text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Windstorm Hazard Reduction Research 
  and Technology Transfer Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds the following:
              (1) Coastal States and many island States and territories 
          are vulnerable to the hazards of windstorms. All Midwest, 
          Southern, and Mid-Atlantic States are vulnerable to the hazards 
          of tornadoes and thunderstorms and increased building activity 
          is occurring in high-risk areas such as the seashore and 
          ``tornado alley''.
              (2) Hurricanes cause enormous loss of life, injury, 
          destruction of property, and economic and social disruption, as 
          evidenced by the 56 deaths and $6,000,000,000 in property 
          damage in 1999 from Hurricane Floyd. From 1990 to 1999 
          hurricanes caused an average of 14 deaths and $4,970,000,000 in 
          property losses annually while tornadoes and other windstorms 
          caused over 58 deaths and $871,000,000 in property losses 
          annually.
              (3) Improved windstorm hazard reduction measures, 
          including--
                      (A) cost-effective and affordable design and 
                  construction methods and practices;
                      (B) informed land use decisions;
                      (C) impact prediction methodologies and early 
                  warning systems; and
                      (D) public education and involvement programs,
          have the potential over the next 10 years to reduce these 
          losses. Losses will increase if steps are not taken to help 
          communities reduce their vulnerability.
              (4) Wind engineering research needs to address both 
          improving new structures and retrofitting existing ones.
              (5) There is an appropriate role for the Federal Government 
          in the collection, preparation, coordination, and dissemination 
          of windstorm hazards reduction information in order to protect 
          public health and safety and in increasing public awareness of 
          the dangers of windstorms and of affordable steps homeowners 
          can take to preserve life and property. Improved mechanisms are 
          needed to translate existing information and research findings 
          into usable, state-of-the-art specifications, criteria, and 
          cost-effective practices.
              (6) An effective Federal program in windstorm hazard 
          reduction will require interagency coordination, input from 
          individuals and institutions outside the Federal Government who 
          are expert in the sciences of natural hazards reduction and in 
          the practical application of mitigation measures, and improved 
          mechanisms for the transfer of new knowledge to State and local 
          officials, to homeowners, and to the design and construction 
          industry. Tax credits are an appropriate means of helping 
          homeowners apply mitigation measures.
              (7) Windstorms are a worldwide problem, and international 
          cooperation is desirable for mutual learning and mitigation.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
          of Science and Technology Policy.
              (2) The term ``State'' means each of the States of the 
          United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
          Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
          Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
          any other territory or possession of the United States.
              (3) The term ``windstorm'' means any storm with a damaging 
          or destructive wind component, such as a hurricane, tropical 
          storm, tornado, or thunderstorm.
  
  SEC. 4. NATIONAL WINDSTORM HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Interagency Group.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an Interagency 
  Group, to be cochaired by the Director or the Director's designee and 
  the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or that 
  Director's designee, consisting of representatives of appropriate 
  Federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the 
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute 
  of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, and other 
  agencies with jurisdiction over housing, construction, and natural 
  disaster mitigation and relief, to be responsible for the development 
  and implementation of a coordinated Federal windstorm hazard reduction 
  research, development, and technology transfer program. In establishing 
  the Interagency Group, the Director is encouraged where appropriate to 
  designate lead agencies and to preserve existing programs and functions 
  of Federal agencies and organizations, and shall ensure regular agency 
  coordination and information sharing and where appropriate coordination 
  with other agencies.
      (b) Objective.--The objective of the windstorm hazard reduction 
  program is the achievement, within 10 years after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act, of major measurable reductions in losses that 
  would otherwise have occurred to life and property from windstorms. The 
  objective is to be achieved through the creation of a program involving 
  cooperation among governments at all levels and the private sector 
  featuring--
              (1) pertinent basic and applied research which takes into 
          account locality-specific weather, susceptibility to other 
          hazards, and design and construction practices;
              (2) better understanding of impediments and disincentives 
          to wind hazard reduction;
              (3) inventorying of existing buildings and related data for 
          use in developing and deploying wind hazard mitigation 
          measures;
              (4) dissemination of information on cost-effective and 
          affordable wind hazard reduction research results, technology, 
          and techniques to industry, State and local governments, 
          homeowners, and the general public;
              (5) improved technology for prediction, storm warnings, 
          advanced planning, and disaster response;
              (6) increased public awareness of the dangers of windstorms 
          and of ways to preserve affected property and life; and
              (7) priority attention to critical lifelines, including 
          infrastructure and utilities, that are especially needed in 
          time of disaster.
      (c) Research and Development Elements.--The research and 
  development elements of the program may include--
              (1) basic wind characterization and micro-climate research;
              (2) development of methods to increase accuracy and 
          reliability in the prediction of the track and magnitude of 
          windstorms;
              (3) peer-reviewed research and development on and 
          demonstration of wind-resistant systems and materials for new 
          construction and retrofit, including composite materials; 
          building envelope components, including windows, doors, and 
          roofs; structural design; and design and construction 
          techniques, through physical testing and through computer 
          simulation when appropriate, taking into consideration cost-
          effectiveness, affordability, and regional differences 
          including susceptibility to other hazards;
              (4) development of mechanisms for collecting information on 
          building systems and materials performance in windstorms, 
          information on mitigation priorities, and other pertinent 
          information from sources such as the construction industry, 
          insurance companies, and building officials;
              (5) development of updatable, cost-effective, and 
          affordable systems, both for new construction and for 
          retrofitting, and for inventorying information on components 
          and materials and their interaction;
              (6) development of cost-effective and affordable planning, 
          design, construction, rehabilitation, and retrofit methods and 
          procedures, including utilization of mitigation measures, for 
          critical lifelines and facilities such as hospitals, schools, 
          public utilities, and other structures that are especially 
          needed in time of disaster;
              (7) research and development on techniques, methodologies, 
          and new technologies for the mapping in finer detail of 
          windstorm hazard risks, to be coordinated with the mapping of 
          other natural and manmade hazards;
              (8) development of improved systems for predicting damaging 
          windstorm impact and for identifying, evaluating, and reliably 
          characterizing windstorm hazards;
              (9) development of improved approaches for providing 
          emergency services, reconstruction, and redevelopment after a 
          windstorm;
              (10) development of quantitative assessment techniques for 
          the delineation and evaluation of the socioeconomic effects of 
          windstorms and their application on a regional basis, including 
          exploration of adjustments that could be made to reduce 
          windstorm vulnerability and to effectively exploit existing and 
          developing mitigation techniques; and
              (11) studies of impediments and disincentives to effective 
          wind hazard mitigation, preparedness, and response policies and 
          innovations.
      (d) Technology Transfer.--The technology transfer elements of the 
  program shall include--
              (1) the collection, classification, presentation, and 
          dissemination in a usable form to Federal, State, and local 
          officials, community leaders, the design and construction 
          industry, contractors, home owners, and the general public, of 
          research results and other pertinent information regarding 
          windstorm phenomena, the identification of locations and 
          features which are especially susceptible to windstorm damage, 
          ways to reduce the adverse consequences of windstorms, and 
          related matters;
              (2) in coordination with the private sector, academia, and 
          the States, curriculum development and related measures to 
          facilitate the training of employees of the design and 
          construction industry, the insurance industry, and State and 
          local governments, and other interested persons; and
              (3) efforts to increase public awareness and information 
          related to windstorm hazard mitigation.
      (e) Implementation Plan.--The Interagency Group established under 
  subsection (a) shall refine, in conjunction with appropriate 
  representatives of State and local units of government and private 
  sector organizations, the objective stated in subsection (b), develop 
  measurements related to the objective, including emphasis on cost-
  effectiveness and affordability, and develop a 10-year implementation 
  plan for achieving the objective, deferring to the private sector and 
  State and local government for implementation in all appropriate 
  instances. Not later than 210 days after the date of the enactment of 
  this Act, the Interagency Group shall submit to the Congress the 
  implementation plan. The plan shall include--
              (1) a statement of research and development goals and 
          priorities;
              (2) plans for the development of improved forecasting 
          techniques for windstorms, early warning systems, and systems 
          for comprehensive response;
              (3) plans for the development of an inventory of buildings, 
          building components, and damage to buildings from windstorms;
              (4) plans for transfer of technology and information to 
          State, county, local, and regional governmental units and the 
          private sector for appropriate application of research and 
          development results;
              (5) provisions for dissemination, on a timely basis, of--
                      (A) delivery of information and technology in a 
                  form that is of use to the design professions, the 
                  construction industry, and other interested parties; 
                  and
                      (B) other information and knowledge of interest to 
                  the public to reduce vulnerability to windstorm 
                  hazards;
              (6) a description of how Federal disaster relief and 
          emergency assistance programs will incorporate research and 
          development results;
              (7) establishment, consistent with this Act, of goals, 
          priorities, and target dates for implementation of the program;
              (8) assignment of responsibilities with respect to each 
          element of the program that does not already have a Federal 
          lead agency;
              (9) a description of plans for cooperation and coordination 
          in all phases of the program with interested governmental 
          entities in all States, particularly those containing areas of 
          high or moderate windstorm risk; and
              (10) staffing plans for the program and its components.
      (f) Participation.--The implementation plan shall avoid duplication 
  whenever possible and assign responsibilities to Federal agencies with 
  existing expertise.
      (g) Manufactured Housing Standards.--No design, construction 
  method, practice, technology, material, mitigation methodology, or 
  hazard reduction measure of any kind developed under this Act shall be 
  required for a home certified under section 616 of the National 
  Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 
  U.S.C. 5415), pursuant to standards issued under such Act, without 
  being subject to the consensus development process and rulemaking 
  procedures of that Act.
  
  SEC. 5. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WINDSTORM HAZARD REDUCTION.
  
      (a) Establishment.--A National Advisory Committee shall be 
  established to review progress made under the program established under 
  section 4, advise on any improvements that should be made to that 
  program, and report to the Congress on actions that have been taken to 
  advance the Nation's capability to reduce the impacts of windstorm 
  hazards.
      (b) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed of 21 
  members to be appointed by the President (one of whom shall be 
  designated by the President as chair). The members shall include 
  representatives of a broad cross-section of interests such as the 
  research, technology transfer, architectural, engineering, and 
  financial communities; materials and systems suppliers; State, county, 
  and local governments concerned with the reduction of windstorm 
  hazards; the residential, multifamily, and commercial sectors of the 
  construction industry; and the insurance industry, and other 
  representatives (not including members of Federal agencies) from areas 
  impacted by windstorm hazards.
      (c) Coordination.--The Advisory Committee shall coordinate with 
  existing advisory committees of the Federal Government and of the 
  National Academies of Science and Engineering. As appropriate, the work 
  and reports of the Advisory Committee may be done in conjunction with 
  or replace the work of other advisory committees.
      (d) Annual Report.--The Advisory Committee shall provide a summary 
  report to Congress each year.
      (e) Exemption.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
  shall not apply to the Advisory Committee established under this 
  section.
  
  SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORT.
  
      (a) Report.--The Interagency Group established under section 4(a) 
  shall, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, submit a 
  report to the Congress describing the status of the windstorm hazard 
  reduction program, describing progress achieved during the preceding 
  fiscal year, by government at all levels and by the private sector, 
  toward achieving the objective stated in section 4(b) and implementing 
  the plan developed under section 4(e), and including any amendments to 
  the implementation plan. Each such report shall include any 
  recommendations for legislative and other action the Interagency Group 
  considers necessary and appropriate.
      (b) Conference.--In order to disseminate the research findings of 
  the windstorm hazard reduction program established under section 4(a), 
  the Interagency Group is encouraged to arrange for an annual conference 
  where research findings and mitigation efforts can be presented. Those 
  invited to the conference shall include representatives of a broad 
  cross-section of interests such as the research, technology transfer, 
  architectural, engineering, and financial communities; materials and 
  systems suppliers; State, county, and local governments concerned with 
  the reduction of windstorm hazards; the residential, multifamily, and 
  commercial sectors of the construction industry; and the insurance 
  industry, and other representatives from areas impacted by windstorm 
  hazards.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out activities 
  under this Act $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $100,000,000 for 
  fiscal year 2002, and $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
target: Establishes a National Advisory Committee to review the program's progress, advise on any improvements, and report to Congress on actions taken to reduce the impacts of windstorm hazards.
feat_title: Windstorm Hazard Reduction Research and Technology Transfer Act