42 U.S.C. § 15701 — Findings

Page 8704 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 15604 § 15604. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15604 was editorially reclassified as section 30304 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. § 15605. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15605 was editorially reclassified as section 30305 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. § 15606. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15606 was editorially reclassified as section 30306 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. § 15607. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15607 was editorially reclassified as section 30307 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. § 15608. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15608 was editorially reclassified as section 30308 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. § 15609. Transferred Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section 15609 was editorially reclassified as section 30309 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. CHAPTER 148—WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION Sec. 15701. Findings. 15702. Definitions. 15703. National Windstorm Impact Reduction Pro- gram. 15704. National Advisory Committee on Windstorm Impact Reduction. 15705. Savings clause. 15706. Authorization of appropriations. 15707. Coordination. § 15701. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and thunderstorms can cause significant loss of life, injury, destruction of property, and economic and social disruption. All States and regions are vulnerable to these hazards. (2) The United States currently sustains sev- eral billion dollars in economic damages each year due to these windstorms. In recent dec- ades, rapid development and population growth in high-risk areas has greatly in- creased overall vulnerability to windstorms. (3) Improved windstorm impact reduction measures have the potential to reduce these losses through— (A) cost-effective and affordable design and construction methods and practices; (B) effective mitigation programs at the local, State, and national level; (C) improved data collection and analysis and impact prediction methodologies; (D) engineering research on improving new structures and retrofitting existing ones to better withstand windstorms, atmospheric- related research to better understand the be- havior and impact of windstorms on the built environment, and subsequent applica- tion of those research results; and (E) public education and outreach. (4) There is an appropriate role for the Fed- eral Government in supporting windstorm im- pact reduction. An effective Federal program in windstorm impact reduction will require interagency coordination, and input from indi- viduals, academia, the private sector, and other interested non-Federal entities. (Pub. L. 108–360, title II, § 202, Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1675.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 114–52, § 1, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 496, provided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 15702 to 15704 and 15706 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Wind- storm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015’.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 108–360, title II, § 201, Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1675, provided that: ‘‘This Act [probably should be ‘this title’, enacting this chapter and amending section 1885d of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004’.’’ § 15702. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Director The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology. (2) Lifelines The term ‘‘lifelines’’ means public works and utilities, including transportation facilities and infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines, elec- trical power and communication facilities and infrastructure, and water supply and sewage treatment facilities. (3) Program The term ‘‘Program’’ means the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program estab- lished by section 15703(a) of this title. (4) State 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. (5) Windstorm The term ‘‘windstorm’’ means any storm with a damaging or destructive wind compo-