
the structure of buildings to the planning of evacuation corridors. 
Hurricane Andrew, for example, in 1992 resulted in $26.5 billion in 
losses and 61 fatalities. Southern Dade County, by the way, Miami/Dade 
County, is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Andrew. 
Hurricane Hugo in 1989 resulted in $7 billion in losses and 86 
fatalities.
  I am fortunate to help represent the International Hurricane Research 
Center, a research center in Florida International University, which is 
directed by Dr. Leatherman. It was established after Hurricane Andrew. 
It serves as Florida's center for hurricane research, education, and 
outreach. Of course, their work really serves the entire Nation. The 
center has led research on everything from appropriate housing 
techniques to beach erosion and coastal vulnerability. Like many other 
wind-related institutions, the International Hurricane Research Center 
supports this legislation. The sponsor of this legislation was 
mentioning a number that did. This is one more, which I know the 
gentleman is aware of, and, again, it will make significant steps in 
mitigating the effects of wind-related hazards throughout the United 
States.
  This legislation, is a, I think, very important piece of legislation, 
and the gentleman from Texas has done an incredible job shepherding it 
through the process; and, again, I am in awe of the job that he has 
done. This legislation creates a National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program in order to improve understanding of windstorm impacts and 
develops implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures. This 
will use the vital research already done to implement a uniform policy 
that will ultimately lead to better-built office buildings, homes, 
structures, in order to lessen the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes 
and other wind-borne tragedies.
  It establishes a National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact 
Reduction. Again, this group will routinely assess the effectiveness of 
the program and make recommendations if any changes are needed down the 
road. The sponsor has been very key on making sure that there is strong 
oversight, and I want to thank the sponsor for his leadership there and 
not only on this issue but particularly on this issue, on this bill.
  And, again, I want to thank the sponsor, the gentleman from Texas, 
and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore), who also, I repeat, has done 
a lot of work. I am in awe of the work that has been done on this bill, 
and it is a privilege to support this bill here on the floor today.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3980 and 
applaud the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) and the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for introducing it and getting it to the floor 
for passage today.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3980 would establish the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Program to achieve major measurable reductions in losses of 
life and property from windstorms. This is critically important to 
Members like me whose districts are prone to catastrophic windstorms 
such as hurricanes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent one of the most beautiful places 
under the American Flag, the U.S. Virgin Islands. While we live in an 
area that sees its share of hurricanes every year, prior to 1989 we 
were spared for over 60 years of being hit by one of these storms. 
Since September, 1989, however, when Hurricane Hugo hit with sustained 
winds in excess of 200 miles per hour, our islands were changed 
forever. The devastation wrought by this storm was astronomical. 
However, just as we were beginning to recover from the legacy of 
Hurricane Hugo, we were hit with a second devastating storm in 
September of 1995, Hurricane Marilyn. Since then we were hit by at 
least four other major storms, the last one being Hurricane Lenny in 
1999.
  Mr. Speaker, if having to deal with recovering from a major natural 
disaster was not enough, Hurricanes Hugo and Marilyn left the Virgin 
Islands with an even more ominous legacy. It almost wiped out the 
availability of affordable windstorm insurance in the territory.
  The lack of available affordable homeowners insurance in the Virgin 
Islands remains a serious problem for many of my constituents today. 
With the huge payouts associated with the September 11 attacks and 
natural disasters of 2 years ago, insurance companies' costs have 
skyrocketed. To keep

[[Page 14595]]

from falling into the red, many are passing their costs on to 
homeowners in the form of higher premiums. For the Virgin Islands, 
added risk of hurricanes, increased seismic activity, and the lack of 
competition among insurers make it more difficult for my constituents 
to find relief from these skyrocketing premiums.
  While H.R. 3980 does not directly address the problem of the 
availability of affordable disaster insurance, it has the very real 
potential of lowering these costs in the long run if it is successful 
in lowering or reducing the losses to life and property from hurricanes 
and other windstorm disasters.
  Mr. Speaker, windstorms and the damage and destruction they bring 
result in higher and higher costs to our Nation every year. Any effort 
which will result in the reduction of these costs will yield untold 
benefits for all of us. For this reason I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 3980. And I once again want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Neugebauer) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for introducing 
it and bringing it to the floor today.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the distinguished chairman 
of the Committee on Science.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and 
I want to congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) for 
bringing this bill forward. Bills in this area have been proposed for 
many years; but through the gentleman from Texas's (Mr. Neugebauer) 
efforts, we now have a bipartisan measure that the House can pass.
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) is what I refer to as an 
impact player. Some people come to this House, the people's House, and 
take a few years, understandably, to get sort of settled in and to 
begin to have an impact. He just took a couple of months, and he has 
had an impact. And this bill is a direct tribute to his tenacity and 
determination to get something done, and I want to thank him for that 
on behalf of the entire committee on a bipartisan basis.
  Windstorms cause damage and deaths every year throughout the country. 
Far too much damage, far too many deaths. One is unacceptable. We may 
not be able to do anything about the weather, but we can do more than 
talk about it. We can build and retrofit structures so they are better 
able to survive windstorms. But we can do that successfully and 
affordably only if we conduct the research and development needed to 
learn more about storms and about structures. That is exactly what this 
bill will enable us to do.
  This is not a vain hope. Congress created the same kind of program 
for earthquakes in the late 1970s. And as a result, we are able to do 
much more today than we were 30 years ago to make structures earthquake 
resistant. We hope this similar program will yield a similar result for 
windstorms.
  So in this bill we are following a proven formula. So again let me 
congratulate once again the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) and 
the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for this bill. They worked 
together in a bipartisan basis to fashion something that earns our 
support.
  Let me thank also the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
and I am privileged to serve on that committee also, for working with 
us on the FEMA portions of this bill. And let me thank the American 
Society of Civil Engineers and the other groups that have guided us in 
drafting the bill. We did not just get in some closet someplace and say 
this is a problem, how do we deal with it. We reached out under the 
gentleman from Texas's (Mr. Neugebauer) leadership and the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moore), and we invited opinion, we invited input; and 
as a result of all that, we were able to fashion something that is 
pretty darn good, and I am proud of it. And I want to commend it to the 
attention of my colleagues and urge its overwhelming adoption.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), who helped get an initial ``big 
wind earmark'' that brought $3.8 million to Texas Tech's Wind Disaster 
Research Program in 1998 and helped lay some of the foundation for the 
bill that is now going to come to the floor for a vote.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3980. With the rain, 
wind, hail, and tornadoes that passed through West Texas last month and 
again today, this legislation could not be more timely.
  This bill will give us the tools to research the effects of these 
storms, and it will provide us with a foundation from which we can 
learn how to minimize the damages associated with them. A working group 
comprised of officials from many Federal agencies will be formed to 
assess ways to reduce losses of life and property caused by these 
storms. As a farmer from West Texas, I know how damaging tornadoes and 
windstorms can be, and I understand the importance of this legislation. 
In the past I have strongly supported the efforts of research entities 
like the Texas Tech Wind Science Center to study ways to mitigate the 
damages caused by large windstorms. The Wind Science Center at Texas 
Tech has done yeomen's work identifying the best ways to reduce 
structural damage to properties caused by high winds associated with 
tornadoes and hurricanes. As a member of the Wind Hazard Reduction 
Caucus, I have supported efforts to make available the resources needed 
to study and minimize the damaging effects of these windstorms.
  As has already been pointed out, in 1997 I worked on a bipartisan, 
bicameral basis with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to ensure the Texas 
Tech Wind Science Center got its first Federal earmark of $3.8 million, 
which was included in the fiscal year 1998 appropriations bill. As is 
quite often the case, when some folks do not understand, quite frankly, 
what wind is all about, some suggested this was pork. We contacted the 
then-Chief of Staff for the White House, Erskine Bowles, and requested 
that the funding be supported by President Clinton and be kept off the 
line item veto list. These efforts paid off. The center has since 
received anywhere from $1.1 million to $2.4 million each year since 
then.
  I want to close by thanking the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for 
his work on this issue and the gentleman from Texas. The gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moore) first introduced this legislation in 1999, and he 
has been a champion of wind hazard reduction efforts since he has come 
to Congress. I know that he is happy to have this bill on the floor, as 
I am here today happy to support these measures again and encourage my 
colleagues to support this legislation.

                              {time}  1130

  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
South Dakota (Ms. Herseth), the newest Member of the House of 
Representatives.
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3980, the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004. In an average year, more than 
1,000 tornadoes are reported in the United States. With winds that can 
reach in excess of 200 miles per hour, these storms cause an average of 
more than 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries per year.
  In South Dakota, we have our fair share of severe weather. In the 
summer months, this takes the form of violent thunderstorms that often 
contain powerful winds. In fact, barely 1 year ago, South Dakota 
experienced the worst tornado outbreak in its recorded history. June 
24, 2003, will be forever known in South Dakota as ``Tornado Tuesday.'' 
In one 24-hour period, we had a confirmed 67 tornadoes touch down in 
the State.
  This ``superstorm'' produced over 350 weather warnings, and at least 
one tornado reached F-4 status, meaning it had winds reaching over 260 
miles per hour. Miraculously, no one lost his or her life on this day, 
but at other times we have not been so lucky.

[[Page 14596]]

  On May 30, 1998, a category F-4 tornado pummeled the small community 
of Spencer, South Dakota. The town of 400 residents was almost totally 
destroyed and six people lost their lives.
  We have also experienced loss on my State's Indian lands. On June 4, 
1999, a deadly tornado swept across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 
One person was killed and the property damage was widespread. More than 
1,000 people were left temporarily homeless.
  Because the people of South Dakota have seen firsthand the 
devastation that tornadoes and strong straight-line winds can bring, I 
am proud to support this legislation. It would create incentives for 
Federal agencies to work together to address the threats caused by wind 
damage. It would also improve our understanding of windstorms and how 
they create such intense devastation.
  I believe that we need a proactive approach that will mitigate the 
damage caused by these remarkable natural events. This bill will save 
lives, result in decreased property damage and reduce the overall cost 
of Federal disaster relief.
  I appreciate the bipartisan efforts of my colleagues, the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moore) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) 
in moving this important legislation forward, and I urge all Members of 
this House to support the bill.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Act. This legislation will help us take great strides 
in reducing the loss of life and property from windstorms.
  We in North Carolina know all too well how devastating tropical 
storms and hurricanes can be. While flooding from hurricanes is often 
the culprit for the majority of the deaths, the winds generated from 
these storms range from 74 to 155 miles an hour or more, 
indiscriminately wreaking havoc to lives and property wherever they 
strike.
  The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act will develop windstorm 
impact reduction projects that could lead to new designs and 
construction practices that could mitigate, if not withstand, the force 
and damage generated by these high windstorms. This is an important 
piece of legislation, which I encourage all Members to support.
  I want to congratulate the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for his 
work and leadership on this issue. Kansas does not have the hurricane 
problems that my State has, but I know its position in the middle of 
Tornado Alley makes it a life-and-death issue for the State of Kansas. 
So I thank the gentleman.
  As a Member of the House Committee on Science, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moore) has been fighting to improve research in wind-
related hazards for years. I have been proud to cosponsor and support 
very similar legislation that he introduced both in this Congress and 
during the 107th Congress.
  Very simply, this legislation will save lives in North Carolina, in 
Kansas and throughout this country. I congratulate my friend and 
colleague on his success in this effort, and urge my colleagues to vote 
for H.R. 3980.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to close by saying that this bill 
consolidates and coordinates windstorm research that has been going on 
throughout multiple agencies and brings oversight to that process, and 
I think that is very important. I think the American people expect us 
to oversee the moneys that we are appropriating and authorizing; but it 
also is a public and private partnership, and the whole goal of this 
bill is to make sure that we get the important research out of the 
laboratories and into practical solutions that are going to be saving 
lives and reducing property damage.
  So I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 3980, the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3890, the 
Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness 
Act. I'd like to commend my colleague from Pennsylvania, Melissa Hart, 
for introducing this important legislation.
  During a very busy week in May, I chaired two Energy Subcommittee 
hearings on the issues of energy efficiency R and D. The first hearing 
took a broad look at research and development in the area of energy 
efficiency.
  The second hearing focused on the legislation under consideration 
today, H.R. 3890. This bill authorizes a research and development 
program at the Department of Energy aimed at improving the energy 
efficiency of the metals industry.
  Some may have wondered why we didn't simply combine the two hearings, 
on similar topics, into a single hearing. But there were two main 
reasons why it was important to give the metals industry initiative a 
dedicated place on the Subcommittee's calendar, and why the Department 
of Energy has an initiative focused on this one industry to begin with.
  First of all, the metals industry is highly energy-intensive. Taken 
together, the steel, aluminum, and copper industries account for more 
than 10 percent of industrial energy usage in the United States. 
President Bush's National Energy Plan recognized that improving energy 
efficiency in our most energy-intensive industries could yield large 
improvements in productivity, product quality, safety, and pollution 
prevention.
  Second, we have a strategic national interest in helping our metals 
industry remain competitive. For any industry, energy efficiency means 
increased production without increased energy consumption or costs. 
Improving energy efficiency helps improve the bottom line, making 
American metal products more competitive on the global market. That 
means more jobs here at home.
  But energy efficiency is more than that. Reducing energy use reduces 
our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and it increases our 
energy security. In this way, energy efficiency just makes sense--
dollars and cents--for the nation. Again, I commend Ms. Hart for all 
her hard work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
the bill.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3980, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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