H.R. 1786 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1786 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2013 Mr. Neugebauer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2013. 2. 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 Technology Policy and inserting Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 3. National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Section 204 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction 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 National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, the purpose of which is to achieve major measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms through a coordinated Federal effort, in cooperation with other levels of government, academia, and the private sector, aimed at improving 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 responsibility for planning and coordinating the Program. In carrying out this paragraph, the Director shall— (A) ensure that the Program includes the necessary components to promote the implementation of windstorm risk reduction measures by Federal, State, and local governments, national standards and model building code organizations, architects and engineers, and others with a role in planning and constructing buildings and lifelines; (B) support the development of performance-based engineering tools, and work with appropriate groups to promote the commercial application of such tools, including through wind-related model building codes, voluntary standards, and construction best practices; (C) request the assistance of Federal agencies other than the Program agencies, as necessary to assist in carrying out this Act; (D) coordinate all Federal post-windstorm investigations; and (E) when warranted by research or investigative findings, issue recommendations to assist 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 responsibilities described under paragraph (1), the National 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 National Science Foundation shall support research in engineering and the atmospheric sciences to improve the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines. (4) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall support atmospheric sciences research to improve the understanding of the behavior of windstorms and their impact on buildings, structures, and lifelines. (5) Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall support the development of risk assessment tools and effective mitigation techniques, windstorm-related data collection and analysis, public outreach, information dissemination, and implementation of mitigation measures consistent with the Agency’s all-hazards approach. ; (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c); (3) by inserting after subsection (c), as so redesignated, the following new subsection: (d) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction (1) Establishment There is established an Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, chaired by the Director. (2) Membership In addition to the chair, the Committee shall be composed of— (A) the heads of— (i) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (ii) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (iii) the National Science Foundation; (iv) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and (v) the Office of Management and Budget; and (B) the head of any other Federal agency the chair considers appropriate. (3) Meetings The Committee shall meet not less than 2 times 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 coordination of the Program. (5) Strategic plan The Committee shall develop and submit to Congress, not later than one year after the date of enactment of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2013, 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 Program 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 2013, 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 activities align with the prioritized goals and research objectives established in the Strategic Plan, and the budgets, per agency, for these activities; (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 Impact Reduction. (7) Coordinated budget The Committee shall develop a coordinated budget for the Program, which shall be submitted to the Congress at the time of the President’s budget submission for each fiscal year. ; and (4) by striking subsections (e) and (f). 4. National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction Section 205 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15704) is amended to read as follows: 205. National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction (a) In general The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish an Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, which shall be composed of at least 7 members, none of whom may be employees of the Federal Government, including representatives of research and academic institutions, industry standards development organizations, emergency management agencies, State and local government, and business communities who are qualified to provide advice on windstorm impact reduction and represent all related scientific, architectural, and engineering disciplines. The recommendations of the Advisory Committee shall be considered by Federal agencies in implementing the Program. (b) Assessments The Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction shall offer assessments on— (1) trends and developments in the natural and engineering sciences and practices of windstorm impact mitigation; (2) the priorities of the Program’s Strategic Plan; (3) the coordination of the Program; and (4) any revisions to the Program which may be necessary. (c) Compensation The members of the Advisory Committee established under this section shall serve without compensation. (d) Reports At least every 2 years, the Advisory Committee shall report to the Director on the assessments carried out under subsection (b) and its recommendations for ways to improve the Program. (e) Charter Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App), the Advisory Committee shall not be required to file a charter subsequent to its initial charter, filed under section 9(c) of such Act, before the termination date specified in subsection (f) of this section. (f) Termination The Advisory Committee shall terminate on September 30, 2016. . 5. Authorization of appropriations Section 207 of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15706) is amended to read as follows: 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) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; (2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. (b) National Science Foundation There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for carrying out this title— (1) $11,400,000 for fiscal year 2014; (2) $11,400,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (3) $11,400,000 for fiscal year 2016. (c) National Institute of Standards and Technology There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this title— (1) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2014; (2) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (3) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2016. (d) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for carrying out this title— (1) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2014; (2) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2015; and (3) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2016. .