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(iii) 2 of whom shall represent local
governments, based on recommendations of
Governors of the States.
(B) REQUIREMENT.—In appointing mem-
bers under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
ensure broad geographic representation, to the
maximum extent practicable.
(4) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall serve as
Chairperson of the Committee.
(5) OTHER MEMBERS.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Committee, may invite to partici-
pate in meetings of the Committee, as appropriate, 1
or more of the following:
(A) Representatives of the National Labora-
tories.
(B) Levee safety experts.
(C) Environmental organizations.
(D) Members of private industry.
(E) Any other individual or entity, as the
Committee determines to be appropriate.
(b) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall—
(A) advise the Secretary in implementing
the national levee safety program under section
2054;
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(B) support the establishment and mainte-
nance of effective programs, policies, and guide-
lines to enhance levee safety for the protection of
human life and property throughout the United
States; and
(C) support coordination and information
exchange between Federal agencies and State
levee safety agencies that share common problems
and responsibilities relating to levee safety, in-
cluding planning, design, construction, oper-
ation, emergency action planning, inspections,
maintenance, regulation or licensing, technical
or financial assistance, research, and data man-
agement.
(c) POWERS.—
(1) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Committee may se-
cure directly from a Federal agency such infor-
mation as the Committee considers to be nec-
essary to carry out this section.
(B) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On re-
quest of the Committee, the head of a Federal
agency shall provide the information to the Com-
mittee.
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(2) CONTRACTS.—The Committee may enter into
any contract the Committee determines to be nec-
essary to carry out a duty of the Committee.
(d) WORKING GROUPS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish
working groups to assist the Committee in carrying
out this section.
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—A working group under
paragraph (1) shall be composed of—
(A) members of the Committee; and
(B) any other individual, as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(e) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—
(1) FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES.—A member of the
Committee who is an officer or employee of the
United States shall serve without compensation in ad-
dition to compensation received for the services of the
member as an officer or employee of the United
States.
(2) OTHER MEMBERS.—A member of the Com-
mittee who is not an officer or employee of the United
States shall serve without compensation.
(f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—
(1) REPRESENTATIVES
OF
FEDERAL
AGEN-
CIES.—To the extent amounts are made available in
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advance in appropriations Acts, a member of the
Committee who represents a Federal agency shall be
reimbursed with appropriations for travel expenses by
the agency of the member, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of
an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code, while away from home or reg-
ular place of business of the member in the perform-
ance of services for the Committee.
(2) 
OTHER
INDIVIDUALS.—To 
the 
extent
amounts are made available in advance in appro-
priations Acts, a member of the Committee who rep-
resents a State levee safety agency, a member of the
Committee who represents the private sector, and a
member of a working group created under subsection
(d) shall be reimbursed for travel expenses by the Sec-
retary, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for an employee of an agency under
subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from home or regular place of busi-
ness of the member in performance of services for the
Committee.
(g) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the
Committee.
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SEC. 2054. NATIONAL LEVEE SAFETY PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with
the Committee and State levee safety agencies, shall estab-
lish and maintain a national levee safety program.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program under
this section are—
(1) to ensure that new and existing levees are
safe through the development of technologically and
economically feasible programs and procedures for
hazard reduction relating to levees;
(2) to encourage appropriate engineering policies
and procedures to be used for levee site investigation,
design, construction, operation and maintenance, and
emergency preparedness;
(3) to encourage the establishment and imple-
mentation of effective levee safety programs in each
State;
(4) to develop and support public education and
awareness projects to increase public acceptance and
support of State levee safety programs;
(5) to develop technical assistance materials for
Federal and State levee safety programs;
(6) to develop methods of providing technical as-
sistance relating to levee safety to non-Federal enti-
ties; and
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(7) to develop technical assistance materials,
seminars, and guidelines to improve the security of
levees in the United States.
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.—In carrying out the program
under this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the
Committee, shall prepare a strategic plan—
(1) to establish goals, priorities, and target dates
to improve the safety of levees in the United States;
(2) to cooperate and coordinate with, and pro-
vide assistance to, State levee safety agencies, to the
maximum extent practicable;
(3) to share information among Federal agencies,
State and local governments, and private entities re-
lating to levee safety; and
(4) to provide information to the public relating
to risks associated with levee failure or overtopping.
(d) FEDERAL GUIDELINES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program
under this section, the Secretary, in coordination
with the Committee, shall establish Federal guidelines
relating to levee safety.
(2) INCORPORATION OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES.—
The Federal guidelines under paragraph (1) shall in-
corporate, to the maximum extent practicable, any
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activity carried out by a Federal agency as of the
date on which the guidelines are established.
(e) INCORPORATION OF EXISTING ACTIVITIES.—The
program under this section shall incorporate, to the max-
imum extent practicable—
(1) any activity carried out by a State or local
government, or a private entity, relating to the con-
struction, operation, or maintenance of a levee; and
(2) any activity carried out by a Federal agency
to support an effort by a State levee safety agency to
develop and implement an effective levee safety pro-
gram.
(f) INVENTORY OF LEVEES.—The Secretary shall de-
velop, maintain, and periodically publish an inventory of
levees in the United States, including the results of any
levee assessment conducted under this section and inspec-
tion.
(g) ASSESSMENTS OF LEVEES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), as soon as practicable after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct an as-
sessment of each levee in the United States that pro-
tects human life or the public safety to determine the
potential for a failure or overtopping of the levee that