I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2627 

To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2009 

Mr. MOORE of Kansas (for himself, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. 

HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

and Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Science 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 Reauthorization Act of 2009’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Section 202 of the National Windstorm Impact Re3 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15701) is amended— 

4 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 

5 paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 

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

8 ‘‘(3) Global climate variability and climate 

9 change may alter the frequency and intensity of se10 vere windstorm events, but further research is need11 ed to identify any such linkages and, if appropriate, 

12 to incorporate climate-related impacts into wind13 storm risk and vulnerability assessments and mitiga14 tion activities.’’; and 

15 (3) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 

16 striking ‘‘interagency coordination’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘coordination among Federal agencies and with 

18 State, tribal, and local governments’’. 

19 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

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

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

22 15702(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘Office of Science and 

23 Technology Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘National Institute of 

24 Standards and Technology’’. 

25 (b) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—Section 203 

26 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15702) is amended— 

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1 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 

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

3 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(2) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The 

6 term ‘Interagency Working Group’ means the Inter7 agency Working Group on Wind Impact Reduction 

8 established pursuant to section 204(f).’’. 

9 SEC. 4. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO10 GRAM. 

11 (a) LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY.—Section 204 of the 

12 National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 

13 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 

14 (1) by striking subsection (c); 

15 (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub16 section (c); and 

17 (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so re18 designated, the following: 

19 ‘‘(d) LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY.—The National Insti20 tute of Standards and Technology shall be the lead Fed21 eral agency for planning, management, and coordination 

22 of the Program. In carrying out this subsection, the Direc23 tor shall— 

24 ‘‘(1) establish a Program Office, which shall be 

25 under the direction of a full-time Program Director, 

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1 to provide the planning, management, and coordina2 tion functions described in subsection (e); 

3 ‘‘(2) in conjunction with other Program agen4 cies, including the Office of Management and Budg5 et, facilitate the preparation of a coordinated annual 

6 crosscut budget and report for the Program, 

7 which— 

8 ‘‘(A) shall be submitted by the Director of 

9 the Office of Management and Budget to the 

10 Committee on Appropriations and the Com11 mittee on Science and Technology of the House 

12 of Representatives and the Committee on Ap13 propriations and the Committee on Commerce, 

14 Science, and Transportation of the Senate with15 in 30 days after the submission of the Presi16 dent’s annual budget request; 

17 ‘‘(B) shall document the allocation and ex18 penditure of funds by each Program agency to 

19 implement the responsibilities outlined in this 

20 section in the prior fiscal year, current fiscal 

21 year, and in the fiscal year for which the Presi22 dent has submitted the budget request; 

23 ‘‘(C) shall, for each Program agency, iden24 tify the major activities that were undertaken 

25 with such funds to address the research areas 

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1 specified in subsection (g) during the previous 

2 fiscal year; and 

3 ‘‘(D) shall, for each Program agency, sum4 marize the progress made during the previous 

5 fiscal year toward the achievement of the stra6 tegic goals and objectives included in the Pro7 gram’s strategic plan; 

8 ‘‘(3) facilitate the preparation of the Inter9 agency Working Group’s biennial report to Congress 

10 and the National Science and Technology Council 

11 under subsection (j); 

12 ‘‘(4) support research and development to im13 prove building codes, standards, and practices for 

14 design and construction of buildings and other struc15 tures, and lifelines; 

16 ‘‘(5) in conjunction with the Federal Emer17 gency Management Agency, work closely with na18 tional standards and model building code organiza19 tions to promote the implementation of research re20 sults; 

21 ‘‘(6) in partnership with other Federal agencies, 

22 State, tribal, and local governments, academia, and 

23 the private sector, support— 

24 ‘‘(A) the organization and deployment of 

25 comprehensive, discipline-oriented interagency 

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1 teams to investigate major windstorm events; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(B) the gathering, publishing, and 

4 archiving of collected data and analysis results; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(7) participate in, coordinate, or support, as 

7 needed, other Program mitigation activities author8 ized under subsection (c).’’. 

9 (b) PROGRAM OFFICE DUTIES.—Section 204 of such 

10 Act (42 U.S.C. 15703) is further amended— 

11 (1) by striking subsections (e) and (f); and 

12 (2) by inserting after subsection (d), as added 

13 by subsection (a)(3) of this Act, the following: 

14 ‘‘(e) PROGRAM OFFICE.—The Program Office, estab15 lished under subsection (d)(1), shall— 

16 ‘‘(1) ensure that all statutory requirements, in17 cluding reporting requirements, are met in accord18 ance with this Act; 

19 ‘‘(2) ensure coordination and synergy across the 

20 Program agencies in meeting the strategic goals and 

21 objectives of the Program; 

22 ‘‘(3) implement an outreach program to identify 

23 and build effective partnerships with stakeholders in 

24 the construction and insurance industries, Federal, 

25 State, tribal, and local governments, academic and 

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1 research institutions, and non-governmental entities, 

2 such as standards, codes, and technical organiza3 tions; 

4 ‘‘(4) conduct studies on cross-cutting planning 

5 issues, particularly those that are significant for the 

6 development and updating of the strategic plan re7 quired under subsection (i); and 

8 ‘‘(5) conduct analysis and evaluation studies to 

9 measure the progress and results achieved in meet10 ing the strategic goals and objectives of the Pro11 gram.’’. 

12 (c) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—Section 204 of 

13 such Act (42 U.S.C. 15703) is further amended by insert14 ing after subsection (e), as added by subsection (b)(2) of 

15 this Act, the following: 

16 ‘‘(f) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established an 

18 Interagency Working Group on Wind Impact Reduc19 tion, which shall report to the Director. 

20 ‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The primary purpose of the 

21 Interagency Working Group is to coordinate activi22 ties and facilitate better communication among the 

23 Program agencies in reducing the impacts of wind24 storms. 

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1 ‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Interagency Working 

2 Group shall— 

3 ‘‘(A) facilitate Program planning, analysis, 

4 and evaluation; 

5 ‘‘(B) facilitate coordination and synergy 

6 across the Program agencies in meeting the 

7 strategic goals and objectives of the Program; 

8 ‘‘(C) prepare the coordinated interagency 

9 budget for the Program; 

10 ‘‘(D) prepare the interim working plan re11 quired under subsection (h); 

12 ‘‘(E) prepare the strategic plan with stake13 holder input required under subsection (i); 

14 ‘‘(F) prepare the biennial report to Con15 gress and the National Science and Technology 

16 Council required under subsection (j); 

17 ‘‘(G) work with State, tribal, and local gov18 ernments, non-governmental organizations, in19 dustry, academia, and research institutions, as 

20 appropriate; and 

21 ‘‘(H) in partnership with State, tribal, and 

22 local governments, academia, and the private 

23 sector, facilitate— 

24 ‘‘(i) the organization and deployment 

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1 agency teams to investigate major wind2 storm events; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) the gathering, publishing, and 

4 archiving of collected data and analysis re5 sults. 

6 ‘‘(4) MEMBERSHIP.—The Interagency Working 

7 Group shall be comprised of 1 representative from— 

8 ‘‘(A) the National Institute of Standards 

9 and Technology; 

10 ‘‘(B) the National Science Foundation; 

11 ‘‘(C) the National Oceanic and Atmos12 pheric Administration; 

13 ‘‘(D) the Federal Emergency Management 

14 Agency; 

15 ‘‘(E) the Department of Transportation; 

16 ‘‘(F) the National Aeronautics and Space 

17 Administration; 

18 ‘‘(G) the United States Army Corps of En19 gineers; 

20 ‘‘(H) the Office of Science and Technology 

21 Policy; and 

22 ‘‘(I) the Office of Management and Budg23 et. 

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1 ‘‘(5) CHAIR.—The Program Director referred 

2 to in subsection (d)(1) shall chair the Interagency 

3 Working Group. 

4 ‘‘(6) DUTIES OF THE CHAIR.—The Chair 

5 shall— 

6 ‘‘(A) convene at least 4 Interagency Work7 ing Group meetings per year, the first of which 

8 shall be convened not later than 90 days after 

9 the date of the enactment of the National 

10 Windstorm Impact Reduction Reauthorization 

11 Act of 2009; 

12 ‘‘(B) ensure the timely submission of the 

13 Interagency Working Group’s biennial report to 

14 Congress and the National Science and Tech15 nology Council required under subsection (j); 

16 and 

17 ‘‘(C) carry out such other duties as nec18 essary to carry out this Act.’’. 

19 (d) PROGRAM AGENCIES.—Section 204 of such Act 

20 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is further amended by inserting after 

21 subsection (f), as added by subsection (c) of this Act, the 

22 following new subsection: 

23 ‘‘(g) PROGRAM AGENCIES.— 

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

25 National Science Foundation shall support research 

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1 in engineering and the atmospheric sciences to im2 prove the understanding of the behavior of wind3 storms and the impact of windstorms on buildings, 

4 structures, and lifelines. 

5 ‘‘(2) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC

6 ADMINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and At7 mospheric Administration shall support atmospheric 

8 sciences research to improve the understanding of 

9 the behavior of windstorms and the impact of wind10 storms on buildings, structures, and lifelines through 

11 wind observations, modeling, and analysis. 

12 ‘‘(3) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

13 AGENCY.—The Federal Emergency Management 

14 Agency shall support— 

15 ‘‘(A) the development of risk assessment 

16 tools, effective mitigation techniques, and re17 lated guidance documents and products; 

18 ‘‘(B) windstorm-related data collection and 

19 analysis; 

20 ‘‘(C) evacuation planning; 

21 ‘‘(D) public outreach and information dis22 semination; and 

23 ‘‘(E) the implementation of mitigation 

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1 gency Management Agency’s all-hazards ap2 proach. 

3 ‘‘(4) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.—The 

4 Department of Transportation shall— 

5 ‘‘(A) support windstorm-related data col6 lection and analysis aimed at understanding, 

7 measuring, predicting, and reducing the effects 

8 of windstorms, storm surge, and flooding on 

9 transportation infrastructure, including bridges; 

10 ‘‘(B) assist in evacuation planning; and 

11 ‘‘(C) support the development of tools to 

12 improve safety or reduce structure damage due 

13 to windstorms. 

14 ‘‘(5) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE AD15 MINISTRATION.—The National Aeronautics and 

16 Space Administration shall support— 

17 ‘‘(A) research to improve understanding of 

18 the regional and global behavior of windstorms; 

19 and 

20 ‘‘(B) dissemination and utilization of ob21 servational data from existing satellites and 

22 sensors, forecasts, and other analytical products 

23 that can aid in reducing windstorm impacts. 

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1 ‘‘(6) UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGI2 NEERS.—The United States Army Corps of Engi3 neers shall— 

4 ‘‘(A) support research to improve under5 standing of wind effects on storm surge and 

6 other flooding; and 

7 ‘‘(B) support development of evacuation 

8 plans and other activities or tools that will re9 duce the potential for loss of life or structure 

10 damage as a result of windstorms.’’. 

11 (e) INTERIM WORKING PLAN; STRATEGIC PLAN.— 

12 Section 204 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15703) is further 

13 amended by inserting after subsection (g), as added by 

14 subsection (d) of this Act, the following: 

15 ‘‘(h) INTERIM WORKING PLAN.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 

17 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 

18 Interagency Working Group shall submit to Con19 gress an interim working plan that will guide the im20 plementation of Program operations until approval 

21 of the strategic plan under subsection (i). 

22 ‘‘(2) SPECIFICATIONS.—In developing the in23 terim plan required under paragraph (1), the Inter24 agency Working Group shall consider the report en25 titled ‘Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction’ and 

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1 the accompanying hazard-specific implementation 

2 plans published by the National Science and Tech3 nology Council’s Committee on Environment and 

4 Natural Resources Subcommittee on Disaster Re5 duction. 

6 ‘‘(i) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 

8 after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 

9 Interagency Working Group shall submit to Con10 gress a strategic plan for achieving the objectives of 

11 the Program. 

12 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The strategic plan shall in13 clude— 

14 ‘‘(A) strategic goals and objectives for each 

15 Program component area to be achieved in the 

16 areas of data collection and analysis, risk as17 sessment, outreach, technology transfer, and re18 search and development; 

19 ‘‘(B) an assessment of the strategic prior20 ities required to fill critical gaps in knowledge 

21 and practice to ensure reduction in future wind22 storm impacts based on a review of past and 

23 current public and private sector efforts, includ24 ing windstorm mitigation activities supported 

25 by the Federal Government; 

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1 ‘‘(C) measurable outputs and outcomes to 

2 achieve the strategic goals and objectives; 

3 ‘‘(D) a description of how the Program will 

4 achieve such goals and objectives including de5 tailed responsibilities for each Program agency; 

6 and 

7 ‘‘(E) plans for cooperation and coordina8 tion with interested public and private sector 

9 entities in each Program component area. 

10 ‘‘(3) INITIAL DEVELOPMENT.—The strategic 

11 plan— 

12 ‘‘(A) shall be developed with stakeholder 

13 input; and 

14 ‘‘(B) shall not be initially required to be 

15 reviewed by the National Advisory Committee 

16 on Windstorm Impact Reduction. 

17 ‘‘(4) REGULAR UPDATES.—Not less frequently 

18 than once every 5 years, the strategic plan— 

19 ‘‘(A) shall be updated with stakeholder 

20 input; and 

21 ‘‘(B) shall be reviewed by the National Ad22 visory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduc23 tion.’’. 

24 (f) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Section 204 of such Act (42 

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1 section (i), as added by subsection (e) of this Act, the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘(j) BIENNIAL REPORT.—The Interagency Working 

4 Group, on a biennial basis, and not later than 90 days 

5 after the end of the preceding 2 fiscal years, shall— 

6 ‘‘(1) after considering the recommendations of 

7 the advisory committee established under section 

8 205, prepare a biennial report that describes the sta9 tus of the Program, including— 

10 ‘‘(A) Program activities and progress 

11 achieved during the preceding 2 fiscal years in 

12 meeting goals established for each Program 

13 component under subsection (c); 

14 ‘‘(B) challenges and impediments to the 

15 fulfillment of the Program’s objectives; and 

16 ‘‘(C) any recommendations for legislative 

17 and other action the Interagency Working 

18 Group considers necessary and appropriate; and 

19 ‘‘(2) submit the report prepared under para20 graph (1) to Congress and the National Science and 

21 Technology Council.’’. 

22 SEC. 5. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM 

23 IMPACT REDUCTION. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 205(a) of the National 

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

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1 15704(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘The Director’’, and in2 serting ‘‘Not later than 6 months after the date of the 

3 enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 

4 Reauthorization Act of 2008, the Director’’. 

5 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 205(b)(2) 

6 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15704(b)(2)) is amended by strik7 ing ‘‘section 204(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 204(c)’’. 

8 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Re10 duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to 

11 read as follows: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap14 propriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 

15 through 2014 to carry out this title, of which not greater 

16 than— 

17 ‘‘(1) $5,000,000 shall be allocated for the Na18 tional Institute of Standards and Technology; 

19 ‘‘(2) $9,400,000 shall be allocated for the Na20 tional Science Foundation; 

21 ‘‘(3) $2,200,000 shall be allocated for the Na22 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 

23 ‘‘(4) $9,400,000 shall be allocated for the Fed24 eral Emergency Management Agency; 

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1 ‘‘(5) $1,333,333 shall be allocated for the De2 partment of Transportation; 

3 ‘‘(6) $1,333,333 shall be allocated for the Na4 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration; and 

5 ‘‘(7) $1,333,333 shall be allocated for the 

6 United States Army Corps of Engineers. 

7 ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR PROGRAM PLANNING, 

8 MANAGEMENT, AND COORDINATION.— 

9 ‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—From the amounts appro10 priated for the National Institute of Standards and 

11 Technology pursuant to subsection (a)(1), up to 

12 $1,000,000 per fiscal year may be allocated for car13 rying out the lead agency planning, management, 

14 and coordination functions assigned to the National 

15 Institute of Standards and Technology under section 

16 204(d). 

17 ‘‘(2) OTHER PROGRAM AGENCIES.—From the 

18 amounts appropriated to each of the Program agen19 cies under paragraphs (2) through (7) of subsection 

20 (a), not greater than 8 percent may be allocated to 

21 each such agency for carrying out planning, manage22 ment, and coordination functions assigned to such 

23 agency under this Act, including participation in the 

24 Interagency Working Group. 

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1 ‘‘(c) REMAINDER AUTHORIZED FOR PROGRAM AC2 TIVITIES.—Any amounts appropriated pursuant to sub3 section (a) that are not allocated under subsection (b) 

4 shall be allocated to Program activities carried out in ac5 cordance with the objectives of the Program, including— 

6 ‘‘(1) data collection and analysis; 

7 ‘‘(2) risk assessment; 

8 ‘‘(3) outreach; 

9 ‘‘(4) technology transfer; and 

10 ‘‘(5) research and development.’’. 

Æ 

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