Committee on Levee Safety

There is established a committee to be known as the “Committee on Levee Safety”. The committee shall be composed of 16 members as follows: The following 2 nonvoting members: The following 14 voting members appointed by the Secretary: A voting member of the committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that, of the members first appointed— A voting member of the committee may be reappointed to the committee, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The voting members of the committee shall appoint a chairperson from among the voting members of the committee. The chairperson shall serve a term of not more than 2 years. The committee may establish standing committees comprised of volunteers from all levels of government and the private sector, to advise the committee regarding specific levee safety issues, including participating programs, technical issues, public education and awareness, and safety and the environment. The committee shall recommend to the Secretary for approval individuals for membership on the standing committees. The committee— The committee shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the activities of the committee with the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force. Each member of the committee who is an officer or employee of the United States— To the extent amounts are made available to carry out this section in appropriations Acts, the Secretary shall provide to each member of the committee who is not an officer or employee of the United States a stipend and a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in performance of services for the committee. Each member of a standing committee shall serve in a voluntary capacity. Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the committee.