Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act of 2025 or the POWER Act of 2025
This bill authorizes electric utilities receiving certain emergency assistance for the restoration of power to also carry out cost-effective hazard mitigation activities in combination with the power restoration activities.
Additionally, the bill specifies that electric utilities receiving such assistance for a facility may, if otherwise eligible, also receive hazard mitigation assistance for the same facility under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 164 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 164
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to authorize Federal agencies to provide certain
essential assistance for hazard mitigation for electric utilities, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Ms. Hoyle of Oregon (for herself and Mr. Ezell) 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 authorize Federal agencies to provide certain
essential assistance for hazard mitigation for electric utilities, and
for other purposes.
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 ``Promoting Opportunities to Widen
Electrical Resilience Act of 2025'' or the ``POWER Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(e) Electric Utilities.--
``(1) Hazard mitigation activities.--An electric utility
may carry out cost-effective hazard mitigation activities
jointly or otherwise in combination with activities for the
restoration of power carried out with assistance provided under
this section.
``(2) Eligibility for additional assistance.--In any case
in which an electric utility facility receives assistance under
this section for the emergency restoration of power, the
receipt of such assistance shall not render such facility
ineligible for any hazard mitigation assistance under section
406 for which such facility is otherwise eligible.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall only
apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this
Act.
<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.
Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H103-104)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 164.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H168-169)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2 (Roll no. 13). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H103)
Roll Call #13 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2 (Roll no. 13). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H103)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.