[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4460 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4460

   To improve the provision of disaster and mitigation assistance to 
   eligible individuals and households and to eligible State, local, 
   Tribal, and territorial governments and certain private nonprofit 
                 organizations, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 28, 2017

 Mr. Barletta (for himself and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
   and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial 
Services, 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 the provision of disaster and mitigation assistance to 
   eligible individuals and households and to eligible State, local, 
   Tribal, and territorial governments and certain private nonprofit 
                 organizations, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster Recovery 
Reform Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                      TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION

Sec. 101. National public infrastructure predisaster hazard mitigation.
Sec. 102. Additional mitigation activities.
Sec. 103. Wildfire prevention.
Sec. 104. Additional activities.
                TITLE II--DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

Sec. 201. Federal cost-share adjustments for repair, restoration, and 
                            replacement of damaged facilities.
Sec. 202. Eligibility for code implementation and enforcement.
Sec. 203. Program improvements.
Sec. 204. Prioritization of facilities.
Sec. 205. Guidance on evacuation routes.
Sec. 206. Proof of insurance.
Sec. 207. Duplication of benefits.
Sec. 208. State administration of assistance for direct temporary 
                            housing and permanent housing construction.
Sec. 209. Assistance to individuals and households.
Sec. 210. Multifamily lease and repair assistance.
Sec. 211. Federal disaster assistance nonprofit fairness.
Sec. 212. Management costs.
Sec. 213. Flexibility.
Sec. 214. Additional disaster assistance.
Sec. 215. National veterinary emergency teams.
      TITLE III--AGENCY MANAGEMENT, OVERSIGHT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sec. 301. Unified Federal environmental and historic preservation 
                            review.
Sec. 302. Closeout incentives.
Sec. 303. Performance of services.
Sec. 304. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection.
Sec. 305. Agency accountability.
Sec. 306. Audit of contracts.

                      TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION

SEC. 101. NATIONAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PREDISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION.

    Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c) by inserting ``Public'' after ``the 
        National'';
            (2) in subsection (e)(1)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (ii);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of clause 
                (iii) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) to establish and carry out 
                        enforcement activities to implement the latest 
                        published editions of relevant consensus-based 
                        codes, specifications, and standards that 
                        incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs 
                        and establish minimum acceptable criteria for 
                        the design, construction, and maintenance of 
                        residential structures and facilities that may 
                        be eligible for assistance under this Act for 
                        the purpose of protecting the health, safety, 
                        and general welfare of the buildings' users 
                        against disasters.'';
            (3) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``for mitigation 
                activities that are cost effective'' after 
                ``competitive basis''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Redistribution of unobligated amounts.--The President 
        shall--
                    ``(A) withdraw amounts of financial assistance made 
                available to a State (including amounts made available 
                to local governments of a State) under this subsection 
                that remain unobligated by the end of the third fiscal 
                year after the fiscal year for which the amounts were 
                allocated; and
                    ``(B) in the fiscal year following a fiscal year in 
                which amounts were withdrawn under subparagraph (A), 
                add the amounts to any other amounts available to be 
                awarded on a competitive basis pursuant to paragraph 
                (1).'';
            (4) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in paragraph (9) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph 
                (12); and
                    (C) by adding after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) the extent to which the State or local government 
        has facilitated the adoption and enforcement of the latest 
        published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, 
        specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest 
        hazard-resistant designs and establish criteria for the design, 
        construction, and maintenance of residential structures and 
        facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act 
        for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general 
        welfare of the buildings' users against disasters; and
            ``(11) the extent to which the assistance will fund 
        activities that increase the level of resiliency; and'';
            (5) by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:
    ``(i) National Public Infrastructure Predisaster Mitigation Fund.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The President shall establish in the 
        Treasury of the United States a separate account called the 
        National Public Infrastructure Predisaster Mitigation Fund (in 
        this section referred to as the `Predisaster Mitigation Fund'), 
        which shall be used exclusively to carry out this section, with 
        amounts in such account to be available until expended unless 
        otherwise provided.
            ``(2) Transfers to predisaster mitigation fund.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There shall be deposited in the 
                Predisaster Mitigation Fund with respect to each 
                disaster declared on or after August 1, 2017, an 
                additional amount equal to 6 percent of the estimated 
                aggregate amount of grants to be made pursuant to 
                sections 403, 406, 407, 408, 410, and 416.
                    ``(B) Estimated aggregate amount.--Not later than 
                180 days after each major disaster declaration, the 
                estimated aggregate amount of grants on which the 
                amount calculated in subparagraph (A) is based shall be 
                determined and need not be reduced, increased, or 
                changed due to variations in estimates.''; and
            (6) by striking subsection (m) and redesignating subsection 
        (n) as subsection (m).

SEC. 102. ADDITIONAL MITIGATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Hazard Mitigation Clarification.--Section 404(a) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170c(a)) is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the 
following: ``The President may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost 
of hazard mitigation measures which the President has determined are 
cost effective and which substantially reduce the risk of, or increase 
resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area 
affected by a major disaster.''.
    (b) Eligible Cost.--Section 406(e)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
5172(e)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting after 
        ``section'' the following: ``for disasters declared on or after 
        August 1, 2017, or a disaster in which a cost estimate has not 
        yet been finalized for a project,'';
            (2) in clause (i), by striking ``and'';
            (3) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) by striking ``codes, specifications, and 
                standards'' and inserting ``the latest published 
                editions of relevant consensus-based codes, 
                specifications, and standards that incorporate the 
                latest hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum 
                acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and 
                maintenance of residential structures and facilities 
                that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for 
                the purposes of protecting the health, safety, and 
                general welfare of a facility's users against 
                disasters'';
                    (B) by striking ``applicable at the time at which 
                the disaster occurred''; and
                    (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) in a manner that allows the 
                        facility to meet the definition of resilient 
                        developed pursuant to this subsection.''.
    (c) New Rules.--Section 406(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(e)) is 
further amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) New rules.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph, the President, 
                acting through the Administrator of the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a final 
                rulemaking that defines the terms `resilient' and 
                `resiliency' for purposes of this subsection.
                    ``(B) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                date on which the Administrator issues the final 
                rulemaking under this paragraph, the Administrator 
                shall issue any necessary guidance related to the 
                rulemaking.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator 
                shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the 
                regulations and guidance issued pursuant to this 
                paragraph.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 205(d)(2) of the Disaster 
Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) is amended by inserting 
``(B)'' after ``except that paragraph (1)''.

SEC. 103. WILDFIRE PREVENTION.

    (a) Mitigation Assistance.--Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Hazard Mitigation Assistance.--Whether or not a major 
disaster is declared, the President may provide hazard mitigation 
assistance in accordance with section 404 in any area affected by a 
fire for which assistance was provided under this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a))--
                    (A) by inserting before the first period ``, or any 
                area affected by a fire for which assistance was 
                provided under section 420''; and
                    (B) in the third sentence by inserting ``or event 
                under section 420'' after ``major disaster'' each place 
                it appears; and
            (2) in section 322(e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)), by 
        inserting ``or event under section 420'' after ``major 
        disaster'' each place it appears.
    (c) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, 
and the Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report containing a summary of any projects carried 
out, and any funding provided to those projects, under subsection (d) 
of section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) (as amended by this section).

SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Use of Assistance.--Recipients of hazard mitigation 
assistance provided under this section and section 203 may use the 
assistance to conduct activities to help reduce the risk of future 
damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a 
wildfire, including--
            ``(1) reseeding ground cover with quick-growing or native 
        species;
            ``(2) mulching with straw or chipped wood;
            ``(3) constructing straw, rock, or log dams in small 
        tributaries to prevent flooding;
            ``(4) placing logs and other erosion barriers to catch 
        sediment on hill slopes;
            ``(5) installing debris traps to modify road and trail 
        drainage mechanisms;
            ``(6) modifying or removing culverts to allow drainage to 
        flow freely;
            ``(7) adding drainage dips and constructing emergency 
        spillways to keep roads and bridges from washing out during 
        floods;
            ``(8) planting grass to prevent the spread of noxious 
        weeds;
            ``(9) installing warning signs;
            ``(10) establishing defensible space measures; and
            ``(11) reducing hazardous fuels.''.

                TITLE II--DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

SEC. 201. FEDERAL COST-SHARE ADJUSTMENTS FOR REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND 
              REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED FACILITIES.

    Section 406(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(b)) is amended by inserting 
after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Increased federal share.--
                    ``(A) Incentive measures.--The President may 
                provide incentives to a State or Tribal government to 
                invest in measures that increase readiness for, and 
                resilience from, a major disaster by recognizing such 
                investments through a sliding scale that increases the 
                minimum Federal share to 85 percent. Such measures may 
                include--
                            ``(i) the adoption of a mitigation plan 
                        approved under section 322;
                            ``(ii) investments in disaster relief, 
                        insurance, and emergency management programs;
                            ``(iii) encouraging the adoption and 
                        enforcement of the latest published editions of 
                        relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, 
                        and standards that incorporate the latest 
                        hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum 
                        acceptable criteria for the design, 
                        construction, and maintenance of residential 
                        structures and facilities that may be eligible 
                        for assistance under this Act for the purpose 
                        of protecting the health, safety, and general 
                        welfare of the buildings' users against 
                        disasters;
                            ``(iv) facilitating participation in the 
                        community rating system; and
                            ``(v) funding mitigation projects or 
                        granting tax incentives for projects that 
                        reduce risk.
                    ``(B) Comprehensive guidance.--Not later than 1 
                year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
                President, acting through the Administrator, shall 
                issue comprehensive guidance to State and Tribal 
                governments regarding the measures and investments that 
                will be recognized for the purpose of increasing the 
                Federal share under this section.
                    ``(C) Report.--One year after the issuance of the 
                guidance required by subparagraph (B), the 
                Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security 
                and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
                regarding the analysis of the Federal cost shares paid 
                under this section.
                    ``(D) Savings clause.--Nothing in this paragraph 
                prevents the President from increasing the Federal cost 
                share above 85 percent.''.

SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY FOR CODE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

    Section 406(a)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) base and overtime wages for extra hires to 
                facilitate the implementation and enforcement of 
                adopted building codes for a period of not more than 
                180 days after the major disaster is declared.''.

SEC. 203. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Hazard Mitigation.--Section 406(c) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``90 percent of''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``75 percent of''.
    (b) Participation.--Section 428(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1) In general.--'' before 
        ``Participation in''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) No conditions.--The President may not condition the 
        provision of Federal assistance under this Act on the election 
        by a State, Tribal, or local government, or owner or operator 
        of a private nonprofit facility to participate in the 
        alternative procedures adopted under this section.''.
    (c) Certification.--Section 428(e)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
5189f(e)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) Cost estimates.--Once certified by a 
                professionally licensed engineer and accepted by the 
                Administrator, the estimates on which grants made 
                pursuant to this section are based shall be presumed to 
                be reasonable, eligible, and actual costs as long as 
                there is no evidence of fraud.''.

SEC. 204. PRIORITIZATION OF FACILITIES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
provide guidance and training on an annual basis to State, Tribal, and 
local governments, first responders, and utility companies on--
            (1) the need to prioritize assistance to hospitals, nursing 
        homes, and other long-term care facilities to ensure that such 
        health care facilities remain functioning or return to 
        functioning as soon as practicable during power outages caused 
        by natural hazards, including severe weather events; and
            (2) how hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care 
        facilities should adequately prepare for power outages during a 
        major disaster or emergency.

SEC. 205. GUIDANCE ON EVACUATION ROUTES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Identification.--The Administrator of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, shall 
        develop and issue guidance for State, local, and Tribal 
        governments regarding the identification of evacuation routes.
            (2) Guidance.--The Administrator of the Federal Highway 
        Administration, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall revise existing 
        guidance or issue new guidance as appropriate for State, local, 
        and Tribal governments regarding the design, construction, 
        maintenance, and repair of evacuation routes.
    (b) Considerations.--
            (1) Identification.--In developing the guidance under 
        subsection (a)(1), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency shall consider--
                    (A) whether evacuation routes have resisted impacts 
                and recovered quickly from disasters, regardless of 
                cause;
                    (B) the need to evacuate special needs populations, 
                including--
                            (i) individuals with a physical or mental 
                        disability;
                            (ii) individuals in schools, daycare 
                        centers, mobile home parks, prisons, nursing 
                        homes and other long-term care facilities, and 
                        detention centers;
                            (iii) individuals with limited-English 
                        proficiency;
                            (iv) the elderly; and
                            (v) individuals who are tourists, seasonal 
                        workers, or homeless;
                    (C) the sharing of information and other public 
                communications with evacuees during evacuations;
                    (D) the sheltering of evacuees, including the care, 
                protection, and sheltering of animals;
                    (E) the return of evacuees to their homes; and
                    (F) such other items the Administrator considers 
                appropriate.
            (2) Design, construction, maintenance, and repair.--In 
        revising or issuing guidance under (a)(2), the Administrator of 
        the Federal Highway Administration shall consider--
                    (A) methods that assist evacuation routes to--
                            (i) withstand likely risks to viability, 
                        including flammability and hydrostatic forces;
                            (ii) improve durability, strength 
                        (including the ability to withstand tensile 
                        stresses and compressive stresses), and 
                        sustainability; and
                            (iii) provide for long-term cost savings;
                    (B) the ability of evacuation routes to effectively 
                manage contraflow operations;
                    (C) for evacuation routes on public lands, the 
                viewpoints of the applicable Federal Land Management 
                Agency regarding emergency operations, sustainability, 
                and resource protection; and
                    (D) such other items the Administrator considers 
                appropriate.

SEC. 206. PROOF OF INSURANCE.

    A State shall be deemed to have proven that an applicant has 
satisfied the purchase of insurance requirements under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
et seq.) when an encumbrance requiring the purchase and maintenance of 
insurance has been placed on the title of the property receiving the 
benefit of the grant or assistance. This section in no way removes or 
reduces the insurance requirements on an applicant under the Act and in 
no way limits the requirement that assistance provided under such Act 
be reduced or eliminated when the requirements are not met.

SEC. 207. DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--Section 312(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Waiver of general prohibition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The President may waive the 
                general prohibition provided in subsection (a) upon 
                request of a Governor on behalf of the State or on 
                behalf of a person, business concern, or any other 
                entity suffering losses as a result of a major disaster 
                or emergency, if the President finds such waiver is in 
                the public interest and will not result in waste, 
                fraud, or abuse. In making this decision, the President 
                may consider the following:
                            ``(i) The recommendations of the 
                        Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
                        Management Agency made in consultation with the 
                        Federal agency or agencies administering the 
                        duplicative program.
                            ``(ii) If a waiver is granted, the 
                        assistance to be funded is cost effective.
                            ``(iii) Equity and good conscience.
                            ``(iv) Other matters of public policy 
                        considered appropriate by the President.
                    ``(B) Grant or denial of waiver.--A request under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be granted or denied not later 
                than 45 days after submission of such request.
                    ``(C) Prohibition on determination that loan is a 
                duplication.--Notwithstanding subsection (c), in 
                carrying out subparagraph (A), the President may not 
                determine that a loan is a duplication of assistance, 
                provided that all Federal assistance is used toward a 
                loss suffered as a result of the major disaster or 
                emergency.''.
    (b) Funding of a Federally Authorized Water Resources Development 
Project.--
            (1) Eligible activities.--Notwithstanding section 312 of 
        the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) and its implementing regulations, 
        assistance provided pursuant to section 404 of such Act may be 
        used to fund activities authorized for construction within the 
        scope of a federally authorized water resources development 
        project of the Army Corps of Engineers if such activities are 
        also eligible activities under such section.
            (2) Federal funding.--All Federal funding provided under 
        section 404 pursuant to this subsection shall be applied toward 
        the Federal share of such project.
            (3) Non-federal match.--All non-Federal matching funds 
        required under section 404 pursuant to this subsection shall be 
        applied toward the non-Federal share of such project.
            (4) Total federal share.--Funding provided under section 
        404 pursuant to this subsection may not exceed the total 
        Federal share for such project.
            (5) No effect.--Nothing in this subsection shall--
                    (A) affect the cost share requirement of a hazard 
                mitigation measure under section 404;
                    (B) affect the eligibility criteria for a hazard 
                mitigation measure under section 404;
                    (C) affect the cost share requirements of a 
                federally authorized water resources development 
                project; and
                    (D) affect the responsibilities of a non-Federal 
                interest with respect to the project, including those 
                related to the provision of lands, easements, rights-
                of-way, dredge material disposal areas, and necessary 
                relocations.

SEC. 208. STATE ADMINISTRATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT TEMPORARY 
              HOUSING AND PERMANENT HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.

    Section 408(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking the paragraph heading and 
        inserting ``State-administered assistance and other needs 
        assistance.--'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``financial''; and
                    (B) by striking ``subsection (e)'' and inserting 
                ``subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e) if the 
                President and the State comply, as determined by the 
                Administrator, with paragraph (3)'';
            (3) in paragraph (1)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``financial''; and
                    (B) by striking ``subsection (e)'' and inserting 
                ``subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) In general.--
                    ``(A) Application.--A State desiring to provide 
                assistance under subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4) shall 
                submit to the President an application for the 
                delegation of the authority to administer the program.
                    ``(B) Criteria.--The President, in consultation and 
                coordination with States and local governments, shall 
                establish criteria for the approval of applications 
                submitted under subparagraph (A). The criteria shall 
                include, at a minimum--
                            ``(i) the demonstrated ability of the State 
                        to manage the program under this section;
                            ``(ii) there being in effect a plan 
                        approved by the President as to how the State 
                        will comply with applicable Federal laws and 
                        regulations and how the State will provide 
                        assistance under its plan;
                            ``(iii) a requirement that the State or 
                        local government comply with rules and 
                        regulations established pursuant to subsection 
                        (j); and
                            ``(iv) a requirement that the President, or 
                        the designee of the President, comply with 
                        subsection (i).
                    ``(C) Quality assurance.--Before approving an 
                application submitted under this section, the 
                President, or the designee of the President, shall 
                institute adequate policies, procedures, and internal 
                controls to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and program 
                mismanagement for this program and for programs under 
                subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4). The President shall 
                monitor and conduct quality assurance activities on a 
                State's implementation of programs under subsections 
                (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4). If, after approving an 
                application of a State submitted under this section, 
                the President determines that the State is not 
                administering the program established by this section 
                in a manner satisfactory to the President, the 
                President shall withdraw the approval.
                    ``(D) Audits.--The Office of the inspector general 
                shall provide for periodic audits of the programs 
                administered by States under this subsection.
                    ``(E) Applicable laws.--All Federal laws applicable 
                to the management, administration, or contracting of 
                the programs by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
                under this section shall be applicable to the 
                management, administration, or contracting by a non-
                Federal entity under this section.
                    ``(F) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of this paragraph, the inspector general 
                of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit a 
                report to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives a report on the State role to provide 
                assistance under this section. The report shall contain 
                an assessment of the effectiveness of the State's role 
                to provide assistance under this section, including--
                            ``(i) whether the State's role helped to 
                        improve the general speed of disaster recovery;
                            ``(ii) whether the States providing 
                        assistance under this section had the capacity 
                        to administer this section; and
                            ``(iii) recommendations for changes to 
                        improve the program if the State's role to 
                        administer the programs should be continued.
                    ``(G) Prohibition.--The President may not condition 
                the provision of Federal assistance under this Act by a 
                State, Tribal, or local government requesting a grant 
                under this section.
                    ``(H) Miscellaneous.--
                            ``(i) Notice and comment.--The 
                        Administrator may waive notice and comment 
                        rulemaking, if the Administrator determines 
                        doing so is necessary to expeditiously 
                        implement this section, and may carry out this 
                        section as a pilot program until such 
                        regulations are promulgated.
                            ``(ii) Final rule.--Not later than 2 years 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                        the Administrator shall issue final regulations 
                        to implement this subsection as amended by the 
                        Disaster Recovery Reform Act.
                            ``(iii) Waiver and expiration.--The 
                        authority under clause (i) and any pilot 
                        program implemented pursuant to such clause 
                        shall expire 2 years after date of enactment of 
                        this paragraph or upon issuance of final 
                        regulations pursuant to clause (ii), whichever 
                        occurs sooner.''.

SEC. 209. ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS.

    Section 408(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, excluding financial 
        assistance to rent alternate housing accommodations under 
        subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) and financial assistance to address 
        other needs under subsection (e)'' after ``disaster'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Other needs assistance.--The maximum financial 
        assistance any individual or household may receive under 
        subsection (e) shall be equivalent to the amount set forth in 
        paragraph (1) with respect to a single major disaster.'';
            (4) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1) and (2)''; and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
            ``(4) Exclusion of necessary expenses for individuals with 
        disabilities.--
                    ``(A) The maximum amount of assistance established 
                under paragraph (1) shall exclude expenses to repair or 
                replace damaged accessibility-related improvements 
                under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) 
                for individuals with disabilities.
                    ``(B) The maximum amount of assistance established 
                under paragraph (2) shall exclude expenses to repair or 
                replace accessibility-related personal property under 
                subsection (e)(2) for individuals with disabilities.''.

SEC. 210. MULTIFAMILY LEASE AND REPAIR ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Lease and Repair of Rental Units for Temporary Housing.--
Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II)) is 
amended to read as follows:
                                    ``(II) Improvements or repairs.--
                                Under the terms of any lease agreement 
                                for property entered into under this 
                                subsection, the value of the 
                                improvements or repairs shall be 
                                deducted from the value of the lease 
                                agreement.''.
    (b) Rental Properties Impacted.--Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa) of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa)) is amended to read as follows:
                                            ``(aa) enter into lease 
                                        agreements with owners of 
                                        multifamily rental property 
                                        impacted by a major disaster or 
                                        located in areas covered by a 
                                        major disaster declaration to 
                                        house individuals and 
                                        households eligible for 
                                        assistance under this section; 
                                        and''.
    (c) Inspector General Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall assess the use of the authority 
provided under section 408(c)(1)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)), 
including the adequacy of any benefit-cost analysis done to justify the 
use of this alternative, and submit a report on the results of that 
review to the appropriate committees of Congress.

SEC. 211. FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE NONPROFIT FAIRNESS.

    (a) Definition of Private Nonprofit Facility.--Section 102(11)(B) 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122(11)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Additional facilities.--In addition to the 
                facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term 
                `private nonprofit facility' includes any private 
                nonprofit facility that provides essential services of 
                a governmental nature to the general public (including 
                museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community 
                arts centers, community centers, houses of worship 
                exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986, libraries, homeless 
                shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation 
                facilities, shelter workshops, and facilities that 
                provide health and safety services of a governmental 
                nature), as defined by the President.''.
    (b) Repair, Restoration, and Replacement of Damaged Facilities.--
Section 406(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
                    ``(C) Houses of worship.--A church, synagogue, 
                mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a 
                private nonprofit facility operated by a religious 
                organization, shall be eligible for contributions under 
                paragraph (1)(B), without regard to the religious 
                character of the facility or the primary religious use 
                of the facility.''.
    (c) Applicability.--This section and the amendments made by this 
section shall apply to the provision of assistance in response to a 
major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.

SEC. 212. MANAGEMENT COSTS.

    Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``any administrative 
        expense, and any other expense not directly chargeable to'' and 
        inserting ``direct administrative cost, and any other 
        administrative expense associated with''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding'';
                    (B) by striking ``establish'' and inserting the 
                following: ``implement the following:''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Specific management costs.--The Administrator shall 
        provide the following percentage rates, in addition to the 
        eligible project costs, to cover direct and indirect costs of 
        administering the following programs:
                    ``(A) Hazard mitigation.--A grantee under section 
                404 may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the 
                total amount of the grant award under such section of 
                which not more than 10 percent may be used by the 
                grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.
                    ``(B) Public assistance.--A grantee under sections 
                403, 406, 407, and 502 may be reimbursed not more than 
                12 percent of the total award amount under such 
                sections, of which not more than 7 percent may be used 
                by the grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such 
                costs.''.

SEC. 213. FLEXIBILITY.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered assistance'' 
means assistance provided--
            (1) under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
        Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174); and
            (2) in relation to a major disaster or emergency declared 
        by the President under section 401 or 501 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) on or after October 28, 2012.
    (b) Waiver Authority.--Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, 
United States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency--
            (1) subject to paragraph (2), may waive a debt owed to the 
        United States related to covered assistance provided to an 
        individual or household if--
                    (A) the covered assistance was distributed based on 
                an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
                    (B) there was no fault on behalf of the debtor; and
                    (C) the collection of the debt would be against 
                equity and good conscience; and
            (2) may not waive a debt under paragraph (1) if the debt 
        involves fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or 
        misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having an interest 
        in the claim.
    (c) Monitoring of Covered Assistance Distributed Based on Error.--
            (1) In general.--The inspector general of the Department of 
        Homeland Security shall monitor the distribution of covered 
        assistance to individuals and households to determine the 
        percentage of such assistance distributed based on an error.
            (2) Removal of waiver authority based on excessive error 
        rate.--If the inspector general determines, with respect to any 
        12-month period, that the amount of covered assistance 
        distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency exceeds 4 percent of the total amount of 
        covered assistance distributed--
                    (A) the inspector general shall notify the 
                Administrator and publish the determination in the 
                Federal Register; and
                    (B) with respect to any major disaster declared by 
                the President under section 401 of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 5170) after the date of the determination, 
                the authority of the Administrator to waive debt under 
                subsection (b) shall no longer be effective.

SEC. 214. ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Disaster Mitigation.--Section 209 of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3149) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Disaster Mitigation.--In providing assistance pursuant to 
subsection (c)(2), if appropriate and as applicable, the Secretary may 
encourage hazard mitigation in assistance provided pursuant to such 
subsection.''.
    (b) Emergency Management Assistance Compact Grants.--Section 661(d) 
of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 
761(d)) is amended by striking ``for fiscal year 2008'' and inserting 
``for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022''.
    (c) Emergency Management Performance Grants Program.--Section 
662(f) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 
U.S.C. 762(f)) is amended by striking ``the program'' and all that 
follows through ``2012'' and inserting ``the program, for each of 
fiscal years 2018 through 2022''.
    (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170a) 
is amended by striking the second subparagraph (J).

SEC. 215. NATIONAL VETERINARY EMERGENCY TEAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency may establish one or more national veterinary 
emergency teams at accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.
    (b) Responsibilities.--A national veterinary emergency team shall--
            (1) deploy with a team of the National Urban Search and 
        Rescue Response System to assist with--
                    (A) veterinary care of canine search teams;
                    (B) locating and treating companion animals, 
                service animals, livestock, and other animals; and
                    (C) surveillance and treatment of zoonotic 
                diseases;
            (2) recruit, train, and certify veterinary professionals, 
        including veterinary students, in accordance with an 
        established set of plans and standard operating guidelines to 
        carry out the duties associated with planning for and 
        responding to emergencies as described in paragraph (1);
            (3) assist State, Tribal, and local governments and 
        nonprofit organizations in developing emergency management and 
        evacuation plans that account for the care and rescue of 
        animals and in improving local readiness for providing 
        veterinary medical response during a disaster; and
            (4) coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, 
        the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of 
        Agriculture, State, Tribal, and local governments (including 
        State departments of animal and human health), veterinary and 
        health care professionals, and volunteers.

      TITLE III--AGENCY MANAGEMENT, OVERSIGHT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

SEC. 301. UNIFIED FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION 
              REVIEW.

    (a) Review and Analysis.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall review the Unified Federal Environmental and 
Historic Preservation review process established pursuant to section 
429 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5189g), and submit a report to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate that includes the following:
            (1) An analysis of whether and how the unified process has 
        expedited the interagency review process to ensure compliance 
        with the environmental and historic requirements under Federal 
        law relating to disaster recovery projects.
            (2) A survey and analysis of categorical exclusions used by 
        other Federal agencies that may be applicable to any activity 
        related to a Presidentially declared major disaster or 
        emergency under such Act.
            (3) Recommendations on any further actions, including any 
        legislative proposals, needed to expedite and streamline the 
        review process.
    (b) Regulations.--After completing the review, survey, and analyses 
under subsection (a), but not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and after providing notice and opportunity for 
public comment, the Administrator shall issue regulations to implement 
any regulatory recommendations, including any categorical exclusions 
identified under subsection (a), to the extent that the categorical 
exclusions meet the criteria for a categorical exclusion under section 
1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and section II of DHS 
Instruction Manual 023-01-001--01.

SEC. 302. CLOSEOUT INCENTIVES.

    (a) Facilitating Closeout.--Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Facilitating Closeout.--
            ``(1) Incentives.--The Administrator may develop incentives 
        and penalties that encourage State, Tribal, or local 
        governments to close out expenditures and activities on a 
        timely basis related to disaster or emergency assistance.
            ``(2) Agency requirements.--The Agency shall, consistent 
        with applicable regulations and required procedures, meet its 
        responsibilities to improve closeout practices and reduce the 
        time to close disaster program awards.''.
    (b) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue regulations to 
implement this section.

SEC. 303. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES.

    Section 306 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(c) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
is authorized to appoint temporary personnel, after serving 
continuously for 1 year, to positions in the Agency in the same manner 
that competitive service employees are considered for transfer, 
reassignment, or promotion to such positions. An individual appointed 
under this subsection shall become a career-conditional employee, 
unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for 
career tenure.''.

SEC. 304. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION COLLECTION.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall--
            (1) in coordination with the Small Business Administration, 
        the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other 
        appropriate agencies, conduct a study and develop a plan, 
        consistent with law, under which the collection of information 
        from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be 
        modified, streamlined, expedited, efficient, flexible, 
        consolidated, and simplified to be less burdensome, 
        duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; 
        and
            (2) submit the plan to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
        Senate.

SEC. 305. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 430. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY.

    ``(a) Public Assistance.--Not later than 5 days after an award of a 
public assistance grant is made under section 406 that is in excess of 
$1,000,000, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency's website the 
specifics of each such grant award, including--
            ``(1) identifying the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
        Region;
            ``(2) the disaster or emergency declaration number;
            ``(3) the State, county, and applicant name;
            ``(4) if the applicant is a private nonprofit;
            ``(5) the damage category code;
            ``(6) the amount of the Federal share obligated; and
            ``(7) the date of the award.
    ``(b) Mission Assignments.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 days after the issuance 
        of a mission assignment or mission assignment task order, the 
        Administrator shall publish on the Agency's website any mission 
        assignment or mission assignment task order to another Federal 
        department or agency regarding a major disaster in excess of 
        $1,000,000, including--
                    ``(A) the name of the impacted State or Tribe;
                    ``(B) the disaster declaration for such State or 
                Tribe;
                    ``(C) the assigned agency;
                    ``(D) the assistance requested;
                    ``(E) a description of the disaster;
                    ``(F) the total cost estimate;
                    ``(G) the amount obligated;
                    ``(H) the State or Tribal cost share, if 
                applicable;
                    ``(I) the authority under which the mission 
                assignment or mission assignment task order was 
                directed; and
                    ``(J) if applicable, the date a State or Tribe 
                requested the mission assignment.
            ``(2) Recording changes.--Not later than 10 days after the 
        last day of each month until a mission assignment or mission 
        assignment task order described in paragraph (1) is completed 
        and closed out, the Administrator shall update any changes to 
        the total cost estimate and the amount obligated.
    ``(c) Disaster Relief Monthly Report.--Not later than 10 days after 
the first day of each month, the Administrator shall publish on the 
Agency's website reports, including a specific description of the 
methodology and the source data used in developing such reports, 
including--
            ``(1) an estimate of the amounts for the fiscal year 
        covered by the President's most recent budget pursuant to 
        section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, including--
                    ``(A) the unobligated balance of funds to be 
                carried over from the prior fiscal year to the budget 
                year;
                    ``(B) the unobligated balance of funds to be 
                carried over from the budget year to the budget year 
                plus 1;
                    ``(C) the amount of obligations for non-
                catastrophic events for the budget year;
                    ``(D) the amount of obligations for the budget year 
                for catastrophic events delineated by event and by 
                State;
                    ``(E) the total amount that has been previously 
                obligated or will be required for catastrophic events 
                delineated by event and by State for all prior years, 
                the current fiscal year, the budget year, and each 
                fiscal year thereafter;
                    ``(F) the amount of previously obligated funds that 
                will be recovered for the budget year;
                    ``(G) the amount that will be required for 
                obligations for emergencies, as described in section 
                102(1), major disasters, as described in section 
                102(2), fire management assistance grants, as described 
                in section 420, surge activities, and disaster 
                readiness and support activities; and
                    ``(H) the amount required for activities not 
                covered under section 251(b)(2)(D)(iii) of the Balanced 
                Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
                U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(D)(iii)); and
            ``(2) an estimate or actual amounts, if available, of the 
        following for the current fiscal year shall be submitted not 
        later than the fifth day of each month, published by the 
        Administrator on the Agency's website not later than the fifth 
        day of each month:
                    ``(A) A summary of the amount of appropriations 
                made available by source, the transfers executed, the 
                previously allocated funds recovered, and the 
                commitments, allocations, and obligations made.
                    ``(B) A table of disaster relief activity 
                delineated by month, including--
                            ``(i) the beginning and ending balances;
                            ``(ii) the total obligations to include 
                        amounts obligated for fire assistance, 
                        emergencies, surge, and disaster support 
                        activities;
                            ``(iii) the obligations for catastrophic 
                        events delineated by event and by State; and
                            ``(iv) the amount of previously obligated 
                        funds that are recovered.
                    ``(C) A summary of allocations, obligations, and 
                expenditures for catastrophic events delineated by 
                event.
                    ``(D) The cost of the following categories of 
                spending:
                            ``(i) Public assistance.
                            ``(ii) Individual assistance.
                            ``(iii) Mitigation.
                            ``(iv) Administrative.
                            ``(v) Operations.
                            ``(vi) Any other relevant category 
                        (including emergency measures and disaster 
                        resources) delineated by disaster.
                    ``(E) The date on which funds appropriated will be 
                exhausted.
    ``(d) Contracts.--
            ``(1) Information.--Not later than 10 days after the first 
        day of each month, the Administrator shall publish on the 
        Agency's website the specifics of each contract in excess of 
        $1,000,000 that the Agency enters into, including--
                    ``(A) the name of the party;
                    ``(B) the date the contract was awarded;
                    ``(C) the amount of the contract, the scope of the 
                contract;
                    ``(D) if the contract was awarded through 
                competitive bidding process;
                    ``(E) if no competitive bidding process was used, 
                the reason why competitive bidding was not used; and
                    ``(F) the authority used to bypass the competitive 
                bidding process.
        The information shall be delineated by disaster, if applicable, 
        and specify the damage category code, if applicable.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 10 days after the last day of 
        the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide a report to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress summarizing the 
        following information for the preceding fiscal year:
                    ``(A) The number of contracts awarded without 
                competitive bidding.
                    ``(B) The reasons why a competitive bidding process 
                was not used.
                    ``(C) The total amount of contracts awarded with no 
                competitive bidding.
                    ``(D) The damage category codes, if applicable, for 
                contracts awarded without competitive bidding.''.

SEC. 306. AUDIT OF CONTRACTS.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall not reimburse a State, 
Tribe, or local government or the owner or operator of a private 
nonprofit facility for any activities made pursuant to a contract 
entered into after August 1, 2017, that prohibits the Administrator or 
the Comptroller General of the United States from auditing or otherwise 
reviewing all aspects relating to the contract.
                                 <all>