I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 23 

To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 6, 2015 

Mr. NEUGEBAUER (for himself, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. SMITH of Texas, 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. LIPINSKI, 

Mr. HULTGREN, and Ms. ESTY) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 

A BILL 

To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 

Program, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘National Windstorm 

5 Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 (a) DIRECTOR.—Section 203(1) of the National 

3 Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 

4 15702(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘Director of the Office 

5 of Science and Technology Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘Director 

6 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’’. 

7 (b) LIFELINES.—Section 203 of the National Wind8 storm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702) 

9 is further amended— 

10 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 

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

12 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol13 lowing new paragraph: 

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

15 public works and utilities, including transportation 

16 facilities and infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, 

17 electrical power and communication facilities and in18 frastructure, and water supply and sewage treat19 ment facilities.’’. 

20 SEC. 3. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO21 GRAM. 

22 Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Re23 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 

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

25 inserting the following: 


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1 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na2 tional Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the purpose 

3 of which is to achieve major measurable reductions in the 

4 losses of life and property from windstorms through a co5 ordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels 

6 of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed 

7 at improving the understanding of windstorms and their 

8 impacts and developing and encouraging the implementa9 tion of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those 

10 impacts. 

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

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

13 Standards and Technology shall have the primary 

14 responsibility for planning and coordinating the Pro15 gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 

16 shall— 

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

18 necessary components to promote the imple19 mentation of windstorm risk reduction meas20 ures by Federal, State, and local governments, 

21 national standards and model building code or22 ganizations, architects and engineers, and oth23 ers with a role in planning and constructing 

24 buildings and lifelines; 


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1 ‘‘(B) support the development of perform2 ance-based engineering tools, and work with ap3 propriate groups to promote the commercial ap4 plication of such tools, including through wind5 related model building codes, voluntary stand6 ards, and construction best practices; 

7 ‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal 

8 agencies other than the Program agencies, as 

9 necessary to assist in carrying out this Act; 

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

11 investigations; and 

12 ‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves13 tigative findings, issue recommendations to as14 sist in informing the development of model 

15 codes, and provide information to Congress on 

16 the use of such recommendations. 

17 ‘‘(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

18 TECHNOLOGY.—In addition to the lead agency re19 sponsibilities described under paragraph (1), the Na20 tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 

21 be responsible for carrying out research and develop22 ment to improve model building codes, voluntary 

23 standards, and best practices for the design, con24 struction, and retrofit of buildings, structures, and 

25 lifelines. 


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1 ‘‘(3) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The 

2 National Science Foundation shall support research 

3 in— 

4 ‘‘(A) engineering and the atmospheric 

5 sciences to improve the understanding of the 

6 behavior of windstorms and their impact on 

7 buildings, structures, and lifelines; and 

8 ‘‘(B) economic and social factors influ9 encing windstorm risk reduction measures. 

10 ‘‘(4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

11 ADMINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and At12 mospheric Administration shall support atmospheric 

13 sciences research to improve the understanding of 

14 the behavior of windstorms and their impact on 

15 buildings, structures, and lifelines. 

16 ‘‘(5) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

17 AGENCY.—The Federal Emergency Management 

18 Agency shall— 

19 ‘‘(A) support— 

20 ‘‘(i) the development of risk assess21 ment tools and effective mitigation tech22 niques; 

23 ‘‘(ii) windstorm-related data collection 

24 and analysis; 


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1 ‘‘(iii) public outreach and information 

2 dissemination; and 

3 ‘‘(iv) promotion of the adoption of 

4 windstorm preparedness and mitigation 

5 measures, including for households, busi6 nesses, and communities, consistent with 

7 the Agency’s all-hazards approach; and 

8 ‘‘(B) work closely with national standards 

9 and model building code organizations, in con10 junction with the National Institute of Stand11 ards and Technology, to promote the implemen12 tation of research results and promote better 

13 building practices within the building design 

14 and construction industry, including architects, 

15 engineers, contractors, builders, and inspec16 tors.’’; 

17 (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub18 section (c), and by striking subsections (e) and (f); 

19 and 

20 (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so re21 designated, the following new subsections: 

22 ‘‘(d) BUDGET ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the Na23 tional Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director 

24 of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the 

25 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 


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1 the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 

2 Agency shall each include in their agency’s annual budget 

3 request to Congress a description of their agency’s pro4 jected activities under the Program for the fiscal year cov5 ered by the budget request, along with an assessment of 

6 what they plan to spend on those activities for that fiscal 

7 year. 

8 ‘‘(e) INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON

9 WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION.— 

10 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 

11 Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm 

12 Impact Reduction, chaired by the Director. 

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

14 the Committee shall be composed of— 

15 ‘‘(A) the heads of— 

16 ‘‘(i) the Federal Emergency Manage17 ment Agency; 

18 ‘‘(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmos19 pheric Administration; 

20 ‘‘(iii) the National Science Founda21 tion; 

22 ‘‘(iv) the Office of Science and Tech23 nology Policy; and 

24 ‘‘(v) the Office of Management and 

25 Budget; and 


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1 ‘‘(B) the head of any other Federal agency 

2 the chair considers appropriate. 

3 ‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet 

4 not less than 2 times a year at the call of the Direc5 tor of the National Institute of Standards and Tech6 nology. 

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

8 Committee shall oversee the planning and coordina9 tion of the Program. 

10 ‘‘(5) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall 

11 develop and submit to Congress, not later than one 

12 year after the date of enactment of the National 

13 Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 

14 2015, a Strategic Plan for the Program that in15 cludes— 

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

17 will mitigate against the loss of life and prop18 erty from future windstorms; 

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

20 research 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 to24 wards the goals will be assessed; and 


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

2 will foster the transfer of research results into 

3 outcomes, such as improved model building 

4 codes. 

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

6 months after the date of enactment of the National 

7 Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 

8 2015, the Committee shall submit to the Congress a 

9 report on the progress of the Program that in10 cludes— 

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

12 under the Program, a description of how these 

13 activities align with the prioritized goals and re14 search objectives established in the Strategic 

15 Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these ac16 tivities; 

17 ‘‘(B) the outcomes achieved by the Pro18 gram for each of the goals identified in the 

19 Strategic Plan; 

20 ‘‘(C) a description of any recommendations 

21 made to change existing building codes that 

22 were the result of Program activities; and 

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

24 the Program has incorporated recommendations 


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1 from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm 

2 Impact Reduction. 

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

4 shall develop a coordinated budget for the Program, 

5 which shall be submitted to the Congress at the time 

6 of the President’s budget submission for each fiscal 

7 year.’’. 

8 SEC. 4. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM 

9 IMPACT REDUCTION. 

10 Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Re11 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to 

12 read as follows: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WIND14 STORM IMPACT REDUCTION. 

15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In16 stitute of Standards and Technology shall establish an Ad17 visory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, which 

18 shall be composed of at least 7 members, none of whom 

19 may be employees of the Federal Government, including 

20 representatives of research and academic institutions, in21 dustry standards development organizations, emergency 

22 management agencies, State and local government, and 

23 business communities who are qualified to provide advice 

24 on windstorm impact reduction and represent all related 

25 scientific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 


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1 recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be con2 sidered by Federal agencies in implementing the Program. 

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

4 Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments on— 

5 ‘‘(1) trends and developments in the natural, 

6 engineering, and social sciences and practices of 

7 windstorm impact mitigation; 

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

9 Plan; 

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

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

12 be necessary. 

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

14 Committee established under this section shall serve with15 out compensation. 

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

17 Committee shall report to the Director on the assessments 

18 carried out under subsection (b) and its recommendations 

19 for ways to improve the Program. 

20 ‘‘(e) CHARTER.—Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of 

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

22 Advisory Committee shall not be required to file a charter 

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

24 of such Act, before the termination date specified in sub25 section (f) of this section. 


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

2 terminate on September 30, 2017. 

3 ‘‘(g) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—An Advisory Com4 mittee member shall recuse himself from any Advisory 

5 Committee activity in which he has an actual pecuniary 

6 interest.’’. 

7 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

8 Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Re9 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to 

10 read as follows: 

11 ‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 ‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN13 CY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fed14 eral Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this 

15 title— 

16 ‘‘(1) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

17 ‘‘(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

18 ‘‘(3) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

19 ‘‘(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are 

20 authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 

21 Foundation for carrying out this title— 

22 ‘‘(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

23 ‘‘(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

24 ‘‘(3) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2017. 


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1 ‘‘(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

2 TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

3 to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 

4 carrying out this title— 

5 ‘‘(1) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

6 ‘‘(2) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

7 ‘‘(3) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2017. 

8 ‘‘(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN9 ISTRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 

10 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 

11 carrying out this title— 

12 ‘‘(1) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2015; 

13 ‘‘(2) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 

14 ‘‘(3) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2017.’’. 

Æ 


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