```

[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2608 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                       October 6, 2004.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
2608) entitled ``An Act to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program, and for other purposes.'', do pass with the 
following

                               AMENDMENT:

            Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

                  Title I--Earthquake Hazard Reduction

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. National earthquake hazards reduction program.
Sec. 104. Authorization of appropriations.

                  Title II--Windstorm Impact Reduction

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Findings.
Sec. 203. Definitions.
Sec. 204. National windstorm impact reduction program.
Sec. 205. National advisory committee on windstorm impact reduction.
Sec. 206. Savings clause.
Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 208. Biennial report.
Sec. 209. Coordination.

               Title III--Commercial Space Transportation

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.

                  TITLE I--EARTHQUAKE HAZARD REDUCTION

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``National Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004''.

SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs:
            ``(8) The term `Interagency Coordinating Committee' means 
        the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards 
        Reduction established under section 5(a).
            ``(9) The term `Advisory Committee' means the Advisory 
        Committee established under section 5(a)(5).''.

SEC. 103. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7704(b)) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established the National 
        Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
            ``(2) Program activities.--The activities of the Program 
        shall be designed to--
                    ``(A) develop effective measures for earthquake 
                hazards reduction;
                    ``(B) promote the adoption of earthquake hazards 
                reduction measures by Federal, State, and local 
                governments, national standards and model code 
                organizations, architects and engineers, building 
                owners, and others with a role in planning and 
                constructing buildings, structures, and lifelines 
                through--
                            ``(i) grants, contracts, cooperative 
                        agreements, and technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) development of standards, 
                        guidelines, and voluntary consensus codes for 
                        earthquake hazards reduction for buildings, 
                        structures, and lifelines;
                            ``(iii) development and maintenance of a 
                        repository of information, including technical 
                        data, on seismic risk and hazards reduction; 
                        and
                    ``(C) improve the understanding of earthquakes and 
                their effects on communities, buildings, structures, 
                and lifelines, through interdisciplinary research that 
                involves engineering, natural sciences, and social, 
                economic, and decisions sciences; and
                    ``(D) develop, operate, and maintain an Advanced 
                National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
                established under section 13 of the Earthquake Hazards 
                Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7707), the George E. 
                Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering 
                Simulation established under section 14 of that Act (42 
                U.S.C. 7708), and the Global Seismographic Network.
            ``(3) Interagency coordinating committee on earthquake 
        hazards reduction.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is established an 
                Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake 
                Hazards Reduction chaired by the Director of the 
                National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                (referred to in this subsection as the `Director').
                    ``(B) Membership.--The committee shall be composed 
                of the directors of--
                            ``(i) the Federal Emergency Management 
                        Agency;
                            ``(ii) the United States Geological Survey;
                            ``(iii) the National Science Foundation;
                            ``(iv) the Office of Science and Technology 
                        Policy; and
                            ``(v) the Office of Management and Budget.
                    ``(C) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not less 
                than 3 times a year at the call of the Director.
                    ``(D) Purpose and duties.--The Interagency 
                Coordinating Committee shall oversee the planning, 
                management, and coordination of the Program. The 
                Interagency Coordinating Committee shall--
                            ``(i) develop, not later than 6 months 
                        after the date of enactment of the National 
                        Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 
                        Reauthorization Act of 2004 and update 
                        periodically--
                                    ``(I) a strategic plan that 
                                establishes goals and priorities for 
                                the Program activities described under 
                                subsection (a)(2); and
                                    ``(II) a detailed management plan 
                                to implement such strategic plan; and
                            ``(ii) develop a coordinated interagency 
                        budget for the Program that will ensure 
                        appropriate balance among the Program 
                        activities described under subsection (a)(2), 
                        and, in accordance with the plans developed 
                        under clause (i), submit such budget to the 
                        Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
                        at the time designated by that office for 
                        agencies to submit annual budgets.
            ``(4) Annual report.--The Interagency Coordinating 
        Committee shall transmit, at the time of the President's budget 
        request to Congress, an annual report to the Committee on 
        Science and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate. Such report shall include--
                    ``(A) the Program budget for the current fiscal 
                year for each agency that participates in the Program, 
                and for each major goal established for the Program 
                activities under subparagraph (3)(A);
                    ``(B) the proposed Program budget for the next 
                fiscal year for each agency that participates in the 
                Program, and for each major goal established for the 
                Program activities under subparagraph (3)(A);
                    ``(C) a description of the activities and results 
                of the Program during the previous year, including an 
                assessment of the effectiveness of the Program in 
                furthering the goals established in the strategic plan 
                under (3)(A);
                    ``(D) a description of the extent to which the 
                Program has incorporated the recommendations of the 
                Advisory Committee;
                    ``(E) a description of activities, including 
                budgets for the current fiscal year and proposed 
                budgets for the next fiscal year, that are carried out 
                by Program agencies and contribute to the Program, but 
                are not included in the Program; and
                    ``(F) a description of the activities, including 
                budgets for the current fiscal year and proposed 
                budgets for the following fiscal year, related to the 
                grant program carried out under subsection 
                (b)(2)(A)(i).
            ``(5) Advisory committee.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish an 
                Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction of 
                at least 11 members, none of whom may be an employee 
                (as defined in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 
                7342(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, including 
                representatives of research and academic institutions, 
                industry standards development organizations, State and 
                local government, and financial communities who are 
                qualified to provide advice on earthquake hazards 
                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) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall 
                assess--
                            ``(i) trends and developments in the 
                        science and engineering of earthquake hazards 
                        reduction;
                            ``(ii) effectiveness of the Program in 
                        carrying out the activities under (a)(2);
                            ``(iii) the need to revise the Program; and
                            ``(iv) the management, coordination, 
                        implementation, and activities of the Program.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of the National Earthquake Hazards 
                Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004 and at 
                least once every 2 years thereafter, the Advisory 
                Committee shall report to the Director on its findings 
                of the assessment carried out under subparagraph (B) 
                and its recommendations for ways to improve the 
                Program. In developing recommendations, the Committee 
                shall consider the recommendations of the United States 
                Geological Survey Scientific Earthquake Studies 
                Advisory Committee.
                    ``(D) Federal advisory committee act application.--
                Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
                App. U.S.C. 14) shall not apply to the Advisory 
                Committee.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Federal Emergency 
                        Management Agency'' and all that follows 
                        through ``of the Agency'' and inserting 
                        ``National Institute of Standards and 
                        Technology shall have the primary 
                        responsibility for planning and coordinating 
                        the Program. In carrying out this paragraph, 
                        the Director of the Institute'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
                        and redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
                        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively;
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) support the development of performance-based 
                seismic engineering tools, and work with appropriate 
                groups to promote the commercial application of such 
                tools, through earthquake-related building codes, 
                standards, and construction practices;'';
                            (iv) by striking ``The principal official 
                        carrying out the responsibilities described in 
                        this paragraph shall be at a level no lower 
                        than that of Associate Director.''; and
                            (v) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by 
                        clause (ii), by striking ``National Science 
                        Foundation, the National Institutes of 
                        Standards and Technology'' and inserting 
                        ``Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
                        National Science Foundation'';
                    (B) by striking so much of paragraph (2) as 
                precedes subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
    ``(2) Department of homeland security; federal emergency management 
agency.--
            ``(A) Program responsibilities.--The Under Secretary of 
        Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response (the 
        Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency)--
                    ``(i) shall 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;
                    ``(ii) shall promote better building practices 
                within the building design and construction industry 
                including architects, engineers, contractors, builders, 
                and inspectors;
                    ``(iii) shall operate a program of grants and 
                assistance to enable States to develop mitigation, 
                preparedness, and response plans, prepare inventories 
                and conduct seismic safety inspections of critical 
                structures and lifelines, update building and zoning 
                codes and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, 
                increase earthquake awareness and education, and 
                encourage the development of multi-State groups for 
                such purposes;
                    ``(iv) shall support the implementation of a 
                comprehensive earthquake education and public awareness 
                program, including development of materials and their 
                wide dissemination to all appropriate audiences and 
                support public access to locality-specific information 
                that may assist the public in preparing for, mitigating 
                against, responding to and recovering from earthquakes 
                and related disasters;
                    ``(v) shall assist the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology, other Federal agencies, and 
                private sector groups, in the preparation, maintenance, 
                and wide dissemination of seismic resistant design 
                guidance and related information on building codes, 
                standards, and practices for new and existing 
                buildings, structures, and lifelines, and aid in the 
                development of performance-based design guidelines and 
                methodologies supporting model codes for buildings, 
                structures, and lifelines that are cost effective and 
                affordable;
                    ``(vi) shall develop, coordinate, and execute the 
                National Response Plan when required following an 
                earthquake, and support the development of specific 
                State and local plans for each high risk area to ensure 
                the availability of adequate emergency medical 
                resources, search and rescue personnel and equipment, 
                and emergency broadcast capability;
                    ``(vii) shall develop approaches to combine 
                measures for earthquake hazards reduction with measures 
                for reduction of other natural and technological 
                hazards including performance-based design approaches;
                    ``(viii) shall provide preparedness, response, and 
                mitigation recommendations to communities after an 
                earthquake prediction has been made under paragraph 
                (3)(D); and
                    ``(ix) may enter into cooperative agreements or 
                contracts with States and local jurisdictions and other 
                Federal agencies to establish demonstration projects on 
                earthquake hazard mitigation, to link earthquake 
                research and mitigation efforts with emergency 
                management programs, or to prepare educational 
                materials for national distribution.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and other activities'' 
                        after ``shall conduct research'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``the 
                        Agency'' and inserting ``the Director of the 
                        Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
                        Director of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``the Director of the Agency'' and inserting 
                        ``the Director of the Federal Emergency 
                        Management Agency and the Director of the 
                        National Institute of Standards and 
                        Technology'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``establish, using existing facilities, a 
                        Center for the International Exchange of 
                        Earthquake Information'' and inserting 
                        ``operate, using the National Earthquake 
                        Information Center, a forum for the 
                        international exchange of earthquake 
                        information'';
                            (v) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
                        ``Network'' and inserting ``System''; and
                            (vi) by inserting after subparagraph (H) 
                        the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(I) work with other Program agencies to 
                coordinate Program activities with similar earthquake 
                hazards reduction efforts in other countries, to ensure 
                that the Program benefits from relevant information and 
                advances in those countries; and
                    ``(J) maintain suitable seismic hazard maps in 
                support of building codes for structures and lifelines, 
                including additional maps needed for performance-based 
                design approaches.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (D), 
                        (E), and (F) as subparagraphs (E), (F), and 
                        (H), respectively;
                            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following:
                    ``(D) support research that improves the safety and 
                performance of buildings, structures, and lifeline 
                systems using large-scale experimental and 
                computational facilities of the George E. Brown Jr. 
                Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation and other 
                institutions engaged in research and the implementation 
                of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
                Program;'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (F) (as so 
                        redesignated), by striking ``; and'' and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (F) 
                        (as so redesignated) the following:
                    ``(G) include to the maximum extent practicable 
                diverse institutions, including Historically Black 
                Colleges and Universities and those serving large 
                proportions of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-
                Pacific Americans, and other underrepresented 
                populations; and'';
                    (E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``The National'' 
                and inserting ``In addition to the lead agency 
                responsibilities described under paragraph (1), the 
                National''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon 
                        in subparagraph (C);
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following:
            ``(D) support the development and commercial application of 
        cost effective and affordable performance-based seismic 
        engineering by providing technical support for seismic 
        engineering practices and related building code, standards, and 
        practices development; and''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``Agency'' and 
        inserting ``Interagency Coordinating Committee''.

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following:
            ``(8) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this 
        title--
                    ``(A) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
                    ``(B) $21,630,000 for fiscal year 2006,
                    ``(C) $22,280,000 for fiscal year 2007,
                    ``(D) $22,950,000 for fiscal year 2008, and
                    ``(E) $23,640,000 for fiscal year 2009,
        of which not less than 10 percent of available program funds 
        actually appropriated shall be made available each such fiscal 
        year for supporting the development of performance-based, cost-
        effective, and affordable design guidelines and methodologies 
        in codes for buildings, structures, and lifelines.'';
            (2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``There'' in subsection 
        (b);
            (3) by striking ``subsection'' in the last sentence and 
        inserting ``paragraph'';
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) of 
        subsection (b) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively;
            (5) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following:
    ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States 
Geological Survey for carrying out this title--
            ``(A) $77,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which not less 
        than $30,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the 
        Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
        established under section 13;
            ``(B) $84,410,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which not less 
        than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the 
        Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
        established under section 13;
            ``(C) $85,860,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which not less 
        than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the 
        Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
        established under section 13;
            ``(D) $87,360,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which not less 
        than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the 
        Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
        established under section 13; and
            ``(E) $88,900,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which not less 
        than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of the 
        Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System 
        established under section 13.'';
            (6) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``To'' in subsection (c);
            (7) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following:
    ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation for carrying out this title--
            ``(A) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            ``(B) $39,140,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            ``(C) $40,310,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            ``(D) $41,520,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            ``(E) $42,770,000 for fiscal year 2009.'';
            (8) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``To'' in subsection (d); 
        and
            (9) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following:
    ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this title--
            ``(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
            ``(B) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2006,
            ``(C) $12,100,000 for fiscal year 2007,
            ``(D) $13,310,000 for fiscal year 2008, and
            ``(E) $14,640,000 for fiscal year 2009,
of which $2,000,000 shall be made available each such fiscal year for 
supporting the development of performance-based, cost-effective, and 
affordable codes for buildings, structures, and lifelines.''.
    (b) Separate Authorization for the Advanced national Seismic 
Research and Monitoring System.--Section 13 of the Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7707) is amended by striking 
subsection (c).
    (c) Separate Authorization for the Network for Earthquake 
Engineering Simulation.--Section 14(b) of the Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7708(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
        (3);
            (2) by striking ``2004.'' in paragraph (4) and inserting 
        ``2004;'';
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, all of which shall 
        be available for operations and maintenance;
            ``(6) $20,400,000 for fiscal year 2006, all of which shall 
        be available for operations and maintenance;
            ``(7) $20,870,000 for fiscal year 2007, all of which shall 
        be available for operations and maintenance;
            ``(8) $21,390,000 for fiscal year 2008, all of which shall 
        be available for operations and maintenance; and
            ``(9) $21,930,000 for fiscal year 2009, all of which shall 
        be available for operations and maintenance.''.

                  TITLE II--WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Act of 2004''.

SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and 
        thunderstorms can cause significant loss of life, injury, 
        destruction of property, and economic and social disruption. 
        All States and regions are vulnerable to these hazards.
            (2) The United States currently sustains several billion 
        dollars in economic damages each year due to these windstorms. 
        In recent decades, rapid development and population growth in 
        high-risk areas has greatly increased overall vulnerability to 
        windstorms.
            (3) Improved windstorm impact reduction measures have the 
        potential to reduce these losses through--
                    (A) cost-effective and affordable design and 
                construction methods and practices;
                    (B) effective mitigation programs at the local, 
                State, and national level;
                    (C) improved data collection and analysis and 
                impact prediction methodologies;
                    (D) engineering research on improving new 
                structures and retrofitting existing ones to better 
                withstand windstorms, atmospheric-related research to 
                better understand the behavior and impact of windstorms 
                on the built environment, and subsequent application of 
                those research results; and
                    (E) public education and outreach.
            (4) There is an appropriate role for the Federal Government 
        in supporting windstorm impact reduction. An effective Federal 
        program in windstorm impact reduction will require interagency 
        coordination, and input from individuals, academia, the private 
        sector, and other interested non-Federal entities.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
            (2) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the National 
        Windstorm Impact Reduction Program established by section 
        204(a).
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of 
        the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
        American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United 
        States.
            (4) Windstorm.--The term ``windstorm'' means any storm with 
        a damaging or destructive wind component, such as a hurricane, 
        tropical storm, tornado, or thunderstorm.

SEC. 204. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Program.
    (b) Objective.--The objective of the Program is the achievement of 
major measurable reductions in losses of life and property from 
windstorms. The objective is to be achieved 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 
implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those 
impacts.
    (c) Interagency Working Group.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an 
Interagency Working Group consisting of representatives of the National 
Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other Federal agencies as 
appropriate. The Director shall designate an agency to serve as Chair 
of the Working Group and be responsible for the planning, management, 
and coordination of the Program, including budget coordination. 
Specific agency roles and responsibilities under the Program shall be 
defined in the implementation plan required under subsection (e). 
General agency responsibilities shall include the following:
            (1) The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
        shall support research and development to improve building 
        codes and standards and practices for design and construction 
        of buildings, structures, and lifelines.
            (2) The National Science Foundation shall support research 
        in engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve the 
        understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact on 
        buildings, structures, and lifelines.
            (3) 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.
            (4) The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall support 
        the development of risk assessment tools and effective 
        mitigation techniques, windstorm-related data collection and 
        analysis, public outreach, information dissemination, and 
        implementation of mitigation measures consistent with the 
        Agency's all-hazards approach.
    (d) Program Components.--
            (1) In general.--The Program shall consist of three primary 
        mitigation components: improved understanding of windstorms, 
        windstorm impact assessment, and windstorm impact reduction. 
        The components shall be implemented through activities such as 
        data collection and analysis, risk assessment, outreach, 
        technology transfer, and research and development. To the 
        extent practicable, research activities authorized under this 
        title shall be peer-reviewed, and the components shall be 
        designed to be complementary to, and avoid duplication of, 
        other public and private hazard reduction efforts.
            (2) Understanding of windstorms.--Activities to enhance the 
        understanding of windstorms shall include research to improve 
        knowledge of and data collection on the impact of severe wind 
        on buildings, structures, and infrastructure.
            (3) Windstorm impact assessment.--Activities to improve 
        windstorm impact assessment shall include--
                    (A) development of mechanisms for collecting and 
                inventorying information on the performance of 
                buildings, structures, and infrastructure in windstorms 
                and improved collection of pertinent information from 
                sources, including the design and construction 
                industry, insurance companies, and building officials;
                    (B) research, development, and technology transfer 
                to improve loss estimation and risk assessment systems; 
                and
                    (C) research, development, and technology transfer 
                to improve simulation and computational modeling of 
                windstorm impacts.
            (4) Windstorm impact reduction.--Activities to reduce 
        windstorm impacts shall include--
                    (A) development of improved outreach and 
                implementation mechanisms to translate existing 
                information and research findings into cost-effective 
                and affordable practices for design and construction 
                professionals, and State and local officials;
                    (B) development of cost-effective and affordable 
                windstorm-resistant systems, structures, and materials 
                for use in new construction and retrofit of existing 
                construction; and
                    (C) outreach and information dissemination related 
                to cost-effective and affordable construction 
                techniques, loss estimation and risk assessment 
                methodologies, and other pertinent information 
                regarding windstorm phenomena to Federal, State, and 
                local officials, the construction industry, and the 
                general public.
    (e) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 1 year after date of 
enactment of this title, the Interagency Working Group shall develop 
and transmit to the Congress an implementation plan for achieving the 
objectives of the Program. The plan shall include--
            (1) an assessment of past and current public and private 
        efforts to reduce windstorm impacts, including a comprehensive 
        review and analysis of windstorm mitigation activities 
        supported by the Federal Government;
            (2) a description of plans for technology transfer and 
        coordination with natural hazard mitigation activities 
        supported by the Federal Government;
            (3) a statement of strategic goals and priorities for each 
        Program component area;
            (4) a description of how the Program will achieve such 
        goals, including detailed responsibilities for each agency; and
            (5) a description of plans for cooperation and coordination 
        with interested public and private sector entities in each 
        program component area.
    (f) Biennial Report.--The Interagency Working Group shall, on a 
biennial basis, and not later than 180 days after the end of the 
preceding 2 fiscal years, transmit a report to the Congress describing 
the status of the windstorm impact reduction program, including 
progress achieved during the preceding two fiscal years. Each such 
report shall include any recommendations for legislative and other 
action the Interagency Working Group considers necessary and 
appropriate. In developing the biennial report, the Interagency Working 
Group shall consider the recommendations of the Advisory Committee 
established under section 205.

SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a National 
Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, consisting of not 
less than 11 and not more than 15 non-Federal members representing a 
broad cross section of interests such as the research, technology 
transfer, design and construction, and financial communities; materials 
and systems suppliers; State, county, and local governments; the 
insurance industry; and other representatives as designated by the 
Director.
    (b) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall assess--
            (1) trends and developments in the science and engineering 
        of windstorm impact reduction;
            (2) the effectiveness of the Program in carrying out the 
        activities under section 204(d);
            (3) the need to revise the Program; and
            (4) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Program.
    (c) Biennial Report.--At least once every two years, the Advisory 
Committee shall report to Congress and the Interagency Working Group on 
the assessment carried out under subsection (b).
    (d) Sunset Exemption.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee established under this 
section.

SEC. 206. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this title supersedes any provision of the National 
Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. No 
design, construction method, practice, technology, material, mitigation 
methodology, or hazard reduction measure of any kind developed under 
this title shall be required for a home certified under section 616 of 
the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act 
of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5415), pursuant to standards issued under such Act, 
without being subject to the consensus development process and 
rulemaking procedures of that Act.

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) $8,700,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (2) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (3) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (b) National Science Foundation.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for carrying out this 
title--
            (1) $8,700,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (2) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (3) $9,400,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (3) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (2) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (3) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 208. BIENNIAL REPORT.

    Section 37(a) of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d(a)) is amended by striking ``By January 30, 1982, 
and biennially thereafter'' and inserting ``By January 30 of each odd-
numbered year''.

SEC. 209. COORDINATION.

    The Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy and the heads of other Federal departments and 
agencies carrying out activities under this title and the statutes 
amended by this title shall work together to ensure that research, 
technologies, and response techniques are shared among the programs 
authorized in this title in order to coordinate the Nation's efforts to 
reduce vulnerability to the hazards described in this title.

               TITLE III--COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 70119 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $11,941,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            ``(2) $12,299,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            ``(3) $12,668,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            ``(4) $13,048,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            ``(5) $13,440,000 for fiscal year 2009.''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2608

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENT
```