This bill authorizes the President, after the declaration of a major disaster, to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance necessary for meeting unmet needs as a result of such disaster.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1311 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1311
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to ensure that unmet needs after a major disaster are
met.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 19, 2019
Mr. Graves of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. Plaskett) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to ensure that unmet needs after a major disaster are
met.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. UNMET NEED ASSISTANCE.
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 431. UNMET NEEDS ASSISTANCE.
``(a) In General.--After the declaration of a major disaster, the
President may direct the Administrator of the Emergency Management
Agency to provide, subject to amounts made available from
appropriations, assistance necessary for meeting unmet needs as a
result of such disaster.
``(b) Funding.--
``(1) Amount of funding.--Subject to appropriations and not
later than 30 days after a declaration is made under section
401, the President acting through the Administrator may
allocate an amount that equals up to 10 percent of the
estimated aggregate amount of the grants to be made pursuant to
sections 406 and 408 for the major disaster in order to provide
technical and financial assistance under this section and such
set aside shall be deemed to be related to activities carried
out pursuant to major disasters under this Act.
``(2) Estimated aggregate amount.--Not later than 180 days
after each major disaster declaration pursuant to this Act, the
estimated aggregate amount of grants for purposes of paragraph
(1) shall be determined by the President and such estimated
amount need not be reduced, increased, or changed due to
variations in estimates.
``(3) No reduction in amounts.--The amount set aside
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not reduce the amounts
otherwise made available for sections 403, 404, 406, 407, 408,
410, 416, and 428 under this Act.
``(c) Unmet Needs.--Financial assistance provided under this
section may be used to provide assistance, in addition to other amounts
made available under this Act, for the following unmet needs:
``(1) Disaster-related home repair and rebuilding
assistance to families for permanent housing purposes,
including in conjunction with eligible expenditures under
section 408.
``(2) Disaster-related unmet needs of families who are
unable to obtain adequate assistance from other sources.
``(3) Other services that alleviate human suffering and
promote the well-being of disaster victims.
``(4) Economic and business activities (including food and
agriculture) after a disaster to implement post-disaster
economic recovery measures, including planning and technical
assistance for long-term economic recovery plans,
infrastructure improvements, business or infrastructure
financing, market or industry research, and other activities
authorized under a comprehensive economic development strategy.
``(d) Accounting and Fiscal Controls.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after receipt of
funds and every 6 months thereafter until all such funds are
expended, a State shall submit a report to the Administrator
that includes--
``(A) the criteria established for determining how
the funds are spent;
``(B) the allocation of those funds; and
``(C) the process for public notice and comment.
``(2) Compliance.--Any individual who receives assistance
pursuant to this section shall comply with section 312(b).
``(3) Administrative costs.--A State that receives funds
under this section may expend not more than 5 percent of the
amount of such funds for the administrative costs of providing
financial assistance to individuals and households in the
State.''.
SEC. 2. REPAIR AND REBUILDING.
Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(i) by striking ``to a safe and
sanitary living or functioning condition'' and inserting ``to
ensure that their home is habitable during longer term
recovery. Assistance allowed under this section may be used in
coordination with other sources for the repair and rebuilding
of an owner-occupied residence.''; and
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking ``in cases in which'' and
all that follows through the end of the paragraph and by
inserting ``if the President considers it a cost effective
alternative to other housing solutions, including the costs
associated with temporary housing provided under this section,
and long-term rebuilding costs associated with section 431''.
SEC. 3. REVIEW BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review on the
fiscal controls by States that receive funds under section 431 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and
shall make recommendations to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-146.
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-146.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 108.
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