Bill Summary
This legislation establishes the National Flood Research and Education Center (NFREC) and outlines partnerships and collaborations required for the center to address flood-related issues. It also authorizes appropriations for the operation and improvement of the center and its partner institution, as well as for consortium member centers. Additionally, it outlines the process and criteria for applying for technical assistance and demonstration project grants.
Possible Impacts
1. Researchers and educators in the field of flooding and flood-related issues will benefit from the establishment of the National Flood Research and Education Center (NFREC). They will have access to resources, data, and collaborations with other institutions and agencies, allowing them to conduct more thorough research and provide valuable education to the public.
2. Communities and individuals living in areas prone to flooding will be affected by the partnerships and collaborations required by the NFREC. These partnerships will lead to more efficient and effective solutions for addressing flood-related issues, potentially reducing the impact of flooding on these communities.
3. The annual reports and website established by the NFREC will provide valuable information and tools for individuals and organizations dealing with flood-related issues. This includes access to key findings, collaborations, and reports, as well as the opportunity to apply for technical assistance and demonstration project grants to address specific flood-related concerns.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3091 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3091
To establish a National Flood Research and Education Center to provide
research, data, and recommendations on physical science, social
science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring,
predicting, and planning as they relate to flooding and flood-related
issues.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2019
Mr. Loebsack 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 establish a National Flood Research and Education Center to provide
research, data, and recommendations on physical science, social
science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring,
predicting, and planning as they relate to flooding and flood-related
issues.
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 Flood Research and
Education Center Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL FLOOD RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER ESTABLISHMENT AND
PURPOSE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a National Flood Research and
Education Center (in this Act referred to as ``NFREC'') which shall
consist of--
(1) an office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(2) one public university or college selected by the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (in this Act referred to as the
``Administrator''), which shall serve as the lead partner
institution with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and
(3) a consortium of other public universities or colleges
selected by the Administrator and the lead partner institution
based on their ability to fulfill specific purposes of NFREC.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of NFREC are as follows:
(1) To plan, conduct, and arrange for competent public
research, data, education, and recommendations within the
following categories as they relate to flooding issues
nationwide, regionally, and locally:
(A) Physical sciences, including engineering,
hydrology, environmental, and atmospheric sciences, of
flooding and flood-related events.
(B) Social science of flooding and flood-related
events focused on increasing community resilience.
(C) Economic analysis of flooding and flood-related
events in addition to analysis of a variety of existing
and new strategies and techniques to reduce, manage,
and prevent flooding and flood-related events.
(D) Policy analysis and recommendations on
flooding-related policy on a Federal, State, and local
governmental basis.
(E) Risk analysis and risk management of flooding
and flood-related events.
(F) Improvement of existing, and testing of new,
risk assessment tools, methods, and models for flooding
and flood risks used by Federal, State, and local
governments and other interested organizations.
(G) Improvement of existing, and testing of new,
monitoring and predicting strategies and techniques of
flooding and flood-related events.
(H) Improvement of existing, and testing of new,
flood management and prevention strategies and
techniques.
(2) To carry out this Act within a variety of regions in
the United States which are identified and categorized by NFREC
based on their specific flooding and flood-related issues,
hydrology, weather, and related issues so that diverse flood
situations are represented and examined through NFREC's work.
(3) To identify opportunities for increased efficiency in
allocation of resources, coordination, cooperation, and
consolidation of efforts as they relate to local, statewide,
regional, and Federal flood-related efforts with respect to
NFREC's purposes.
(4) To develop or improve undergraduate and graduate degree
programs and other programs at the consortium-member public
universities and colleges to advance the entry of new talent
into flooding-related fields.
(5) To collaborate with other colleges and universities in
the region that have demonstrated capability for research,
information dissemination, and graduate training in order to
develop regional networks that are knowledgeable on regional
flooding issues.
SEC. 3. CONSORTIUM SELECTION AND COLLABORATION.
(a) Selection of the Lead Partner Institution.--The Administrator,
within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, shall select
the lead partner institution described in section 2(a)(2). The
Administrator shall select a public university or college which--
(1) has demonstrated and proven expertise in physical and
environmental science, flooding, hydraulic research,
hydroscience, engineering, and meteorological issues;
(2) is located in a State which frequently experiences
inland flooding;
(3) has previously partnered with, or received funds from,
Federal and international agencies for flooding, hydrology, and
watershed issues, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the
United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Science
Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization;
(4) has the capacity to develop and submit a plan on how it
will operate as the lead partner institution, the type of
research, activities, and collaboration it would undertake, and
how it would incorporate its previous work on issues related to
the purposes of NFREC into its new mission as the lead partner
institution;
(5) can demonstrate an ability to take the leading role of
coordinating and fulfilling the purposes of NFREC;
(6) can demonstrate an ability to provide technical
assistance and demonstration project management and oversight
both of grantees demonstration projects and of demonstration
projects initiated through consortium members;
(7) can demonstrate an ability to incorporate NFREC work
into undergraduate and graduate educational programs within the
public university or college; and
(8) can demonstrate an ability to contribute the required
non-Federal matching funding to maintain a lead partner
institution center.
(b) Selection of Consortium Members.--The Administrator, in
partnership with the lead partner institution, shall select, within 90
days after the selection of the lead partner institution, additional
universities and colleges to participate in a consortium through
criteria as determined by the Administrator and the lead partner
institution which shall, among other criteria determined by the
Administrator and lead partner institution, prioritize institutions
that--
(1) have a focus or expertise in at least one of the
categories described in section 2(b)(1);
(2) have the ability to plan, conduct, and arrange for
competent public research, data, education, and recommendations
as they relate to flooding in diverse regions of the United
States identified and in the categories described in section
2(b)(1) and meet the purposes of NFREC;
(3) can demonstrate an ability to provide technical
assistance and demonstration project management and oversight;
(4) can demonstrate an ability to incorporate NFREC work
into undergraduate and graduate educational programs within the
university or college; and
(5) can demonstrate an ability to contribute the required
non-Federal matching funding to maintain a consortium member
center.
(c) Consortium Partnerships.--The member institutions of NFREC
shall partner for the purposes of this Act in the following ways:
(1) NOAA partnership.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall partner directly with the lead partner
institution for the purposes of NFREC.
(2) Lead partner institution partnership.--The lead partner
institution shall partner directly with the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration and the consortium members for
the purposes of NFREC.
(3) Consortium member partnership.--The consortium members
shall partner with the lead partner institution for the
purposes of NFREC.
SEC. 4. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE,
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Partnerships.--NFREC shall partner with the United States
Geological Survey and the Army Corps of Engineers for the purposes of
this Act.
(b) Collaboration.--NFREC shall--
(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
Administration, 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. 5. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION.
(a) NOAA.--
(1) Annual report.--The Administrator shall publish
annually a report containing the activities, partnerships and
collaborations, Federal policy recommendations, previous and
continuing budgets, findings, and any other applicable
information from the consortium members, and shall provide each
report to Congress and the President and make it available to
the public in an easily accessible electronic format on the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website.
(2) Review of reports from consortium members.--The
Administrator shall review the reports from the consortium
members to ensure that funds are being spent properly according
to the purposes of this Act and that the consortium members are
producing competent public research, data, education, and
recommendations in regard to flooding and flood-related issues.
(3) Review of consortium operations.--The Administrator
shall periodically review the operation of consortium members
to ensure that funds are being spent properly according to the
purposes of this Act and that the consortium members are
producing competent public research, data, education, and
recommendations in regard to flooding and flood-related issues.
(b) Lead Partner Institution.--
(1) Compilation of annual consortium member reports.--The
lead partner institution shall compile annually reports from
consortium members, along with its own report, containing the
activities, partnerships and collaborations, Federal policy
recommendations, previous and continuing budgets, findings, and
any other applicable information from consortium members, and
shall provide this information to the Administrator annually by
a date determined by the Administrator.
(2) Annual lead partner institution report.--In addition,
the lead partner institution shall publish annually a report
specific to its activities, partnerships and collaborations,
State and local policy recommendations, previous and continuing
budgets, findings, and other applicable information by a date
determined by the Administrator which shall also be made
available to the public in an easily accessible electronic
format on the lead partner institution's website.
(c) Consortium Members.--The consortium members shall each publish
annually a report containing the activities, partnerships and
collaborations, State and local policy recommendations, previous and
continuing budgets, findings, and other applicable information by a
date determined by the lead partner institution which shall also be
made available to the public in an easily accessible electronic format
on the consortium members' websites.
(d) National Flood Research and Education Center Website.--NFREC
shall establish a website which shall contain at least the following
information:
(1) Key findings and best practices.
(2) Collaborations and partnerships.
(3) Annual reports and other pertinent information on its
purposes.
(4) The location and contact information for the consortium
members.
(5) Federal, State, local, and regionally specific public
research, data, education, and policy recommendations which
shall be updated in a timely manner with new information.
(6) The variety of regions in the United States which are
identified and categorized by NFREC, based on their specific
flooding and flood-related issues, hydrology, weather, and
related issues.
(7) Approved demonstration projects and their progress in
addition to information on applying for demonstration project
assistance.
(8) Tools for monitoring, predicting, and modeling flooding
as they become available.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
(a) Technical Assistance and Demonstration Projects.--NFREC may
provide technical assistance and demonstration project grant assistance
to eligible entities on a competitive basis to assist with implementing
recommendations of NFREC or testing new or improved strategies or
technologies for the categories described in section 2(b)(1).
(b) Eligible Entities.--The following are eligible entities for
purposes of this section:
(1) State governments.
(2) County governments.
(3) Local governments.
(c) Technical Assistance.--Consortium members may provide technical
assistance at their discretion to eligible entities that have limited
capacity for developing an application for demonstration project
grants. Consortium members may also provide technical assistance at
their discretion in implementing demonstration projects approved by the
Administrator.
(d) Competitive Criteria.--The Administrator, in partnership with
the lead partner institution, shall develop criteria required for
submitting a competitive demonstration project grant application and
for the approval of such an application.
(e) Eligible Activities.--Grantees may use funds only for flooding-
related projects which implement recommendations of NFREC or for
testing of--
(1) improved existing and or new risk analysis and risk
management of flooding and flood-related events;
(2) improved existing and or new risk assessment tools,
methods, and models for flooding and flood risks used by
Federal, State, and local governments and other interested
organizations;
(3) improved existing and or new monitoring and predicting
strategies and techniques of flooding and flood-related events;
or
(4) improved existing and or new flood management and
prevention strategies and techniques.
(f) Subcontracting.--Eligible entities may subcontract a portion of
grant funds received for necessary construction-related costs to pursue
an eligible activity.
(g) Applications.--
(1) Consortium review and approval.--Within 60 days of
receiving a completed application, the consortium member in
whose region the project will take place and the lead partner
institution shall review and approve or disapprove the
application.
(2) Administrator approval.--Within 30 days of receiving an
application that has been approved by the applicable consortium
members, the Administrator shall determine whether to provide
the project final approval.
(h) Grant Size.--
(1) In general.--Demonstration project grant awards under
this section shall not exceed $250,000 per project.
(2) Waiver of grant size limitation.--The Administrator may
waive such grant size limitation if--
(A) all consortium members approve of such a
waiver;
(B) the eligible entity has the expertise, or will
work with partners that have the expertise, to manage
the proposed project; and
(C) the eligible entity can show that a project
involves multiple watersheds or jurisdictions, benefits
multiple communities, has broad community support, and
incorporates multiple aspects of NFREC's work in the
project.
(i) Matching Funds.--Entities receiving a demonstration project
grant under this section shall be required to provide a 30-percent non-
Federal cost share.
(j) Total Demonstration Project Grant Amount Available.--There
shall be not more than $2,000,000 available annually for demonstration
project grants under this section nationwide.
(k) Monitoring and Reporting.--For a demonstration project that
receives a grant under this section, the applicable regional consortium
member shall monitor the effectiveness, efficiency, and progress of the
project and report on these factors and their involvement periodically
to the lead partner institution. The applicable regional consortium
member shall make this information available through its website and
additionally provide this information in its annual reports.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--For each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2025,
there are authorized for NFREC, $10,000,000, of which--
(1) not more than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be for
the operation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's center; and
(2) not more than $3,000,000 each fiscal year shall be for
the operation of the lead partner institution's center, matched
by a 20-percent non-Federal cost share.
(b) Additional Authorization.--
(1) Lead partner institution.--There are authorized such
sums as may be necessary for the lead partner institution to
improve its facilities to a level that meets the requirements
of the role of lead partner institution.
(2) Plan.--Before the lead partner institution receives any
funding under this subsection, a plan detailing what type of
facility construction or improvements will take place must
first be approved by the Administrator. Such plan shall include
any land acquisition, engineering, design, and staffing and
equipment needs, in addition to other information as required
by the Administrator.
(3) Non-federal cost share.--There shall be a non-Federal
cost share of 20 percent for facility improvement or
construction projects pursued by the lead partner institution.
(4) Wage rate requirements.--Any authorized and funded
construction activity shall meet Federal prevailing wage
requirements as determined by the Secretary of Labor in
accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of
subtitle II of title 40, United States Code (commonly referred
to as the ``Davis-Bacon Act'').
(c) Consortium Member Centers.--
(1) In general.--Not more than $3,000,000 each fiscal year
shall be for the operation of all consortium members' centers,
matched by a 20-percent non-Federal cost share.
(2) Limitation.--Any one consortium member shall not
receive more than $500,000 in Federal funds in one fiscal year.
(d) Grants.--Not more than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be
made available for demonstration project grants nationwide.
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