I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3820 
To reauthorize Federal natural hazards reduction programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 15, 2009 
Mr. WU (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. GRAYSON, and Mr. MOORE 
of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on 
Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction 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 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The United States faces significant risks 
from many types of natural hazards, including 
earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and 
floods. Increasing numbers of Americans are living 
in areas prone to these hazards. 
(2) Earthquakes occur without warning and can 
have devastating effects. According to the U.S. Geo-
logical 
Survey, 
two 
recent 
earthquakes, 
the 
Northridge Earthquake in 1994, and the Loma 
Prieta Earthquake in 1989, killed nearly 100 people, 
injured 12,757, and caused $33 billion in damages. 
Nearly all States face some level of seismic risk. 
Twenty-six urban areas in 14 States have a signifi-
cant seismic risk. 
(3) Severe weather is the most costly natural 
hazard, measured on a per year basis. According to 
data from the National Weather Service over the 
last 10 years, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hurri-
canes have caused an average of 226 fatalities and 
$16 billion of property damage per year. The 2005 
hurricane season was one of the most destructive in 
United States history, killing 1,836 people, and 
causing $80 billion in damage. 
(4) The United States Fire Administration re-
ports that 38 percent of new home construction in 
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2002 was in areas adjacent to, or intermixed with, 
wildlands. Fires in the wildland-urban interface are 
costly. For example, the 2007 California Witch fire 
alone caused $1.3 billion in insured property losses, 
according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO). In 
addition, Government Accountability Office reported 
in 2007 that the Federal spending for wildfire sup-
pression between 2001 and 2005 was, on average, 
$2.9 billion per year. 
(5) Developing better knowledge about natural 
hazard phenomena and their effects is crucial to as-
sessing the risks these hazards pose to communities. 
Instrumentation, monitoring, and data gathering to 
characterize earthquakes and wind events are impor-
tant activities to increase this knowledge. 
(6) Current building codes and standards can 
mitigate the damages caused by natural hazards. 
The Institute for Business and Home Safety esti-
mated that the $19 billion in damage caused by 
Hurricane Andrew in 1994 could have been reduced 
by half if such codes and standards were in effect. 
Research for the continuous improvement of building 
codes, standards, and design practices—and for de-
veloping methods to retrofit existing structures—is 
crucial to mitigating losses from natural hazards. 
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(7) Since its creation in 1977, the National 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) 
has supported research to develop seismic codes, 
standards, and building practices that have been 
widely adopted. The NEHRP Recommended Provi-
sions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and 
Other Structures and the Guidance for Seismic Per-
formance Assessment of Buildings are two examples. 
(8) Research to understand the institutional, 
social, behavioral, and economic factors that influ-
ence how households, businesses, and communities 
perceive risk and prepare for natural hazards, and 
how well they recover after a disaster, can increase 
the implementation of risk mitigation measures. 
(9) A major goal of the Federal natural haz-
ards-related research and development effort should 
be to reduce the loss of life and damage to commu-
nities and infrastructure through increasing the 
adoption of hazard mitigation measures. 
(10) Research, development, and technology 
transfer to secure infrastructure is vitally important. 
Infrastructure that supports electricity, transpor-
tation, drinking water, and other services is vital im-
mediately after a disaster, and their quick return to 
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function speeds the economic recovery of a disaster- 
impacted community. 
TITLE I—EARTHQUAKES 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 
2009’’. 
SEC. 102. FINDINGS. 
Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701) is repealed. 
SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 4 of the National Earthquake Hazards Re-
duction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7703) is amended by 
striking paragraphs (8) and (9). 
SEC. 104. NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION 
PROGRAM. 
Section 5 of the National Earthquake Hazards Re-
duction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—The activities of 
the Program shall be designed to— 
‘‘(A) research and develop effective meth-
ods, tools, and technologies to reduce the risk 
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posed by earthquakes to the built environment, 
especially to lessen the risk to existing struc-
tures and lifelines; 
‘‘(B) improve the understanding of earth-
quakes and their effects on households, busi-
nesses, communities, buildings, structures, and 
lifelines, through interdisciplinary and multi-
disciplinary research that involves engineering, 
natural sciences, and social sciences; and 
‘‘(C) facilitate the adoption of earthquake 
risk reduction measures by households, busi-
nesses, communities, local, State, and Federal 
governments, national standards and model 
building code organizations, architects and engi-
neers, building owners, and others with a role 
in planning for disasters and planning, con-
structing, retrofitting, and insuring buildings, 
structures, and lifelines through— 
‘‘(i) grants, contracts, cooperative 
agreements, and technical assistance; 
‘‘(ii) development of standards, guide-
lines, voluntary consensus standards, and 
other design guidance for earthquake haz-
ards risk reduction for buildings, struc-
tures, and lifelines; 
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‘‘(iii) outreach and information dis-
semination to communities on location-spe-
cific earthquake hazards and methods to 
reduce the risks from those hazards; and 
‘‘(iv) development and maintenance of 
a repository of information, including tech-
nical data, on seismic risk and hazards re-
duction.’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraphs (3) through 
(5); 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (in this section referred 
to as the ‘Institute’) shall be responsible for plan-
ning and coordinating the Program. 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 households, businesses, commu-
nities, local, State, and Federal governments, 
national standards and model building code or-
ganizations, architects and engineers, building 
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owners, and others with a role in preparing for 
disasters, or the planning, constructing, retro-
fitting, and insuring of buildings, structures, 
and lifelines; 
‘‘(B) support the development of perform-
ance-based seismic engineering tools, and work 
with the appropriate groups to promote the 
commercial application of such tools, through 
earthquake-related building codes, standards, 
and construction practices; 
‘‘(C) ensure the use of social science re-
search and findings in informing research and 
technology 
development 
priorities, 
commu-
nicating earthquake risks to the public, devel-
oping earthquake risk mitigation strategies, and 
preparing for earthquake disasters; 
‘‘(D) coordinate all Federal post-earth-
quake investigations; and 
‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves-
tigative findings, issue recommendations for 
changes in model codes to the relevant code de-
velopment organizations, and report back to 
Congress on whether such recommendations 
were adopted. 
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‘‘(2) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—In addition to the lead agency re-
sponsibilities described under paragraph (1), the In-
stitute shall be responsible for carrying out research 
and development to improve building codes and 
standards and practices for buildings, structures, 
and lifelines. In carrying out this paragraph, the Di-
rector of the Institute shall— 
‘‘(A) work, in conjunction with other ap-
propriate Federal agencies, to support the de-
velopment of improved seismic standards and 
model codes; 
‘‘(B) in coordination with other appro-
priate Federal agencies, work closely with 
standards and model code development organi-
zations, professional societies, and practicing 
engineers, architects, and others involved in the 
construction of buildings, structures, and life-
lines, to promote better building practices, in-
cluding by— 
‘‘(i) developing technical resources for 
practitioners on new knowledge and stand-
ards of practice; and 
‘‘(ii) developing methods and tools to 
facilitate the incorporation of earthquake 
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engineering principles into design and con-
struction practices; 
‘‘(C) develop tools, technologies, methods, 
and practitioner guidance to feasibly and cost- 
effectively retrofit existing buildings and struc-
tures to increase their earthquake resiliency; 
and 
‘‘(D) work closely with national standards 
organizations, and other interested parties, to 
develop seismic safety standards and practices 
for new and existing lifelines. 
‘‘(3) 
FEDERAL
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT 
AGENCY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency (in this paragraph 
referred to as the ‘Agency’) shall be responsible 
for facilitating the development and adoption of 
standards, model building codes, and better 
seismic building practices, developing tools to 
assess earthquake hazards, promoting the adop-
tion of hazard mitigation measures, and car-
rying out a program of direct assistance to 
States and localities to mitigate earthquake 
risks to buildings, structures, lifelines, and com-
munities. 
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‘‘(B) DIRECTOR’S DUTIES.—The Director 
of the Agency shall— 
‘‘(i) work closely with other relevant 
Federal agencies, standards and model 
building code development organizations, 
architects, engineers, and other profes-
sionals, to facilitate the development and 
adoption of standards, model codes, and 
design and construction practices to in-
crease the earthquake resiliency of new 
and existing buildings, structures, and life-
lines in the— 
‘‘(I) preparation, maintenance, 
and wide dissemination of design 
guidance, model building codes and 
standards, and practices to increase 
the earthquake resiliency of new and 
existing buildings, structures, and life-
lines; 
‘‘(II) development of perform-
ance-based 
design 
guidelines 
and 
methodologies supporting model codes 
for buildings, structures, and lifelines; 
and 
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‘‘(III) development of methods 
and tools to facilitate the incorpora-
tion of earthquake engineering prin-
ciples into design and construction 
practices; 
‘‘(ii) develop tools, technologies, and 
methods to assist local planners, and oth-
ers, to model and predict the potential im-
pact of earthquake damage in seismically 
hazardous areas; and 
‘‘(iii) support the implementation of a 
comprehensive earthquake education and 
public awareness program, including the 
development of materials and their wide 
dissemination to all appropriate audiences, 
and support public access to locality-spe-
cific information that may assist the public 
in preparing for, mitigating against, re-
sponding to, and recovering from earth-
quakes and related disasters. 
‘‘(C) STATE
ASSISTANCE
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—The Director of the Agency shall oper-
ate a program of grants and assistance to en-
able States to develop mitigation, preparedness, 
and response plans, compare inventories and 
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conduct seismic safety inspections of critical 
structures and lifelines, update building and 
zoning codes and ordinances to enhance seismic 
safety, increase earthquake awareness and edu-
cation, and encourage the development of 
multistate groups for such purposes. In order to 
qualify for assistance under this subparagraph, 
a State must— 
‘‘(i) demonstrate that the assistance 
will result in enhanced seismic safety in 
the State; 
‘‘(ii) provide 50 percent of the costs of 
the activities for which assistance is being 
given, except that the Director may lower 
or waive the cost-share requirement for 
these activities in exceptional cases of eco-
nomic hardship; and 
‘‘(iii) meet such other requirements as 
the Director of the Agency shall prescribe. 
‘‘(4) UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.— 
The United States Geological Survey (in this para-
graph referred to as the ‘Survey’) shall conduct re-
search and other activities necessary to characterize 
and identify earthquake hazards, assess earthquake 
risks, monitor seismic activity, and provide real-time 
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earthquake information. In carrying out this para-
graph, the Director of the Survey shall— 
‘‘(A) conduct a systematic assessment of 
the seismic risks in each region of the Nation 
prone to earthquakes, including, where appro-
priate, the establishment and operation of in-
tensive monitoring projects on hazardous faults, 
detailed seismic hazard and risk studies in 
urban and other developed areas where earth-
quake risk is determined to be significant, and 
engineering seismology studies; 
‘‘(B) work with officials of State and local 
governments to ensure that they are knowledge-
able about the specific seismic risks in their 
areas; 
‘‘(C) develop standard procedures, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, for issuing 
earthquake 
alerts, 
including 
aftershock 
advisories; 
‘‘(D) issue when justified, and notify the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency of, an earthquake prediction or 
other earthquake advisory, which may be evalu-
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ated by the National Earthquake Prediction 
Evaluation Council; 
‘‘(E) operate, as integral parts of the Ad-
vanced National Seismic Research and Moni-
toring System, a National Earthquake Informa-
tion Center and a national seismic network, to-
gether providing timely and accurate informa-
tion on earthquakes world-wide; 
‘‘(F) support the operation of regional seis-
mic networks in areas of higher seismic risk; 
‘‘(G) develop and support seismic instru-
mentation of buildings and other structures to 
obtain data on their response to earthquakes 
for use in engineering studies and assessment 
of damage; 
‘‘(H) monitor and assess Earth surface de-
formation as it pertains to the evaluation of 
earthquake hazards and impacts; 
‘‘(I) work with other Program agencies to 
maintain awareness of, and where appropriate 
cooperate with, earthquake risk reduction ef-
forts in other countries, to ensure that the Pro-
gram benefits from relevant information and 
advances in those countries; 
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‘‘(J) maintain suitable seismic hazard 
maps in support of building codes for structures 
and lifelines, including additional maps needed 
for performance-based design approaches; 
‘‘(K) conduct a competitive, peer-reviewed 
process which awards grants and cooperative 
agreements to complement and extend related 
internal Survey research and monitoring activi-
ties; and 
‘‘(L) 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. 
‘‘(5) NATIONAL
SCIENCE
FOUNDATION.—The 
National Science Foundation shall be responsible for 
funding basic research that furthers the under-
standing of earthquakes, earthquake engineering, 
and community preparation and response to earth-
quakes. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director 
of the National Science Foundation shall— 
‘‘(A) support multidisciplinary and inter-
disciplinary research that will improve the resil-
iency of communities to earthquakes, includ-
ing— 
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‘‘(i) research that improves the safety 
and performance of buildings, structures, 
and lifelines, including the use of the large- 
scale experimental and computational fa-
cilities of the George E. Brown, Jr. Net-
work for Engineering Earthquake Simula-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) research to support more effec-
tive earthquake mitigation and response 
measures, such as developing better knowl-
edge of the specific types of vulnerabilities 
faced by population groups and economic 
sectors vulnerable to earthquakes, address-
ing the barriers they face in adopting miti-
gation and preparation measures, and de-
veloping methods to better communicate 
the risks of earthquakes and to promote 
mitigation; and 
‘‘(iii) research on the response of com-
munities, 
households, 
businesses, 
and 
emergency responders to earthquakes; 
‘‘(B) support research to understand 
earthquake processes, earthquake patterns, and 
earthquake frequencies; 
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‘‘(C) encourage prompt dissemination of 
significant findings, sharing of data, samples, 
physical collections, and other supporting mate-
rials, and development of intellectual property 
so research results can be used by appropriate 
organizations to mitigate earthquake damage; 
‘‘(D) work with other Program agencies to 
maintain awareness of, and where appropriate 
cooperate with, earthquake risk reduction re-
search efforts in other countries, to ensure that 
the Program benefits from relevant information 
and advances in those countries; and 
‘‘(E) include to the maximum extent prac-
ticable diverse institutions, including Histori-
cally Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic- 
serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Univer-
sities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and 
Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(1) by inserting ‘‘on Nat-
ural Hazards Risk Reduction established under sec-
tion 301 of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act 
of 2009’’ after ‘‘Interagency Coordinating Com-
mittee’’. 
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SEC. 105. POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM. 
Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act 
of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705e) is amended by striking ‘‘There 
is established’’ and all that follows through ‘‘conduct of 
such earthquake investigations.’’ and inserting ‘‘The Pro-
gram shall include a post-earthquake investigations pro-
gram, the purpose of which is to investigate major earth-
quakes so as to learn lessons which can be applied to re-
duce the loss of lives and property in future earthquakes. 
The lead Program agency, in consultation with each Pro-
gram agency, shall organize investigations to study the im-
plications of the earthquakes in the areas of responsibility 
of each Program agency. The investigations shall begin 
as rapidly as possible and may be conducted by grantees 
and contractors. The Program agencies shall ensure that 
the results of the investigations are disseminated widely.’’. 
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 12 of the Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706) is 
amended— 
(1) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the 
following: 
‘‘(9) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out 
this Act— 
‘‘(A) $10,238,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
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‘‘(B) $10,545,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(C) $10,861,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(D) $11,187,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(E) $11,523,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’; 
(2) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
United States Geological Survey for carrying out this Act, 
including the Advanced National Seismic Research and 
Monitoring System— 
‘‘(A) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(B) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(C) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(D) $76,491,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(E) $78,786,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’; 
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Science Foundation for carrying out this Act— 
‘‘(A) $64,125,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(B) $66,049,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(C) $68,030,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(D) $70,071,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(E) $72,173,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’; and 
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(4) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology for car-
rying out this Act— 
‘‘(A) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(B) $7,700,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
‘‘(C) $7,931,000 for fiscal year 2012; 
‘‘(D) $8,169,000 for fiscal year 2013; and 
‘‘(E) $8,414,000 for fiscal year 2014.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 14(b) of 
the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
(42 U.S.C. 7708(b)) is repealed. 
TITLE II—WIND 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Windstorm 
Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2009’’. 
SEC. 202. PURPOSE. 
Section 202 of the National Windstorm Impact Re-
duction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15701) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 202. PURPOSE. 
‘‘It is the purpose of the Congress in this title to 
achieve a major measurable reduction in losses of life and 
property from windstorms through the establishment and 
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maintenance of an effective Windstorm Impact Reduction 
Program. The objectives of such Program shall include— 
‘‘(1) the education of households, businesses, 
and communities about the risks posed by wind-
storms, and the identification of locations, struc-
tures, lifelines, and segments of the community 
which are especially vulnerable to windstorm damage 
and disruption, and the dissemination of information 
on methods to reduce those risks; 
‘‘(2) the development of technologically and eco-
nomically feasible design and construction methods 
and procedures to make new and existing structures, 
in areas of windstorm risk, windstorm resilient, giv-
ing high priority to the development of such methods 
and procedures for lifelines, structures associated 
with a potential high loss of life, and structures that 
are especially needed in times of disasters, such as 
hospitals and public safety and shelter facilities; 
‘‘(3) the implementation, in areas of major 
windstorm risk, of instrumentation to record and 
gather data on windstorms and the characteristics of 
the wind during those events, and continued re-
search to increase the understanding of windstorm 
phenomena; 
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‘‘(4) the development, publication, and pro-
motion, in conjunction with State and local officials 
and professional organizations, of model building 
codes and standards and other means to encourage 
consideration of information about windstorm risk in 
making decisions about land use policy and construc-
tion activity; and 
‘‘(5) the facilitation of the adoption of wind-
storm risk mitigation measures in areas of wind-
storm risk by households, businesses, and commu-
nities through outreach, incentive programs, and 
other means.’’. 
SEC. 203. 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. 204. 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 to 
read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 204. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Na-
tional Windstorm Impact Reduction Program. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the 
Program shall be designed to— 
‘‘(1) research and develop cost-effective, feasible 
methods, tools, and technologies to reduce the risks 
posed by windstorms to the built environment, espe-
cially to lessen the risk to existing structures and 
lifelines; 
‘‘(2) improve the understanding of windstorms 
and their impacts on households, businesses, com-
munities, buildings, structures, and lifelines, through 
interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that 
involves engineering, natural sciences, and social 
sciences; and 
‘‘(3) facilitate the adoption of windstorm risk 
reduction measures by households, businesses, com-
munities, local, State and Federal governments, na-
tional standards and model building code organiza-
tions, architects and engineers, building owners, and 
others with a role in planning for disasters and plan-
ning, constructing, retrofitting, and insuring build-
ings, structures, and lifelines through— 
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‘‘(A) grants, contracts, cooperative agree-
ments, and technical assistance; 
‘‘(B) development of hazard maps, stand-
ards, guidelines, voluntary consensus standards, 
and other design guidance for windstorm risk 
reduction for buildings, structures, and lifelines; 
‘‘(C) outreach and information dissemina-
tion to communities on site specific windstorm 
hazards and ways to reduce the risks from 
those hazards; and 
‘‘(D) development and maintenance of a 
repository of information, including technical 
data, on windstorm hazards and risk reduction; 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (in this section referred 
to as the ‘Institute’) shall be responsible for plan-
ning and coordinating the Program. 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 windstorm risk reduction meas-
ures by households, businesses, communities, 
local, State, and Federal governments, national 
standards and model building code organiza-
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tions, architects and engineers, building owners, 
and others with a role in planning and pre-
paring for disasters, and planning constructing, 
and retrofitting, and insuring buildings, struc-
tures, and lifelines; 
‘‘(B) support the development of perform-
ance-based engineering tools, and work with the 
appropriate groups to promote the commercial 
application of such tools, through wind-related 
building codes, standards, and construction 
practices; 
‘‘(C) ensure the use of social science re-
search and findings in informing the develop-
ment of technology and research priorities, in 
communicating windstorm risks to the public, 
in developing windstorm risk mitigation strate-
gies, and in preparing for windstorm disasters; 
‘‘(D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm 
investigations; and 
‘‘(E) when warranted by research or inves-
tigative findings, issue recommendations for 
changes in model codes to the relevant code de-
velopment organizations, and report back to 
Congress on whether such recommendations 
were adopted. 
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opment of the prioritized goals and re-
search objectives. 
(5) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and at 
least once every two years thereafter, the Committee 
shall submit to the Congress— 
(A) a report on the progress of the Na-
tional Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 
that includes— 
(i) a description of the activities fund-
ed for the previous two years of the Pro-
gram, a description of how these activities 
align with the prioritized goals and re-
search objectives established in the Stra-
tegic Plan, and the budgets, per agency, 
for these activities; 
(ii) the outcomes achieved by the Pro-
gram for each of the goals identified in the 
Strategic Plan; 
(iii) a description of any recommenda-
tions made to change existing building 
codes that were the result of Program ac-
tivities; and 
(iv) a description of the extent to 
which the Program has incorporated rec-
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