[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11869-11872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2014

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1786) to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1786

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Windstorm Impact 
     Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2014''.

     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.''.

     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; 
     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

[[Page 11870]]

       ``(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.
       ``(2) Membership.--In addition to the chair, the Committee 
     shall be composed of--
       ``(A) the heads 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 the chair 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not less than 2 
     times 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 2014, 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 2014, 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 at the time 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 members, none of whom may be employees 
     of the Federal Government, including representatives of 
     research and academic institutions, industry standards 
     development organizations, emergency management agencies, 
     State and local government, and business communities who are 
     qualified to provide advice on windstorm impact reduction and 
     represent all related scientific, architectural, and 
     engineering disciplines. The recommendations of the Advisory 
     Committee shall be considered by Federal agencies in 
     implementing the Program.
       ``(b) Assessments.--The Advisory Committee on Windstorm 
     Impact Reduction shall offer assessments 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; and
       ``(4) 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, 2016.
       ``(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 2014; and
       ``(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2015.
       ``(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 2014; and
       ``(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2015.
       ``(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 2014; and
       ``(2) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2015.
       ``(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 2014; and
       ``(2) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2015.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. 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. 1786, 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. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act 
Reauthorization of 2014, introduced by my Texas colleague, Congressman 
Randy Neugebauer, reauthorizes the activities of the National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Program through 2015.
  This important program supports Federal research and development 
efforts to help mitigate the loss of life and property due to wind-
related hazards.
  Millions of Americans live in areas vulnerable to hurricanes, 
tornadoes, and other windstorms.
  According to the latest data in the National Science and Technology 
Council's biennial report to Congress, in 2011, windstorms in the U.S. 
caused an estimated $11 billion in total direct property losses, 
injured nearly 7,000 people, and took nearly 700 lives.
  In Texas, we are all too familiar with the harm that excessive wind 
can cause. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's Storm Prediction Center, 179 tornadoes and 1,586 
windstorms were reported in Texas in just the last 2 years. The effects 
of these disasters can be felt for years.
  Initially established in 2004, the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Program supports activities to improve our understanding of 
windstorms and

[[Page 11871]]

their impacts and helps to develop and encourage the implementation of 
cost-effective mitigation measures.
  H.R. 1786 establishes the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology as the lead agency for the program, improves coordination 
and planning of agency activities in a fiscally responsible way, and 
improves transparency for how much money is being spent on windstorm 
research.
  I want to thank Representative Neugebauer for his continued efforts 
to support this program. He and Representative Frederica Wilson worked 
together to ensure that H.R. 1786 was reported out of the Science 
Committee with bipartisan support.
  I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

         Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                   Washington, DC, March 11, 2014.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 1786, the 
     National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of, 
     2013, as ordered reported by the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology on February 28, 2014. Thank you for working 
     with us to incorporate mutually agreeable changes to 
     provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       In order to expedite the House's consideration of H.R. 
     1786, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will 
     forgo further action on this bill. However, this is 
     conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing 
     consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee 
     with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future 
     jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in 
     the bill or similar legislation that fall within the 
     Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the 
     Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference 
     committee named to consider such provisions.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding, and would request that you insert our 
     exchange of letters on this matter into the committee report 
     on H.R. 1786 and the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         Congress of the United States, Committee on Science, 
           Space, and Technology,
                                   Washington, DC, March 11, 2014.
     Hon. Bill Shuster, 
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Shuster, Thank you for agreeing to be 
     discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1786, the 
     National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 
     2013, and for working with us to incorporate mutually 
     agreeable changes to provisions within the Rule X 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure.
       I agree that forgoing further action on this bill does not 
     in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your 
     Committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on 
     this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving 
     this legislation.
       I will insert copies of this exchange in the report filed 
     on H.R. 1786 as well as in the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill on the House floor. I appreciate 
     your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward 
     to continuing to work with the Transportation Committee as 
     the bill moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1786, legislation that would 
reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, or NWIRP.
  As an Illinoisan, I know firsthand that windstorms are a threat to 
American lives and the economy. Last November, Illinois was struck by 
24 tornadoes on one day, resulting in seven fatalities, hundreds of 
injuries, and significant economic damage.
  While we cannot stop a hurricane or tornado from happening, there is 
much we can do to save both lives and property when windstorms and 
other natural disasters happen. In addition to responding quickly and 
with sufficient resources in the aftermath of a natural disaster, we 
must also invest in preparedness and resilience. Studies of FEMA's 
predisaster mitigation program have shown that for every dollar we 
invest in mitigation activities, we save $3 to $4 in recovery costs.

                              {time}  1530

  NWIRP is primarily a mitigation program. It has the potential to 
lessen the loss of life and economic damage by supporting research and 
development on windstorms and their impacts and helping to ensure that 
this research is translated into improved building codes and emergency 
plans. But NWIRP needs investments to reach that potential.
  I was pleased that when this bill was considered in the Science, 
Space, and Technology Committee, we worked in a bipartisan manner to 
make several improvements to this bill. I want to thank my colleagues, 
Chairman Smith and Mr. Neugebauer, for working across the aisle in a 
smooth and productive process.
  We worked together to increase the authorization for FEMA, the NWIRP 
agency tasked with translating the research conducted at other agencies 
into effective mitigation tools and techniques and helping communities 
across the Nation implement mitigation measures through outreach and 
partnership.
  In addition, we worked together to add language to the bill 
addressing human factors in reducing windstorm impacts. This is not 
just a building engineering problem; it is also a social science and 
human response problem. People in the path of a windstorm have to make 
smart decisions, no matter what structure they are in. In order to 
design effective strategies to prepare for, respond to, and recover 
from a disaster, we must take into account research in how people make 
decisions and respond to warnings during natural disasters.
  We must also understand how different groups of people may respond 
differently so that we can tailor outreach and warnings appropriately. 
I was pleased we were able to strengthen the legislation by adding this 
important language on human factors.
  Often, in a compromise like this one, you do not get everything you 
would like. I would have liked to see increases in the authorization 
levels across the board. This bill includes a lower total authorization 
level than what was authorized for this program in fiscal year 2008. 
Nevertheless, I understand the need to reauthorize this important 
program.
  Finally, I want to thank my colleagues on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, which I also serve on, for working with us on 
this bill since we share jurisdiction over this program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer), who is a member of the Science Committee 
and also a sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairman Smith's support of 
this legislation, as well as Ms. Johnson, the ranking member.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Act. This is a very important piece of legislation because 
what we know is that tornadoes and tornadic-type winds have caused a 
huge amount of destruction and loss of life in our country.
  Last year alone, there were over 1,300 recorded tornadoes in our 
country, causing over 70 deaths and over 1,500 injuries. These storms 
not only cost lives, but they also damaged property. The average is 
about $4 million a year, except in 2011, when we saw a bad year for 
tornadoes. The damage was over $28 billion. That is not just a natural 
disaster; it is national disaster as well.
  Back in 1970, I had an opportunity firsthand to find out exactly how 
devastating these tornadoes can be. In my hometown of Lubbock, Texas, a 
tornado ripped through our community and killed 26 of our citizens. 
Fortunately, I was not injured. It was in an area that I lived at that 
time, and I had the opportunity to see firsthand

[[Page 11872]]

the tremendous amount of devastation that can happen from these storms.
  Very quickly, after that storm in 1970, Dr. Ernst Kiesling, with 
Texas Tech University, began to study these tornadic winds and to look 
at ways to build structures more effectively, to build shelters, and to 
really study the impacts that these storms have on building materials 
and what materials hold up the best.
  We have been talking about statistics, but it is really about the 
lives of people that are impacted by these storms. When someone loses 
their home, they not only rebuild their home, but, in many cases, they 
are going to have to rebuild their lives, which is one of the primary 
reasons that I introduced this important piece of legislation.
  What does it do? Basically, it begins to, as I mentioned earlier what 
was going on at Texas Tech, not only study the building materials and 
different types of wind activity and the material in the structure and 
construction techniques that are used to apply those materials, but 
also to begin to have a better ability to predict how these storms form 
and, in the future, be able to give more warning, but just doing the 
research overall of how we can do better at predicting and also helping 
the American people do mitigation against these kinds of storms and 
understand the mechanics of them.
  Basically, what this NWIRP does is take four agencies and pool them 
together in how they spend money for this important research. It takes 
NOAA, the National Science Foundation, FEMA, and the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, or NIST, and basically makes sure that 
they are coordinating and sharing that information.
  What is so important about using Federal tax dollars to do that 
research is to make sure that we are transforming that out into the 
general public. And so as we learn about these techniques and we begin 
to make suggestions of how building codes, building standards, and 
building techniques can be improved in the future, we thereby save 
lives and property down the road. That is an important part of this.
  What we learned is that for every dollar that we spend in mitigation, 
we save $4 in response down the road. And so not only is this a piece 
of legislation that will help save lives and property, but a really 
novel idea of saving the American taxpayers money at the same time.
  This is a commonsense piece of legislation that is bipartisan. It 
passed out of the committee in a bipartisan way. It will save lives; it 
will save money; and it will save property. I encourage my colleagues 
to support this important piece of legislation.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland 
Security Committee, I rise in support of H.R. 1786, the ``National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2014.''
  I want to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice 
Johnson for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, Houston is vulnerable to hurricanes that traverse the 
Gulf of Mexico and we have experienced powerful storms during the past 
decade.
  Hurricane Ike heavily impacted Houston and nearby city of Galveston 
in 2008, causing $27.8 billion in damage, and killing 20.
  Tropical storms in Texas are also known for being heavy rain 
producers as well as wind surge threats. For example, tropical storm 
Allison in 2001 dumped as much as 35 to 40 inches of rain, killing 41 
people and causing $9 billion in damage.
  We are currently in the 2014 hurricane season and forecasters are 
expecting one to two major hurricanes.
  This bill amends the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 
to revise provisions governing the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program (NWIRP) as well as designates the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) as the entity with primary 
responsibility for Program planning and coordination.
  Congress, under the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004, 
designated four agencies to compromise the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Program including the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Science 
Foundation (NSF)
  The federal agencies which compromised the Interagency Coordinating 
Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction will have the following 
respective responsibilities.
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will have 
the primary responsibility for planning and coordinating the program, 
carry 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.
  The National Science Foundation (NSF) will support research in 
engineering and atmospheric sciences and economic and social factors 
influencing windstorm risk reduction measures.
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will 
support atmospheric sciences research to improve the understanding of 
the behavior of windstorms and their impact on buildings, structures, 
and lifelines.
  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support the 
development of risk assessment tools and effective mitigation 
techniques, conduct public outreach and information dissemination, and 
promote the adoption of windstorm preparedness and mitigation measures.
  The bill will also require the Committee to submit a progress report 
to Congress and to develop a coordinated budget for the Program which 
must be submitted at the time of the President's annual budget 
submission.
  Finally, the bill allows the Director of NIST to establish an 
Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction which shall be 
composed of at least 7 members. This advisory committee will offer 
assessments and practices of wind storm impact mitigation.
  This coordinated effort will greatly increase the efficiency and 
effectiveness of federal efforts to save lives in Houston and around 
the country as well as mitigate property loss.
  The reasons for supporting this bill are obvious, and I ask my 
colleagues in the House to vote for its passage.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1786, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________