[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6567 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6567

   To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a 
    Territorial Disaster Recovery Program to continuously identify, 
   monitor, and address factors and capability gaps that hinder the 
   execution and completion of recovery activities relating to major 
disasters by eligible entities located in the territories of the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 1, 2023

 Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. 
Sablan, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Meng, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Green of 
  Texas, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Ocasio-
 Cortez, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Titus, Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon, and Ms. Plaskett) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a 
    Territorial Disaster Recovery Program to continuously identify, 
   monitor, and address factors and capability gaps that hinder the 
   execution and completion of recovery activities relating to major 
disasters by eligible entities located in the territories of the United 
                                States.

    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 ``Strengthening Capacity for Disaster 
Resilient Territories Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States territories are particularly 
        vulnerable to extreme weather events, which have become more 
        frequent and stronger in recent years.
            (2) Category-5 Hurricane Maria, which made its landfall in 
        Puerto Rico on September 20th, 2017, is considered to be the 
        second deadliest storm recorded in United States history.
            (3) Category-5 Hurricane Irma, which struck the U.S. Virgin 
        Islands and Puerto Rico on September 6th, 2017, is considered 
        to be the second-most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 
        2017.
            (4) Typhoon Mawar, which struck Guam on May 19th, 2023, and 
        the south of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands on May 24th, 2023, 
        is considered to be the strongest to hit Guam since 2002.
            (5) Super Typhoon Yutu, which struck the Northern Mariana 
        Islands on October 24th, 2018, is considered to be the 
        strongest typhoon recorded to impact the Mariana Islands.
            (6) Hurricane Fiona made its landfall as a Category-1 
        Hurricane in Puerto Rico on September 18th, 2022, causing 
        severe flooding and compounding the damage left by Hurricanes 
        Irma and Maria.
            (7) A major disaster declaration was issued for the 
        territory of American Samoa on September 16th, 2022, due to 
        high surf, high winds, and flooding.
            (8) Rising sea levels, caused by ocean warming, contribute 
        to the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, and the 
        fragile condition of coastal environments in the United States 
        territories. This translates to disrupted economic activity, 
        such as tourism, agriculture and fishing, damaged dwellings, 
        and limited drinking water supplies.
            (9) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (hereinafter 
        referred to as ``FEMA'') has obligated significant amounts of 
        funding to address multiple natural disasters in the United 
        States territories.
            (10) As of October 2023, FEMA had obligated an estimated 
        $40,980,000,000 in Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, Power 
        Reconstruction and Permanent Work to address damages caused by 
        Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. In addition, as of September 
        2023, FEMA had obligated an estimated $328,000,000 in Public 
        Assistance to address damages caused by Hurricane Fiona in 
        Puerto Rico.
            (11) As of April 2023, FEMA had obligated an estimated 
        $2,900,000,000 in Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation to 
        address damages caused by Hurricane Maria in the Virgin 
        Islands. In addition, as of December 2022, FEMA had obligated 
        an estimated $89,000,000 in Public Assistance and Hazard 
        Mitigation to address damages caused by Hurricane Irma in the 
        Virgin Islands.
            (12) After the passage of Typhoon Mangkhut and Super 
        Typhoon Yutu in Guam and the Northen Mariana Islands, FEMA 
        obligated a total of $677,200,000 between 2018 and 2020 to aid 
        response and recovery efforts related to both disasters.
            (13) The United States territories have similar 
        vulnerabilities that result in long and difficult recovery 
        processes.
            (14) The economies of the United States territories depend 
        heavily on tourism to create revenue. Such dependency 
        undermines disaster resiliency, given the industry's 
        susceptibility to external shocks, such as atmospheric 
        conditions, financial crises, and global pandemics. Any of this 
        phenomenon can reduce the number of visitors and trigger the 
        closure of businesses and lay-offs.
            (15) The United States territories struggle with high 
        levels of public debt, which impact their ability to provide 
        cash advances to initiate disaster recovery projects. Notably--
                    (A) Puerto Rico is in the midst of debt 
                restructuring proceedings that, as of 2023, have 
                reduced Puerto Rico's public debt from over $70 billion 
                to $37 billion and pension liabilities from $55 billion 
                to $7 billion;
                    (B) as of 2019, Virgin Islands' public debt stood 
                at $2,600,000,000, representing 65 percent of its Gross 
                Domestic Product; and
                    (C) as of 2021, Guam's public debt stood at 
                $2,600,000,000, representing 43 percent of its Gross 
                Domestic Product.
            (16) The physical infrastructure of the United States 
        territories, including electricity grids and water plants, is 
        outdated, and has lacked appropriate maintenance and hardening.
            (17) The United States territories face housing 
        affordability and availability challenges that impact their 
        ability to absorb the influx of the recovery workforce after a 
        disaster occurs.
            (18) The United States territories are situated in remote 
        locations, which results in higher import costs, significant 
        delays in the shipping and transportation of construction 
        materials necessary to carry out recovery projects, and 
        barriers for staff seeking to travel to the continental United 
        States to receive recovery training.
            (19) The United States territories have limited specialized 
        staff to adequately navigate and manage recovery programs, 
        including developing projects for obligation, using Public 
        Assistance to cover administrative and managerial costs, and 
        procuring goods and services according to Federal standards.
            (20) The United States territories hurdle to find and 
        procure specialized personnel to advance recovery efforts, such 
        as engineers and construction contractors, given the high 
        demand for these professionals by public agencies and large 
        corporations in the aftermath of disasters.
            (21) The United States territories struggle with dangerous 
        demographic patterns that exacerbate social, financial, and 
        economic fragilities. From 2010 to 2020, the populations of the 
        territories shrunk, and at a faster pace than any other 
        continental state. In such period, Puerto Rico's population was 
        reduced by 11.8 percent, U.S. Virgin Islands' population by 
        18.1 percent, Northen Mariana Islands' population by 12.2 
        percent, American Samoa's population by 10.5 percent, and 
        Guam's population by 3.5 percent. Additionally, the islands are 
        experiencing lower birthrates and higher death rates.
            (22) The postal addresses used in the United States 
        territories have not been recognized and registered by the 
        United States Postal Service, which can result in additional 
        obstacles for recovery, primarily for individuals and 
        households seeking to obtain FEMA assistance.
            (23) The United States territories have endured consecutive 
        major disasters, which has made it more difficult for FEMA to 
        correctly assess recent and older damages, and therefore 
        obligate funding for Public Assistance projects.
            (24) The United States territories encompass a variety of 
        languages, political sensitivities, and cultural differences 
        that Federal authorities like FEMA have not traditionally 
        considered, thereby impacting the territories' full and equal 
        participation in Federal disaster recovery programs.
    (b) Statement of Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to 
establish a program within FEMA to continuously identify, monitor, and 
address factors and capability gaps that hinder the execution and 
completion of recovery activities by eligible entities located in the 
territories of the United States under sections 403, 404, 406, 407, and 
502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
            (2) Community.--The term ``community'' means a network of 
        individuals and families, businesses, governmental and 
        nongovernmental organizations, and other civic organizations 
        that reside or operate within a shared geographical boundary 
        and may be represented by a common political leadership at a 
        regional, county, municipal, or neighborhood level.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
        entity eligible for a grant under section 403, 404, 406, 407, 
        or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (5121 U.S.C. et seq.).
            (4) Recovery.--The term ``recovery'' means the capabilities 
        and actions necessary to recover effectively from a major 
        disaster declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
        and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), 
        including--
                    (A) rebuilding infrastructure systems;
                    (B) providing adequate interim and long-term 
                housing for individuals impacted by such incident;
                    (C) restoring health, social, and community 
                services;
                    (D) promoting economic development; and
                    (E) restoring natural and cultural resources.
            (5) Territory of the united states.--The term ``territory 
        of the United States'' means American Samoa, the Commonwealth 
        of the Northen Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 4. TERRITORIAL DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Territorial Disaster 
Recovery Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'') to 
continuously identify, monitor, and address factors and capability gaps 
of local emergency managers, or other applicable emergency response 
coordinators, and eligible entities located in the territories of the 
United States in carrying out recovery activities relating to major 
disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
    (b) Duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Administrator shall--
            (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, identify and analyze 
        gaps in identifying, applying and receiving assistance, and 
        carrying out recovery activities described in subsection (a) 
        that are specific to eligible entities located in the 
        territories of the United States;
            (2) provide technical assistance to the entities described 
        in paragraph (1) in applying for grants under sections 403, 
        404, 406, 407, and 502 of such Act that--
                    (A) is tailored to meet the needs of applicants at 
                each stage of the administration of projects for which 
                grants are made under such sections; and
                    (B) takes into account the challenges of--
                            (i) applicants who are located in remote or 
                        difficult-to-access areas;
                            (ii) applicants who are part of a minority 
                        cultural group;
                            (iii) applicants with limited English 
                        language proficiency; and
                            (iv) applicants with slow internet speeds 
                        or limited broadband access;
            (3) design online and in-person training courses that are 
        specific to the entities described in paragraph (1) and that 
        address the capability gaps identified under this section;
            (4) develop best practices regarding the administration of 
        projects in the territories of the United States for which 
        grants are made under sections 403, 404, 406, 407, and 502 of 
        such Act;
            (5) develop feedback mechanisms for entities receiving 
        technical assistance or training under this section; and
            (6) foster meaningful collaboration with local experts, 
        community leaders, and other members of the community, that 
        leads to the performance of activities under this section that 
        are locally informed and relevant to local needs.
    (c) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter for the 
        duration of the Program, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
        of the Senate a report on--
                    (A) any capability gaps identified under subsection 
                (b)(1);
                    (B) the nature of any technical assistance provided 
                under the Program;
                    (C) any online or in-person training courses 
                developed, or planned to be developed under the 
                Program;
                    (D) any best practices identified under subsection 
                (b)(4); and
                    (E) an analysis of, responses to, and any 
                activities carried out as a result of feedback received 
                by applicants for assistance under the Program and 
                entities receiving such assistance.
            (2) Final report.--In the report required to be submitted 
        in the final year for which the Program is authorized, the 
        Administrator shall include recommendations on--
                    (A) whether to continue the Program;
                    (B) if a continuation of the program is 
                recommended, the suggested duration of such 
                continuation; and
                    (C) the necessary funding to carry out the Program.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.
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