On January 7th, 2015 the House passed The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2015 (H.R. 23) and the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 (H.R. 34), two bipartisan bills aimed at understanding, detecting, and mitigating windstorm and tsunami impacts in the U.S. On the House floor proceeding the vote Representative Frederica Wilson (D-FL), one of the sponsors of the windstorm bill, stated "The Federal Government has an important role in helping Americans prepare for and recover from natural hazards… the legislation ensures that research is translated into practice through improved building codes and emergency planning.”
The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2015 (H.R. 23), introduced by Rep. Wilson and Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), reauthorizes the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through FY17. The program’s goal is to “achieve major measurable reductions in the losses of life and property from windstorms” with efforts “aimed at improving the understanding of windstorms and their impacts, and … implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce those impacts.” The bill would transfer leadership of the program from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). As head of the new Interagency Coordinating Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction, NIST will lead, improve, and coordinate agency efforts to assess property damage and loss of life as a result of windstorms, and develop new building codes and other safety standards. The committee also includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the OSTP, and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, applauded the bill stating, “Millions of Americans live in areas vulnerable to hurricanes, tornadoes and other windstorms. The effects of these disasters can be felt for years.” Smith continued, saying the bill improves “our understanding of windstorms, and encourages the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures.”
The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 (H.R. 34), introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), “authorizes and strengthens the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)”. The bill authorizes level funding of $27 million for fiscal year 2015, 2016, and 2017. It consolidates and coordinates activities of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic tsunami warning systems, and provides specific guidelines for the National Weather Service to support these systems through improved data gathering, risk evaluation, model predictions, and dissemination of tsunami forecasts and warnings. Although the U.S. has not experienced a recent tsunami disaster, Representative Smith recalled the devastation of the 2011 tsunami in Japan as “a vivid reminder of the need for enhanced early warning capabilities.” Smith continued, saying the bill “strengthens our nation’s tsunami detection, forecasts and research.”
Both bills passed the House easily, with the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2015 (H.R. 23) passing 389-39 and The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 (H.R. 34) passing by voice vote. The bills have now gone on to the Senate, where they await review by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Karen Paczkowski, GSA Science Policy Fellow