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[114th Congress Public Law 52]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 495]]

     NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION ACT REAUTHORIZATION OF 2015

[[Page 129 STAT. 496]]

Public Law 114-52
114th Congress

                                 An Act

 
To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for 
         other purposes. <<NOTE: Sept. 30, 2015 -  [H.R. 23]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015. 42 USC 15701 
note.>> 
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 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) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  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 129 STAT. 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) <<NOTE: Assessment.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  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 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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  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 129 STAT. 500]]

    ``(b) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  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.

[[Page 129 STAT. 501]]

    ``(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.

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