National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education Act
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate public colleges and universities as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood Research and Education.
The purposes of such designations are to: (1) recognize those institutions of higher education that have exhibited national leadership in research and education in coastal flooding, and (2) identify such centers as sources for expert advice and guidance for federal agencies engaged in coastal flooding research and education issues and projects.
NOAA shall require the designated public colleges or universities to enter into an agreement with NOAA to: (1) collaborate on federal flood-related issues with federal agencies; and (2) collaborate and share with specified entities best practices on regional, state, and locally specific flooding and flood-related issues.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4640 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4640
To designate public colleges and universities that provide research,
data, and recommendations on physical science, social science, economic
analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, predicting, and
planning for coastal flooding as National Centers of Excellence in
Coastal Flood Research and Education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 13, 2017
Mr. Taylor (for himself, Mr. Wittman, and Mr. Scott of Virginia)
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 designate public colleges and universities that provide research,
data, and recommendations on physical science, social science, economic
analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, predicting, and
planning for coastal flooding as National Centers of Excellence in
Coastal Flood Research and Education.
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 Centers of Excellence in
Coastal Flood Research and Education Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL FLOOD RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall designate public colleges and
universities as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Flood
Research and Education (in this section referred to as ``National
Centers of Excellence''). The Administrator shall make the first such
designations by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of such designation are the following:
(1) To recognize those institutions of higher education
that have exhibited national leadership in research and
education in coastal flooding.
(2) To identify such National Centers of Excellence as
sources for expert advice and guidance for Federal agencies
engaged in coastal flooding research and education issues and
projects.
(c) Criteria for Designation.--The Administrator shall designate as
National Centers of Excellence only those public universities and
colleges that--
(1) have demonstrated proven expertise in physical and
environmental science, flooding, and socioeconomic impacts of
flooding research;
(2) are located in a State that frequently experiences
coastal flooding;
(3) have previously partnered with, or received funds from,
Federal agencies for coastal flooding and watershed issues,
including the Corps of Engineers, the United States Geological
Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Science
Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(4) have been designated by State legislation as technical
and scientific advisory entities with respect to coastal
flooding for State agencies and localities;
(5) can demonstrate formal institutional collaborations in
coastal flooding research and education with other public
universities or colleges within the same State; and
(6) can demonstrate a history of convening local, State,
and Federal entities, including Department of Defense commands,
to develop plans for coastal flooding.
SEC. 3. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE,
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
As a condition of designation as a National Center of Excellence
under this Act, the Administrator shall require a public college or
university to enter into an agreement with the Administrator under
which it agrees to--
(1) collaborate on Federal flood-related issues with
Federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science
Foundation, and the Department of Agriculture;
(2) collaborate and share best practices on regional,
State, and locally specific flooding and flood-related issues
with--
(A) State, county, and local governments;
(B) local councils of governments or regional
planning organizations;
(C) State agriculture, natural resource,
environment, economic development, and water agencies;
(D) floodplain managers;
(E) State homeland security personnel, county
disaster recovery coordinators, emergency management
personnel, and first responders;
(F) resource conservation and development councils;
(G) watershed organizations and boards;
(H) agriculture and commodity organizations and
farmers;
(I) environmental organizations; and
(J) business and development organizations; and
(3) explore opportunities to collaborate, when appropriate,
on Federal flood-related issues with other Federal agencies
such as the Bureau of Reclamation, the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park
Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Public Health
Service, the National Science Foundation, the Department of
Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, and various national
laboratories.
SEC. 4. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION; REVIEWS AND
ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS.
(a) Annual Report.--The Administrator shall annually submit to
Congress and the President a report describing the activities,
partnerships and collaborations, Federal policy recommendations,
previous and continuing budgets, and findings of, and any other
applicable information from, the National Centers of Excellence, and
make such report available to the public in an easily accessible
electronic format on website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(b) Review of Reports From National Centers of Excellence.--The
Administrator shall review reports from National Centers of Excellence
to ensure that recommendations and guidance of such Centers in regard
to flooding and flood-related issues are communicated to relevant
Federal agencies.
(c) Review of National Centers of Excellence and Potential
Designees.--The Administrator shall periodically review the National
Centers of Excellence and potential new designees as such Centers, to--
(1) ensure that the National Centers of Excellence continue
to meet the criteria for designation under this Act; and
(2) designate additional National Centers of Excellence in
accordance with this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
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