[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9723 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9723
To amend the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 to
reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 20, 2024
Mr. Miller of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Foster) 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 amend the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 to
reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Windstorm Impact Reduction
Program Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION PROGRAM.
The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 is amended--
(1) in section 204 (42 U.S.C. 15703)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``the purpose of
which is to achieve'' through ``cost-effective
mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.'' and
inserting the following: ``the purpose of which is to--
``(1) 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, scientific organizations, and the private sector,
aimed at improving the understanding of windstorms and their
impacts, including wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and
storm surge impacts; and
``(2) develop and encourage the implementation of cost-
effective mitigation measures to reduce the impacts described
in paragraph (1), which can be applied to communities with
different types of housing and infrastructure in urban and
rural areas across the United States.'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)--
(aa) by striking ``Federal,
State, and local'' and
inserting ``Federal, State,
local, and Tribal''; and
(bb) by inserting ``,
including with respect to
existing buildings and
manufactured housing'' before
the semicolon;
(II) by redesignating subparagraphs
(B), (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs
(C), (F), (G), and (H), respectively;
(III) by inserting after
subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) ensure the Program supports interdisciplinary
research, including collaborations that include social
scientists and emergency managers, and collaborations
between atmospheric scientists and engineers, that seek
to increase the relevance of atmospheric measurements
and models for buildings engineering applications;'';
and
(IV) by inserting after
subparagraph (C), as so redesignated,
the following new subparagraphs:
``(D) support integration of emerging tools and
technologies in research and engineering activities
carried out by the Program, including relating to
artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced
manufacturing technologies, and new materials;
``(E) support property owner utilization of
products and construction methods which strengthen
residential and commercial properties from the impact
of windstorms, wind-driven rain, wind-driven fires, and
storm surge impacts, including building methodologies
and certification standards;'';
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``to
increase resilience to windstorms and resulting
wind-driven rain and storm surge impacts''
before the period;
(iii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``support
research in'';
(II) in subparagraph (A)--
(aa) by inserting ``support
research in'' before
``engineering and the
atmospheric sciences''; and
(bb) by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(III) by amending subparagraph (B)
to read as follows:
``(B) support research in economic, behavioral, and
social factors influencing development, implementation,
and adoption of windstorm and resulting wind-driven
rain, wind-driven fires, and storm surge impacts risk
assessment, risk communication, and risk reduction
measures by individuals, property owners, communities,
and policymakers; and''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(C) support an analysis of the scientific need,
opportunity, and challenges to supporting the design,
development, and construction of a tornado research
facility for the study of tornado impacts on buildings
at scale.;'';
(iv) in paragraph (4)--
(I) by striking ``The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration'' and all that follows
through the period and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall support atmospheric
sciences research to improve the understanding of the
behavior of windstorms, and resulting wind-driven rain,
wind-driven fires, and storm surge, and their impacts
on buildings, structures, and lifelines.''; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(B) Advisory committee.--
``(i) Establishment.--The Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall establish a Scientific
Windstorm Studies Advisory Committee (in this
subparagraph referred to as the `Advisory
Committee').
``(ii) Organization.--The Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration--
``(I) shall establish procedures
for selection to the Advisory Committee
of individuals not employed by the
Federal Government who are qualified in
the atmospheric and oceanic sciences
and other appropriate fields; and
``(II) may, pursuant to such
procedures, select up to ten
individuals, one of whom shall be
designated Chair of the Advisory
Committee.
``(iii) Selection.--Selection of
individuals to the Advisory Committee shall be
based solely on established records of
distinguished service, and the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall ensure a reasonable cross-
section of views and expertise is represented.
In selecting individuals to serve on the
Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall
seek and give due consideration to
recommendations from the National Academy of
Sciences, professional societies, and other
appropriate organizations.
``(iv) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee
shall meet at such times and places as may be
designated by the Chair, in consultation with
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
``(v) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall
advise the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on
matters relating to the Administration's
participation in the Program, including the
Administration's roles, goals, and objectives
within the Program, its capabilities and
research needs, guidance on achieving major
objectives, and establishing and measuring
performance goals.
``(vi) Report.--The Advisory Committee
shall submit to the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
a biennial report for submission to Congress.
Each such biennial report shall describe the
Advisory Committee's activities and address
policy issues or matters that affect the
Administration's participation in the Program.
``(vii) Termination.--The Advisory
Committee shall terminate four years after the
date of the enactment of this subparagraph.'';
and
(v) in paragraph (5)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)--
(aa) in clause (i), by
inserting ``, maintenance, and
updating'' after
``development''; and
(bb) in clause (ii),
inserting ``, including making
such data available and
interoperable to the extent
practicable'' before the
semicolon; and
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``and scientific
organizations'' after ``National
Institutes of Standards and
Technology'';
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (2)--
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``to
improve knowledge of and data collection on the
impact of severe wind on buildings, structures,
and infrastructure.'' and inserting the
following: ``to--
``(A) improve knowledge of and data collection on
the impact of severe wind on buildings, structures,
infrastructure, and community response; and
``(B) understand the impacts of climate variability
and climate change on the behavior of windstorms and
the changing nature of windstorm risks, including
future projections of storm frequency, intensity, and
other factors.'';
(iii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``and technologies'' after
``mechanisms'';
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(III) in subparagraph (C)--
(aa) by inserting ``near-
surface winds and'' after
``modeling of''; and
(bb) by striking the period
and inserting ``; and''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(D) research and development to enhance
understanding of factors that influence public
responses to windstorm risks.''; and
(iv) in paragraph (4)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and local officials'' and
inserting ``local, and Tribal
officials''; and
(II) in subparagraph (C)--
(aa) by striking ``and
local officials'' and inserting
``local, and Tribal
officials''; and
(bb) by inserting
``academia, scientific
organizations,'' after
``construction industry,''; and
(D) in subsection (e)--
(i) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(I) in clause (iv), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following new clause:
``(vi) the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and'';
(ii) in paragraph (5)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``not
later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of
2015'' and inserting ``not later than
18 months after the date of the
enactment of the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2024'';
(II) in subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``and resulting wind-driven
rain, wind-driven fires, and storm
surge impacts'' before the semicolon;
(III) in subparagraph (C), by
inserting ``, including efforts to
cooperate with other levels of
government, academia, scientific
organizations, and the private sector''
before the semicolon;
(IV) in subparagraph (D), by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(V) by redesignating subparagraph
(E) as subparagraph (F); and
(VI) by inserting after
subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) an analysis of future research infrastructure
needs, including facilities and deployable equipment in
support of the Program, and a plan for meeting such
needs; and''; and
(iii) in paragraph (6)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``Not
later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of
2015'' and inserting ``Not later than
18 months after the date of the
enactment of the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Program
Reauthorization Act of 2024'';
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``and'' after the semicolon;
(III) in subparagraph (C), by
striking ``; and'' and inserting a
period; and
(IV) by striking subparagraph (D);
and
(2) in section 207 (42 U.S.C. 15706)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1)
through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
``(1) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(2) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(3) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(4) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2028.
``(5) $5,332,000 for fiscal year 2029.'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (1)
through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
``(1) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(2) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(3) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(4) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2028.
``(5) $9,682,000 for fiscal year 2029.'';
(C) in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (1)
through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
``(1) $5,564,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(2) $5,564,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(3) $5,564,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(4) $5,564,000 for fiscal year 2028.
``(5) $5,564,000 for fiscal year 2029.''; and
(D) in subsection (d), by striking paragraphs (1)
through (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
``(1) $17,219,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(2) $17,219,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(3) $17,219,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(4) $17,219,000 for fiscal year 2028.
``(5) $17,219,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.
<all>