[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4611 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4611

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to strengthen the participation of small businesses in 
 recovery efforts following a major disaster, emergency, or terrorist 
                                 event.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2005

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi 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 strengthen the participation of small businesses in 
 recovery efforts following a major disaster, emergency, or terrorist 
                                 event.

    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 Business Disaster Relief and 
Recovery Participation Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. USE OF LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND NONDISCRIMINATION IN MAJOR 
              DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY.

    The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 307 and 308 
and inserting the following:

``SEC. 307. USE OF LOCAL FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS.

    ``(a) In General.--In the expenditure of Federal funds for debris 
clearance, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other major 
disaster or emergency assistance activities, that may be carried out by 
contract or agreement with private organizations, firms, or 
individuals, a preference shall be given, to the maximum extent 
feasible and practicable, to an organization, firm, or individual 
residing or doing business primarily in the area affected by the major 
disaster, emergency, or terrorist event by reason of which the 
assistance activities are provided.
    ``(b) Contracting Goal.--The Government shall set a goal of not 
less than 10 percent of the total dollar value of the contracts or 
agreements described in subsection (a) to be awarded to firms that are 
located in a county, parish, or equivalent division of general local 
government within the area for which the President declares a major 
disaster, emergency, or terrorist event, or in a county, parish or 
division that is adjacent to such an area, during the period for which 
such designation is in effect.
    ``(c) Department of Defense Resources.--This section does not 
restrict the use of Department of Defense resources in the provision of 
major disaster assistance under this Act.

``SEC. 308. NONDISCRIMINATION IN ASSISTANCE AFTER MAJOR DISASTERS, 
              EMERGENCIES, AND TERRORIST EVENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The President shall issue, and may alter and 
amend, such regulations as may be necessary for the guidance of 
personnel carrying out Federal assistance functions at the site of a 
major disaster, emergency, or terrorist event. Such regulations shall 
include provisions for ensuring that the distribution of supplies, the 
processing of applications, and other relief and assistance activities 
shall be accomplished in an equitable and impartial manner, without 
discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, 
sex, age, or economic status.
    ``(b) Entities Providing Disaster Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--As a condition of participation in the 
        distribution of assistance or supplies under this Act or of 
        receiving assistance under this Act, entities of State and 
        local government, non-governmental organizations, quasi-
        governmental organizations, and other organizations, shall be 
        required to comply with any regulations relating to 
        nondiscrimination that are promulgated by the President under 
        subsection (a) and any such other regulations applicable to 
        activities carried out within an area affected by a major 
        disaster, emergency, or terrorist event as the President 
        determines may be necessary for the effective coordination of 
        relief efforts.
            ``(2) Small business concerns.--In awarding contracts or 
        agreements for debris clearance, distribution of supplies, 
        reconstruction, and other assistance activities relating to a 
        major disaster, emergency, or terrorist event, a Government 
        agency, entity of State or local government, non-governmental 
        organization, quasi-governmental organization, or other 
        organization shall fully consider utilizing expedited 
        procurement tools for small business concerns, socially and 
        economically disadvantaged small business concerns, small 
        business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled 
        veterans, and HUBZone small business concerns (as those terms 
        are defined in the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et 
        seq.)).''.
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