PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 

NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION 

ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2015 


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129 STAT. 496 PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 

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.— 

National 

Windstorm 

Impact 

Reduction Act 

Reauthorization 

of 2015. 

42 USC 15701 

note. 

Sept. 30, 2015 

[H.R. 23] 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 129 STAT. 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 

Recommendations. 


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129 STAT. 498 PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 

‘‘(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; 

Deadline. 

Assessment. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 129 STAT. 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. 

Deadline. 


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129 STAT. 500 PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 

‘‘(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. 

Recommendations. 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–52—SEPT. 30, 2015 129 STAT. 501 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 23: 

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. 

Æ 

‘‘(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. 


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