[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4506 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4506

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
   Assistance Act to provide assistance for areas that experience a 
disaster that results in major damage to or destruction of 100 homes or 
                                 fewer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 3, 2004

Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Foley, Mr. Shaw, 
 and Mr. Deutsch) 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 provide assistance for areas that experience a 
disaster that results in major damage to or destruction of 100 homes or 
                                 fewer.

    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 ``Small Disaster Assistance Act of 
2004''.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTERS AFFECTING 100 HOMES OR FEWER.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 425. ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTERS AFFECTING 100 HOMES OR FEWER.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (c), in the case of an 
event that results in major damage to or destruction of 100 homes or 
fewer, the President may grant the request of the Governor of the 
affected State for a declaration that a major disaster exists under 
section 401, notwithstanding the limited severity and magnitude of the 
event, if the President determines that Federal assistance under this 
title is necessary due to the existence of 1 or more factors listed in 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Factors.--In determining whether to grant the request of the 
Governor of the affected State under subsection (a), the President 
shall consider whether the following factors exist in the immediate 
area of the event:
            ``(1) A large population of historically and economically 
        disadvantaged individuals.
            ``(2) A median family income level below the national, 
        State, or local average.
            ``(3) High unemployment.
            ``(4) A large population of uninsured homeowners or 
        renters.
            ``(5) A large elderly population.
            ``(6) A high concentration of damage.
            ``(7) A high level of trauma, including injuries, deaths, 
        disruption of community services, and emergency needs.
    ``(c) Limitations on Relief.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), total 
        assistance provided under this title for a major disaster 
        declared under subsection (a) shall not exceed--
                    ``(A) $1,000,000 if the disaster results in major 
                damage to or destruction of between 1 and 50 homes; or
                    ``(B) $2,000,000 if the disaster results in major 
                damage to or destruction of between 51 and 100 homes.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Total assistance provided under this 
        title for a major disaster declared under subsection (a) may 
        exceed the limitation in paragraph (1) if the President 
        determines that--
                    ``(A) continued disaster assistance is immediately 
                required;
                    ``(B) there is a continuing and immediate risk to 
                lives, property, public health, or safety; or
                    ``(C) necessary assistance will not otherwise be 
                provided on a timely basis.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to all disasters occurring on or after August 1, 2003.
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