IB 

Union Calendar No. 480 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3479 

[Report No. 112–666, Part I] 

To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 18, 2011 

Mrs. BIGGERT (for herself, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. 

HALL, and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 

Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 

The Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Natural Resources 

discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 18, 2011] 


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A BILL 

To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, 

and for other purposes. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Natural Hazards Risk 

5 Reduction Act of 2011’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

7 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—EARTHQUAKES 

Sec. 101. Short title. 

Sec. 102. Definitions. 

Sec. 103. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. 

Sec. 104. Post-Earthquake Investigations Program. 

Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—WIND 

Sec. 201. Short title. 

Sec. 202. Definitions. 

Sec. 203. National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. 

Sec. 204. National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction. 

Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE III—INTERAGENCY COORDINATION 

Sec. 301. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Natural Hazards Risk Reduction. 

Sec. 302. Coordination of Federal disaster research, development, and technology 

transfer. 

Sec. 303. Authorizations. 

TITLE IV—FIRE RESEARCH PROGRAM 

Sec. 401. Fire research program. 

8 TITLE I—EARTHQUAKES 

9 SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 

10 This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Earthquake 

11 Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2011’’. 


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1 SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 

2 Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 

3 of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7703) is amended by striking para4 graphs (8) and (9). 

5 SEC. 103. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION 

6 PROGRAM. 

7 Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 

8 of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704) is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (a)— 

10 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘to be 

11 administered, as provided under this section, by 

12 the National Institute of Standards and Tech13 nology, the Federal Emergency Management 

14 Agency, the United States Geological Survey, 

15 and the National Science Foundation’’ after 

16 ‘‘Reduction Program’’; 

17 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

18 (i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 

19 read as follows: 

20 ‘‘(A) research and develop effective methods, 

21 tools, and technologies to reduce the risk posed by 

22 earthquakes to the built environment, especially 

23 to lessen the risk to existing structures and life24 lines;’’; 


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1 (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

2 ‘‘and retrofitting’’ after ‘‘planning and con3 structing’’; 

4 (iii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 

5 subparagraph (C); 

6 (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 

7 the period at the end and inserting ‘‘, as 

8 appropriate; and’’; and 

9 (v) by adding at the end the following 

10 new subparagraph: 

11 ‘‘(E) support public education and outreach 

12 to assist different populations, including individ13 uals and households with special needs, in pre14 paring for and responding to earthquake-related 

15 disasters.’’; and 

16 (C) by striking paragraphs (3) through (5); 

17 (2) in subsection (b)— 

18 (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 

19 follows: 

20 ‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 

21 Standards and Technology shall have the primary re22 sponsibility for planning and coordinating the Pro23 gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director of 

24 the Institute shall— 


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1 ‘‘(A) ensure that the Program includes the 

2 necessary components to promote the implemen3 tation of earthquake hazards risk reduction 

4 measures by Federal, State, and local govern5 ments, national standards and model building 

6 code organizations, architects and engineers, and 

7 others with a role in planning, constructing, and 

8 retrofitting structures and lifelines; 

9 ‘‘(B) support the development of perform10 ance-based seismic engineering tools, and work 

11 with appropriate groups to promote the commer12 cial application of such tools, through earth13 quake-related model building codes, voluntary 

14 standards, and construction best practices; 

15 ‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal agen16 cies other than the Program agencies, as nec17 essary to assist in carrying out this Act; 

18 ‘‘(D) work with the Federal Emergency 

19 Management Agency, the National Science Foun20 dation, and the United States Geological Survey, 

21 to develop a comprehensive plan for earthquake 

22 engineering research to effectively use existing 

23 testing facilities and laboratories (existing at the 

24 time of the development of the plan), upgrade fa25 cilities and equipment as needed, and integrate 


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1 new, innovative testing approaches to the re2 search infrastructure in a systematic manner; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves5 tigative findings, issue recommendations to as6 sist in informing the development of model codes, 

7 and provide information to Congress on the use 

8 of such recommendations.’’; 

9 (B) in paragraph (3)— 

10 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

11 ‘‘seismic microzonation’’ and inserting ‘‘de12 tailed seismic hazard and risk’’; 

13 (ii) by amending subparagraphs (F) 

14 and (G) to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘(F) operate, in cooperation with the Na16 tional Science Foundation, a Global Seis17 mographic Network for detection of earthquakes 

18 around the world and research into fundamental 

19 earth processes; 

20 ‘‘(G) support the operation of regional seis21 mic networks in areas of higher seismic risk;’’; 

22 (iii) by striking the period at the end 

23 of subparagraph (H) and inserting a semi24 colon; and 


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1 (iv) by amending subparagraph (I) to 

2 read as follows: 

3 ‘‘(I) work with other Program agencies to 

4 maintain awareness of, and where appropriate 

5 coordinate with, earthquake risk reduction efforts 

6 in other countries to ensure that the Program 

7 benefits from relevant information and advances 

8 in those countries; and’’; 

9 (C) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ‘‘of the 

10 George’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Reduction 

11 Program’’ and inserting ‘‘of institutions engaged 

12 in research and the implementation of the Na13 tional Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, 

14 which may include the George E. Brown Jr. Net15 work for Earthquake Engineering Simulation’’; 

16 and 

17 (D) in paragraph (5)— 

18 (i) in subparagraph (C)— 

19 (I) by inserting ‘‘and other stake20 holders with relevant expertise’’ after 

21 ‘‘standards organizations’’; and 

22 (II) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the 

23 semicolon at the end; 


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1 (ii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of 

2 subparagraph (D) and inserting a period; 

3 and 

4 (iii) by striking subparagraph (E); 

5 (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 

6 (d); 

7 (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following 

8 new subsection: 

9 ‘‘(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EARTHQUAKE HAZ10 ARDS REDUCTION.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 

12 Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish 

13 an Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Re14 duction, which shall be composed of at least 11 mem15 bers, none of whom may be employees of the Federal 

16 Government, including representatives of research and 

17 academic institutions, industry standards develop18 ment organizations, emergency management agencies, 

19 State and local government, and business commu20 nities who are qualified to provide advice on earth21 quake hazards reduction and represent all related sci22 entific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 

23 recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be 

24 considered by Federal agencies in implementing the 

25 Program. 


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1 ‘‘(2) ASSESSMENTS.—The Advisory Committee 

2 on Earthquake Hazards Reduction shall offer assess3 ments on— 

4 ‘‘(A) trends and developments in the nat5 ural, social, and engineering sciences and prac6 tices of earthquake hazards impact mitigation; 

7 ‘‘(B) the priorities of the Program’s Stra8 tegic Plan; 

9 ‘‘(C) the coordination of the Program; and 

10 ‘‘(D) any revisions to the Program which 

11 may be necessary. 

12 ‘‘(3) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advi13 sory Committee established under this subsection shall 

14 serve without compensation. 

15 ‘‘(4) REPORTS.—At least every 2 years, the Ad16 visory Committee shall report to the Director of the 

17 National Institute of Standards and Technology on 

18 the assessments carried out under paragraph (2) and 

19 its recommendations for ways to improve the Pro20 gram. 

21 ‘‘(5) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee 

22 established under this subsection shall terminate not 

23 later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the 

24 Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011.’’; and 


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1 (5) in subsection (d)(1), as so redesignated by 

2 paragraph (3) of this section, by inserting ‘‘on Nat3 ural Hazards Risk Reduction established under sec4 tion 301 of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act 

5 of 2011’’ after ‘‘Interagency Coordinating Com6 mittee’’. 

7 SEC. 104. POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM. 

8 Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 

9 of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705e) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 

10 utilizing the coordination expertise of the lead Program 

11 agency’’ after ‘‘consultation with each Program agency’’. 

12 SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 12 of the Earthquake Haz14 ards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended 

15 to read as follows: 

16 ‘‘SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

17 ‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 

18 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

19 Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this Act— 

20 ‘‘(1) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

21 ‘‘(2) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

22 ‘‘(3) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

23 ‘‘(b) UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.—There 

24 are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Geo25 logical Survey for carrying out this Act— 


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1 ‘‘(1) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

2 ‘‘(2) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

3 ‘‘(3) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

4 ‘‘(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are au5 thorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foun6 dation for carrying out this Act— 

7 ‘‘(1) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

8 ‘‘(2) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

9 ‘‘(3) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

10 ‘‘(d) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH11 NOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

12 National Institute of Standards and Technology for car13 rying out this Act— 

14 ‘‘(1) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

15 ‘‘(2) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

16 ‘‘(3) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 

17 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 14 of the 

18 Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 

19 7708) is amended— 

20 (1) by striking ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—’’; and 

21 (2) by striking subsection (b). 

22 TITLE II—WIND 

23 SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 

24 This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Windstorm 

25 Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2011’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 

2 Section 203(1) of the National Windstorm Impact Re3 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702(1)) is amended by 

4 striking ‘‘Director of the Office of Science and Technology 

5 Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the National Institute 

6 of Standards and Technology’’. 

7 SEC. 203. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO8 GRAM. 

9 Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc10 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 

11 (1) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and 

12 inserting the following: 

13 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na14 tional Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the purpose 

15 of which is to achieve major measurable reductions in the 

16 losses of life and property from windstorms through a co17 ordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of 

18 government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at im19 proving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts 

20 and developing and encouraging the implementation of 

21 cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. 

22 ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM AGENCIES.— 

23 ‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 

24 Standards and Technology shall have the primary re25 sponsibility for planning and coordinating the ProVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:08 Sep 12, 2012 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H3479.RH H3479

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1 gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 

2 shall— 

3 ‘‘(A) ensure that the Program includes the 

4 necessary components to promote the implemen5 tation of windstorm risk reduction measures by 

6 Federal, State, and local governments, national 

7 standards and model building code organiza8 tions, architects and engineers, and others with 

9 a role in planning and constructing buildings 

10 and lifelines; 

11 ‘‘(B) support the development of perform12 ance-based engineering tools, and work with ap13 propriate groups to promote the commercial ap14 plication of such tools, including through wind15 related model building codes, voluntary stand16 ards, and construction best practices; 

17 ‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal agen18 cies other than the Program agencies, as nec19 essary to assist in carrying out this Act; 

20 ‘‘(D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm 

21 investigations; and 

22 ‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves23 tigative findings, issue recommendations to as24 sist in informing the development of model codes, 


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1 and provide information to Congress on the use 

2 of such recommendations. 

3 ‘‘(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

4 TECHNOLOGY.—In addition to the lead agency re5 sponsibilities described under paragraph (1), the Na6 tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall be 

7 responsible for carrying out research and development 

8 to improve model building codes, voluntary standards, 

9 and best practices for the design, construction, and 

10 retrofit of buildings, structures, and lifelines. 

11 ‘‘(3) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The Na12 tional Science Foundation shall support research in 

13 engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve 

14 the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and 

15 their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines. 

16 ‘‘(4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD17 MINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and Atmos18 pheric Administration shall support atmospheric 

19 sciences research and data collection to improve the 

20 understanding of the behavior of windstorms and 

21 their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines. 

22 ‘‘(5) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN23 CY.—The Federal Emergency Management Agency 

24 shall support the development of risk assessment tools 

25 and effective mitigation techniques, windstorm-related 


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1 data collection and analysis, public outreach, infor2 mation dissemination, and implementation of mitiga3 tion measures consistent with the Agency’s all-hazards 

4 approach.’’; 

5 (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 

6 (c); 

7 (3) in subsection (c), as so redesignated by para8 graph (2) of this section, amend paragraph (4)(A) to 

9 read as follows: 

10 ‘‘(A) development of improved outreach and 

11 implementation mechanisms to translate— 

12 ‘‘(i) existing information and research 

13 findings into cost-effective and affordable 

14 practices for design and construction profes15 sionals, and State and local officials; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) research, including social science 

17 research, into windstorm risk mitigation 

18 and preparedness strategies for individuals 

19 and households, including individuals and 

20 households with special needs, and busi21 nesses;’’; and 

22 (4) by striking subsections (e) and (f). 


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1 SEC. 204. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WIND2 STORM IMPACT REDUCTION. 

3 Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc4 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to read as 

5 follows: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WIND7 STORM IMPACT REDUCTION. 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In9 stitute of Standards and Technology shall establish an Ad10 visory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, which 

11 shall be composed of at least 7 members, none of whom may 

12 be employees of the Federal Government, including rep13 resentatives of research and academic institutions, industry 

14 standards development organizations, emergency manage15 ment agencies, State and local government, and business 

16 communities who are qualified to provide advice on wind17 storm impact reduction and represent all related scientific, 

18 architectural, and engineering disciplines. The rec19 ommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be consid20 ered by Federal agencies in implementing the Program. 

21 ‘‘(b) ASSESSMENTS.—The Advisory Committee on 

22 Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments on— 

23 ‘‘(1) trends and developments in the natural, so24 cial, and engineering sciences and practices of wind25 storm impact mitigation; 


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1 ‘‘(2) the priorities of the Program’s Strategic 

2 Plan; 

3 ‘‘(3) the coordination of the Program; and 

4 ‘‘(4) any revisions to the Program which may be 

5 necessary. 

6 ‘‘(c) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 

7 Committee established under this section shall serve without 

8 compensation. 

9 ‘‘(d) REPORTS.—At least every 2 years, the Advisory 

10 Committee shall report to the Director on the assessments 

11 carried out under subsection (b) and its recommendations 

12 for ways to improve the Program. 

13 ‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 

14 terminate not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 

15 of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011.’’. 

16 SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

17 Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc18 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to read as 

19 follows: 

20 ‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 ‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 

22 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

23 Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this 

24 title— 

25 ‘‘(1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; 


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1 ‘‘(2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

2 ‘‘(3) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

3 ‘‘(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are au4 thorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foun5 dation for carrying out this title— 

6 ‘‘(1) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

7 ‘‘(2) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

8 ‘‘(3) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

9 ‘‘(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH10 NOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

11 National Institute of Standards and Technology for car12 rying out this title— 

13 ‘‘(1) $5,300,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

14 ‘‘(2) $5,300,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

15 ‘‘(3) $5,300,000 for fiscal year 2014. 

16 ‘‘(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS17 TRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

18 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for car19 rying out this title— 

20 ‘‘(1) $2,700,000 for fiscal year 2012; 

21 ‘‘(2) $2,700,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 

22 ‘‘(3) $2,700,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 


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1 TITLE III—INTERAGENCY 

2 COORDINATION 

3 SEC. 301. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 

4 NATURAL HAZARDS RISK REDUCTION. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an Inter6 agency Coordinating Committee on Natural Hazards Risk 

7 Reduction, chaired by the Director of the National Institute 

8 of Standards and Technology. 

9 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—In addition to the chair, the Com10 mittee shall be composed of— 

11 (1) the heads of— 

12 (A) the Federal Emergency Management 

13 Agency; 

14 (B) the United States Geological Survey; 

15 (C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

16 Administration; 

17 (D) the National Science Foundation; 

18 (E) the Office of Science and Technology 

19 Policy; and 

20 (F) the Office of Management and Budget; 

21 and 

22 (2) the head of any other Federal agency the 

23 chair considers appropriate. 


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1 (c) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not less 

2 than 1 time a year at the call of the Director of the National 

3 Institute of Standards and Technology. 

4 (d) GENERAL PURPOSE AND DUTIES.—The Committee 

5 shall oversee the planning and coordination of the National 

6 Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and the National 

7 Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and shall make 

8 proposals for planning and coordination of any other Fed9 eral research for natural hazard mitigation that the Com10 mittee considers appropriate. 

11 (e) STRATEGIC PLANS.—The Committee shall develop 

12 and submit to Congress, not later than one year after the 

13 date of enactment of this Act— 

14 (1) a Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake 

15 Hazards Reduction Program that includes— 

16 (A) prioritized goals for such Program that 

17 will mitigate against the loss of life and property 

18 from future earthquakes; 

19 (B) short-term, mid-term, and long-term re20 search objectives to achieve those goals; 

21 (C) a description of the role of each Pro22 gram agency in achieving the prioritized goals; 

23 (D) the methods by which progress towards 

24 the goals will be assessed; 


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1 (E) an explanation of how the Program will 

2 foster the transfer of research results into out3 comes, such as improved model building codes; 

4 (F) a description of how the George E. 

5 Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering 

6 Simulation and the Advanced National Seismic 

7 Research and Monitoring System may be used in 

8 achieving the prioritized goals and research ob9 jectives; and 

10 (G) an explanation of how the Program will 

11 coordinate its activities with other Federal agen12 cies performing activities relevant to the Pro13 gram; and 

14 (2) a Strategic Plan for the National Windstorm 

15 Impact Reduction Program that includes— 

16 (A) prioritized goals for such Program that 

17 will mitigate against the loss of life and property 

18 from future windstorms; 

19 (B) short-term, mid-term, and long-term re20 search objectives to achieve those goals; 

21 (C) a description of the role of each Pro22 gram agency in achieving the prioritized goals; 

23 (D) the methods by which progress towards 

24 the goals will be assessed; 


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1 (E) an explanation of how the Program will 

2 foster the transfer of research results into out3 comes, such as improved model building codes; 

4 and 

5 (F) an explanation of how the Program will 

6 coordinate its activities with other Federal agen7 cies performing activities relevant to the Pro8 gram. 

9 (f) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than 18 months 

10 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Committee shall 

11 submit to the Congress— 

12 (1) a report on the progress of the National 

13 Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program that in14 cludes— 

15 (A) a description of the activities funded 

16 under the Program, a description of how these 

17 activities align with the prioritized goals and re18 search objectives established in the Strategic 

19 Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these ac20 tivities; 

21 (B) the outcomes achieved by the Program 

22 for each of the goals identified in the Strategic 

23 Plan; 


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1 (C) a description of any recommendations 

2 made to change existing building codes that were 

3 the result of Program activities; 

4 (D) a description of activities carried out 

5 under section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Re6 duction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705e), including 

7 a description of agency activities and the 

8 amount of funding provided for each investiga9 tion; and 

10 (E) a description of the extent to which the 

11 Program has incorporated recommendations 

12 from the Advisory Committee on Earthquake 

13 Hazards Reduction; and 

14 (2) a report on the progress of the National 

15 Windstorm Impact Reduction Program that in16 cludes— 

17 (A) a description of the activities funded 

18 under the Program, a description of how these 

19 activities align with the prioritized goals and re20 search objectives established in the Strategic 

21 Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these ac22 tivities; 

23 (B) the outcomes achieved by the Program 

24 for each of the goals identified in the Strategic 

25 Plan; 


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1 (C) a description of any recommendations 

2 made to change existing building codes that were 

3 the result of Program activities; and 

4 (D) a description of the extent to which the 

5 Program has incorporated recommendations 

6 from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm Im7 pact Reduction. 

8 (g) COORDINATED BUDGET.—The Committee shall de9 velop a coordinated budget for the National Earthquake 

10 Hazards Reduction Program and a coordinated budget for 

11 the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. These 

12 budgets shall be submitted to the Congress at the time of 

13 the President’s budget submission for each fiscal year. 

14 SEC. 302. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL DISASTER RE15 SEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY 

16 TRANSFER. 

17 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 

18 this Act, the Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction of the 

19 Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the 

20 National Science and Technology Council shall submit a 

21 report to the Congress detailing— 

22 (1) current Federal research, development, and 

23 technology transfer activities, including those of the 

24 National Laboratories, that address hazard mitiga25 tion for natural disasters, including earthquakes, 


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1 windstorms, wildfires, floods, and the current budgets 

2 for these activities; 

3 (2) areas of research that are common to two or 

4 more of the hazards identified in paragraph (1); 

5 (3) opportunities to create synergies between the 

6 research activities for the hazards identified in para7 graph (1); and 

8 (4) the status of coordination of Federal disaster 

9 research, development, and technology transfer activi10 ties including those of the National Earthquake Haz11 ards Reduction Program and the National Windstorm 

12 Impact Reduction Program. 

13 SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATIONS. 

14 No additional funds are authorized to carry out this 

15 title. This title shall be carried out using amounts otherwise 

16 authorized or appropriated. 

17 TITLE IV—FIRE RESEARCH 

18 PROGRAM 

19 SEC. 401. FIRE RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

20 Section 16(a)(1) of the National Institute of Standards 

21 and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278f(a)(1)) is amended— 

22 (1) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘fires at 

23 the wildland-urban interface that are the result of 

24 natural causes,’’ after ‘‘but not limited to,’’; and 


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27 

•HR 3479 RH

1 (2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ‘‘fires at 

2 the wildland-urban interface that are the result of 

3 natural causes,’’ after ‘‘types of fires, including’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 480 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3479 

[Report No. 112–666, Part I] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction 

programs, and for other purposes. 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 

Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 

The Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure 

Union and ordered to be printed Committee of the Whole House on the State of the and Natural Resources discharged; committed to the 


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