SEC. 3. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH FED-
ERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOV-
ERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS. 
As a condition of designation as a National Center 
of Excellence under this Act, the Administrator shall re-
quire a public college or university to enter into an agree-
ment with the Administrator under which it agrees to— 
(1) collaborate on Federal flood-related issues 
with Federal agencies such as the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency, the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the National Science Foundation, 
and the Department of Agriculture; 
(2) collaborate and share best practices on re-
gional, State, and locally specific flooding and flood- 
related issues with— 
(A) State, county, and local governments; 
(B) local councils of governments or re-
gional planning organizations; 
(C) State agriculture, natural resource, en-
vironment, economic development, and water 
agencies; 
(D) floodplain managers; 
(E) State homeland security personnel, 
county disaster recovery coordinators, emer-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:11 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4640.IH
H4640
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
gency management personnel, and first re-
sponders; 
(F) resource conservation and development 
councils; 
(G) watershed organizations and boards; 
(H) agriculture and commodity organiza-
tions and farmers; 
(I) environmental organizations; and 
(J) business and development organiza-
tions; and 
(3) explore opportunities to collaborate, when 
appropriate, on Federal flood-related issues with 
other Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Rec-
lamation, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Bu-
reau of Land Management, the National Park Serv-
ice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Public Health 
Service, the National Science Foundation, the De-
partment of Defense, the Department of the Inte-
rior, the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment, and various national laboratories. 
SEC. 4. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION; 
REVIEWS AND ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator shall an-
nually submit to Congress and the President a report de-
scribing the activities, partnerships and collaborations, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:11 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4640.IH
H4640
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
Federal policy recommendations, previous and continuing 
budgets, and findings of, and any other applicable infor-
mation from, the National Centers of Excellence, and 
make such report available to the public in an easily acces-
sible electronic format on website of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
(b) REVIEW OF REPORTS FROM NATIONAL CENTERS 
OF EXCELLENCE.—The Administrator shall review re-
ports from National Centers of Excellence to ensure that 
recommendations and guidance of such Centers in regard 
to flooding and flood-related issues are communicated to 
relevant Federal agencies. 
(c) REVIEW
OF NATIONAL CENTERS
OF EXCEL-
LENCE AND POTENTIAL DESIGNEES.—The Administrator 
shall periodically review the National Centers of Excel-
lence and potential new designees as such Centers, to— 
(1) ensure that the National Centers of Excel-
lence continue to meet the criteria for designation 
under this Act; and 
(2) designate additional National Centers of 
Excellence in accordance with this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:11 Dec 15, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4640.IH
H4640
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS