[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5134 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5134
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to expand eligibility for individual and public
assistance to certain areas and to include cumulative damage from
multiple natural catastrophes in the definition of major disaster, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 23, 2024
Ms. Warren (for herself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to expand eligibility for individual and public
assistance to certain areas and to include cumulative damage from
multiple natural catastrophes in the definition of major disaster, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Impact of Disasters and
Emergencies Relief Act'' or the ``RIDER Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTIGUOUS AREA.
Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Contiguous Area.--
``(1) In general.--Any area under the jurisdiction of a
State, local government, or Indian tribal government, including
an area located in a State for which the President did not
declare a major disaster, that is contiguous to an area that
the President designates as eligible for any form of covered
assistance as a result of a major disaster (in this paragraph
referred to as the `eligible area') may be designated by the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as
being eligible for any form of covered assistance for which the
eligible area is eligible with respect to such disaster.
``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered
assistance' means--
``(A) hazard mitigation assistance provided under
section 404;
``(B) any assistance provided to an individual or
household under sections 408, 410, 415, 416, or 426;
and
``(C) any public assistance provided under sections
403, 406, or 407.''.
SEC. 3. CUMULATIVE DAMAGE.
(a) Definitions.--Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ```Major disaster' means'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--The term `major disaster'
means''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Inclusion.--The term `major disaster'
includes a series of 2 or more natural catastrophes,
fires, floods, or explosions described in subparagraph
(A)--
``(i) with respect to each of which the
Governor of the affected State requested that
the President declare that a major disaster
exists under section 401(a);
``(ii) that occurred during a 12-month
period; and
``(iii) that individually do not cause
damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to
warrant major disaster assistance under this
Act, but that, in the determination of the
President, cumulatively causes damage of
sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant
such assistance.''.
SEC. 4. INTERIM GUIDANCE.
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue
interim guidance to implement the amendments made by sections 2 and 3.
SEC. 5. RULEMAKING.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, shall issue such rules and regulations as
are necessary to--
(1) ensure compliance with section 1232 of the FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2018 (42 U.S.C. 5170 note); and
(2) implement the amendments made by sections 2 and 3.
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