H. R. 302—243 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
specifying the top 5 priority research areas for the implementation 
and advancement of NextGen, including— 
(1) an assessment of why the research areas are a priority 
for the implementation and advancement of NextGen; 
(2) an identification of the other Federal agencies and 
private organizations assisting the Administration with the 
research; and 
(3) an estimate of when the research will be completed. 
SEC. 762. ADVANCED MATERIALS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 445 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall continue operation of the Advanced Materials 
Center of Excellence (referred to in this section as the ‘Center’) 
under its structure as in effect on March 1, 2016, which shall 
focus on applied research and training on the durability and 
maintainability of advanced materials in transport airframe struc-
tures. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, 
the Transportation Division of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion, and the commercial aircraft industry, including manufac-
turers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers; and 
‘‘(2) establish goals set to advance technology, improve 
engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education in 
relevant areas of study.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
445 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.’’. 
TITLE VIII—AVIATION REVENUE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 801. EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FROM AIRPORT AND AIRWAY 
TRUST FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9502(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘October 1, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A) by striking the semicolon at the 
end and inserting ‘‘or the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018;’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9502(e)(2) of such Code 
is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘October 
1, 2023’’. 
SEC. 802. EXTENSION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND AIRWAY 
TRUST FUND. 
(a) FUEL TAXES.—Section 4081(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’.
H. R. 302—244 
(b) TICKET TAXES.— 
(1) PERSONS.—Section 4261(k)(1)(A)(ii) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2023’’. 
(2) PROPERTY.—Section 4271(d)(1)(A)(ii) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2023’’. 
(c) FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS.— 
(1) FUEL TAX.—Section 4043(d) of such Code is amended 
by striking ‘‘September 30, 2021’’ and inserting ‘‘September 
30, 2023’’. 
(2) TREATMENT
AS
NONCOMMERCIAL
AVIATION.—Section 
4083(b) of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’. 
(3) EXEMPTION FROM TICKET TAXES.—Section 4261(j) of such 
Code is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
DIVISION 
C—NATIONAL 
TRANSPOR-
TATION SAFETY BOARD REAUTHOR-
IZATION ACT OF 2018 
SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘National Transportation 
Safety Board Reauthorization Act’’. 
SEC. 1102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this division, the following definitions apply: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the National 
Transportation Safety Board. 
(2) CHAIRMAN.—The term ‘‘Chairman’’ means the Chairman 
of the National Transportation Safety Board. 
(3) MOST
WANTED
LIST.—The term ‘‘Most Wanted List’’ 
means the Board publication entitled ‘‘Most Wanted List’’. 
SEC. 1103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 1118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
for the purposes of this chapter $111,400,000 for fiscal year 2019, 
$112,400,000 for fiscal year 2020, $113,400,000 for fiscal year 2021, 
and $114,400,000 for fiscal year 2022. Such sums shall remain 
available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 1104. STILL IMAGES. 
(a) STILL IMAGES, VOICE RECORDERS, AND VIDEO RECORDERS.— 
(1) 
COCKPIT
RECORDINGS
AND
TRANSCRIPTS.—Section 
1114(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
(B) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by inserting 
‘‘REFERENCES
TO
INFORMATION
IN
MAKING
SAFETY
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—’’ before ‘‘This’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Board’’ 
and inserting ‘‘CONFIDENTIALITY
OF
RECORDINGS.— 
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Board’’; and
H. R. 302—245 
(ii) by amending the second sentence to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Subject to subsections (b) and (g), the 
Board shall make public any part of a transcript, any written 
depiction of visual information obtained from a video recorder, 
or any still image obtained from a video recorder the Board 
decides is relevant to the accident or incident— 
‘‘(A) if the Board holds a public hearing on the accident 
or incident, at the time of the hearing; or 
‘‘(B) if the Board does not hold a public hearing, at 
the time a majority of the other factual reports on the 
accident or incident are placed in the public docket.’’. 
(2) SURFACE VEHICLE RECORDINGS AND TRANSCRIPTS.—Sec-
tion 1114(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘The Board’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
the Board’’; and 
(ii) by amending the second sentence to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Subject to subsections (b) and (g), the 
Board shall make public any part of a transcript, any written 
depiction of visual information obtained from a video recorder, 
or any still image obtained from a video recorder the Board 
decides is relevant to the accident— 
‘‘(A) if the Board holds a public hearing on the accident, 
at the time of the hearing; or 
‘‘(B) if the Board does not hold a public hearing, at 
the time a majority of the other factual reports on the 
accident are placed in the public docket.’’. 
(3) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—Section 1114 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—Before making public any still 
image obtained from a video recorder under subsection (c)(2) or 
subsection (d)(2), the Board shall take such action as appropriate 
to protect from public disclosure any information that readily identi-
fies an individual, including a decedent.’’. 
(b) COCKPIT AND SURFACE VEHICLE RECORDINGS AND TRAN-
SCRIPTS.—Section 1154(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘TRANSCRIPTS
AND 
RECORDINGS’’ and inserting ‘‘IN GENERAL’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(A) any still image that the National Transportation 
Safety Board has not made available to the public under 
section 1114(c) or 1114(d) of this title;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘recorder recording’’ and inserting ‘‘recorder 
recording, including with regard to a video recording any 
still image that the National Transportation Safety Board
H. R. 302—246 
has not made available to the public under section 1114(c) 
or 1114(d) of this title,’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘recorder 
recording’’ and inserting ‘‘recorder recording, including with 
regard to a video recording any still image that the 
National Transportation Safety Board has not made avail-
able to the public under section 1114(c) or 1114(d) of this 
title,’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘a still image or’’ before ‘‘a part 
of a cockpit’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the part of the transcript or the 
recording’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 
still image, the part of the transcript, or the recording’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘a still image or’’ before ‘‘a part 
of a cockpit’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the part of the transcript or the 
recording’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘the 
still image, the part of the transcript, or the recording’’; 
and 
(5) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subpara-
graph (C); and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: 
‘‘(B) STILL IMAGE.—The term ‘still image’ means any still 
image obtained from a video recorder.’’. 
SEC. 1105. ELECTRONIC RECORDS. 
Section 1134(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘including an electronic record,’’ after ‘‘record,’’. 
SEC. 1106. REPORT ON MOST WANTED LIST METHODOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the date on which the first 
Most Wanted List to be published after the date of enactment 
of this Act is published, the Chairman shall publish on a publicly 
available website of the Board and submit to appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report on the methodology used to prioritize 
and select recommendations to be included by the Board in the 
Most Wanted List. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) a detailed description of how the Board accounts for 
the risk to safety addressed in each of its recommendations, 
including the extent to which the Board considers— 
(A) the types of data and other information, including 
studies and reports, used to identify the amount and prob-
ability of risk to safety; 
(B) the reduction of the risk to safety, estimated over 
a period of time, by implementing each recommendation; 
(C) the practicality and feasibility of achieving the 
reduction of the risk to safety described in subparagraph 
(B); and 
(D) any alternate means of reducing the risk; 
(2) a detailed description of the extent to which the Board 
considers any prior, related investigation, safety recommenda-
tion, or other safety action when prioritizing and selecting 
recommendations; and
H. R. 302—247 
(3) a description of the extent of coordination and consulta-
tion when prioritizing and selecting the recommendations. 
(c) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 15 months after the date 
that the methodology report is published under subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report examining the method-
ology used by the Board to prioritize and select safety recommenda-
tions for inclusion in the Most Wanted List. 
SEC. 1107. METHODOLOGY. 
(a) REDESIGNATION.—Section 1116 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The National Transportation Safety 
Board shall submit a report to Congress on July 1 of each year. 
The report shall include— 
‘‘(1) a statistical and analytical summary of the transpor-
tation accident investigations conducted and reviewed by the 
Board during the prior calendar year; 
‘‘(2) a survey and summary of the recommendations made 
by the Board to reduce the likelihood of recurrence of those 
accidents together with the observed response to each rec-
ommendation; 
‘‘(3) a detailed appraisal of the accident investigation and 
accident prevention activities of other departments, agencies, 
and instrumentalities of the United States Government and 
State and local governmental authorities having responsibility 
for those activities under a law of the United States or a 
State; 
‘‘(4) a description of the activities and operations of the 
National Transportation Safety Board Training Center during 
the prior calendar year; 
‘‘(5) a list of accidents, during the prior calendar year, 
that the Board was required to investigate under section 1131 
but did not investigate and an explanation of why they were 
not investigated; and 
‘‘(6) a list of ongoing investigations that have exceeded 
the expected time allotted for completion by Board order and 
an explanation for the additional time required to complete 
each such investigation.’’. 
(b) METHODOLOGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1117 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1117. Methodology 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the National Transportation Safety Board Reauthor-
ization Act, the Chairman shall include with each investigative 
report in which a recommendation is issued by the Board a method-
ology section detailing the process and information underlying the 
selection of each recommendation. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Except as provided in subsection (c), the meth-
odology section under subsection (a) shall include, for each rec-
ommendation— 
‘‘(1) a brief summary of the Board’s collection and analysis 
of the specific accident investigation information most relevant 
to the recommendation;
H. R. 302—248 
‘‘(2) a description of the Board’s use of external information, 
including studies, reports, and experts, other than the findings 
of a specific accident investigation, if any were used to inform 
or support the recommendation, including a brief summary 
of the specific safety benefits and other effects identified by 
each study, report, or expert; and 
‘‘(3) a brief summary of any examples of actions taken 
by regulated entities before the publication of the safety rec-
ommendation, to the extent such actions are known to the 
Board, that were consistent with the recommendation. 
‘‘(c) ACCEPTABLE LIMITATION.—If the Board knows of more than 
3 examples taken by regulated entities before the publication of 
the safety recommendation that were consistent with the rec-
ommendation, the brief summary under subsection (b)(3) may be 
limited to only 3 of those examples. 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if the rec-
ommendation is only for a person to disseminate information on— 
‘‘(1) an existing agency best practices document; or 
‘‘(2) an existing regulatory requirement. 
‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may be 
construed to require any change to a recommendation made by 
the Board before the date of enactment of the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Reauthorization Act, unless the recommenda-
tion is a repeat recommendation issued on or after the date of 
enactment of such Act. 
‘‘(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section may be con-
strued— 
‘‘(1) to delay publication of the findings, cause, or probable 
cause of a Board investigation; 
‘‘(2) to delay the issuance of an urgent recommendation 
that the Board has determined must be issued to avoid imme-
diate loss, death, or injury; or 
‘‘(3) to limit the number of examples the Board may con-
sider before issuing a recommendation.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 11 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 1116 the following: 
‘‘117. Methodology.’’. 
SEC. 1108. MULTIMODAL ACCIDENT DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Board shall establish and maintain 
a multimodal accident database management system for Board 
investigators. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the system shall be to support 
the Board in improving— 
(1) the quality of accident data the Board makes available 
to the public; and 
(2) the selection of accidents for investigation and allocation 
of limited resources. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The system shall— 
(1) maintain a historical record of accidents that are inves-
tigated by the Board; and 
(2) be capable of the secure storage, retrieval, and manage-
ment of information associated with the investigations of such 
accidents.
H. R. 302—249 
SEC. 1109. ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS 
INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. 
(a) AIR CARRIERS HOLDING CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVEN-
IENCE AND NECESSITY.—Section 41113 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a major’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘(and any other victim 
of the accident)’’ and inserting ‘‘(and any other victim of 
the accident, including any victim on the ground)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘major’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking ‘‘significant’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’. 
(b) FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS PROVIDING FOREIGN AIR TRANSPOR-
TATION.—Section 41313 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a major’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a significant’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘a significant’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows: 
‘‘(9) EQUAL TREATMENT OF PASSENGERS.—An assurance that 
the treatment of the families of nonrevenue passengers (and 
any other victim of the accident, including any victim on the 
ground) will be the same as the treatment of the families 
of revenue passengers.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (16)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘major’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the foreign air carrier will consult’’ 
and inserting ‘‘will consult’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking ‘‘significant’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’. 
(c) ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN AIR-
CRAFT ACCIDENTS.—Section 1136 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘aircraft accident within 
the United States involving an air carrier or foreign air carrier 
and resulting in a major loss of life’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft 
accident involving an air carrier or foreign air carrier, resulting 
in any loss of life, and for which the National Transportation 
Safety Board will serve as the lead investigative agency’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) AIRCRAFT
ACCIDENT.—The term ‘aircraft accident’ 
means any aviation disaster, regardless of its cause or suspected 
cause, for which the National Transportation Safety Board 
is the lead investigative agency.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
H. R. 302—250 
(iii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) any other person injured or killed in the aircraft 
accident, as determined appropriate by the Board.’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN RAIL 
PASSENGER ACCIDENTS.—Section 1139 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘resulting in a major 
loss of life’’ and inserting ‘‘resulting in any loss of life, and 
for which the National Transportation Safety Board will serve 
as the lead investigative agency’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (h)(1) to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) RAIL PASSENGER ACCIDENT.—The term ‘rail passenger 
accident’ means any rail passenger disaster that— 
‘‘(A) results in any loss of life; 
‘‘(B) the National Transportation Safety Board will 
serve as the lead investigative agency for; and 
‘‘(C) occurs in the provision of— 
‘‘(i) interstate intercity rail passenger transpor-
tation (as such term is defined in section 24102); or 
‘‘(ii) high-speed rail (as such term is defined in 
section 26105) transportation, regardless of its cause 
or suspected cause.’’. 
(e) INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN 
ACCIDENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 11 of subtitle 
II of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 1140. Information for families of individuals involved in 
accidents 
‘‘In the course of an investigation of an accident described 
in section 1131(a)(1), except an aircraft accident described in section 
1136 or a rail passenger accident described in section 1139, the 
Board may, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the 
families of individuals involved in the accident, and other individ-
uals the Board deems appropriate— 
‘‘(1) are informed as to the roles, with respect to the 
accident and the post-accident activities, of the Board; 
‘‘(2) are briefed, before any public briefing, about the 
accident, its causes, and any other findings from the investiga-
tion; and 
‘‘(3) are individually informed of and allowed to attend 
any public hearings and meetings of the Board about the 
accident.’’. 
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of chapter 
11 of subtitle II of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1139 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘1140. Information for families of individuals involved in accidents.’’. 
SEC. 1110. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON INVES-
TIGATION LAUNCH DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. 
Section 1138 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as para-
graphs (6) and (7), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
H. R. 302—251 
‘‘(5) the process and procedures to select an accident to 
investigate;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after ‘‘Science’’. 
SEC. 1111. PERIODIC REVIEW OF SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) REPORTS.—Section 1116 of title 49, United States Code, 
as amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘and studies’’ and inserting 
‘‘, studies, and retrospective reviews’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) RETROSPECTIVE REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 
June 1, 2019, and at least every 5 years thereafter, the Chair-
man shall complete a retrospective review of recommendations 
issued by the Board that are classified as open by the Board. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—A review under paragraph (1) shall 
include— 
‘‘(A) a determination of whether the recommendation 
should be updated, closed, or reissued in light of— 
‘‘(i) changed circumstances; 
‘‘(ii) more recently issued recommendations; 
‘‘(iii) the availability of new technologies; or 
‘‘(iv) new information making the recommendation 
ineffective or insufficient for achieving its objective; 
and 
‘‘(B) a justification for each determination under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date a 
review under paragraph (1) is complete, the Chairman shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report 
that includes— 
‘‘(A) the findings of the review under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) each determination under paragraph (2)(A) and 
justification under paragraph (2)(B); and 
‘‘(C) if applicable, a schedule for updating, closing, 
or reissuing a recommendation.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 11 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 1116 and inserting the following: 
‘‘1116. Reports, studies, and retrospective reviews.’’. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section or the amend-
ments made by this section may be construed to limit or otherwise 
affect the authority of the Board to update, close, or reissue a 
recommendation. 
SEC. 1112. GENERAL ORGANIZATION. 
(a) TERMS OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—Section 
1111(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘3 years’’. 
(b) NONPUBLIC COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS.—Section 1111 of 
such title is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) OPEN MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall be deemed to be an 
agency for purposes of section 552b of title 5. 
‘‘(2) NONPUBLIC COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS.—
H. R. 302—252 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 552b of 
title 5, a majority of the members may hold a meeting 
that is not open to public observation to discuss official 
agency business if— 
‘‘(i) no formal or informal vote or other official 
agency action is taken at the meeting; 
‘‘(ii) each individual present at the meeting is a 
member or an employee of the Board; 
‘‘(iii) at least 1 member of the Board from each 
political party is present at the meeting, if applicable; 
and 
‘‘(iv) the General Counsel of the Board is present 
at the meeting. 
‘‘(B) 
DISCLOSURE
OF
NONPUBLIC
COLLABORATIVE 
DISCUSSIONS.—Except as provided under subparagraphs (C) 
and (D), not later than 2 business days after the conclusion 
of a meeting under subparagraph (A), the Board shall 
make available to the public, in a place easily accessible 
to the public— 
‘‘(i) a list of the individuals present at the meeting; 
and 
‘‘(ii) a summary of the matters, including key 
issues, discussed at the meeting, except for any matter 
the Board properly determines may be withheld from 
the public under section 552b(c) of title 5. 
‘‘(C) SUMMARY.—If the Board properly determines a 
matter may be withheld from the public under section 
552b(c) of title 5, the Board shall provide a summary with 
as much general information as possible on each matter 
withheld from the public. 
‘‘(D) ACTIVE
INVESTIGATIONS.—If a discussion under 
subparagraph (A) directly relates to an active investigation, 
the Board shall make the disclosure under subparagraph 
(B) on the date the Board adopts the final report. 
‘‘(E) PRESERVATION OF OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENTS 
FOR AGENCY ACTION.—Nothing in this paragraph may be 
construed to limit the applicability of section 552b of title 
5 with respect to a meeting of the members other than 
that described in this paragraph. 
‘‘(F) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this para-
graph may be construed— 
‘‘(i) to limit the applicability of section 552b of 
title 5 with respect to any information which is pro-
posed to be withheld from the public under subpara-
graph (B)(ii); or 
‘‘(ii) to authorize the Board to withhold from any 
individual any record that is accessible to that indi-
vidual under section 552a of title 5.’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS
FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES.—Section 1113(b)(1) of such 
title is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 302—254 
assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected 
by a fire for which assistance was provided under this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)) (as amended by 
this division)— 
(A) by inserting before the first period ‘‘, or any area 
affected by a fire for which assistance was provided under 
section 420’’; and 
(B) in the third sentence by inserting ‘‘or event under 
section 420’’ after ‘‘major disaster’’ each place it appears; 
and 
(2) in section 322(e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)), by inserting 
‘‘or event under section 420’’ after ‘‘major disaster’’ each place 
it appears. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Adminis-
trator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a report containing a summary of any projects 
carried out, and any funding provided to those projects, under 
subsection (d) of section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) (as amended 
by this section). 
SEC. 1205. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(f) USE
OF
ASSISTANCE.—Recipients of hazard mitigation 
assistance provided under this section and section 203 may use 
the assistance to conduct activities to help reduce the risk of future 
damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a 
wildfire or windstorm, such as— 
‘‘(1) reseeding ground cover with quick-growing or native 
species; 
‘‘(2) mulching with straw or chipped wood; 
‘‘(3) constructing straw, rock, or log dams in small tribu-
taries to prevent flooding; 
‘‘(4) placing logs and other erosion barriers to catch sedi-
ment on hill slopes; 
‘‘(5) installing debris traps to modify road and trail drainage 
mechanisms; 
‘‘(6) modifying or removing culverts to allow drainage to 
flow freely; 
‘‘(7) adding drainage dips and constructing emergency spill-
ways to keep roads and bridges from washing out during floods; 
‘‘(8) planting grass to prevent the spread of noxious weeds; 
‘‘(9) installing warning signs; 
‘‘(10) establishing defensible space measures; 
‘‘(11) reducing hazardous fuels; 
‘‘(12) mitigating windstorm damage, including replacing 
or installing electrical transmission or distribution utility pole 
structures with poles that are resilient to extreme wind and
H. R. 302—255 
combined ice and wind loadings for the basic wind speeds 
and ice conditions associated with the relevant location; 
‘‘(13) removing standing burned trees; and 
‘‘(14) replacing water systems that have been burned and 
have caused contamination.’’. 
SEC. 1206. ELIGIBILITY FOR CODE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170a) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: 
‘‘(5) provide assistance to State and local governments for 
building code and floodplain management ordinance adminis-
tration and enforcement, including inspections for substantial 
damage compliance; and’’. 
(b) REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT
OF DAMAGED 
FACILITIES.—Section 406(a)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) base and overtime wages for extra hires to facili-
tate the implementation and enforcement of adopted 
building codes for a period of not more than 180 days 
after the major disaster is declared.’’. 
SEC. 1207. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) HAZARD MITIGATION.—Section 406(c) of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5172(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘90 percent of’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘75 percent of’’. 
(b) FLOOD INSURANCE.—Section 406(d)(1) of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5172(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘This 
section shall not apply to more than one building of a multi- 
structure educational, law enforcement, correctional, fire, or medical 
campus, for any major disaster or emergency declared by the Presi-
dent under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 
5191) on or after January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018.’’. 
(c) PARTICIPATION.—Section 428(d) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f(d)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Participation in’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Participation in’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) NO CONDITIONS.—The President may not condition the 
provision of Federal assistance under this Act on the election 
by a State, local, or Indian tribal government, or owner or 
operator of a private nonprofit facility to participate in the 
alternative procedures adopted under this section.’’.
H. R. 302—256 
(d) CERTIFICATION.—Section 428(e)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5189f(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) once certified by a professionally licensed engineer 
and accepted by the Administrator, the estimates on which 
grants made pursuant to this section are based shall be 
presumed to be reasonable and eligible costs, as long as 
there is no evidence of fraud.’’. 
SEC. 1208. PRIORITIZATION OF FACILITIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator shall provide guidance and training on an 
annual basis to State, local, and Indian tribal governments, first 
responders, and utility companies on— 
(1) the need to prioritize assistance to hospitals, nursing 
homes, and other long-term care facilities to ensure that such 
health care facilities remain functioning or return to functioning 
as soon as practicable during power outages caused by natural 
hazards, including severe weather events; 
(2) how hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care 
facilities should adequately prepare for power outages during 
a major disaster or emergency, as those terms are defined 
in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122); and 
(3) how State, local, and Indian tribal governments, first 
responders, utility companies, hospitals, nursing homes, and 
other long-term care facilities should develop a strategy to 
coordinate emergency response plans, including the activation 
of emergency response plans, in anticipation of a major disaster, 
including severe weather events. 
SEC. 1209. GUIDANCE ON EVACUATION ROUTES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—The Administrator, in coordination 
with the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, 
shall develop and issue guidance for State, local, and Indian 
tribal governments regarding the identification of evacuation 
routes. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator of the Federal Highway 
Administration, in coordination with the Administrator, shall 
revise existing guidance or issue new guidance as appropriate 
for State, local, and Indian tribal governments regarding the 
design, construction, maintenance, and repair of evacuation 
routes. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—In developing the guidance under sub-
section (a)(1), the Administrator shall consider— 
(A) whether evacuation routes have resisted impacts 
and recovered quickly from disasters, regardless of cause; 
(B) the need to evacuate special needs populations, 
including— 
(i) individuals with a physical or mental disability;
H. R. 302—257 
(ii) individuals in schools, daycare centers, mobile 
home parks, prisons, nursing homes and other long- 
term care facilities, and detention centers; 
(iii) individuals with limited-English proficiency; 
(iv) the elderly; and 
(v) individuals who are tourists, seasonal workers, 
or homeless; 
(C) the sharing of information and other public commu-
nications with evacuees during evacuations; 
(D) the sheltering of evacuees, including the care, 
protection, and sheltering of animals; 
(E) the return of evacuees to their homes; and 
(F) such other items the Administrator considers appro-
priate. 
(2) DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR.— 
In revising or issuing guidance under subsection (a)(2), the 
Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration shall 
consider— 
(A) methods that assist evacuation routes to— 
(i) withstand likely risks to viability, including 
flammability and hydrostatic forces; 
(ii) improve durability, strength (including the 
ability to withstand tensile stresses and compressive 
stresses), and sustainability; and 
(iii) provide for long-term cost savings; 
(B) the ability of evacuation routes to effectively man-
age contraflow operations; 
(C) for evacuation routes on public lands, the view-
points of the applicable Federal land management agency 
regarding 
emergency 
operations, 
sustainability, 
and 
resource protection; and 
(D) such other items the Administrator of the Federal 
Highway Administration considers appropriate. 
(c) STUDY.—The Administrator, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and State, 
local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments, may— 
(1) conduct a study of the adequacy of available evacuation 
routes to accommodate the flow of evacuees; and 
(2) submit recommendations on how to help with antici-
pated evacuation route flow, based on the study conducted 
under paragraph (1), to— 
(A) the Federal Highway Administration; 
(B) the Agency; 
(C) State, local, territorial, and Indian tribal govern-
ments; and 
(D) Congress. 
SEC. 1210. DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Section 312(b) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5155(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) WAIVER OF GENERAL PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive the gen-
eral prohibition provided in subsection (a) upon request 
of a Governor on behalf of the State or on behalf of a 
person, business concern, or any other entity suffering