Foster, Feenstra Introduce Legislation to Research Windstorms, Mitigate Damage

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act.

This legislation reauthorizes the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through Fiscal Year 2026, providing critical funding for the program to continue its research into how to mitigate the injuries and property damage caused by windstorms. It also directs the program to develop and implement new standards to make housing and infrastructure more resilient, and to study the impacts of climate change on windstorms.

“Illinois’ 11th District is no stranger to the threat of severe weather. Just last year, our Naperville and Woodridge communities suffered devastating damage from an EF-3 tornado,” said Rep. Foster. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Randy Feenstra to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, which will provide critical resources to continue the program’s research and ensure we are all safer the next time a windstorm strikes.” 

“In Iowa, tornadoes, derechos, and other powerful windstorms can wreak havoc on our families, farmers, and rural communities, and we know that the severity of these storms cannot be overlooked. In 2020 alone, Iowa suffered the worst derecho in years, which took the lives of four Iowans and caused $11.2 billion of dollars in damages, making it the costliest thunderstorm disaster in U.S. history,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I am proud to introduce the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act with my Illinois colleague Rep. Bill Foster to monitor dangerous windstorms and help our rural communities better prepare for potentially devastating impacts. I’m confident that this vital legislation will help save lives, protect property, and use the latest technology to safeguard our communities.”

The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program is a research and implementation program that combines the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation. The last formal authorization bill for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program expired in 2017. 

A copy of the bill can be found here.

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