Subcommittee Marks Up NWIRP Legislation - Democrats Emphasize the Need for Adequate Funding and a Multi-Hazards Approach
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a markup of H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act, which reauthorizes the National Windstorm Reduction Program (NWIRP).
NWIRP is an interagency effort created to reduce the losses of life and property from windstorms by studying wind hazards and their impacts, and developing and encouraging the implementation of cost effective mitigation measures to reduce these impacts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) all carry out different NWIRP activities.
Vice-Ranking Member Frederica Wilson (D-FL) said in her opening statement, “NWIRP has the potential to reduce the loss of life and property by translating windstorm research into improved building codes and emergency planning. While there is a clear need for this program, it is regrettable that the Majority has decided to mark up this legislation without a hearing to consult key stakeholders.”
The Subcommittee held only one hearing on NWIRP without any representatives from the agencies involved with the program being asked to testify. All of the witnesses who were asked to testify agreed that the program was being underfunded.
Democratic Amendments offered
Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) offered an amendment to add the definition of “lifelines” to the bill. – passed by voice vote
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) offered an amendment to allow a head of an NWIRP agency to decline to implement the requirements of the Act if they determine that sufficient funds are not available. – failed by voice vote
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) – offered an amendment to add two additional titles to the bill to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and to authorize NIST to conduct research into fires at the wildland-urban interface. - withdrawn
Mr. Peters withdrew his amendment after the Chairman of the Subcommittee committed to working with him on a multi-hazards piece of legislation.
Ms. Wilson said, “In the past this Committee has taken a more comprehensive approach to hazards by marking up NWIRP along with the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). It makes sense to move these interagency programs together, which is why I introduced H.R. 2132, Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2013, that would reauthorize both the NWIRP and NEHRP programs. While severe weather has dominated the headlines recently, we should not overlook the significant risk associated with earthquakes. I look forward to working with the Chairman and Mr. Peters to ensure that this Committee considers all of the hazard programs within the Committee’s jurisdiction.”
H.R. 1786 passed the Committee by voice vote and was reported favorably out of Committee.
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