In the Senate of the United States, 

July 23, 2015. 

Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 23) entitled ‘‘An Act to reauthorize the National 

Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for other purposes.’’, do pass with the following 

AMENDMENT: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Windstorm Im3 pact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

5 (a) DIRECTOR.—Section 203(1) of the National Wind6 storm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702(1)) 

7 is amended by striking ‘‘Director of the Office of Science 

8 and Technology Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the Na9 tional Institute of Standards and Technology’’. 
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1 (b) LIFELINES.—Section 203 of the National Wind2 storm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702) is 

3 further amended— 

4 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) 

5 as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and 

6 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol7 lowing new paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(2) LIFELINES.—The term ‘lifelines’ means 

9 public works and utilities, including transportation 

10 facilities and infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, 

11 electrical power and communication facilities and in12 frastructure, and water supply and sewage treatment 

13 facilities.’’. 

14 (c) WINDSTORM.—Paragraph (5) of such section, as re15 designated by subsection (b), is amended by inserting 

16 ‘‘northeaster,’’ after ‘‘tropical storm,’’. 

17 SEC. 3. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO18 GRAM. 

19 Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc20 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 

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

22 inserting the following: 

23 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na24 tional Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the purpose 

25 of which is to achieve major measurable reductions in the 
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1 losses of life and property from windstorms through a co2 ordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of 

3 government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at im4 proving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts 

5 and developing and encouraging the implementation of 

6 cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. 

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

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

9 Standards and Technology shall have the primary re10 sponsibility for planning and coordinating the Pro11 gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 

12 shall— 

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

14 necessary components to promote the implemen15 tation of windstorm risk reduction measures by 

16 Federal, State, and local governments, national 

17 standards and model building code organiza18 tions, architects and engineers, and others with 

19 a role in planning and constructing buildings 

20 and lifelines; 

21 ‘‘(B) support the development of perform22 ance-based engineering tools, and work with ap23 propriate groups to promote the commercial ap24 plication of such tools, including through wind- 
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1 related model building codes, voluntary stand2 ards, and construction best practices; 

3 ‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal agen4 cies other than the Program agencies, as nec5 essary to assist in carrying out this Act; 

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

7 investigations to the extent practicable; and 

8 ‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves9 tigative findings, issue recommendations to as10 sist in informing the development of model codes, 

11 and provide information to Congress on the use 

12 of such recommendations. 

13 ‘‘(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

14 TECHNOLOGY.—In addition to the lead agency re15 sponsibilities described under paragraph (1), the Na16 tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall be 

17 responsible for carrying out research and development 

18 to improve model building codes, voluntary standards, 

19 and best practices for the design, construction, and 

20 retrofit of buildings, structures, and lifelines. 

21 ‘‘(3) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The Na22 tional Science Foundation shall support research 

23 in— 

24 ‘‘(A) engineering and the atmospheric 

25 sciences to improve the understanding of the be-
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1 havior of windstorms and their impact on build2 ings, structures, and lifelines; and 

3 ‘‘(B) economic and social factors influ4 encing windstorm risk reduction measures. 

5 ‘‘(4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD6 MINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and Atmos7 pheric Administration shall support atmospheric 

8 sciences research to improve the understanding of the 

9 behavior of windstorms and their impact on build10 ings, structures, and lifelines. 

11 ‘‘(5) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN12 CY.—The Federal Emergency Management Agency 

13 shall— 

14 ‘‘(A) support— 

15 ‘‘(i) the development of risk assessment 

16 tools and effective mitigation techniques; 

17 ‘‘(ii) windstorm-related data collection 

18 and analysis; 

19 ‘‘(iii) public outreach and information 

20 dissemination; and 

21 ‘‘(iv) promotion of the adoption of 

22 windstorm preparedness and mitigation 

23 measures, including for households, busi24 nesses, and communities, consistent with the 

25 Agency’s all-hazards approach; and 
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1 ‘‘(B) work closely with national standards 

2 and model building code organizations, in con3 junction with the National Institute of Stand4 ards and Technology, to promote the implemen5 tation of research results and promote better 

6 building practices within the building design 

7 and construction industry, including architects, 

8 engineers, contractors, builders, and inspectors.’’; 

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

10 (c), and by striking subsections (e) and (f); and 

11 (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so redes12 ignated, the following new subsections: 

13 ‘‘(d) BUDGET ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the Na14 tional Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director 

15 of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the Na16 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the 

17 Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

18 shall each include in their agency’s annual budget request 

19 to Congress a description of their agency’s projected activi20 ties under the Program for the fiscal year covered by the 

21 budget request, along with an assessment of what they plan 

22 to spend on those activities for that fiscal year. 

23 ‘‘(e) INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON

24 WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION.— 
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1 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 

2 Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm 

3 Impact Reduction, chaired by the Director or the Di4 rector’s designee. 

5 ‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—In addition to the chair, 

6 the Committee shall be composed of— 

7 ‘‘(A) the heads or such designees of— 

8 ‘‘(i) the Federal Emergency Manage9 ment Agency; 

10 ‘‘(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmos11 pheric Administration; 

12 ‘‘(iii) the National Science Founda13 tion; 

14 ‘‘(iv) the Office of Science and Tech15 nology Policy; and 

16 ‘‘(v) the Office of Management and 

17 Budget; and 

18 ‘‘(B) the head of any other Federal agency, 

19 or such designee, the chair considers appropriate. 

20 ‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not 

21 less than once a year at the call of the Director of the 

22 National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

23 ‘‘(4) GENERAL PURPOSE AND DUTIES.—The 

24 Committee shall oversee the planning and coordina25 tion of the Program. 
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1 ‘‘(5) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall de2 velop and submit to Congress, not later than one year 

3 after the date of enactment of the National Windstorm 

4 Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015, a 

5 Strategic Plan for the Program that includes— 

6 ‘‘(A) prioritized goals for the Program that 

7 will mitigate against the loss of life and property 

8 from future windstorms; 

9 ‘‘(B) short-term, mid-term, and long-term 

10 research objectives to achieve those goals; 

11 ‘‘(C) a description of the role of each Pro12 gram agency in achieving the prioritized goals; 

13 ‘‘(D) the methods by which progress towards 

14 the goals will be assessed; and 

15 ‘‘(E) an explanation of how the Program 

16 will foster the transfer of research results into 

17 outcomes, such as improved model building 

18 codes. 

19 ‘‘(6) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 18 

20 months after the date of enactment of the National 

21 Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 

22 2015, the Committee shall submit to the Congress a 

23 report on the progress of the Program that includes— 

24 ‘‘(A) a description of the activities funded 

25 under the Program, a description of how these 
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1 activities align with the prioritized goals and re2 search objectives established in the Strategic 

3 Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these ac4 tivities; 

5 ‘‘(B) the outcomes achieved by the Program 

6 for each of the goals identified in the Strategic 

7 Plan; 

8 ‘‘(C) a description of any recommendations 

9 made to change existing building codes that were 

10 the result of Program activities; and 

11 ‘‘(D) a description of the extent to which the 

12 Program has incorporated recommendations 

13 from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm Im14 pact Reduction. 

15 ‘‘(7) COORDINATED BUDGET.—The Committee 

16 shall develop a coordinated budget for the Program, 

17 which shall be submitted to the Congress not later 

18 than 60 days after the date of the President’s budget 

19 submission for each fiscal year.’’. 

20 SEC. 4. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM 

21 IMPACT REDUCTION. 

22 Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc23 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to read as 

24 follows: 
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1 ‘‘SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WIND2 STORM IMPACT REDUCTION. 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In4 stitute of Standards and Technology shall establish an Ad5 visory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, which 

6 shall be composed of at least 7 and not more than 15 mem7 bers who are qualified to provide advice on windstorm im8 pact reduction and represent related scientific, architec9 tural, and engineering disciplines, none of whom may be 

10 employees of the Federal Government, including— 

11 ‘‘(1) representatives of research and academic in12 stitutions; 

13 ‘‘(2) industry standards development organiza14 tions; 

15 ‘‘(3) emergency management agencies; 

16 ‘‘(4) State and local government; and 

17 ‘‘(5) business communities, including the insur18 ance industry. 

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

20 Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments and 

21 recommendations on— 

22 ‘‘(1) trends and developments in the natural, en23 gineering, and social sciences and practices of wind24 storm impact mitigation; 

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

26 Plan; 
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1 ‘‘(3) the coordination of the Program; 

2 ‘‘(4) the effectiveness of the Program in meeting 

3 its purposes; and 

4 ‘‘(5) 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) CHARTER.—Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of 

14 the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the 

15 Advisory Committee shall not be required to file a charter 

16 subsequent to its initial charter, filed under section 9(c) of 

17 such Act, before the termination date specified in subsection 

18 (f) of this section. 

19 ‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 

20 terminate on September 30, 2017. 

21 ‘‘(g) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—An Advisory Com22 mittee member shall recuse himself from any Advisory Com23 mittee activity in which he has an actual pecuniary inter24 est.’’. 
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1 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc3 tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to read as 

4 follows: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

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

7 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 

8 Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this 

9 title— 

10 ‘‘(1) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

11 ‘‘(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

12 ‘‘(3) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

13 ‘‘(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are au14 thorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foun15 dation for carrying out this title— 

16 ‘‘(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

17 ‘‘(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

18 ‘‘(3) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

19 ‘‘(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH20 NOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

21 National Institute of Standards and Technology for car22 rying out this title— 

23 ‘‘(1) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

24 ‘‘(2) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

25 ‘‘(3) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
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1 ‘‘(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS2 TRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

3 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for car4 rying out this title— 

5 ‘‘(1) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

6 ‘‘(2) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

7 ‘‘(3) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2017.’’. 

Attest: 

Secretary. 
114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H.R. 23 

AMENDMENT