[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 2, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H3022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FEMA ACCOUNTABILITY, MODERNIZATION AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2017

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1679) to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency's current efforts to modernize its grant management system 
includes applicant accessibility and transparency, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1679

       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 Accountability, 
     Modernization and Transparency Act of 2017''.

     SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall ensure the ongoing modernization of 
     the grant systems for the administration of assistance under 
     the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) includes the 
     following:
       (1) An online interface, including online assistance, for 
     applicants to complete application forms, submit materials, 
     and access the status of applications.
       (2) Mechanisms to eliminate duplication of benefits.
       (3) If appropriate, enable the sharing of information among 
     agencies and with State, local, and tribal governments, to 
     eliminate the need to file multiple applications and speed 
     disaster recovery.
       (4) Any additional tools the Administrator determines will 
     improve the implementation of this section.
       (b) Implementation.--To the extent practicable, the 
     Administrator shall deliver the system capabilities described 
     in subsection (a) in increments or iterations as working 
     components for applicant use.

     SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

       No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 
     requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried 
     out using amounts otherwise authorized.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

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