I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4640 
To designate public colleges and universities that provide research, data, 
and recommendations on physical science, social science, economic anal-
ysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, predicting, and planning 
for coastal flooding as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood 
Research and Education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 13, 2017 
Mr. TAYLOR (for himself, Mr. WITTMAN, and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To designate public colleges and universities that provide 
research, data, and recommendations on physical science, 
social science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk 
analysis, monitoring, predicting, and planning for coastal 
flooding as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal 
Flood Research and Education. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Centers of 
Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL 
FLOOD RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall des-
ignate public colleges and universities as National Centers 
of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education 
(in this section referred to as ‘‘National Centers of Excel-
lence’’). The Administrator shall make the first such des-
ignations by not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of such designation 
are the following: 
(1) To recognize those institutions of higher 
education that have exhibited national leadership in 
research and education in coastal flooding. 
(2) To identify such National Centers of Excel-
lence as sources for expert advice and guidance for 
Federal agencies engaged in coastal flooding re-
search and education issues and projects. 
(c) CRITERIA
FOR DESIGNATION.—The Adminis-
trator shall designate as National Centers of Excellence 
only those public universities and colleges that— 
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(1) have demonstrated proven expertise in phys-
ical and environmental science, flooding, and socio-
economic impacts of flooding research; 
(2) are located in a State that frequently expe-
riences coastal flooding; 
(3) have previously partnered with, or received 
funds from, Federal agencies for coastal flooding 
and watershed issues, including the Corps of Engi-
neers, the United States Geological Survey, the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Na-
tional Science Foundation, the Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development, and the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; 
(4) have been designated by State legislation as 
technical and scientific advisory entities with respect 
to coastal flooding for State agencies and localities; 
(5) can demonstrate formal institutional col-
laborations in coastal flooding research and edu-
cation with other public universities or colleges with-
in the same State; and 
(6) can demonstrate a history of convening 
local, State, and Federal entities, including Depart-
ment of Defense commands, to develop plans for 
coastal flooding. 
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