[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6542 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6542

       To improve assistance after a hurricane or major disaster.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2012

 Mr. Richmond introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To improve assistance after a hurricane or major disaster.

    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 ``FEMA Reform Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. FAST FUNDING.

    Not later than 3 days after the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
completes a preliminary damage assessment for any State or local 
government, 50 percent of the amount estimated for such assessment 
shall be released to the State or local government.

SEC. 3. HAZARD MITIGATION.

    Mitigation funding for a State under section 404 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) 
shall be disseminated within areas of the State in proportion to the 
damage of a major disaster in such areas.

SEC. 4. REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OPTIONS.

    In addition to facilities covered under section 406 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5171), the President may make contributions to a State or local 
government to repair, restore, or replace vehicles and equipment, 
particularly vehicles and equipment used for public safety, 
transportation, and service. If a vehicle or equipment is more than 50 
percent damaged, the actual cash value of such vehicle or equipment may 
be used to replace it.

SEC. 5. INDIVIDUAL AND HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE.

    The President may provide financial assistance under section 408 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174) to repair permanent structures, including rental units, 
necessary for temporary or transitional housing in the areas affected 
by a major disaster.

SEC. 6. DISASTER RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL OPTIONS.

    For any major disaster that requires employees from the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency to be available for an extended period of 
time in a major disaster area to assist individuals with public 
assistance applications, the Agency shall establish a recruiting and 
training office in such area as soon as possible to facilitate the 
hiring of local individuals to assist with such applications.

SEC. 7. UTILITIES.

    Not later than 180 after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, and the Department of Energy shall evaluate and complete 
and publish a report outlining recommendations to public and private 
utilities, including electrical, water, sewer, and telecommunications, 
to reduce service interruptions during and after a hurricane.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the terms ``local government, major 
disaster, and State'' have the same meanings given such terms in 
section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
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