,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfdj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #ac1 #bjag,mr4 ,taylor 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,wittman1 and ,mr4 ,scott of ,virginia7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to designate public colleges and universities that provide research1 data1 and recommendations on physical science1 social science1 economic analysis1 policy analysis1 risk analysis1 monitoring1 predicting1 and planning for coastal flooding as ,national ,centers of ,excellence in ,coastal ,flood ,research and ,education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,centers of ,excellence in ,coastal ,flood ,research and ,education ,act4 #b4 ,national ,centers of ,excellence in ,coastal ,flood ,research and ,education 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall designate public colleges and universities as ,national ,centers of ,excellence in ,coastal ,flood ,research and ,education 7in this section referred to as ,national ,centers of ,excellence74 ,the ,administrator shall make the first such designations by not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of such designation are the following3 7#a7 ,to recognize those institutions of higher education that have exhibited national leadership in research and education in coastal flooding4 7#b7 ,to identify such ,national ,centers of ,excellence as sources for expert advice and guidance for ,federal agencies engaged in coastal flooding research and education issues and projects4 7c7 ,criteria for designation ,the ,administrator shall designate as ,national ,centers of ,excellence only those public universities and colleges that-- 7#a7 have demonstrated proven expertise in physical and environmental science1 flooding1 and socioeconomic impacts of flooding research2 7#b7 are located in a ,state that frequently experiences coastal flooding2 7#c7 have previously partnered with1 or received funds from1 ,federal agencies for coastal flooding and watershed issues1 including the ,corps of ,engineers1 the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey1 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration2 7#d7 have been designated by ,state legislation as technical and scientific advisory entities with respect to coastal flooding for ,state agencies and localities2 7#e7 can demonstrate formal institutional collaborations in coastal flooding research and education with other public universities or colleges within the same ,state2 and 7#f7 can demonstrate a history of convening local1 ,state1 and ,federal entities1 including ,department of ,defense commands1 to develop plans for coastal flooding4 #c4 ,partnerships and collaboration with ,federal1 regional1 ,state1 and local governments and organizations ,as a condition of designation as a ,national ,center of ,excellence under this ,act1 the ,administrator shall require a public college or university to enter into an agreement with the ,administrator under which it agrees to-- 7#a7 collaborate on ,federal flood-related issues with ,federal agencies such as the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,national ,science ,foundation1 and the ,department of ,agriculture2 7#b7 collaborate and share best practices on regional1 ,state1 and locally specific flooding and flood-related issues with-- 7,a7 ,state1 county1 and local governments2 7,b7 local councils of governments or regional planning organizations2 7,c7 ,state agriculture1 natural resource1 environment1 economic development1 and water agencies2 7,d7 floodplain managers2 7,e7 ,state homeland security personnel1 county disaster recovery coordinators1 emergency management personnel1 and first responders2 7,f7 resource conservation and development councils2 7,g7 watershed organizations and boards2 7,h7 agriculture and commodity organizations and farmers2 7,i7 environmental organizations2 and 7,j7 business and development organizations2 and 7#c7 explore opportunities to collaborate1 when appropriate1 on ,federal flood-related issues with other ,federal agencies such as the ,bureau of ,reclamation1 the ,tennessee ,valley ,authority1 the ,bureau of ,land ,management1 the ,national ,park ,service1 the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs1 the ,public ,health ,service1 the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and various national laboratories4 #d4 ,information collection and dissemination2 reviews and additional designations 7a7 ,annual report ,the ,administrator shall annually submit to ,congress and the ,president a report describing the activities1 partnerships and collaborations1 ,federal policy recommendations1 previous and continuing budgets1 and findings of1 and any other applicable information from1 the ,national ,centers of ,excellence1 and make such report available to the public in an easily accessible electronic format on website of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7b7 ,review of reports from ,national ,centers of ,excellence ,the ,administrator shall review reports from ,national ,centers of ,excellence to ensure that recommendations and guidance of such ,centers in regard to flooding and flood-related issues are communicated to relevant ,federal agencies4 7c7 ,review of ,national ,centers of ,excellence and potential designees ,the ,administrator shall periodically review the ,national ,centers of ,excellence and potential new designees as such ,centers1 to-- 7#a7 ensure that the ,national ,centers of ,excellence continue to meet the criteria for designation under this ,act2 and 7#b7 designate additional ,national ,centers of ,excellence in accordance with this ,act4