[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13165-S13166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG:
  S. 1786. A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to establish a grant program for assisting 
small business and agricultural enterprises in meeting disaster-related 
expenses; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

[[Page S13166]]

        small business and agricultural enterprise grant program

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I ask that a copy of the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  The bill follows:

                                S. 1786

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

     SECTION 1. SMALL BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT 
                   PROGRAM.

       Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170a et seq.) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 425. SMALL BUSINESS AND AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Agricultural enterprise.--The term `agricultural 
     enterprise' includes--
       ``(A) a farm not larger than a family farm (within the 
     meaning of section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a))); and
       ``(B) an enterprise engaged in the business of production 
     of food or fiber, ranching or raising of livestock, 
     aquaculture, or any other farming or agricultural related 
     industry (within the meaning of section 3(a) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a))).
       ``(2) Small business.--The term `small business' has the 
     meaning given the term `small business concern' under section 
     3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
       ``(b) Grant Program.--The President may make grants to 
     assist small businesses and agricultural enterprises 
     adversely affected by a major disaster in meeting disaster-
     related expenses, including the costs of nonstructural 
     repairs and replacement of noninsured contents and inventory.
       ``(c) Conditions.--
       ``(1) No relocation assistance.--A small business or 
     agricultural enterprise receiving a grant under this 
     section--
       ``(A) shall not use the proceeds of the grant for 
     relocation; but
       ``(B) may use the proceeds of the grant for appropriate 
     purposes in a new location, at the discretion of the 
     President, for a safety, health, or mitigation purpose.
       ``(2) Duplicative assistance.--
       ``(A) In general.--A small business or agricultural 
     enterprise receiving assistance in the form of a grant under 
     this section shall be liable to the United States to the 
     extent that the assistance duplicates benefits provided to 
     the small business or agricultural enterprise for the same 
     purpose by another Federal agency.
       ``(B) Debt collection.--A Federal agency that provides any 
     duplicative assistance described in subparagraph (A) shall 
     collect an amount equal to the value of the duplicative 
     assistance from the recipient in accordance with chapter 37 
     of title 31, United States Code, in any case in which the 
     head of the agency considers such collection to be in the 
     best interest of the Federal Government.
       ``(C) Inapplicability of duplication of benefits 
     provision.--Section 312 shall not apply to assistance 
     provided under this section.
       ``(d) Funding Limitations.--
       ``(1) One major disaster only.--A small business or 
     agricultural enterprise shall be eligible for a grant under 
     this section in relation to not more than 1 major disaster.
       ``(2) Maximum amount of grant.--The maximum amount that a 
     small business or agricultural enterprise may receive under 
     this section shall be $20,000.
       ``(e) Time Period for Making Grants.--The President may 
     make a grant under this section only during the 90-day period 
     beginning on the date of declaration of a major disaster 
     under this title.
       ``(f) Regulations.--The President shall promulgate 
     regulations to carry out this section, including criteria, 
     standards, and procedures for the determination of 
     eligibility for grants and the administration of grants under 
     this section.
       ``(g) Applicability.--
       ``(1) Date of disaster.--This section shall apply to any 
     major disaster declared after September 1, 1999, and before 
     the date of enactment of this section.
       ``(2) Limitation on time period for making grants.--For the 
     purpose of subsection (e), with respect to a major disaster 
     described in paragraph (1), the 90-day period shall begin on 
     the date of enactment of this section.''.
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