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 ad-
dition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program, 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 ‘‘National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—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 Technology Policy’’ and inserting ‘‘Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’’. 
(b) LIFELINES.—Section 203 of the National Wind-
storm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15702) 
is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) LIFELINES.—The term ‘lifelines’ means 
public works and utilities, including transportation 
facilities and infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, 
electrical power and communication facilities and in-
frastructure, and water supply and sewage treat-
ment facilities.’’. 
SEC. 3. 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— 
(1) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and 
inserting the following: 
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‘‘(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-
ers with a role in planning and constructing 
buildings and lifelines; 
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‘‘(B) support the development of perform-
ance-based engineering tools, and work with ap-
propriate groups to promote the commercial ap-
plication of such tools, including through wind- 
related model building codes, voluntary stand-
ards, 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) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm 
investigations; 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. 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—In addition to the lead agency re-
sponsibilities described under paragraph (1), the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
be responsible for carrying out research and develop-
ment to improve model building codes, voluntary 
standards, and best practices for the design, con-
struction, and retrofit of buildings, structures, and 
lifelines. 
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‘‘(3) NATIONAL
SCIENCE
FOUNDATION.—The 
National Science Foundation shall support research 
in— 
‘‘(A) engineering and the atmospheric 
sciences to improve the understanding of the 
behavior of windstorms and their impact on 
buildings, structures, and lifelines; and 
‘‘(B) economic and social factors influ-
encing windstorm risk reduction measures. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL
OCEANIC
AND
ATMOSPHERIC 
ADMINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration shall support atmospheric 
sciences research to improve the understanding of 
the behavior of windstorms and their impact on 
buildings, structures, and lifelines. 
‘‘(5) 
FEDERAL
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT 
AGENCY.—The Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall— 
‘‘(A) support— 
‘‘(i) the development of risk assess-
ment tools and effective mitigation tech-
niques; 
‘‘(ii) windstorm-related data collection 
and analysis; 
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‘‘(iii) public outreach and information 
dissemination; and 
‘‘(iv) promotion of the adoption of 
windstorm preparedness and mitigation 
measures, including for households, busi-
nesses, and communities, consistent with 
the Agency’s all-hazards approach; and 
‘‘(B) work closely with national standards 
and model building code organizations, in con-
junction with the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology, to promote the implemen-
tation of research results and promote better 
building practices within the building design 
and construction industry, including architects, 
engineers, contractors, builders, and inspec-
tors.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (c), and by striking subsections (e) and (f); 
and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so re-
designated, the following new subsections: 
‘‘(d) BUDGET ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director 
of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
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the Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall each include in their agency’s annual budget 
request to Congress a description of their agency’s pro-
jected activities under the Program for the fiscal year cov-
ered by the budget request, along with an assessment of 
what they plan to spend on those activities for that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(e) INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 
WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm 
Impact Reduction, chaired by the Director. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—In addition to the chair, 
the Committee shall be composed of— 
‘‘(A) the heads of— 
‘‘(i) the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency; 
‘‘(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration; 
‘‘(iii) the National Science Founda-
tion; 
‘‘(iv) the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy; and 
‘‘(v) the Office of Management and 
Budget; and 
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‘‘(B) the head of any other Federal agency 
the chair considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet 
not less than 2 times a year at the call of the Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology. 
‘‘(4) GENERAL
PURPOSE
AND
DUTIES.—The 
Committee shall oversee the planning and coordina-
tion of the Program. 
‘‘(5) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall 
develop and submit to Congress, not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 
2015, a Strategic Plan for the Program that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) prioritized goals for the Program that 
will mitigate against the loss of life and prop-
erty from future windstorms; 
‘‘(B) short-term, mid-term, and long-term 
research objectives to achieve those goals; 
‘‘(C) a description of the role of each Pro-
gram agency in achieving the prioritized goals; 
‘‘(D) the methods by which progress to-
wards the goals will be assessed; and 
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‘‘(E) an explanation of how the Program 
will foster the transfer of research results into 
outcomes, such as improved model building 
codes. 
‘‘(6) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 
2015, the Committee shall submit to the Congress a 
report on the progress of the Program that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the activities funded 
under the Program, a description of how these 
activities align with the prioritized goals and re-
search objectives established in the Strategic 
Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these ac-
tivities; 
‘‘(B) the outcomes achieved by the Pro-
gram for each of the goals identified in the 
Strategic Plan; 
‘‘(C) a description of any recommendations 
made to change existing building codes that 
were the result of Program activities; and 
‘‘(D) a description of the extent to which 
the Program has incorporated recommendations 
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from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm 
Impact Reduction. 
‘‘(7) COORDINATED BUDGET.—The Committee 
shall develop a coordinated budget for the Program, 
which shall be submitted to the Congress at the time 
of the President’s budget submission for each fiscal 
year.’’. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDSTORM 
IMPACT REDUCTION. 
Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Re-
duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 205. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WIND-
STORM IMPACT REDUCTION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology shall establish an Ad-
visory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, which 
shall be composed of at least 7 members, none of whom 
may be employees of the Federal Government, including 
representatives of research and academic institutions, in-
dustry standards development organizations, emergency 
management agencies, State and local government, and 
business communities who are qualified to provide advice 
on windstorm impact reduction and represent all related 
scientific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The 
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recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be con-
sidered by Federal agencies in implementing the Program. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENTS.—The Advisory Committee on 
Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments on— 
‘‘(1) trends and developments in the natural, 
engineering, and social sciences and practices of 
windstorm impact mitigation; 
‘‘(2) the priorities of the Program’s Strategic 
Plan; 
‘‘(3) the coordination of the Program; and 
‘‘(4) any revisions to the Program which may 
be necessary. 
‘‘(c) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Committee established under this section shall serve with-
out compensation. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—At least every 2 years, the Advisory 
Committee shall report to the Director on the assessments 
carried out under subsection (b) and its recommendations 
for ways to improve the Program. 
‘‘(e) CHARTER.—Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the 
Advisory Committee shall not be required to file a charter 
subsequent to its initial charter, filed under section 9(c) 
of such Act, before the termination date specified in sub-
section (f) of this section. 
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‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
terminate on September 30, 2017. 
‘‘(g) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—An Advisory Com-
mittee member shall recuse himself from any Advisory 
Committee activity in which he has an actual pecuniary 
interest.’’. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Re-
duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 207. 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 
title— 
‘‘(1) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(3) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this title— 
‘‘(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(3) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
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‘‘(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 
carrying out this title— 
‘‘(1) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(2) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(3) $4,120,000 for fiscal year 2017. 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 
carrying out this title— 
‘‘(1) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2015; 
‘‘(2) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2016; and 
‘‘(3) $2,266,000 for fiscal year 2017.’’. 
Æ 
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