[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3495 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3495

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to modify eligibility requirements under an emergency 
preparedness demonstration program to assist disadvantaged communities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2003

Mr. Bishop of Georgia 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 modify eligibility requirements under an emergency 
preparedness demonstration program to assist disadvantaged communities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST 
              DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

    Section 629 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5197h) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 629. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST 
              DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall establish an emergency 
preparedness demonstration program to research and promote the capacity 
of disadvantaged communities to carry out programs to provide data, 
information, and awareness education by providing grants to or 
executing contracts or cooperative agreements with eligible nonprofit 
organizations to establish and conduct such programs.
    ``(b) Activities Supported.--An eligible nonprofit organization may 
use a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this 
section--
            ``(1) to conduct research into the status of emergency 
        preparedness and disaster response awareness in households of 
        disadvantaged individuals located in urban and rural 
        communities, particularly in those States and regions most 
        impacted by natural and manmade disasters and emergencies; and
            ``(2) to develop and promote awareness of emergency 
        preparedness education programs within disadvantaged 
        communities, including development and preparation of 
        culturally competent educational and awareness materials that 
        can be used to disseminate information to organizations and 
        institutions serving disadvantaged individuals.
    ``(c) Eligible Organizations.--An organization shall be eligible to 
be awarded a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
section with respect to a program if the organization is a nonprofit 
organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and exempt from tax under 
section 501(a) of such Code, whose primary mission is to provide 
services to disadvantaged communities, and that can demonstrate a 
partnership with a disadvantaged business enterprise, including 
enterprises located in a HUBZone, with respect to the program.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement awarded under this section may only use the 
proceeds of the grant, contract, or agreement to--
            ``(1) acquire expert professional services necessary to 
        conduct research in disadvantaged communities, including 
        African American and Hispanic communities;
            ``(2) develop and prepare informational materials to 
        promote awareness among disadvantaged communities about 
        emergency preparedness and how to protect their households and 
        communities in advance of disasters;
            ``(3) establish consortia with national organizations 
        serving disadvantaged individuals, institutions of higher 
        education serving disadvantaged individuals, and faith-based 
        institutions to disseminate information about emergency 
        preparedness to disadvantaged communities; and
            ``(4) implement a joint project with an institution serving 
        disadvantaged individuals, including a part B institution (as 
        defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1061(2))), an institution described in subparagraph 
        (A), (B), or (C) of section 326(e)(1) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1063b(e)(1)(A), (B), or (C)), and a Hispanic-serving 
        institution (as defined in section 502(a)(5) of that Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))).
    ``(e) Application and Review Procedure.--To be eligible to receive 
a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, an 
organization must submit an application to the Director at such time, 
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Director may 
reasonably require. The Director shall establish a procedure by which 
to accept such applications.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
            ``(1) Disadvantaged business enterprise.--The term 
        `disadvantaged business enterprise' means a business enterprise 
        owned and controlled by disadvantaged individuals.
            ``(2) Disadvantaged community.--The term `disadvantaged 
        community' means a community predominately populated by 
        disadvantaged individuals.
            ``(3) Disadvantaged individual.--The term `disadvantaged 
        individual' means a socially or economically disadvantaged 
        individual as defined by section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).
            ``(4) HUBZone.--The term `HUBZone' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        632(p)).
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal years 2004 through 2007. Such sums shall remain available 
until expended.''.
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