In the Senate of the United States, 
July 23, 2015. 
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 23) entitled ‘‘An Act to reauthorize the National 
Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for other pur-
poses.’’, do pass with the following 
AMENDMENT: 
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Windstorm Im-
pact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—Section 203(1) of the National Wind-
storm 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 Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology’’.
† HR 23 EAS 
(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 treatment 
facilities.’’. 
(c) WINDSTORM.—Paragraph (5) of such section, as re-
designated by subsection (b), is amended by inserting 
‘‘northeaster,’’ after ‘‘tropical storm,’’. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc-
tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15703) is amended— 
(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
† HR 23 EAS 
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 im-
proving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts 
and developing and encouraging the implementation 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 re-
sponsibility 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 implemen-
tation of windstorm risk reduction measures by 
Federal, State, and local governments, national 
standards and model building code organiza-
tions, architects and engineers, and others with 
a role in planning and constructing buildings 
and lifelines; 
‘‘(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-
† HR 23 EAS 
related model building codes, voluntary stand-
ards, and construction best practices; 
‘‘(C) request the assistance of Federal agen-
cies other than the Program agencies, as nec-
essary to assist in carrying out this Act; 
‘‘(D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm 
investigations to the extent practicable; 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 development 
to improve model building codes, voluntary standards, 
and best practices for the design, construction, and 
retrofit of buildings, structures, and lifelines. 
‘‘(3) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The Na-
tional Science Foundation shall support research 
in— 
‘‘(A) engineering and the atmospheric 
sciences to improve the understanding of the be-
† HR 23 EAS 
havior of windstorms and their impact on build-
ings, structures, and lifelines; and 
‘‘(B) economic and social factors influ-
encing windstorm risk reduction measures. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION.—The National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall support atmospheric 
sciences research to improve the understanding of the 
behavior of windstorms and their impact on build-
ings, structures, and lifelines. 
‘‘(5) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN-
CY.—The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
shall— 
‘‘(A) support— 
‘‘(i) the development of risk assessment 
tools and effective mitigation techniques; 
‘‘(ii) windstorm-related data collection 
and analysis; 
‘‘(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
† HR 23 EAS 
‘‘(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 inspectors.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(c), and by striking subsections (e) and (f); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so redes-
ignated, 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 Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 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 projected activi-
ties under the Program for the fiscal year covered 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.—
† HR 23 EAS 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an 
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm 
Impact Reduction, chaired by the Director or the Di-
rector’s designee. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—In addition to the chair, 
the Committee shall be composed of— 
‘‘(A) the heads or such designees 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 
‘‘(B) the head of any other Federal agency, 
or such designee, the chair considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not 
less than once a year at the call of the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
‘‘(4) GENERAL
PURPOSE
AND
DUTIES.—The 
Committee shall oversee the planning and coordina-
tion of the Program.
† HR 23 EAS 
‘‘(5) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall de-
velop 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 includes— 
‘‘(A) prioritized goals for the Program that 
will mitigate against the loss of life and property 
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 towards 
the goals will be assessed; and 
‘‘(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 includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of the activities funded 
under the Program, a description of how these
† HR 23 EAS 
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 Program 
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 
from the Advisory Committee on Windstorm Im-
pact Reduction. 
‘‘(7) COORDINATED
BUDGET.—The Committee 
shall develop a coordinated budget for the Program, 
which shall be submitted to the Congress not later 
than 60 days after the date 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 Reduc-
tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to read as 
follows:
† HR 23 EAS 
‘‘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 and not more than 15 mem-
bers who are qualified to provide advice on windstorm im-
pact reduction and represent related scientific, architec-
tural, and engineering disciplines, none of whom may be 
employees of the Federal Government, including— 
‘‘(1) representatives of research and academic in-
stitutions; 
‘‘(2) industry standards development organiza-
tions; 
‘‘(3) emergency management agencies; 
‘‘(4) State and local government; and 
‘‘(5) business communities, including the insur-
ance industry. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENTS.—The Advisory Committee on 
Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments and 
recommendations on— 
‘‘(1) trends and developments in the natural, en-
gineering, and social sciences and practices of wind-
storm impact mitigation; 
‘‘(2) the priorities of the Program’s Strategic 
Plan;
† HR 23 EAS 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduc-
tion Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 
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 au-
thorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foun-
dation 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. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology for car-
rying 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.
† HR 23 EAS 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for car-
rying 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.’’. 
Attest: 
Secretary.
114TH CONGRESS 1st SESSION H e R. 2 3 AMENDMENT