Disaster Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act or the Disaster AID Act
This bill increases, expedites, and facilitates access to disaster and hazard mitigation assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It also increases flexibility for compensating FEMA employees.
The bill allows FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program to provide greater assistance before recipients incur project costs (i.e., advance assistance), increase funding for management costs, and expand the use of simplified application procedures. Also, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) may increase the maximum federal cost share from 75% to 85% for jurisdictions with a low capacity for investment in disaster resilience and increase the maximum advance assistance from 25% to 50% of project cost.
The bill also allows PA and HMGP recipients to use unexpended management cost funds for additional disaster resilience activities.
In addition, under current law, FEMA may set aside funding from the Disaster Relief Fund for predisaster mitigation. The bill requires FEMA to set aside and use such funds to provide a minimum annual amount of grant funding for predisaster mitigation.
Also, the bill establishes grants for hazard mitigation offices and post-disaster FEMA training on obtaining assistance.
Furthermore, if obligated FEMA disaster funding is not disbursed within 26 business days, FEMA must explain the delay and provide status updates.
Additionally, the bill allows FEMA to simultaneously provide both retirement benefits and salary for certain employees. Also, it allows a tax deduction to FEMA employees for expenses while away from home in excess of one year.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2247 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2247
To enhance local capacity and expand local control over the disaster
response, recovery, and preparedness process, to guarantee stable
Federal funding streams for disaster-impacted communities, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 10, 2025
Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance local capacity and expand local control over the disaster
response, recovery, and preparedness process, to guarantee stable
Federal funding streams for disaster-impacted communities, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster
Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act'' or the ``Disaster AID
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION
Sec. 101. State hazard mitigation officer funding.
Sec. 102. Hazard mitigation grant program sliding scale.
Sec. 103. Hazard mitigation.
Sec. 104. Report on hazard mitigation grant program reform.
Sec. 105. Predisaster hazard mitigation.
Sec. 106. Regulations.
TITLE II--PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Sec. 201. Public assistance management costs.
Sec. 202. Advance assistance; training.
Sec. 203. Technical assistance pilot program.
Sec. 204. Simplified procedures.
Sec. 205. Simplified procedures pilot program.
Sec. 206. Regulations.
TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Substantially damaged structures.
Sec. 302. Eligibility of subgovernmental units for assistance.
Sec. 303. General administration of disaster and emergency assistance.
Sec. 304. Deduction for traveling expenses for Federal disaster relief
workers away from home for more than 1
year.
Sec. 305. Dual compensation.
Sec. 306. Excess funds for management costs.
Sec. 307. Timeline for award of management costs.
Sec. 308. Regulation simplification.
Sec. 309. Report on advance assistance.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Chief executive; governor; state; indian tribal
government.--The terms ``Chief Executive'', ``Governor'',
``State'', and ``Indian tribal government'' have the meanings
given the terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
(4) High-capacity jurisdiction.--The term ``high-capacity
jurisdiction'' means a jurisdiction that has sufficient
resources to administer projects funded with assistance under
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) with minimal support, as
determined by the Governor or Chief Executive of the State or
Indian tribal government in which the jurisdiction is located
and based on criteria established by the Administrator.
(5) Low-capacity jurisdiction.--The term ``low-capacity
jurisdiction'' means a jurisdiction that faces structural
barriers to planning for, securing, implementing, or sustaining
public investments in disaster resilience due to limited
staffing, institutional partnerships, fiscal resources, or
access to technical expertise that make it difficult to
administer projects funded with assistance under the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)--
(A) as determined by the Governor or Chief
Executive of the State or Indian tribal government in
which the jurisdiction is located; and
(B) based on criteria established by the
Administrator.
(6) Public assistance.--The term ``public assistance''
means assistance awarded under the programs under section 403,
406, 407, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (5170b, 5172, 5173, 5192).
TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION
SEC. 101. STATE HAZARD MITIGATION OFFICER FUNDING.
Tile II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 207. STATE HAZARD MITIGATION OFFICE FUNDING.
``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `State hazard
mitigation office' means the official office or representative of a
State or Indian tribal government that is the primary point of contact
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other Federal agencies,
and local governments in mitigation planning and implementing
mitigation programs and activities required under this Act.
``(b) Funding.--The President may award financial assistance to
States and Indian tribal governments for the purpose of funding the
State hazard mitigation office of the State or Indian tribal
government.
``(c) Amount.--The amount of financial assistance awarded to each
State or Indian tribal government under subsection (b)--
``(1) shall be not less than 1 percent of the total
financial assistance awarded under that paragraph in any fiscal
year; and
``(2) after satisfying paragraph (1), shall be proportional
to the population of each State and Indian tribal government.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the President to carry out this section $100,000,000
for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 102. HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM SLIDING SCALE.
Section 404(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The President may'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Financial assistance.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
President may''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Sliding scale.--The President may increase the
percentage contributed towards hazard mitigation measures under
paragraph (1) to not more than 85 percent for low-capacity
jurisdictions (as defined in section 2 of the Disaster
Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act).''.
SEC. 103. HAZARD MITIGATION.
(a) Program Administration by States.--Section 404(c) of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170c(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Multiple awards.--With respect to a State or Indian
tribal government that receives multiple concurrent
contributions under subsection (a), the State or Indian tribal
government may--
``(A) combine amounts from each of those
contributions to create a single fund for management
costs (as defined in section 324(a)) and audit
purposes; and
``(B) apply any project completion, auditing, or
reporting deadline associated with the most recent
contribution to any other concurrent contribution.''.
(b) Advance Assistance.--Section 404(e) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(e)) is
amended by striking ``25 percent'' and inserting ``50 percent''.
SEC. 104. REPORT ON HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM REFORM.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator, in consultation with State hazard mitigation offices (as
defined in section 404(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, as added by this Act), State, local, Tribal,
and territorial governments, and other stakeholders, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on necessary reforms
to reduce administrative burdens and enhance the delivery of assistance
under the program established under section 404 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170c).
SEC. 105. PREDISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION.
Section 203(i) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may set aside'' and
inserting ``shall set aside''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Prohibition.--The President may not use amounts set
aside under paragraph (1) for a purpose other than a purpose
described in paragraph (1).
``(5) Requirement.--Of the amounts set aside under
paragraph (1) each fiscal year, the President shall obligate
not less than the lesser of--
``(A) 10 percent; and
``(B) $500,000,000, as adjusted annually to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers published by the Department of Labor.''.
SEC. 106. REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rulemaking
that implements this title and the amendments made by this title.
(b) Interim Guidance.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue interim guidance
to implement this title and the amendments made by this title that
expires upon the earlier of--
(1) 540 days after the of enactment of this Act; and
(2) the issuance of the final rulemaking under subsection
(a).
(c) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the
Administrator issues the final rulemaking under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall issue any necessary guidance related to the
rulemaking.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report summarizing the rulemaking and
guidance issued under subsections (a) and (c).
TITLE II--PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
SEC. 201. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT COSTS.
Section 324(b)(2)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b(b)(2)(B))--
(1) by striking ``12 percent'' and inserting ``15
percent''; and
(2) by striking ``7 percent'' and inserting ``10 percent''.
SEC. 202. ADVANCE ASSISTANCE; TRAINING.
Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.), is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 328. TRAINING.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which
the President declares a major disaster under section 401 with respect
to a jurisdiction and upon the request of the Governor or Chief
Executive of the jurisdiction, the President shall conduct an intensive
training for the jurisdiction and any governmental agency of the
jurisdiction.
``(b) Supplement.--The training conducted under subsection (a) for
a jurisdiction shall supplement any training or briefing convened by
the jurisdiction.
``(c) Contents.--The training conducted under subsection (a) shall,
at a minimum, explain--
``(1) the process of receiving resources and financial
assistance relating to a major disaster under this Act,
beginning with the declaration of the major disaster and ending
with the disbursement of resources or financial assistance;
``(2) each resource and financial assistance award
available to the jurisdiction under this Act;
``(3) the required documentation and eligibility criteria
for each resource and financial assistance award available to
the jurisdiction under this Act;
``(4) acronyms and other terms of art regularly used by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
``(5) any other concepts or processes the President
determines necessary.
``(d) Virtual Offering.--The training required under subsection (a)
may be offered virtually when reasonably practicable.
``SEC. 329. ADVANCE ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Public Assistance Defined.--In this section, the term `public
assistance' means assistance awarded under the programs under section
403, 406, 407, and 502.
``(b) Advance Assistance.--With respect to a grantee or subgrantee
of public assistance using the public assistance for a project, the
President--
``(1) may provide not more than 75 percent of the estimated
cost of the project before costs are incurred; and
``(2) upon request of the grantee or subgrantee, shall
provide not less than 25 percent and not more than 75 percent
of the estimated cost of a project before costs are incurred if
the grantee or subgrantee sustains damage, as measured by a
preliminary damage assessment, which may include the sum of
multiple preliminary damage assessments for projects using
public assistance in the jurisdiction, that is--
``(A) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population of not more than
2,000, not less than the annual budget of the grantee
or subgrantee during the preceding fiscal year;
``(B) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population between 2,001 and
3,500, not less than 2 times larger than the annual
budget of the grantee or subgrantee during the
preceding fiscal year; and
``(C) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population between 3,501 and
5,000, not less than 3 times larger than the annual
budget of the grantee or subgrantee during the
preceding fiscal year.
``(c) Safeguards.--A grantee or subgrantee of public assistance
receiving assistance under subsection (b) shall provide to the
Administrator methodology of the grantee or subgrantee to ensure
safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse.''.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator may establish a program under
which, upon the request of a Governor or Chief Executive of a State or
Indian Tribal government, the Administrator may award assistance to the
State or Indian tribal government that includes--
(1) the assignment of employees of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to the State or Indian tribal government to
provide technical assistance for low-capacity jurisdictions
throughout the public assistance process, including with the
respect to--
(A) project scoping;
(B) damage documentation;
(C) training State or Indian tribal government
personnel to be knowledgeable about all available
programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
and
(D) other related tasks; or
(2) funding to hire additional employees or contractors of
the State to help low-capacity jurisdictions navigate the
process of applying for and receiving for assistance under this
Act, including--
(A) project scoping;
(B) damage documentation;
(C) the grant application process; and
(D) other related tasks.
(b) Selection.--In selecting States and Indian tribal governments
to which to award assistance under this section, the Administrator
shall determine the need of the State or Indian tribal government for
assistance based on--
(1) the hazard risk of the State or Indian tribal
government based on the National Risk Index;
(2) the existing disaster management capacity of the State
or Indian tribal government, as measured by the number of
available personnel and the amount of resources of the State or
Indian tribal government;
(3) the availability of a nongovernmental disaster response
and recovery capacity in the State or Indian tribal government;
and
(4) any other factor determined necessary by the
Administrator.
(c) Termination.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the establishment of
the program.
(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), and annually
thereafter until the date described in subsection (d), the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report on the program that includes--
(1) a list of the States and Indian tribal governments that
have received assistance under the program; and
(2) an account of the form and scope of the assistance
provided under the program to each State and Indian tribal
government.
(e) GAO Audit.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall--
(1) conduct an audit of the program;
(2) study the effectiveness of the program; and
(3) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
recommendation whether to extend or expand the program.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031 to carry out this section.
SEC. 204. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES.
Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is amended by striking subsection (a)
and the undesignated matter preceding subsection (b) and inserting the
following:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Eligible project.--In this subsection, the term
`eligible project' means a project--
``(A)(i) under section 406 that includes repairing,
restoring, or replacing any damaged or destroyed public
facility or private nonprofit facility;
``(ii) with emergency assistance under section 403
or 502; or
``(iii) under section 407 relating to debris
removal; and
``(B) the Federal cost estimate of which is less than the
greater of--
``(i) $1,000,00, which shall be adjusted to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers by the Department of Labor--
``(I) on the date of enactment of the
Disaster Assistance Improvement and
Decentralization Act for the period between
October 10, 2022, and such date; and
``(II) annually thereafter; and
``(ii) if the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency has established a threshold
under subsection (b), the amount established under
subsection (b).
``(2) Cost coverage.--
``(A) In general.--On application by a State or
local government that performs an eligible project, the
President may make the contribution of the State or
local government under section 403, 406, 407, or 502,
as the case may be, on the basis of the cost incurred
from the performance of the eligible project.
``(B) Limit.--The amount of the contribution under
subparagraph (A) with respect to an eligible project
may not exceed 150 percent of the Federal cost estimate
of the eligible project.
``(3) Exception.--Paragraph (2) shall not apply with
respect to a State or local government if the cost of the
performance of an eligible project by the State or local
government exceeds the cost estimate of the eligible project as
a result of poor management, fraud, or waste.''.
SEC. 205. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, notwithstanding the amount specified under
section 422(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189(a)), the Administrator shall establish a
pilot program under which the Administrator may select high-capacity
jurisdictions performing a project under section 403, 406, 407, or 502
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, 5173, 5192), the cost of which is
less than $10,000,000, to be eligible for the contribution described in
such section 422(a).
(b) Adjustment of Amount.--Not less frequently than annually, the
Administrator shall adjust the amount specified in subsection (a) to
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the Department of Labor.
(c) Safeguards.--A high-capacity jurisdiction selected under
subsection (a) shall provide to the Administrator methodology of the
high-capacity jurisdiction to ensure safeguards against waste, fraud,
and abuse.
(d) Termination.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
establishment of the program.
(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), and annually
thereafter until the date described in subsection (d), the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report on the program.
(f) GAO Audit.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall--
(1) conduct an audit of the program;
(2) study the effectiveness of the program; and
(3) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
recommendation whether to extend or expand the program.
SEC. 206. REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rulemaking
that implements this title and the amendments made by this title.
(b) Interim Guidance.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue interim guidance
to implement this title and the amendments made by this title that
expires upon the earlier of--
(1) 540 days after the of enactment of this Act; and
(2) the issuance of the final rulemaking under subsection
(a).
(c) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the
Administrator issues the final rulemaking under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall issue any necessary guidance related to the
rulemaking.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report summarizing the rulemaking and
guidance issued under subsections (a) and (c).
TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED STRUCTURES.
(a) Facility Defined.--In this section, the term ``facility'' means
a facility that provides critical services, including--
(1) power;
(2) water, including water provided by an irrigation
organization or facility described in section 206.221(e)(3) of
title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation;
(3) sewer;
(4) wastewater treatment;
(5) communications;
(6) medical care;
(7) fire response; and
(8) other emergency rescue services.
(b) Requirement.--With respect to the approval of funding and
requirement to restore a destroyed facility at a new location described
in section 206.226(g) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, as in
effect as of the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall
approve the funding and require that restoration with respect to a
facility if--
(1)(A) the facility sustains not less than 30 percent
damage on not less than 2 occasions; or
(B) the facility sustains not less than 50 percent damage;
and
(2) the State or Indian tribal government with jurisdiction
over the facility requests the restoration at a new location.
SEC. 302. ELIGIBILITY OF SUBGOVERNMENTAL UNITS FOR ASSISTANCE.
Section 102(8) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(8)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) includes any State or political subdivision
of a State authorized by a local government to submit
an application under this Act and serve as an agent on
behalf of the local government.''.
SEC. 303. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.), as amended by title II, is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 330. REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY DURING PROLONGED PAUSE IN DISASTER
ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Pause.--The term `pause' means any action to pause,
freeze, cancel, suspend, terminate, or otherwise impede the
disbursement of appropriated Federal funds to States and Indian
tribal governments awarded under grants, executed contracts, or
other executed financial obligations.
``(2) Prolonged.--The term `prolonged' means a cumulative
period of not less than 26 business days during any fiscal
year.
``(b) Requirement.--In the event of a prolonged pause in the
disbursement of Federal funds appropriated for the purpose of carrying
out this Act, not later than 5 business days after the date on which
the pause becomes prolonged, the President shall make the following
information publicly available:
``(1) The rationale for the pause.
``(2) The expected duration of the pause.
``(3) The legal authority for the pause.
``(4) Resources to check the status of the pause.''.
SEC. 304. DEDUCTION FOR TRAVELING EXPENSES FOR FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF
WORKERS AWAY FROM HOME FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR.
(a) In General.--Section 162(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by inserting ``or is certified by the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency as traveling on behalf of the
United States in temporary duty status to respond to a federally
declared disaster (as defined in section 165(i)(5)(A))'' after ``a
Federal crime''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 305. DUAL COMPENSATION.
The Administrator may waive the application of subsections (a)
through (h) of section 8344, or subsections (a) through (e) of section
8468, of title 5, United States Code, on a case-by-case basis, for--
(1) an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
in a position for which there is exceptional difficulty in
recruiting or retaining a qualified employee; or
(2) an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
serving on a temporary basis, but only if, and for so long as,
the authority is necessary due to an emergency involving a
direct threat to life or property or other unusual
circumstances.
SEC. 306. EXCESS FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT COSTS.
(a) In General.--Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), as amended by title I of this
Act--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly; and
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as so
redesignated, by striking ``provide the following
percentage rates'' and inserting ``provide--
``(A) excess funds for management costs as
described in subsection (c); and
``(B) the following percentage rates'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Use of Excess Funds for Management Costs.--
``(1) Definition of excess funds for management costs.--In
this subsection, the term `excess funds for management costs'
means the difference between--
``(A) the amount of the applicable specific
management costs authorized under subsection (b)(1) and
subsection (b)(2)(B); and
``(B) as of the date on which the grant award is
closed, the amount of funding for management costs
activities expended by the grantee or subgrantee
receiving the financial assistance for costs described
in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Availability of excess funds for management costs.--
The President may make available to a grantee or subgrantee
receiving financial assistance under section 403, 404, 406,
407, 409, or 502 any excess funds for management costs.
``(3) Use of funds.--Excess funds for management costs made
available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) may be
used for--
``(A) activities associated with building capacity
to prepare for, recover from, or mitigate the impacts
of a major disaster or emergency declared under section
401 or 501, respectively; and
``(B) management costs associated with any--
``(i) major disaster;
``(ii) emergency;
``(iii) disaster preparedness measure; or
``(iv) mitigation activity or measure
authorized under section 203, 204, 205, or
404.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to any grant award in relation to a major disaster
or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170, 5191) the declaration of which is made on or after the
date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 307. TIMELINE FOR AWARD OF MANAGEMENT COSTS.
Section 324(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b(b)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(3) Management cost increments.--The President may award
a grantee under section 404, 403, 406, 407, or 502--
``(A) by the date that is 30 days after the date on
which the President declares the applicable major
disaster under section 401, 50 percent of the amount of
the applicable management costs described in paragraph
(2);
``(B) by the date that is 180 days after the date
on which the President declares the applicable major
disaster under section 401, 75 percent of the amount of
the applicable management costs described in paragraph
(2); and
``(C) by the date that is 1 year after the date on
which the President declares the applicable major
disaster under section 401, 100 percent of the
applicable management costs described in paragraph
(2).''.
SEC. 308. REGULATION SIMPLIFICATION.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
(1) a review of the regulations promulgated by the
Administrator; and
(2) recommendations for modifying or eliminating
regulations promulgated by the Administrator that are redundant
or overly burdensome, particularly for low-capacity
jurisdictions.
SEC. 309. REPORT ON ADVANCE ASSISTANCE.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report--
(1) on the exercise of the authority of the Administrator
to provide advance assistance under--
(A) section 404(e) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170c(e)); and
(B) section 329 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as added by this
Act; and
(2) that includes a comprehensive account of the frequency
and extent of invocation of the authority described in
paragraph (1).
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Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4316-4317)
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