3.0.0 1471 2023-01-11T13:28:06Z 2023-01-11T13:28:06Z House HR 2015-03-19 114 [Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 47 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. BARLETTA:H.R. 1471.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution,specifically Clause 1 (relating to providing for the commondefense and general welfare of the United States) and Clause18 (relating to the power to make all laws necessary andproper for carrying out the powers vested in Congress) andArticle I, Section 10, Clause 3 (relating to interstatecompacts).[Page H1804]]]> ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2016-03-01T21:02:37Z hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee House Standing hspw13 Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Discharged from 2015-04-15T16:31:00Z Referred to 2015-03-20T13:45:23Z Reported by 2016-02-29T17:54:00Z Markup by 2015-04-15T16:42:19Z Referred to 2015-03-19T13:09:15Z H. Rept. 114-436 Wildfire Prevention Act of 2015 114 1009 HR 2015-02-17 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Related bill CRS Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015 114 1546 HR 2015-03-24 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Related bill CRS To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster. 114 1765 HR 2015-04-15 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Related bill CRS Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015 114 1090 S 2015-12-18 Became Public Law No: 114-111. Related bill CRS National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act of 2016 114 2971 S 2016-12-16 Became Public Law No: 114-326. Related bill CRS Wildfire Mitigation Assistance Act 114 3172 S 2016-07-12 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Related bill CRS Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2016 114 3411 S 2016-09-28 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Related bill CRS 2016-03-01 ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. IntroReferral 2016-02-29 17:41:07 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2016-02-29 17:41:01 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1016-1020) Floor H37300 2 House floor actions 2016-02-29 17:41:01 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1016-1020) Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 2016-02-29 17:14:14 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1471. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2016-02-29 17:14:12 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1015-1023) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2016-02-29 17:14:08 Mr. Barletta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Floor H30300 2 House floor actions 2016-02-29 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 333. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00333 2016-02-29 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-436. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2016-02-29 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-436. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2015-04-15 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. Committee 2015-04-15 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Committee 2015-04-15 hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 1 House committee actions Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Discharged. Committee 2015-03-20 hspw13 Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Committee 2015-03-19 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hspw00 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 2015-03-19 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2015-03-19 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress B001269 Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11] Lou Barletta R PA 11 N C001072 Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7] Andre Carson D IN 7 2015-03-19 True S001154 Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9] Bill Shuster R PA 9 2015-03-19 True D000191 Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] PETER DEFAZIO D OR A. 4 2015-03-19 True 2015-07-13T18:35:00Z H.R. 1471, FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/50383 As ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 15, 2015 Emergency Management Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies Congressional oversight Debt collection Department of Homeland Security Disaster relief and insurance Electric power generation and transmission Emergency planning and evacuation Executive agency funding and structure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fires First responders and emergency personnel Government studies and investigations Medical tests and diagnostic methods Natural disasters State and local finance Urban and suburban affairs and development Worker safety and health Emergency Management 00 2015-03-19 Introduced in House 2016-08-26T19:09:09Z FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

Authorizes appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for FY2016-FY2018 for management and administration.

Directs FEMA, through the National Advisory Council, to undertake and report on a comprehensive study of disaster costs and losses.

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to:

  • authorize through FY2018 the NationalUrban Search and Rescue Response System and grants to implement the Emergency Management Assistance Compact;
  • include public broadcasting facilities within the definition of "private nonprofit facility" for purposes of disaster assistance eligibility;
  • establish a three-year statute of limitation for reclaiming disaster relief funds and for collecting debts related to disaster assistance;
  • allow a waiver for the collection of certain disaster-related debts;
  • increase the threshold for determining the eligibility of certain small projects for expedited disaster assistance payments;
  • establish rates for reimbursing states and local governments for direct and indirect administrative costs incurred to implement disaster recovery projects;
  • authorize the President, whether or not a major disaster is declared, to provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire; and
  • allow recipients of hazard mitigation assistance to use such assistance for activities to reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a wildfire or earthquake hazards.

Directs FEMA to: (1) study and report on physical testing standards for electric utility facilities, (2) report to specified congressional committees on agency plans to provide guidance to applicants for disaster assistance on FEMA disaster funding procedures and to maintain appropriate records during the lifecycle of a disaster, and (3) identify in its report new technologies to assist the disaster workforce during a disaster or emergency.

]]> 36 2016-02-29 Passed House amended 2016-04-05T17:44:12Z FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

TITLE I--FEMA REAUTHORIZATION

(Sec. 101) This bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through FY2018.

TITLE II--COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF DISASTER COSTS AND LOSSES

(Sec. 201) FEMA shall commence, through the National Advisory Council, a comprehensive study related to disaster costs and losses. The Council shall evaluate, and report on, disaster losses and costs and develop recommendations for reducing such losses and costs.

TITLE III--STAFFORD ACT AND OTHER PROGRAMS

(Sec. 301) The bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to: (1) continue the administration of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System (USAR Response System), and (2) reauthorize the USAR Response System through FY2018.

(Sec. 303) FEMA shall provide a plan for the development of consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA disaster funding, the maintenance of records and transfer of information, relieving administrative burdens, and the implementation of new technology tools during disaster response and recovery operations in the field.

(Sec. 304) The bill amends the Stafford Act to raise the public assistance small projects threshold from $35,000 to $1 million.

(Sec. 305) The bill amends the Stafford Act to establish fixed rates to reimburse states and local governments for direct and indirect administrative costs incurred to implement disaster recovery projects.

(Sec. 306) Debts owed to the United States for disaster assistance may be waived if such assistance was distributed based on an error by FEMA, there was no fault on behalf of the debtor, and the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience.

(Sec. 307) The statute of limitations for initiating a new administrative action to recover debts owed to the United States for disaster assistance is three years, unless there is evidence of civil or criminal fraud.

(Sec. 308) FEMA shall: (1) provide technical assistance to common interest communities that provide essential services of a governmental nature, and (2) provide recommendations on how common areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives may be eligible for disaster assistance.

(Sec. 309) FEMA shall give greater weight and consideration to severe localized impacts when making major disaster declaration recommendations to the President.

(Sec. 310) A state shall be deemed to have met FEMA's proof of insurance requirements for an individual property owner when title to such property has been encumbered requiring the purchase and maintenance of insurance.

(Sec. 311) FEMA shall not expand its statutory authorities as they related to floodplain management or mapping unless the requirement to do so is explicitly and specifically stated in statute. FEMA's authorities may not be construed to impute the privately-funded actions of private parties on private land to FEMA for the purpose of extending the requirement.

(Sec. 312) FEMA shall be responsible for efforts to reduce the loss of life and property and to protect the Nation from an earthquake, tsunami, or a combined earthquake and tsunami event.

(Sec. 313) The President shall establish a Federal Interagency Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy and recommendations on preparation and planning for, mitigating against, responding to, recovering from, and more successfully adapting to an earthquake, tsunami, or a combined earthquake and tsunami event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

The Task Force shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies for developing recommendations for a federal research strategy to advance scientific understanding of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and resulting tsunami preparedness.

FEMA shall report to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the comprehensive strategy and recommendations on administrative actions to further the strategy.

(Sec. 314) The President may provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was provided, whether or not a major disaster is declared.

(Sec. 315) Recipients of hazard mitigation assistance under the Stafford Act may use such assistance to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a wildfire or earthquake hazards.

]]> FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 Display Title FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 Official Title as Introduced To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 Short Titles as Passed House FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 H House Referred in Senate 2016-03-01T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr1471rfs/xml/BILLS-114hr1471rfs.xml Engrossed in House 2016-02-29T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr1471eh/xml/BILLS-114hr1471eh.xml Reported in House 2016-02-29T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr1471rh/xml/BILLS-114hr1471rh.xml Introduced in House 2015-03-19T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr1471ih/xml/BILLS-114hr1471ih.xml 2016-03-01 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.