[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3348 Introduced in House (IH)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 3348

  To direct the President to establish standards and criteria for the 
  provision of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to 
                          snow-related events.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 1996

  Mr. Quinn (for himself, Mr. Solomon, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. 
 Rangel, Mr. Towns, Mr. Mascara, Mr. Clinger, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Holden, 
 Mr. Traficant, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. King, Mr. 
  Hinchey, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. Goodling, Mr. Gilman, Mr. 
Blute, and Mr. Petri) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
         to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the President to establish standards and criteria for the 
  provision of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to 
                          snow-related events.

    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 ``Snow Removal Policy Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) winter snow storms in 1995 interrupted essential public 
        services and utilities, caused widespread disruption of vital 
        transportation networks, stranded many motorists, and isolated 
        many homes and businesses;
            (2) the impact of the winter snow storms was of such 
        severity and magnitude that effective response was beyond the 
        capability of State and local governments;
            (3) the policy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
        for providing major disaster and emergency assistance in 
        response to snow-related events is unclear;
            (4) regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
        for providing fire suppression assistance, contained in subpart 
        L of part 206 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, provide 
        an example of a clearly articulated emergency assistance 
        policy; and
            (5) regulations should be promulgated for providing major 
        disaster and emergency assistance in response to snow-related 
        events in order to ensure the fair treatment of States and 
        local governments that have incurred costs associated with such 
        a response.

SEC. 3. RULEMAKING TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND CRITERIA FOR SNOW-RELATED 
              EVENTS.

    (a) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.--The President, acting through 
the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to promulgate--
            (1) standards and criteria for declaring a major disaster 
        or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act in response to a snow-related event; 
        and
            (2) standards and criteria for providing assistance under 
        such Act in the case of a snow-related major disaster or 
        emergency, including reimbursement for snow removal and for 
        debris removal and emergency protective measures.
    (b) Requirement.--Rules to be promulgated under this section shall 
ensure that in determining the eligibility of a State or local 
government for assistance in connection with a snow-related event, the 
President will give consideration to existing capabilities of the State 
or local government.
    (c) Deadlines.--The President, acting through the Director of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall issue--
            (1) a proposed rule under this section not later than 3 
        months after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) a final rule under this section not later than 6 months 
        after such date of enactment.
                                 <all>