I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3479 
To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2011 
Mrs. BIGGERT (for herself, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. 
HALL, and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addi-
tion to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Nat-
ural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Natural Hazards Risk 
Reduction Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
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TITLE I—EARTHQUAKES 
Sec. 101. Short title. 
Sec. 102. Definitions. 
Sec. 103. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. 
Sec. 104. Post-Earthquake Investigations Program. 
Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—WIND 
Sec. 201. Short title. 
Sec. 202. Definitions. 
Sec. 203. National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. 
Sec. 204. National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction. 
Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE III—INTERAGENCY COORDINATION 
Sec. 301. Interagency Coordinating Committee on Natural Hazards Risk Re-
duction. 
Sec. 302. Coordination of Federal disaster research, development, and tech-
nology transfer. 
Sec. 303. Authorizations. 
TITLE I—EARTHQUAKES 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 
2011’’. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7703) is amended by striking para-
graphs (8) and (9). 
SEC. 103. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION 
PROGRAM. 
Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘to be 
administered, as provided under this section, by 
the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the United States Geological Survey, 
and the National Science Foundation’’ after 
‘‘Reduction Program’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) research and develop effective meth-
ods, tools, and technologies to reduce the risk 
posed by earthquakes to the built environment, 
especially to lessen the risk to existing struc-
tures and lifelines;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and retrofitting’’ after ‘‘planning and 
constructing’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (C); 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘, as 
appropriate; and’’; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
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‘‘(E) support public education and out-
reach to assist in preparing for and responding 
to earthquake-related disasters.’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraphs (3) through 
(5); 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall have the primary 
responsibility for planning and coordinating the Pro-
gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 
of the Institute shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that the Program includes the 
necessary components to promote the imple-
mentation of earthquake hazards risk reduction 
measures by Federal, State, and local govern-
ments, national standards and model building 
code organizations, architects and engineers, 
and others with a role in planning, con-
structing, and retrofitting structures and life-
lines; 
‘‘(B) support the development of perform-
ance-based seismic engineering tools, and work 
with appropriate groups to promote the com-
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mercial application of such tools, through earth-
quake-related model building codes, voluntary 
standards, and construction best practices; 
‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal 
agencies other than the Program agencies, as 
necessary to assist in carrying out this Act; 
‘‘(D) work with the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, the National Science 
Foundation, and the United States Geological 
Survey, to develop a comprehensive plan for 
earthquake engineering research to effectively 
use existing testing facilities and laboratories 
(existing at the time of the development of the 
plan), upgrade facilities and equipment as need-
ed, and integrate new, innovative testing ap-
proaches to the research infrastructure in a sys-
tematic manner; and 
‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves-
tigative findings, issue recommendations to as-
sist in informing the development of model 
codes, and provide information to Congress on 
the use of such recommendations.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
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(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘seismic microzonation’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
tailed seismic hazard and risk’’; 
(ii) by amending subparagraphs (F) 
and (G) to read as follows: 
‘‘(F) operate, in cooperation with the Na-
tional Science Foundation, a Global Seis-
mographic Network for detection of earth-
quakes around the world and research into fun-
damental earth processes; 
‘‘(G) support the operation of regional seis-
mic networks in areas of higher seismic risk;’’; 
(iii) by striking the period at the end 
of subparagraph (H) and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iv) by amending subparagraph (I) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(I) work with other Program agencies to 
maintain awareness of, and where appropriate 
coordinate with, earthquake risk reduction ef-
forts in other countries to ensure that the Pro-
gram benefits from relevant information and 
advances in those countries; and’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ‘‘of 
the George’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Re-
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duction Program’’ and inserting ‘‘of institutions 
engaged in research and the implementation of 
the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
Program, which may include the George E. 
Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineer-
ing Simulation’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘and other stake-
holders with relevant expertise’’ after 
‘‘standards organizations’’; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon at the end; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (D) and inserting a period; 
and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (E); 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EARTHQUAKE HAZ-
ARDS REDUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
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establish an Advisory Committee on Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction, which shall be composed of at 
least 11 members, none of whom may be employees 
of the Federal Government, including representa-
tives of research and academic institutions, industry 
standards development organizations, emergency 
management agencies, State and local government, 
and business communities who are qualified to pro-
vide advice on earthquake hazards reduction and 
represent all related scientific, architectural, and en-
gineering disciplines. The recommendations of the 
Advisory Committee shall be considered by Federal 
agencies in implementing the Program. 
‘‘(2) ASSESSMENTS.—The Advisory Committee 
on Earthquake Hazards Reduction shall offer as-
sessments on— 
‘‘(A) trends and developments in the nat-
ural, social, and engineering sciences and prac-
tices of earthquake hazards impact mitigation; 
‘‘(B) the priorities of the Program’s Stra-
tegic Plan; 
‘‘(C) the coordination of the Program; and 
‘‘(D) any revisions to the Program which 
may be necessary. 
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‘‘(3) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Ad-
visory Committee established under this subsection 
shall serve without compensation. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS.—At least every 2 years, the Ad-
visory Committee shall report to the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology on 
the assessments carried out under paragraph (2) 
and its recommendations for ways to improve the 
Program. 
‘‘(5) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee 
established under this subsection shall terminate not 
later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the 
Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (d)(1), as so redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section, by inserting ‘‘on Nat-
ural Hazards Risk Reduction established under sec-
tion 301 of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act 
of 2011’’ after ‘‘Interagency Coordinating Com-
mittee’’. 
SEC. 104. POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM. 
Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705e) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
utilizing the coordination expertise of the lead Program 
agency’’ after ‘‘consultation with each Program agency’’. 
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SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 12 of the Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN-
CY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency for carrying out this 
Act— 
‘‘(1) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(2) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(3) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
‘‘(b) UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Ge-
ological Survey for carrying out this Act— 
‘‘(1) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(2) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(3) $57,700,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this Act— 
‘‘(1) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(2) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(3) $53,800,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
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to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 
carrying out this Act— 
‘‘(1) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(2) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(3) $4,100,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 14 of the 
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7708) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b). 
TITLE II—WIND 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2011’’. 
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 203(1) of the National Windstorm Impact 
Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702(1)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘Director of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology’’. 
SEC. 203. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Re-
duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 
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(1) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na-
tional Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the purpose 
of which is to achieve major measurable reductions in the 
losses of life and property from windstorms through a co-
ordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels 
of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed 
at improving the understanding of windstorms and their 
impacts and developing and encouraging the implementa-
tion of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those 
impacts. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall have the primary 
responsibility for planning and coordinating the Pro-
gram. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 
shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that the Program includes the 
necessary components to promote the imple-
mentation of windstorm risk reduction meas-
ures by Federal, State, and local governments, 
national standards and model building code or-
ganizations, architects and engineers, and oth-
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