United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session

[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-52
114th Congress

An Act


 
To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for
other purposes. <>

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 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.--

[[Page 497]]

``(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

[[Page 498]]

``(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 1 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;

[[Page 499]]

``(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;
``(3) emergency management agencies;
``(4) State and local government; and
``(5) business communities, including the insurance
industry.

[[Page 500]]

``(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.

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``(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.''.

Approved September 30, 2015.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 23:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 114-62 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):
Jan.7, considered and passed House.
July 23, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Sept. 16, House concurred in Senate amendment.