National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-692
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-30
text: 
National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2011 - Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative to: (1) conduct research to enable improvement of the understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical storms, development of infrastructure that is resilient to the forces associated with such storms, mitigation of the impacts of hurricanes on coastal populations, the coastal built environment, and natural resources, and improvement of communication with the public about hurricane forecasts and risks associated with hurricanes to reduce the harmful impacts of hurricanes and improve society's response to destructive storms; and (2) provide training for the next generation of hurricane researchers and forecasters.
 
Directs the Under Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), to: (1) develop a five-year implementation plan for the Initiative, to be revised at least every five years; (2) establish objectives for hurricane research; (3) facilitate the establishment of a public website for the Initiative; and (4) submit to Congress a coordinated annual report for the Initiative.
 
 Allows the Under Secretary to carry out a series of national workshops and conferences to address hurricane-related research questions.
 
Requires: (1) the NSF Director to establish a program to award grants for hurricane research; (2) the Under Secretary to carry out related research; and (3) each entity carrying out research under this Act to collaborate with existing federal and federally funded research centers operating in related fields, for-profit organizations, and governments to gather and share experiential information and to advance scientific and engineering knowledge, technology transfer, and technology commercialization in the course of conducting research and its application to mitigating the impacts of hurricanes and other tropical storms on society.

action_date: 2012-11-14
text: 
National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2011 - Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative to: (1) conduct research to enable improvement of the understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical storms, development of infrastructure that is resilient to the forces associated with such storms, mitigation of the impacts of hurricanes on coastal populations, the coastal built environment, and natural resources, and improvement of communication with the public about hurricane forecasts and risks associated with hurricanes to reduce the harmful impacts of hurricanes and improve society's response to destructive storms; and (2) provide training for the next generation of hurricane researchers and forecasters.
 
Directs the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), to: (1) develop a five-year implementation plan for the Initiative, to be revised at least every five years; (2) establish objectives for hurricane research; and (3) facilitate the establishment of a public website for the Initiative.
 
 Allows the Under Secretary to carry out a series of national workshops and conferences to address hurricane-related research questions.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in conjunction with the Under Secretary, the NSF Director, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), beginning with the first fiscal year after the Under Secretary completes the implementation plan, to submit every two years with documents submitted in support of the President's budget for the next fiscal year: (1) a coordinated biennial report for the Initiative for the last two fiscal years, and (2) a cross-cut budget for the Initiative for the next fiscal year.
 
Requires: (1) the NSF Director, in coordination with the Under Secretary, to establish a program to award grants for hurricane research; (2) the Under Secretary to carry out related research; and (3) each entity carrying out research under this Act to collaborate with existing federal and federally funded research centers operating in related fields, for-profit organizations, and governments to gather and share experiential information and to advance scientific and engineering knowledge, technology transfer, and technology commercialization in the course of conducting research and its application to mitigating the impacts of hurricanes and other tropical storms on society.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 112-266.
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 112-266.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 545.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2011-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1992-1993)
action_date: 2011-03-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1992)
action_date: 2011-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate