[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 209 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H10364-H10394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FURTHER SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018


                             General Leave

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on H.R. 4667.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 670, I 
call up the bill (H.R. 4667) making further supplemental appropriations 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assistance 
for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and calendar year 2017 
wildfires, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 670, the 
amendments printed in House Report 115-477 are adopted.
  The bill, as amended, contains an emergency designation pursuant to 
section 4(g)(1) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. 
Accordingly, the Chair must put the question of consideration under 
section 4(g)(2) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.
  The question is, Will the House now consider the bill?
  The question of consideration was decided in the affirmative.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, is considered read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 4667

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

                    DIVISION A--DISASTER ASSISTANCE

        The following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes, namely:

[[Page H10365]]

  


                                TITLE I

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                        Office of the Secretary

       For an additional amount for the ``Office of the 
     Secretary'', $2,600,000,000, which shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2019, for necessary expenses related to 
     crops, trees, bushes, vines, and livestock losses resulting 
     from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and other hurricanes and 
     wildfires occurring in calendar year 2017 under such terms 
     and conditions as determined by the Secretary: Provided, That 
     the Secretary may provide assistance for such losses in the 
     form of block grants to eligible states and territories: 
     Provided further, That the total amount of payments received 
     under this heading and applicable policies of crop insurance 
     under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) 
     or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) 
     under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
     Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) shall not exceed 85 
     percent of the loss as determined by the Secretary: Provided 
     further, That the total amount of payments received under 
     this heading for producers who did not obtain a policy or 
     plan of insurance for an insurable commodity for the 2017 
     crop year, or 2018 crop year in the case of citrus, under the 
     Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) for the 
     crop incurring the losses or did not file the required 
     paperwork and pay the service fee by the applicable State 
     filing deadline for a noninsurable commodity for the 2017 
     crop year under NAP for the crop incurring the losses shall 
     not exceed 65 percent of the loss as determined by the 
     Secretary: Provided further, That producers receiving 
     payments under this heading, as determined by the Secretary, 
     shall be required to purchase crop insurance where crop 
     insurance is available for the next two available crop years, 
     and producers receiving payments under this heading shall be 
     required to purchase coverage under NAP where crop insurance 
     is not available in the next two available crop years, as 
     determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That, not 
     later than 90 days after the end of fiscal year 2018, the 
     Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress specifying 
     the type, amount, and method of such assistance by state and 
     territory and the status of the amounts obligated and plans 
     for further expenditure and include improvements that can be 
     made to Federal Crop Insurance policies, either 
     administratively or legislatively, to increase participation, 
     particularly among underserved producers, in higher levels of 
     coverage in future years for crops qualifying for assistance 
     under this heading: Provided further, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                      Office of Inspector General

       For an additional amount for ``Office of Inspector 
     General'', $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, 
     for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and activities 
     funded by this division and administered by the Department of 
     Agriculture: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     Agricultural Research Service

                        buildings and facilities

       For an additional amount for ``Buildings and Facilities'', 
     $22,000,000, to remain available until expended, for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma and Maria: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                          Farm Service Agency

                     emergency conservation program

       For an additional amount for the ``Emergency Conservation 
     Program'' for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and of wildfires 
     occurring in calendar year 2017, and other natural disasters, 
     $400,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That not less than $300,000,000 of the amount made available 
     in the previous proviso shall be for necessary expenses 
     resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided further, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

               watershed and flood prevention operations

       For an additional amount, for ``Watershed and Flood 
     Prevention Operations'', for necessary expenses for the 
     Emergency Watershed Protection Program related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and of 
     wildfires occurring in calendar year 2017, and other natural 
     disasters, $541,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That not less than $400,000,000 of the amount made 
     available in the previous proviso shall be for necessary 
     expenses resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to 
     the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided further, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                       RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

                         Rural Housing Service

              rural housing insurance fund program account

       For an additional amount for costs of direct loans, 
     including costs relating to modification of such loans, as 
     those terms are defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a), $18,672,000 shall be for 
     direct loans for the rehabilitation of section 515 rental 
     housing (42 U.S.C. 1485) in locations where owners were not 
     required to carry national flood insurance, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such funds 
     shall be for areas impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and 
     Maria: Provided further, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        Rural Utilities Service

             rural water and waste disposal program account

       For an additional amount for the ``Rural Water and Waste 
     Disposal Program Account'', $165,475,000, to remain available 
     until expended, for grants to repair drinking water systems 
     and sewer and solid waste disposal systems impacted by 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, That not to 
     exceed $2,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this 
     heading shall be for technical assistance grants for rural 
     water and waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act: Provided 
     further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                       Food and Nutrition Service

                      commodity assistance program

       For an additional amount for ``Commodity Assistance 
     Program'' for the emergency food assistance program as 
     authorized by section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
     2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)) and section 204(a)(1) of the 
     Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1)), 
     $24,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provisions of the 
     Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture may allocate additional foods and funds for 
     administrative expenses from resources specifically 
     appropriated, transferred, or reprogrammed to provide 
     resources to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
     and States affected by wildfires occurring in calendar year 
     2017 or Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as determined by 
     the Secretary, without regard to sections 204 and 214 of such 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 7508, 7515): Provided further, That such funds 
     will be designated for States impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria, or wildfire and subject to a federal major 
     disaster or emergency declaration: Provided further, That 
     such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                        buildings and facilities

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Buildings and Facilities'', 
     $7,600,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria: Provided, That such amount may be 
     transferred to ``Department of Health and Human Services--
     Food and Drug Administration Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     costs related to repair of facilities, for replacement of 
     equipment, and for other increases in facility-related costs: 
     Provided further, That obligations incurred for the purposes 
     provided herein prior to the date of enactment of this Act 
     may be charged to funds appropriated by this paragraph: 
     Provided further, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISION--THIS TITLE

       Sec. 101. (a) Section 1501(d)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 
     2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``not more 
     than $20,000,000'' and inserting ``not more than 
     $40,000,000''.
       (b) The amount provided by subsection (a) for fiscal year 
     2018 is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                                TITLE II

                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                  Economic Development Administration

                economic development assistance programs

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Pursuant to section 703 of the Public Works and Economic 
     Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3233), for an additional amount 
     for ``Economic Development Assistance Programs'' for 
     necessary expenses related to

[[Page H10366]]

     flood mitigation, disaster relief, long-term recovery, and 
     restoration of infrastructure in areas that received a major 
     disaster designation as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, 
     and Maria, and the calendar year 2017 wildfires, under the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $600,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided 
     under this heading is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That within the amount appropriated, 
     up to 2 percent of funds may be transferred to the ``Salaries 
     and Expenses'' account for administration and oversight 
     activities: Provided further, That within the amount 
     appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be transferred to the ``Office 
     of Inspector General'' account for carrying out 
     investigations and audits related to the funding provided 
     under this heading.

            National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration

                  operations, research, and facilities

       For an additional amount for ``Operations, Research, and 
     Facilities'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $120,904,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, 
     as follows: (1) $12,904,000 for repair and replacement of 
     observing assets, Federal real property, and equipment; (2) 
     $18,000,000 for marine debris assessment and removal; (3) 
     $40,000,000 for mapping, charting, and geodesy services; and 
     (4) $50,000,000 to improve weather forecasting, hurricane 
     intensity forecasting and flood forecasting and mitigation 
     capabilities, including data assimilation from ocean 
     observing platforms and satellites: Provided, That the amount 
     provided under this heading is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

               procurement, acquisition and construction

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Acquisition and 
     Construction'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $79,232,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, as 
     follows: (1) $29,232,000 for repair and replacement of 
     Federal real property and observing assets; and (2) 
     $50,000,000 for improvements to operational and research 
     weather supercomputing infrastructure and for improvement of 
     satellite ground services used in hurricane intensity and 
     track prediction: Provided, That the amount provided under 
     this heading is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                         DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

                     United States Marshals Service

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $2,500,000: Provided, That the 
     amount provided under this heading is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    Federal Bureau of Investigation

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $21,200,000: Provided, That the 
     amount provided under this heading is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    Drug Enforcement Administration

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $11,500,000: Provided, That the 
     amount provided under this heading is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                         Federal Prison System

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $16,000,000: Provided, That the 
     amount provided under this heading is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        buildings and facilities

       For an additional amount for ``Buildings and Facilities'' 
     for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $34,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided 
     under this heading is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                                SCIENCE

             National Aeronautics and Space Administration

       construction and environmental compliance and restoration

       For an additional amount for ``Construction and 
     Environmental Compliance and Restoration'' for repairs at 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration facilities 
     damaged by hurricanes during 2017, $81,300,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided 
     under this heading is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                      National Science Foundation

                    research and related activities

       For an additional amount for ``Research and Related 
     Activities'' for necessary expenses to repair National 
     Science Foundation radio observatory facilities damaged by 
     hurricanes that occurred during 2017, $16,300,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided 
     under this heading is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That the National Science Foundation 
     shall submit a spending plan to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     within 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                       Legal Services Corporation

               payment to the legal services corporation

        For an additional amount for ``Payment to the Legal 
     Services Corporation'' to carry out the purposes of the Legal 
     Services Corporation Act by providing for necessary expenses 
     related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and 
     Maria, $1,000,000: Provided, That the amount made available 
     under this heading shall be used only to provide the mobile 
     resources, technology, and disaster coordinators necessary to 
     provide storm-related services to the Legal Services 
     Corporation client population and only in the areas 
     significantly affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: 
     Provided further, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That none of 
     the funds appropriated in this division to the Legal Services 
     Corporation shall be expended for any purpose prohibited or 
     limited by, or contrary to any of the provisions of, sections 
     501, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 506 of Public Law 105-119, and 
     all funds appropriated in this division to the Legal Services 
     Corporation shall be subject to the same terms and conditions 
     set forth in such sections, except that all references in 
     sections 502 and 503 to 1997 and 1998 shall be deemed to 
     refer instead to 2017 and 2018, respectively, and except that 
     sections 501 and 503 of Public Law 104-134 (referenced by 
     Public Law 105-119) shall not apply to the amount made 
     available under this heading: Provided further, That, for the 
     purposes of this division, the Legal Services Corporation 
     shall be considered an agency of the United States 
     Government.

                               TITLE III

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE--MILITARY

                       OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

                    operation and maintenance, army

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army'', $20,110,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2018, for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    operation and maintenance, navy

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Navy'', $267,796,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2018, for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                operation and maintenance, marine corps

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Marine Corps'', $17,920,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                  operation and maintenance, air force

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Air Force'', $20,916,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                operation and maintenance, defense-wide

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Defense-Wide'', $2,650,000,

[[Page H10367]]

     to remain available until September 30, 2018, for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma or Maria: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                operation and maintenance, army reserve

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army Reserve'', $12,500,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                operation and maintenance, navy reserve

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Navy Reserve'', $2,922,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

              operation and maintenance, air force reserve

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Air Force Reserve'', $5,770,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

             operation and maintenance, army national guard

        For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army National Guard'', $55,471,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                              PROCUREMENT

                        other procurement, navy

        For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Navy'' 
     $18,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, 
     for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     Revolving and Management Funds

                     defense working capital funds

        For an additional amount for ``Defense Working Capital 
     Funds'' for the Navy Working Capital Fund, $9,486,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2018, for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma or Maria: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                  Other Department of Defense Programs

                         defense health program

       For an additional amount for operation and maintenance for 
     ``Defense Health Program'', $704,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2018, for necessary expenses related to 
     the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria: 
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                                TITLE IV

                       CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL

                         DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

                       Corps of Engineers--Civil

                             investigations

       For an additional amount for ``Investigations'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $75,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended to expedite and complete at full Federal 
     expense studies, including Preconstruction Engineering and 
     Design, for flood and storm damage reduction, including shore 
     protection, in areas that were affected by Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, or Maria: Provided, That the Secretary may use funding 
     provided under this heading to complete ongoing studies, to 
     initiate and complete up to two authorized studies for 
     assessing regional flood and storm risks, and to initiate and 
     complete up to six authorized feasibility studies: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary shall consider giving priority to 
     studies in areas that suffered the most damage from these 
     hurricanes and to studies in areas that have had multiple 
     major disaster declarations in recent years: Provided 
     further, That a report identifying all ongoing studies, 
     authorized studies for assessing regional flood and storm 
     risks in the impacted areas, and authorized feasibility 
     studies eligible for funding under this heading, including 
     identification of whether each study is in a category to be 
     considered for priority, shall be submitted to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act: Provided further, That no allocation shall be made 
     to initiate any new study until the Secretary submits to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate a list of all new studies selected to be 
     initiated using funds provided under this heading: Provided 
     further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That beginning not later than 60 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant 
     Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall provide monthly 
     reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate detailing the allocation and 
     obligation of these funds.

                              construction

       For an additional amount for ``Construction'' for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of natural disasters, 
     including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $10,480,000,000, to remain available until expended to 
     rehabilitate, repair, and construct United States Army Corps 
     of Engineers projects: Provided, That $55,000,000 of the 
     funds provided under this heading shall be used to address 
     emergency situations at Corps of Engineers projects, and to 
     rehabilitate and repair damages to Corps of Engineers 
     projects, caused by natural disasters: Provided further, That 
     $10,425,000,000 of the funds provided under this heading 
     shall be used to expedite construction of projects for flood 
     and storm damage reduction, including shore protection, in 
     areas that were affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or 
     Maria: Provided further, That the Secretary shall consider 
     giving priority to projects located in areas that suffered 
     the most damage from these hurricanes and to projects located 
     in areas that have had multiple major disaster declarations 
     in recent years: Provided further, That funding utilized for 
     authorized shore protection projects shall restore such 
     projects from the design level of protection to the full 
     project profile at full Federal expense: Provided further, 
     That the completion of ongoing construction projects 
     receiving funds provided under this heading shall be at full 
     Federal expense with respect to such funds: Provided further, 
     That upon approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate funds provided under 
     this heading may be used to construct any project studied 
     using funds provided under the heading ``Investigations'' or 
     any project with a completed Chief's Report that has not yet 
     been authorized if the Secretary determines that the project 
     is technically feasible, economically justified, and 
     environmentally acceptable: Provided further, That, using 
     these funds, the non-Federal cash contribution for authorized 
     but unconstructed projects, projects with completed Chief's 
     Reports that have not yet been authorized, or projects that 
     are funded as ongoing studies under the heading 
     ``Investigations'' shall be financed in accordance with the 
     provisions of section 103(k) of Public Law 99-662 over a 
     period of 30 years from the date of completion of the project 
     or separable element: Provided further, That a report 
     identifying all ongoing construction projects, authorized but 
     unconstructed projects, and projects with completed Chief's 
     Reports that have not yet been authorized, including project 
     cost estimates and identification of whether each project is 
     in a category to be considered for priority, shall be 
     submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate not later than 45 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That not 
     more than $500,000,000 of the funds provided to expedite 
     construction shall be available until such report is 
     submitted: Provided further, That for projects funded under 
     this heading, the provisions of section 902 of the Water 
     Resources Development Act of 1986 shall not apply to these 
     funds: Provided further, That up to $50,000,000 of the funds 
     provided to expedite construction shall be used to expedite 
     continuing authorities projects to reduce the risk of 
     flooding and storm damage in areas impacted by Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, or Maria: Provided further, That any projects 
     using funds appropriated under this heading shall be 
     initiated only after non-Federal interests have entered into 
     binding agreements with the Secretary requiring the non-
     Federal interests to pay 100 percent of the operation, 
     maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation costs of 
     the project and to hold and save the United States free from 
     damages due to the construction or operation and maintenance 
     of the project, except for damages due to the fault or 
     negligence of the United States or its contractors: Provided 
     further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That beginning not later than 60 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant 
     Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall provide monthly 
     reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate detailing the allocation and 
     obligation of these funds.

                   mississippi river and tributaries

       For an additional amount for ``Mississippi River and 
     Tributaries'', $370,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for necessary

[[Page H10368]]

     expenses to dredge navigation projects in response to, and 
     repair damages to Corps of Engineers projects caused by, 
     natural disasters: Provided, That such amount is designated 
     by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That beginning 
     not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works 
     shall provide monthly reports to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     detailing the allocation and obligation of these funds.

                       operation and maintenance

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance'' 
     for necessary expenses to dredge navigation projects in 
     response to, and repair damages to Corps of Engineers 
     projects caused by, natural disasters, $608,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, of which such sums as are 
     necessary to cover the Federal share of eligible operation 
     and maintenance costs for coastal harbors and channels, and 
     for inland harbors shall be derived from the Harbor 
     Maintenance Trust Fund: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement 
     pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, 
     That beginning not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Army 
     for Civil Works shall provide monthly reports to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate detailing the allocation and obligation of 
     these funds.

                 flood control and coastal emergencies

       For an additional amount for ``Flood Control and Coastal 
     Emergencies'', as authorized by section 5 of the Act of 
     August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n), for necessary expenses to 
     prepare for flood, hurricane and other natural disasters and 
     support emergency operations, repairs, and other activities 
     in response to such disasters, as authorized by law, 
     $537,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That beginning not later than 60 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant 
     Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall provide monthly 
     reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate detailing the allocation and 
     obligation of these funds.

                                expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Expenses'' for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria, $20,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended to oversee emergency response and recovery 
     activities: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That beginning 
     not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works 
     shall provide monthly reports to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     detailing the allocation and obligation of these funds.

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                            ENERGY PROGRAMS

              Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

       For an additional amount for ``Electricity Delivery and 
     Energy Reliability'', $13,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for necessary expenses related to natural 
     disasters, including technical assistance related to electric 
     grids: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                      Strategic Petroleum Reserve

       For an additional amount for ``Strategic Petroleum 
     Reserve'', $8,716,000, to remain available until expended, 
     for necessary expenses related to damages caused by natural 
     disasters: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISION--THIS TITLE

       Sec. 401.  In fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter, the Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of 
     Engineers shall transmit to the Congress, after reasonable 
     opportunity for comment, but without change, by the Assistant 
     Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, a monthly report, the 
     first of which shall be transmitted to Congress not later 
     than 2 days after the date of enactment of this Act and 
     monthly thereafter, which includes detailed estimates of 
     damages to each Corps of Engineers project, caused by natural 
     disasters or otherwise.

                                TITLE V

                    General Services Administration

                         federal buildings fund

       For an additional amount to be deposited in the ``Federal 
     Buildings Fund'', $126,951,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma, for repair and 
     alteration of buildings under the custody and control of the 
     Administrator of General Services, and real property 
     management and related activities not otherwise provided for: 
     Provided, That funds may be used to reimburse the ``Federal 
     Buildings Fund'' for obligations incurred for this purpose 
     prior to enactment of this Act: Provided further, That not 
     more than $15,000,000 shall be available for tenant 
     improvements in damaged U.S. courthouses: Provided further, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                     Small Business Administration

                     disaster loans program account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for the ``Small Business 
     Administration--Disaster Loans Program Account'' for the cost 
     of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the Small 
     Business Act, $1,652,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That up to $618,000,000 may be 
     transferred to and merged with ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     administrative expenses to carry out the disaster loan 
     program authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act: 
     Provided further, That none of the funds provided under this 
     heading may be used for indirect administrative expenses: 
     Provided further, That the amount provided under this heading 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                      Office of Inspector General

       For an additional amount for the ``Small Business 
     Administration--Office of Inspector General'', $7,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended:  Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                                TITLE VI

                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

                      Office of Inspector General

                         operations and support

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $25,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2020, for audits and investigations of 
     activities funded by this title:  Provided, That such amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                   U.S. Customs and Border Protection

                         operations and support

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $104,494,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2019:  Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: 
     Provided further, That not more than $39,400,000 may be used 
     to carry out U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities in 
     fiscal year 2018 in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
     Islands, in addition to any other amounts available for such 
     purposes.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Construction, 
     and Improvements'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $3,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022:  
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That funds are 
     provided to carry out U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
     activities in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
     Islands, in addition to any other amounts available for such 
     purposes.

                U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

                         operations and support

        For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' 
     for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $30,905,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019:  Provided, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Construction, 
     and Improvements'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $33,052,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022:  
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                 Transportation Security Administration

                         operations and support

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' for 
     necessary expenses related

[[Page H10369]]

     to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $10,322,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019:  
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                              Coast Guard

                           operating expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Operating Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $112,136,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2019:  Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                environmental compliance and restoration

       For an additional amount for ``Environmental Compliance and 
     Restoration'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $4,038,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022:  
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

              acquisition, construction, and improvements

       For an additional amount for ``Acquisition, Construction, 
     and Improvements'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Matthew, 
     $718,919,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022:  
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                  Federal Emergency Management Agency

                         operations and support

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' for 
     necessary expenses, $58,800,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2019:  Provided, That such amount is designated 
     by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement 
     pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Construction, 
     and Improvements'' for necessary expenses, $1,200,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2020:  Provided, That 
     such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                          disaster relief fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Disaster Relief Fund'' for 
     major disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
     et seq.), $27,500,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency shall publish on the Agency's 
     website not later than 5 days after an award of a public 
     assistance grant under section 406 or 428 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5172 or 5189f) that is in excess of $1,000,000, the 
     specifics of each such grant award: Provided further, That 
     for any mission assignment or mission assignment task order 
     to another Federal department or agency regarding a major 
     disaster in excess of $1,000,000, not later than 5 days after 
     the issuance of such mission assignment or mission assignment 
     task order, the Administrator shall publish on the Agency's 
     website the following: the name of the impacted State, the 
     disaster declaration for such State, the assigned agency, the 
     assistance requested, a description of the disaster, the 
     total cost estimate, and the amount obligated: Provided 
     further, That not later than 10 days after the last day of 
     each month until a mission assignment or mission assignment 
     task order described in the preceding proviso is completed 
     and closed out, the Administrator shall update any changes to 
     the total cost estimate and the amount obligated: Provided 
     further, That for a disaster declaration related to 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria, the Administrator shall 
     submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate, not later than 5 days after 
     the first day of each month beginning after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and shall publish on the Agency's 
     website, not later than 10 days after the first day of each 
     such month, an estimate or actual amount, if available, for 
     the current fiscal year of the cost of the following 
     categories of spending: public assistance, individual 
     assistance, operations, mitigation, administrative, and any 
     other relevant category (including emergency measures and 
     disaster resources): Provided further, That not later than 10 
     days after the first day of each month, the Administrator 
     shall publish on the Agency's website the report (referred to 
     as the Disaster Relief Monthly Report) as required by Public 
     Law 114-4.
       Of the amounts provided under this heading for the Disaster 
     Relief Fund, up to $4,000,000,000 may be transferred to the 
     Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program Account for the cost 
     of direct loans as authorized under section 417 of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5184) to be used to assist local governments in 
     providing essential services as a result of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, or Maria: Provided further, That such amounts 
     may subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of 
     direct loans not to exceed $4,000,000,000 under section 417 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184): Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 417 of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5184), a territory or possession, and instrumentalities and 
     local governments thereof, of the United States shall be 
     deemed to be a local government for purposes of this 
     paragraph: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 
     417(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184(b)), the amount of 
     any such loan issued to a territory or possession, and 
     instrumentalities and local governments thereof, may be based 
     on the projected loss of tax and other revenues and on 
     projected cash outlays not previously budgeted for a period 
     not to exceed 180 days from the date of the major disaster, 
     and may exceed $5,000,000: Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law or the 
     constitution of a territory or possession that limits the 
     issuance of debt, a territory or possession, and 
     instrumentalities and local governments thereof, may each 
     receive more than one loan with repayment provisions and 
     other terms specific to the type of lost tax and other 
     revenues and on projected unbudgeted cash outlays for which 
     the loan is provided: Provided further, That notwithstanding 
     section 417(c)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
     and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184(c)(1)), loans to 
     a territory or possession, and instrumentalities and local 
     governments thereof, may be cancelled in whole or in part 
     only at the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury: Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of the Treasury, shall determine the terms, 
     conditions, eligible uses, and timing and amount of Federal 
     disbursements of loans issued to a territory or possession, 
     and instrumentalities and local governments thereof: Provided 
     further, That such costs, including the cost of modifying 
     such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a): Provided 
     further, That the Federal Emergency Management Agency may 
     transfer up to 1.5 percent of the amount under this paragraph 
     to the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program Account for 
     administrative expenses to carry out under this paragraph the 
     direct loan program, as authorized by section 417 of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5184): Provided further, That of the amount 
     provided under this paragraph for transfer, up to 
     $150,000,000 may be transferred to the Disaster Assistance 
     Direct Loan Program Account for the cost to lend a territory 
     or possession of the United States that portion of assistance 
     for which the territory or possession is responsible under 
     the cost-sharing provisions of the major disaster declaration 
     for Hurricanes Irma or Maria, as authorized under section 319 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5162): Provided further, That of 
     the amount provided under this paragraph for transfer, up to 
     $1,000,000 may be transferred to the Disaster Assistance 
     Direct Loan Program Account for administrative expenses to 
     carry out the Advance of Non-Federal Share program, as 
     authorized by section 319 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5162):  
     Provided further, That the amount provided under this heading 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

                         operations and support

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Support'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $5,374,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Construction, 
     and Improvements'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022: 
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE

       Sec. 601.  The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency may provide assistance, pursuant to section 
     428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et

[[Page H10370]]

     seq.), for critical services as defined in section 406 of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act for the duration of the recovery for incidents DR-4336-
     PR, DR-4339-PR, DR-4340-USVI, and DR-4335-USVI to--
       (1) replace or restore the function of a facility or system 
     to industry standards without regard to the pre-disaster 
     condition of the facility or system; and
       (2) replace or restore components of the facility or system 
     not damaged by the disaster where necessary to fully 
     effectuate the replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged 
     components to restore the function of the facility or system 
     to industry standards.
       Sec. 602. (a) The Federal share of assistance, including 
     direct Federal assistance, provided under section 407 of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5173), with respect to a major disaster 
     declared pursuant to such Act for damages resulting from a 
     wildfire in calendar year 2017, shall be 90 percent of the 
     eligible costs under such section.
       (b) The Federal share provided by subsection (a) shall 
     apply to assistance provided before, on, or after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

                               TITLE VII

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                       Fish and Wildlife Service

                              construction

       For an additional amount for ``Construction'' for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria, $210,629,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                         National Park Service

                       historic preservation fund

       For an additional amount for the ``Historic Preservation 
     Fund'' for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $17,500,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2019, including costs to States 
     necessary to complete compliance activities required by 
     section 306108 of title 54, United States Code (formerly 
     section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act), and 
     costs needed to administer the program: Provided, That grants 
     shall only be available for areas that have received a major 
     disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
     et seq.): Provided further, That individual grants shall not 
     be subject to a non-Federal matching requirement: Provided 
     further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                              construction

       For an additional amount for ``Construction'' for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria, $207,600,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    United States Geological Survey

                 surveys, investigations, and research

       For an additional amount for ``Surveys, Investigations, and 
     Research'' for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and in those areas 
     impacted by a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) with respect to wildfires in 2017, 
     $42,246,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                          Departmental Offices

                            Insular Affairs

                       assistance to territories

       For an additional amount for ``Technical Assistance'' for 
     financial management expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Irma and Maria, $3,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $2,500,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

                     Hazardous Substance Superfund

       For an additional amount for ``Hazardous Substance 
     Superfund'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $6,200,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                 Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund

       For an additional amount for ``Leaking Underground Storage 
     Tank Fund'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, 
     $7,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                             FOREST SERVICE

                       state and private forestry

       For an additional amount for ``State and Private Forestry'' 
     for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $7,500,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                         national forest system

       For an additional amount for ``National Forest System'' for 
     necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, $20,652,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                  capital improvement and maintenance

       For an additional amount for ``Capital Improvement and 
     Maintenance'' for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the 
     2017 fire season, $91,600,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISION--THIS TITLE

       Sec. 701.  Agencies receiving funds appropriated by this 
     title shall each provide a monthly report to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate detailing the allocation and obligation of these funds 
     by account, beginning not later than 90 days after enactment 
     of this Act.

                               TITLE VIII

                          DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

                 Employment and Training Administration

                    training and employment services

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Training and Employment 
     Services'', $30,000,000, for the dislocated workers 
     assistance national reserve for necessary expenses directly 
     related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and 
     Irma or the calendar year 2017 wildfires with major disaster 
     or emergency declarations under titles IV or V of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in 
     calendar year 2017, which shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2019: Provided, That these sums may be used to 
     replace grant funds previously obligated to the impacted 
     areas: Provided further, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                               job corps

       For an additional amount for ``Job Corps'' for 
     construction, rehabilitation and acquisition for Job Corps 
     Centers in Puerto Rico, $30,900,000, which shall be available 
     through June 30, 2021: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

               Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

                cdc-wide activities and program support

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``CDC-Wide Activities and 
     Program Support'', $200,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for response, recovery, preparation, mitigation, 
     and other expenses directly related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria: Provided, That obligations 
     incurred for the purposes provided herein prior to the date 
     of enactment of this Act may be charged to funds appropriated 
     by this paragraph: Provided further, That of the amount 
     provided, not less than $6,000,000 shall be transferred to 
     the ``Buildings and Facilities'' account for the purposes 
     provided herein: Provided further, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        Office of the Secretary

            public health and social services emergency fund

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For an additional amount for the ``Public Health and Social 
     Services Emergency

[[Page H10371]]

     Fund'', $177,000,000, to remain available until expended, for 
     response, recovery, preparation, mitigation and other 
     expenses directly related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, or Maria, including activities authorized under 
     section 319(a) of the Public Health Service Act (referred to 
     in this title as the ``PHS Act''):  Provided, That 
     $60,000,000 shall be transferred to ``Health Resources and 
     Services Administration--Primary Health Care'', for expenses 
     related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or 
     Maria for disaster response and recovery, for the Health 
     Centers Program under section 330 of the PHS Act: Provided 
     further, That not less than $50,000,000, of amounts 
     transferred under the preceding proviso, shall be available 
     for alteration, renovation, construction, equipment, and 
     other capital improvement costs as necessary to meet the 
     needs of areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria: 
     Provided further, That the time limitation in section 
     330(e)(3) of the PHS Act shall not apply to funds made 
     available under the preceding proviso: Provided further, That 
     not less than $20,000,000 shall be transferred to ``Substance 
     Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration--Health 
     Surveillance and Program Support'' for grants, contracts, and 
     cooperative agreements for behavioral health treatment, 
     crisis counseling, and other related helplines, and for other 
     similar programs to provide support to individuals impacted 
     by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria: Provided further, That 
     up to $2,000,000 shall be transferred to ``Office of the 
     Secretary--Office of Inspector General'' for oversight of 
     activities responding to such hurricanes: Provided further, 
     That obligations incurred for the purposes provided herein 
     prior to the date of enactment of this Act may be charged to 
     funds appropriated under this heading: Provided further, That 
     of the funds appropriated in this paragraph, $15,000,000 
     shall be transferred to the ``National Institutes of Health--
     Office of the Director'' for the purposes provided in this 
     paragraph: Provided further, That funds transferred to the 
     National Institutes of Health for the purpose of supporting 
     the repair or rebuilding of non-Federal biomedical or 
     behavioral research facilities damaged as a result of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria shall be used to award 
     grants or contracts for such purpose under section 404I of 
     the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That section 
     404I(c)(2) of such Act does not apply to the use of funds 
     described in the preceding proviso: Provided further, That 
     funds appropriated in this paragraph shall not be available 
     for costs that are reimbursed by the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency, under a contract for insurance, or by 
     self-insurance: Provided further, That such additional amount 
     is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                Administration for Children and Families

                children and families services programs

       For an additional amount for ``Children and Families 
     Services Programs'', $650,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2021, for Head Start programs, for necessary 
     expenses directly related to the consequences of Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, or Maria, including making payments under the 
     Head Start Act:  Provided, That none of the funds 
     appropriated in this paragraph shall be included in the 
     calculation of the ``base grant'' in subsequent fiscal years, 
     as such term is defined in sections 640(a)(7)(A), 
     641A(h)(1)(B), or 645(d)(3) of the Head Start Act: Provided 
     further, That funds appropriated in this paragraph are not 
     subject to the allocation requirements of section 640(a) of 
     the Head Start Act: Provided further, That funds appropriated 
     in this paragraph shall not be available for costs that are 
     reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, under 
     a contract for insurance, or by self-insurance: Provided 
     further, That up to $10,000,000 shall be available for 
     Federal administrative expenses: Provided further, That 
     obligations incurred for the purposes provided herein prior 
     to the date of enactment of this Act may be charged to funds 
     appropriated under this heading: Provided further, That such 
     additional amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                        DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

                      Hurricane Education Recovery

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Hurricane Education 
     Recovery'' for assisting in meeting the educational needs of 
     individuals affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria, or 
     calendar year 2017 wildfires for which the President declared 
     a major disaster or emergency 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) (referred to herein as a 
     ``covered disaster or emergency''), $2,900,000,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2021:  Provided, That such 
     additional amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985: Provided further, That--
       (1) such funds shall be used--
       (A) to make awards, which shall be available until 
     expended, to eligible entities for immediate aid to restart 
     school operations, in accordance with paragraph (2);
       (B) for temporary emergency impact aid for displaced 
     students, in accordance with paragraph (2);
       (C) for emergency assistance to institutions of higher 
     education and students attending institutions of higher 
     education in an area directly affected by a covered disaster 
     or emergency in accordance with paragraph (3);
       (D) for payments to institutions of higher education to 
     help defray the unexpected expenses associated with enrolling 
     displaced students from institutions of higher education 
     directly affected by a covered disaster or emergency, in 
     accordance with paragraph (4); and
       (E) to provide assistance to local educational agencies 
     serving homeless children and youth in accordance with 
     paragraph (5);
       (2) immediate aid to restart school operations and 
     temporary emergency impact aid for displaced students 
     described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall 
     be provided under the statutory terms and conditions that 
     applied to assistance under sections 102 and 107 of title IV 
     of division B of Public Law 109-148, respectively, including 
     the nondiscrimination provisions under section 107(m), except 
     that such sections shall be applied so that--
       (A) each reference to a major disaster declared in 
     accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) 
     shall be to a major disaster or emergency declared by the 
     President in accordance with section 401 or 501, 
     respectively, of such Act;
       (B) each reference to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita 
     shall be a reference to a covered disaster or emergency;
       (C) each reference to August 22, 2005, when used in 
     relation to a covered disaster or emergency, shall be to the 
     date that is one week prior to the date on which the major 
     disaster or emergency was declared for the area;
       (D) each reference to the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, 
     Alabama, and Texas shall be to the States or territories 
     affected by a covered disaster or emergency, and each 
     reference to the State educational agencies of Louisiana, 
     Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas shall be a reference to the 
     State educational agencies that serve the states or 
     territories affected by a covered disaster or emergency;
       (E) each reference to the 2005-2006 school year shall be to 
     the 2017-2018 school year;
       (F) the references in section 102(h)(1) of title IV of 
     division B of Public Law 109-148 to the number of non-public 
     elementary schools and secondary schools in the State shall 
     be to the number of students in non-public elementary schools 
     and secondary schools in the State, and the reference in such 
     section to the 2003-2004 school year shall be to the most 
     recent data set for the 2016-2017 school year;
       (G) in determining the amount of immediate aid provided to 
     restart school operations as described in section 102(b) of 
     title IV of division B of Public Law 109-148, the Secretary 
     shall consider the number of students enrolled, during the 
     2016-2017 school year, in elementary schools and secondary 
     schools that were closed as a result of a covered disaster or 
     emergency;
       (H) in determining the amount of emergency impact aid that 
     a State educational agency is eligible to receive under 
     paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall, subject to section 
     107(d)(1)(B) of such title, provide--
       (i) $9,000 for each displaced student who is an English 
     learner, as that term is defined in section 8101 of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     7801);
       (ii) $10,000 for each displaced student who is a child with 
     disability (regardless of whether the child is an English 
     learner); and
       (iii) $8,500 for each displaced student who is not a child 
     with a disability or an English learner; and
       (I) with respect to the emergency impact aid provided under 
     paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may modify the State 
     educational agency and local educational agency application 
     timelines in section 107(c) of such title;
       (3) up to $200,000,000 of the funds made available under 
     this heading shall be for programs authorized under subpart 3 
     of part A and part C of title IV and part B of title VII of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087-51 et seq., 
     1138 et seq.) for institutions located in an area affected by 
     a covered disaster or emergency, and students enrolled in 
     such institutions, except that--
       (A) any requirements relating to matching, Federal share, 
     reservation of funds, or maintenance of effort under such 
     parts that would otherwise be applicable to that assistance 
     shall not apply;
       (B) such assistance may be used for student financial 
     assistance;
       (C) such assistance may also be used for faculty and staff 
     salaries, equipment, student supplies and instruments, or any 
     purpose authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, by 
     institutions of higher education that are located in areas 
     affected by a covered disaster or emergency; and
       (D) the Secretary shall prioritize, to the extent possible, 
     students who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as 
     a result of displacement, and institutions that have 
     sustained extensive damage, by a covered disaster or 
     emergency;
       (4) up to $120,000,000 of the funds made available under 
     this heading shall be for payments to institutions of higher 
     education to help defray the unexpected expenses associated 
     with enrolling displaced students from institutions of higher 
     education at which operations have been disrupted by a 
     covered

[[Page H10372]]

     disaster or emergency, in accordance with criteria 
     established by the Secretary and made publicly available;
       (5) $25,000,000 of the funds made available under this 
     heading shall be available to provide assistance to local 
     educational agencies serving homeless children and youths 
     displaced by a covered disaster or emergency, consistent with 
     section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11431-11435) and with section 106 of title IV of 
     division B of Public Law 109-148, except that funds shall be 
     disbursed based on demonstrated need and the number of 
     homeless children and youth enrolled as a result of 
     displacement by a covered disaster or emergency;
       (6) section 437 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1232) and section 553 of title 5, United States Code, 
     shall not apply to activities under this heading;
       (7) $4,000,000 of the funds made available under this 
     heading, to remain available through September 30, 2021, 
     shall be transferred to the Office of the Inspector General 
     of the Department of Education for oversight of activities 
     supported with funds appropriated under this heading, and up 
     to $3,000,000 of the funds made available under this heading, 
     to remain available through September 30, 2019, shall be for 
     program administration;
       (8) up to $35,000,000 of the funds made available under 
     this heading shall be to carry out activities authorized 
     under section 4631(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7281(b)); and
       (9) the Secretary may waive, modify, or provide extensions 
     for certain requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) for affected individuals, affected 
     students, and affected institutions in covered disaster or 
     emergency areas in the same manner as the Secretary was 
     authorized to waive, modify, or provide extensions for 
     certain requirements of such Act under provisions of subtitle 
     B of title IV of division B of Public Law 109-148 for 
     affected individuals, affected students, and affected 
     institutions in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and 
     Hurricane Rita, except that the cost associated with any 
     action taken by the Secretary under this paragraph is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Sec. 801. (a) Notwithstanding section 133(b)(4) of the 
     Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, in States, as 
     defined by section 3(56) of such Act, affected by Hurricanes 
     Harvey, Irma, and Maria, a local board, as defined by section 
     3(33) of such Act, in a local area, as defined by section 
     3(32) of such Act, affected by such Hurricanes may transfer, 
     if such transfer is approved by the Governor, up to 100 
     percent of the funds allocated to the local area for Program 
     Years 2016 and 2017 for Youth Workforce Investment activities 
     under paragraphs (2) or (3) of section 128(b) of such Act, 
     for Adult employment and training activities under paragraphs 
     (2)(A) or (3) of section 133(b) of such Act, or for 
     Dislocated Worker employment and training activities under 
     paragraph (2)(B) of section 133(b) of such Act among--
       (1) adult employment and training activities;
       (2) dislocated worker employment and training activities; 
     and
       (3) youth workforce investment activities.
       (b) Except for the funds reserved to carry out required 
     statewide activities under sections 127(b) and 134(a)(2) of 
     the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Governor of 
     the United States Virgin Islands may authorize the transfer 
     of up to 100 percent of the remaining funds provided to the 
     United States Virgin Islands for Program Years 2016 and 2017 
     for Youth Workforce Investment activities under section 
     127(b)(1)(B) of such Act, for Adult employment and training 
     activities under section 132(b)(1)(A) of such Act, or for 
     Dislocated Worker employment and training activities under 
     section 133(b)(2)(A)) of such Act among--
       (1) adult employment and training activities;
       (2) dislocated worker employment and training activities; 
     and
       (3) youth workforce investment activities.
       Sec. 802.  Funds appropriated by this title may be 
     transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts 
     under the headings ``Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention'' and ``Public Health and Social Services 
     Emergency Fund'' for the purposes specified in this title 
     following consultation with the Office of Management and 
     Budget: Provided, That the Committees on Appropriations in 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be notified 
     10 days in advance of any such transfer: Provided further, 
     That, upon a determination that all or part of the funds 
     transferred from an appropriation are not necessary, such 
     amounts may be transferred back to that appropriation: 
     Provided further, That none of the funds made available by 
     this title may be transferred pursuant to the authority in 
     section 205 of division H of Public Law 115-31 or section 
     241(a) of the PHS Act.
       Sec. 803. (a) As the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     determines necessary to respond to a critical hiring need for 
     emergency response positions, after providing public notice 
     and without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 
     3319 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary may 
     appoint candidates directly to the following positions to 
     perform critical work directly relating to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria:
       (1) Intermittent disaster-response personnel in the 
     National Disaster Medical System, under section 2812 of the 
     PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-11).
       (2) Term or temporary appointments at the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
       (b) The authority under subsection (a) shall expire 270 
     days after the date of enactment of this section.
       Sec. 804.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     interest payment of the United States Virgin Islands that was 
     due under section 1202(b)(1) of the Social Security Act on 
     September 29, 2017, shall not be due until September 28, 
     2018, and no interest shall accrue on such amount through 
     September 28, 2018.
       Sec. 805.  Agencies receiving funds appropriated by this 
     title shall each provide a monthly report to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate detailing the allocation and obligation of these funds 
     by account, beginning not later than 90 days after enactment 
     of this Act.

                                TITLE IX

                    Government Accountability Office

                         salaries and expenses

       For an additional amount for the Government Accountability 
     Office for ``Salaries and Expenses'', $14,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended, for audits and investigations 
     relating to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and the 
     calendar year 2017 wildfires: Provided, That not later than 
     180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, GAO shall 
     submit to Congress a report describing the United States 
     Virgin Island's economic and disaster recovery plan that 
     defines the priorities, goals, and expected outcomes of the 
     recovery effort based on damage assessments prepared pursuant 
     to Federal law: Provided further, That GAO shall report on 
     the internal control plans that are in place to provide 
     oversight of Federal disaster funds to be used in recovery 
     activities in the United States Virgin Islands, identify any 
     deficiencies in such plans, and provide recommendations to 
     address noted deficiencies: Provided further, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                                TITLE X

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                         MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

              Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps

       For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Navy 
     and Marine Corps'', $201,636,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2022, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, 
     That none of the funds made available to the Navy and Marine 
     Corps for recovery efforts related to Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria in this division shall be available for 
     obligation until the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate receive form 1391 for 
     each specific request: Provided further, That, not later than 
     60 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Navy, or his designee, shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of House of Representatives and the Senate a 
     detailed expenditure plan for funds provided under this 
     heading: Provided further, That such funds may be obligated 
     or expended for planning and design and military construction 
     projects not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, 
     That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for 
     an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

               Military Construction, Army National Guard

       For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Army 
     National Guard'', $519,345,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2022, for necessary expenses related to the 
     consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, 
     That none of the funds made available to the Army National 
     Guard for recovery efforts related to Hurricanes Harvey, 
     Irma, and Maria in this division shall be available for 
     obligation until the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate receive form 1391 for 
     each specific request: Provided further, That, not later than 
     60 days after enactment of this Act, the Director of the Army 
     National Guard, or his designee, shall submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate a detailed expenditure plan for funds provided 
     under this heading: Provided further, That such funds may be 
     obligated or expended for planning and design and military 
     construction projects not otherwise authorized by law: 
     Provided further, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                     VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

                            Medical Services

       For an additional amount for ``Medical Services'', 
     $11,075,000, to remain available

[[Page H10373]]

     until September 30, 2019, for necessary expenses related to 
     the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: 
     Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985.

                     Medical Support and Compliance

        For an additional amount for ``Medical Support and 
     Compliance'', $3,209,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2019, for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                           Medical Facilities

        For an additional amount for ``Medical Facilities'', 
     $75,108,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, 
     for necessary expenses related to the consequences of 
     Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, That none of 
     these funds shall be available for obligation until the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     a detailed expenditure plan for funds provided under this 
     heading: Provided further, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                      Departmental Administration

                      Construction, Minor Projects

       For an additional amount for ``Construction, Minor 
     Projects'', $4,088,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2022, for necessary expenses related to the consequences 
     of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria: Provided, That such 
     amount is designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                     GENERAL PROVISION--THIS TITLE

       Sec. 1001.  Notwithstanding section 18236(b) of title 10, 
     United States Code, the Secretary of Defense shall contribute 
     to Puerto Rico 100 percent of the total cost of construction 
     (including the cost of architectural, engineering and design 
     services) for the acquisition, construction, expansion, 
     rehabilitation, or conversion of the Arroyo readiness center 
     under paragraph (5) of section 18233(a) of title 10, United 
     States Code.

                                TITLE XI

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                    Federal Aviation Administration

                               operations

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For an additional amount for ``Operations'', $35,000,000, 
     to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to 
     remain available until expended, for necessary expenses 
     related to the consequences of hurricanes occurring in 
     calendar year 2017: Provided, That such amount is designated 
     by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement 
     pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                        facilities and equipment

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For an additional amount for ``Facilities and Equipment'', 
     $79,589,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust 
     Fund and to remain available until expended, for necessary 
     expenses related to the consequences of hurricanes occurring 
     in calendar year 2017: Provided, That such amount is 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     Federal Highway Administration

                          federal-aid highways

                        emergency relief program

       For an additional amount for the Emergency Relief Program 
     as authorized under section 125 of title 23, United States 
     Code, $1,374,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That notwithstanding section 125(d)(4) of title 23, 
     United States Code, no limitation on the total obligations 
     for projects under section 125 of such title shall apply to 
     the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for fiscal 
     year 2018 and fiscal year 2019: Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 120(i)(1) of title 23, United States 
     Code, for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     Puerto Rico may use toll credits toward the non-Federal share 
     requirement for emergency relief funds made available under 
     section 125 of such title to respond to damage caused by 
     Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Provided further, That such 
     amounts are designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                     Federal Transit Administration

             public transportation emergency relief program

       For the ``Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program'' 
     as authorized under section 5324 of title 49, United States 
     Code, $269,000,000 to remain available until expended, for 
     transit systems affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and 
     Maria with major disaster declarations in 2017: Provided, 
     That not more than three-quarters of one percent of the funds 
     for public transportation emergency relief shall be available 
     for administrative expenses and ongoing program management 
     oversight as authorized under sections 5334 and 5338(f)(2) of 
     such title and shall be in addition to any other 
     appropriations for such purpose: Provided further, That such 
     amounts are designated by the Congress as being for an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

                        Maritime Administration

                        operations and training

       For an additional amount for ``Operations and Training'', 
     $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, for 
     necessary expenses, including for dredging, related to damage 
     to Maritime Administration facilities resulting from 
     Hurricane Harvey: Provided, That such amount is designated by 
     the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant 
     to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

              DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

                   Community Planning and Development

                       community development fund

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Community Development 
     Fund'', $26,060,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
     for necessary expenses for activities authorized under title 
     I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 
     U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) related to disaster relief, long-term 
     recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic 
     revitalization, and mitigation in the most impacted and 
     distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared in 
     2017 (except as otherwise provided under this heading) 
     pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided, 
     That funds shall be awarded directly to the State, unit of 
     general local government, or Indian tribe (as such term is 
     defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974) at the discretion of the Secretary: 
     Provided further, That of the amounts made available under 
     this heading, up to $13,560,000,000 shall be allocated to 
     meet unmet needs for grantees that have received or will 
     receive allocations for major disasters declared in 2017, and 
     that such allocations shall include the States and units of 
     local government affected by Hurricane Maria: Provided 
     further, That of the amounts made available under this 
     heading, no less than $12,500,000,000 shall be allocated for 
     mitigation activities to all grantees of funding provided 
     under this heading, the same heading in chapter 9 of title X 
     of division A of Public Law 113-2, section 420 of division L 
     of Public Law 114-113, section 145 of division C of Public 
     Law 114-223, section 192 of division C of Public Law 114-223 
     (as added by section 101(3) of division A of Public Law 114-
     254), section 421 of division K of Public Law 115-31, and the 
     same heading in division B of Public Law 115-56, and that 
     such mitigation activities shall be subject to the same terms 
     and conditions of this heading, as determined by the 
     Secretary: Provided further, That all such grantees shall 
     receive an allocation of funds under the preceding proviso in 
     the same proportion that the amount of funds each grantee 
     received or will receive under the second proviso of this 
     heading or the headings and sections specified in the 
     previous proviso bears to the amount of all funds provided to 
     all grantees specified in the previous proviso: Provided 
     further, That of the amounts made available under the second 
     and third provisos of this heading, the Secretary shall 
     allocate to all such grantees an aggregate amount of not less 
     than 33 percent of each such amount of funds provided under 
     this heading within 60 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act based on the best available data: Provided further, 
     That the Secretary shall not prohibit the use of funds made 
     available under this heading and the same heading in division 
     B of Public Law 115-56 for non-federal share as authorized by 
     section 105(a)(9) of the Housing and Community Development 
     Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(9)): Provided further, That of 
     the amounts made available under this heading, grantees may 
     establish grant programs to assist small businesses to 
     recover from economic losses: Provided further, That as a 
     condition of making any grant, the Secretary shall certify in 
     advance that such grantee has in place proficient financial 
     controls and procurement processes and has established 
     adequate procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits as 
     defined by section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155), to 
     ensure timely expenditure of funds, to maintain comprehensive 
     websites regarding all disaster recovery activities assisted 
     with these funds, and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and 
     abuse of funds: Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     require grantees to maintain on a public website information 
     containing common reporting criteria established by the 
     Department that permits individuals and entities awaiting 
     assistance and the general public to see how all grant funds 
     are used, including copies of all relevant procurement 
     documents, grantee administrative contracts and details of 
     ongoing procurement processes, as determined by the 
     Secretary: Provided further, That prior to the obligation of 
     funds a grantee shall submit a

[[Page H10374]]

     plan to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use 
     of all funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the 
     use of these funds will address long-term recovery, 
     restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic 
     revitalization, and mitigation in the most impacted and 
     distressed areas: Provided further, That such funds may not 
     be used for activities reimbursable by, or for which funds 
     are made available by, the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further, That 
     funds allocated under this heading shall not be considered 
     relevant to the non-disaster formula allocations made 
     pursuant to section 106 of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306): Provided further, 
     That a State, unit of general local government, or Indian 
     tribe may use up to 5 percent of its allocation for 
     administrative costs: Provided further, That the sixth 
     proviso under this heading in the Supplemental Appropriations 
     for Disaster Relief Requirements, 2017 (division B of Public 
     Law 115-56) is amended by striking ``State or subdivision 
     thereof'' and inserting ``State, unit of general local 
     government, or Indian tribe (as such term is defined in 
     section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
     1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302))'': Provided further, That in 
     administering the funds under this heading, the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development may waive, or specify 
     alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or 
     regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with 
     the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient 
     of these funds (except for requirements related to fair 
     housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the 
     environment), if the Secretary finds that good cause exists 
     for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or 
     alternative requirement would not be inconsistent with the 
     overall purpose of title I of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974: Provided further, That, 
     notwithstanding the preceding proviso, recipients of funds 
     provided under this heading that use such funds to supplement 
     Federal assistance provided under section 402, 403, 404, 406, 
     407, 408(c)(4), or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) 
     may adopt, without review or public comment, any 
     environmental review, approval, or permit performed by a 
     Federal agency, and such adoption shall satisfy the 
     responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such 
     environmental review, approval or permit: Provided further, 
     That, notwithstanding section 104(g)(2) of the Housing and 
     Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2)), the 
     Secretary may, upon receipt of a request for release of funds 
     and certification, immediately approve the release of funds 
     for an activity or project assisted under this heading if the 
     recipient has adopted an environmental review, approval or 
     permit under the preceding proviso or the activity or project 
     is categorically excluded from review under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): 
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall publish via notice 
     in the Federal Register any waiver, or alternative 
     requirement, to any statute or regulation that the Secretary 
     administers pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days before the 
     effective date of such waiver or alternative requirement: 
     Provided further, That the eighth proviso under this heading 
     in the Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief 
     Requirements, 2017 (division B of Public Law 115-56) is 
     amended by inserting ``408(c)(4),'' after ``407,'': Provided 
     further, That of the amounts made available under this 
     heading, up to $10,000,000 shall be made available for 
     capacity building and technical assistance, including 
     assistance on contracting and procurement processes, to 
     support States, units of general local government, or Indian 
     tribes (and their subrecipients) that receive allocations 
     pursuant to this heading, received disaster recovery 
     allocations under the same heading in Public Law 115-56, or 
     may receive similar allocations for disaster recovery in 
     future appropriations Acts: Provided further, That of the 
     amounts made available under this heading, up to $10,000,000 
     shall be transferred, in aggregate, to ``Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development--Program Office Salaries and 
     Expenses--Community Planning and Development'' for necessary 
     costs, including information technology costs, of 
     administering and overseeing the obligation and expenditure 
     of amounts under this heading: Provided further, That the 
     amount specified in the preceding proviso shall be combined 
     with funds appropriated under the same heading and for the 
     same purpose in Public Law 115-56 and the aggregate of such 
     amounts shall be available for any of the purposes specified 
     under this heading or the same heading in Public Law 115-56 
     without limitation: Provided further, That of the funds made 
     available under this heading, $10,000,000 shall be 
     transferred to the Office of the Inspector General for 
     necessary costs of overseeing and auditing funds made 
     available under this heading:  Provided further, That any 
     funds made available under this heading that remain 
     available, after the other funds under such heading have been 
     allocated for necessary expenses for activities authorized 
     under such heading, shall be used for additional activities, 
     including mitigation, in the most impacted and distressed 
     areas resulting from major disasters declared in 2011 and 
     subsequent years: Provided further, That such remaining funds 
     shall be awarded to grantees of funding provided for disaster 
     relief under this heading, the same heading in chapter 9 of 
     title X of division A of Public Law 113-2, section 420 of 
     division L of Public Law 114-113, section 145 of division C 
     of Public Law 114-223, section 192 of division C of Public 
     Law 114-223 (as added by section 101(3) of division A of 
     Public Law 114-254), section 421 of division K of Public Law 
     115-31, and the same heading in division B of Public Law 115-
     56, subject to the same terms and conditions under this 
     heading and such headings and sections respectively: Provided 
     further, That each such grantee shall receive an allocation 
     from such remaining funds in the same proportion that the 
     amount of funds such grantee received under the second 
     proviso under this heading and under the Acts specified in 
     the previous proviso bears to the amount of all funds 
     provided to all grantees specified in the previous proviso: 
     Provided further, That such amount is designated by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                               TITLE XII

                   GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS DIVISION

       Sec. 1201.  Each amount appropriated or made available by 
     this division is in addition to amounts otherwise 
     appropriated for the fiscal year involved.
       Sec. 1202.  No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     division shall remain available for obligation beyond the 
     current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 1203.  Unless otherwise provided for by this division, 
     the additional amounts appropriated by this division to 
     appropriations accounts shall be available under the 
     authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations 
     accounts for fiscal year 2018.
       Sec. 1204.  The terms and conditions applicable to the 
     funds provided in this division, including those provided by 
     this title, shall also apply to the funds made available in 
     division B of Public Law 115-56 and in division A of Public 
     Law 115-72.
       Sec. 1205.  Each amount designated in this division by the 
     Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the 
     President subsequently so designates all such amounts and 
     transmits such designations to the Congress.
       Sec. 1206. (a) Section 305 of division A of the Additional 
     Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements 
     Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-72) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``(1) Not later than December 31, 2017,'' 
     and inserting ``Not later than March 31, 2018,''; and
       (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``receiving funds under 
     this division'' and inserting ``expending more than 
     $10,000,000 of funds provided by this division and division B 
     of Public Law 115-56 in any one fiscal year''.
       (b) Section 305 of division A of the Additional 
     Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements 
     Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-72), as amended by this section, 
     shall apply to funds appropriated by this division as if they 
     had been appropriated by that division.
       (c) In order to proactively prepare for oversight of future 
     disaster relief funding, not later than one year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget shall issue standard guidance for 
     Federal agencies to use in designing internal control plans 
     for disaster relief funding. This guidance shall leverage 
     existing internal control review processes and shall include, 
     at a minimum, the following elements:
       (1) Robust criteria for identifying and documenting 
     incremental risks and mitigating controls related to the 
     funding.
       (2) Guidance for documenting the linkage between the 
     incremental risks related to disaster funding and efforts to 
     address known internal control risks.
       Sec. 1207.  Any agency or department provided funding in 
     excess of $3,000,000,000 by this division, including the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development, and the Corps of Engineers, is 
     directed to provide a report to the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding its 
     efforts to provide adequate resources and technical 
     assistance for small, low-income communities affected by 
     natural disasters.
       Sec. 1208. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act and in coordination with the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     with support and contributions from the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, the Secretary of Energy, and other Federal agencies 
     having responsibilities defined under the National Disaster 
     Recovery Framework, the Governor of the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
     Commonwealth's 12- and 24-month economic and disaster 
     recovery plan that--
       (1) defines the priorities, goals, and expected outcomes of 
     the recovery effort for the Commonwealth, based on damage 
     assessments prepared pursuant to Federal law, if applicable, 
     including--
       (A) housing;
       (B) economic issues, including workforce development and 
     industry expansion and cultivation;
       (C) health and social services;
       (D) natural and cultural resources;
       (E) governance and civic institutions;
       (F) electric power systems and grid restoration;

[[Page H10375]]

       (G) environmental issues, including solid waste facilities; 
     and
       (H) other infrastructure systems, including repair, 
     restoration, replacement, and improvement of public 
     infrastructure such water and wastewater treatment 
     facilities, communications networks, and transportation 
     infrastructure;
       (2) is consistent with--
       (A) the Commonwealth's fiscal capacity to provide long-term 
     operation and maintenance of rebuilt or replaced assets;
       (B) alternative procedures and associated programmatic 
     guidance adopted by the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Administration pursuant to section 428 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f); and
       (C) actions as may be necessary to mitigate vulnerabilities 
     to future extreme weather events and natural disasters and 
     increase community resilience, including 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 for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, 
     and general welfare of the buildings' users against 
     disasters;
       (3) promotes transparency and accountability through 
     appropriate public notification, outreach, and hearings;
       (4) identifies performance metrics for assessing and 
     reporting on the progress toward achieving the Commonwealth's 
     recovery goals, as identified under paragraph (1);
       (5) is developed in coordination with the Oversight Board 
     established under PROMESA; and
       (6) is certified by that Oversight Board to be consistent 
     with the purpose set forth in section 101(a) of PROMESA (48 
     U.S.C. 2121(a)).
       (b) At the end of every 30-day period before the submission 
     of the report described in subsection (a), the Governor of 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in coordination with the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     shall provide to Congress interim status updates on progress 
     developing such report.
       (c) At the end of every 180-day period after the submission 
     of the report described in subsection (a), the Governor of 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in coordination with the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     shall make public a report on progress achieving the goals 
     set forth in such report.
       (d) During the development, and after the submission, of 
     the report require by in subsection (a), the Oversight Board 
     may provide to Congress reports on the status of coordination 
     with the Governor of Puerto Rico.
       (e) Amounts made available by this division to a covered 
     territory for response to or recovery from Hurricane Irma or 
     Hurricane Maria in an aggregate amount greater than 
     $10,000,000 may be reviewed by the Oversight Board under the 
     Oversight Board's authority under 204(b)(2) of PROMESA (48 
     U.S.C. 2144(b)(2)).
       (f) When developing a Fiscal Plan while the recovery plan 
     required under subsection (a) is in development and in 
     effect, the Oversight Board shall use and incorporate, to the 
     greatest extent feasible, damage assessments prepared 
     pursuant to Federal law.
       (g) For purposes of this section, the terms ``covered 
     territory'' and ``Oversight Board'' have the meaning given 
     those term in section 5 of PROMESA (48 U.S.C. 2104).
        This division may be cited as the ``Further Additional 
     Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements, 
     2017''.

                DIVISION B--DISASTER RECOVERY REFORM ACT

       
Sec. 2001. Applicability.
Sec. 2002. State defined.
Sec. 2003. Wildfire prevention.
Sec. 2004. Additional activities.
Sec. 2005. Eligibility for code implementation and enforcement.
Sec. 2006. Program improvements.
Sec. 2007. Prioritization of facilities.
Sec. 2008. Guidance on evacuation routes.
Sec. 2009. Duplication of benefits.
Sec. 2010. State administration of assistance for direct temporary 
              housing and permanent housing construction.
Sec. 2011. Assistance to individuals and households.
Sec. 2012. Multifamily lease and repair assistance.
Sec. 2013. Federal disaster assistance nonprofit fairness.
Sec. 2014. Management costs.
Sec. 2015. Flexibility.
Sec. 2016. Additional disaster assistance.
Sec. 2017. National veterinary emergency teams.
Sec. 2018. Dispute resolution pilot program.
Sec. 2019. Emergency relief.
Sec. 2020. Unified Federal environmental and historic preservation 
              review.
Sec. 2021. Closeout incentives.
Sec. 2022. Performance of services.
Sec. 2023. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection.
Sec. 2024. Agency accountability.
Sec. 2025. Audit of contracts.
Sec. 2026. Inspector general audit of FEMA contracts for tarps and 
              plastic sheeting.
Sec. 2027. Relief organizations.
Sec. 2028. Guidance on inundated and submerged roads.
Sec. 2029. Authorities.
Sec. 2030. Recoupment of certain assistance prohibited.
Sec. 2031. Statute of limitations.
Sec. 2032. Technical assistance and recommendations.
Sec. 2033. Guidance on hazard mitigation assistance.
Sec. 2034. Local impact.
Sec. 2035. Additional hazard mitigation activities.
Sec. 2036. National public infrastructure predisaster hazard 
              mitigation.
Sec. 2037. Additional mitigation activities.
Sec. 2038. Federal cost-share adjustments for repair, restoration, and 
              replacement of damaged facilities.

     SEC. 2001. APPLICABILITY.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, the amendments in 
     this division to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) apply to 
     each major disaster and emergency declared by the President 
     on or after August 1, 2017, under such Act.

     SEC. 2002. STATE DEFINED.

       In this division, the term ``State'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 102(4) of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5122(4)).

     SEC. 2003. 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)) (as amended by 
     section 37(a) of this Act)--
       (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. 2004. 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 or windstorm, 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;
       ``(11) reducing hazardous fuels; and
       ``(12) windstorm damage, including replacing or installing 
     electrical transmission or distribution utility pole 
     structures with poles that are resilient to extreme wind and 
     combined ice and wind loadings for the basic wind speeds and 
     ice conditions associated with the relevant location.''.

     SEC. 2005. 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

[[Page H10376]]

     period of not more than 180 days after the major disaster is 
     declared.''.

     SEC. 2006. 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) 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 and eligible costs, as long as 
     there is no evidence of fraud.''.

     SEC. 2007. 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. 2008. 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. 2009. 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 section 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 section shall be 
     applied toward the non-Federal share of such project.
       (4) Total federal share.--Funding provided under section 
     404 pursuant to this section may not exceed the total Federal 
     share for such project.
       (5) No effect.--Nothing in this section 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.
       (c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to each 
     disaster and emergency declared pursuant to the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) after January 1, 2016.

     SEC. 2010. 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- or tribal-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 or Tribal government 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 or Tribal government desiring 
     to provide assistance under subsection (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), or 
     (e) shall submit to the President an application for a grant 
     to provide financial assistance under the program.
       ``(B) Criteria.--The President, in consultation and 
     coordination with State, Tribal, 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 or Tribal 
     government to manage the program under this section;
       ``(ii) there being in effect a plan approved by the 
     President as to how the State or Tribal government will 
     comply with applicable Federal laws and regulations and how 
     the State or Tribal government will provide assistance under 
     its plan;
       ``(iii) a requirement that the State, Tribal, or local 
     government comply with rules and regulations established 
     pursuant to subsection (j); and

[[Page H10377]]

       ``(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), (c)(4), and (e). The 
     President shall monitor and conduct quality assurance 
     activities on a State or Tribal government's implementation 
     of programs under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e). If, 
     after approving an application of a State or Tribal 
     government submitted under this section, the President 
     determines that the State or Tribal government 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 and Tribal governments 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 18 months 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 on the State 
     or Tribal government's role to provide assistance under this 
     section. The report shall contain an assessment of the 
     effectiveness of the State or Tribal government's role to 
     provide assistance under this section, including--
       ``(i) whether the State or Tribal government's role helped 
     to improve the general speed of disaster recovery;
       ``(ii) whether the State or Tribal government providing 
     assistance under this section had the capacity to administer 
     this section; and
       ``(iii) recommendations for changes to improve the program 
     if the State or Tribal government'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 or 
     Tribal 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 the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph or upon issuance of final regulations pursuant to 
     clause (ii), whichever occurs sooner.''.

     SEC. 2011. 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. 2012. 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. 2013. 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, food banks, broadcasting facilities, 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.--
       ``(i) In general.--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) (subject to paragraph 
     (3)(A)), without regard to the religious character of the 
     facility or the primary religious use of the facility.
       ``(ii) Limitations.--Notwithstanding clause (i), in spaces 
     dedicated to or primarily used for religious purposes, 
     contributions under paragraph (1)(B) shall only be used to 
     cover costs of purchasing or replacing, without limitation, 
     the building structure, building enclosure components, 
     building envelope, vertical and horizontal circulation, 
     physical plant support spaces, electrical, plumbing, and 
     mechanical systems (including heating, ventilation, air-
     conditioning, and fire and life safety systems), and related 
     site improvements.''.
       (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. 2014. 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''; 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. 2015. 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

[[Page H10378]]

       (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 or emergency 
     declared by the President under section 401 or section 501, 
     respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) 
     after the date on which the determination is published under 
     subparagraph (A), the authority of the Administrator to waive 
     debt under subsection (b) shall no longer be effective.

     SEC. 2016. 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. 5170b(a)(3)) is amended by striking the second 
     subparagraph (J).

     SEC. 2017. 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 departments of animal and human health), 
     veterinary and health care professionals, and volunteers.

     SEC. 2018. DISPUTE RESOLUTION PILOT PROGRAM.

       Section 1105(c) of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 
     2013 (42 U.S.C. 5189a note) is amended by striking ``2015'' 
     and inserting ``2022''.

     SEC. 2019. EMERGENCY RELIEF.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for each of 
     fiscal years 2018 and 2019, obligations for projects 
     undertaken to respond to damages caused by Hurricanes Irma 
     and Maria shall be excluded from any calculation of total 
     obligations for purposes of section 125(d)(4) of title 23, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 2020. 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. 2021. 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. 2022. 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 3 years, to positions in the Agency 
     in the same manner that competitive service employees with 
     competitive status 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. 2023. 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;
       (2) in coordination with the Small Business Administration, 
     the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other 
     appropriate agencies, develop a plan for the regular 
     collection and reporting of information on Federal disaster 
     assistance awarded, including the establishment and 
     maintenance of a website for presenting the information to 
     the public; and
       (3) submit the plans 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. 2024. 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--

[[Page H10379]]

       ``(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 organization;
       ``(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 noncatastrophic 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 and 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. 2025. 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.

     SEC. 2026. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT OF FEMA CONTRACTS FOR 
                   TARPS AND PLASTIC SHEETING.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
     Department of Homeland Security shall initiate an audit of 
     the contracts awarded by the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency (in this section referred to as ``FEMA'') for tarps 
     and plastic sheeting for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and 
     the United States Virgin Islands in response to Hurricane 
     Irma and Hurricane Maria.
       (b) Considerations.--In carrying out the audit under 
     subsection (a), the inspector general shall review--
       (1) the contracting process used by FEMA to evaluate 
     offerors and award the relevant contracts to contractors;
       (2) FEMA's assessment of the past performance of the 
     contractors, including any historical information showing 
     that the contractors had supported large-scale delivery 
     quantities in the past;
       (3) FEMA's assessment of the capacity of the contractors to 
     carry out the relevant contracts, including with respect to 
     inventory, production, and financial capabilities;
       (4) how FEMA ensured that the contractors met the terms of 
     the relevant contracts; and
       (5) whether the failure of the contractors to meet the 
     terms of the relevant contracts and FEMA's subsequent 
     cancellation of the relevant contracts affected the provision 
     of tarps and plastic sheeting to the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     initiation of the audit under subsection (a), the inspector 
     general 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 on the results of the audit, including 
     findings and recommendations.

     SEC. 2027. RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.

       Section 309 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5152) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``and other relief or'' 
     and inserting ``long-term recovery groups, domestic hunger 
     relief, and other relief, or''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``and other relief or'' 
     and inserting ``long-term recovery groups, domestic hunger 
     relief, and other relief, or''.

     SEC. 2028. GUIDANCE ON INUNDATED AND SUBMERGED ROADS.

       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 repair, 
     restoration, and replacement of inundated and submerged roads 
     damaged or destroyed by a major disaster, and for associated 
     expenses incurred by the Government, with respect to roads 
     eligible for assistance under section 406 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5172).

     SEC. 2029. AUTHORITIES.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the non-
     federally funded actions of private parties and State, local, 
     or Tribal governments, on State, local, Tribal, and private 
     land, and the effects of those actions, shall not be 
     attributed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 
     actions under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 
     1973 (42 U.S.C. 4002 et seq.), the Biggert-Waters Flood 
     Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (subtitle A of title II of 
     division F of Public Law 112-141; 126 Stat. 916), and the 
     Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (Public 
     Law 113-89; 128 Stat. 1020) for the purposes of section 7 (16 
     U.S.C. 1536) and section 9 (16 U.S.C. 1538) of the Endangered 
     Species Act. Actions taken under the

[[Page H10380]]

     National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Flood Disaster 
     Protection Act of 1973, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance 
     Reform Act of 2012, and the Homeowner Flood Insurance 
     Affordability Act of 2014, that may influence private actions 
     do not create a Federal nexus for the purpose of applying the 
     requirements of section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).

     SEC. 2030. RECOUPMENT OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 
     31, United States Code, and unless there is evidence of civil 
     or criminal fraud, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     may not take any action to recoup covered assistance from the 
     recipient of such assistance if the receipt of such 
     assistance occurred on a date that is more than 3 years 
     before the date on which the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency first provides to the recipient written notification 
     of an intent to recoup.
       (b) Covered Assistance Defined.--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 such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) on or after January 1, 2012.

     SEC. 2031. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) 
     is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) by striking ``Except'' and inserting ``Notwithstanding 
     section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and 
     except''; and
       (B) by striking ``report for the disaster or emergency'' 
     and inserting ``report for project completion as certified by 
     the grantee''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``report for the disaster 
     or emergency'' and inserting ``report for project completion 
     as certified by the grantee''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``for project completion 
     as certified by the grantee'' after ``final expenditure 
     report''.
       (b) Applicability.--
       (1) In general.--With respect to disaster or emergency 
     assistance provided to a State or local government on or 
     after January 1, 2004--
       (A) no administrative action may be taken to recover a 
     payment of such assistance after the date of enactment of 
     this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1)), as amended by 
     subsection (a); and
       (B) any administrative action to recover a payment of such 
     assistance that is pending on such date of enactment shall be 
     terminated if the action is prohibited under section 
     705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended by subsection (a).
       (2) Limitation.--This section, including the amendments 
     made by this section, may not be construed to invalidate or 
     otherwise affect any administration action completed before 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2032. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

       (a) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency shall provide technical 
     assistance to a common interest community that provides 
     essential services of a governmental nature on actions that a 
     common interest community may take in order to be eligible to 
     receive reimbursement from a grantee that receives funds from 
     the Agency for certain activities performed after an event 
     that results in a disaster declaration.
       (b) Recommendations.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide 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 legislative 
     proposal on how to provide eligibility for disaster 
     assistance with respect to common areas of condominiums and 
     housing cooperatives.

     SEC. 2033. GUIDANCE ON HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency shall issue guidance regarding 
     the acquisition of property for open space as a mitigation 
     measure under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) that 
     includes--
       (1) a process by which the State hazard mitigation officer 
     appointed for such an acquisition shall, not later than 60 
     days after the applicant for assistance enters into an 
     agreement with the Administrator regarding the acquisition, 
     provide written notification to each affected unit of local 
     government for such acquisition that includes--
       (A) the location of the acquisition;
       (B) the State-local assistance agreement for the hazard 
     mitigation grant program;
       (C) a description of the acquisition; and
       (D) a copy of the deed restriction; and
       (2) recommendations for entering into and implementing a 
     memorandum of understanding between units of local government 
     and covered entities that includes provisions to allow an 
     affected unit of local government notified under paragraph 
     (1) to--
       (A) use and maintain the open space created by such a 
     project, consistent with section 404 (including related 
     regulations, standards, and guidance) and consistent with all 
     adjoining property, subject to the notification of the 
     adjoining property, so long as the cost of the maintenance is 
     borne by the local government; and
       (B) maintain the open space pursuant to standards exceeding 
     any local government standards defined in the agreement with 
     the Administrator described under paragraph (1).
       (b) Definitions.--In this section the following definitions 
     apply:
       (1) Affected unit of local government.--The term ``affected 
     unit of local government'' means any entity covered by the 
     definition of local government in section 102 of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5122), that has jurisdiction over the property subject 
     to the acquisition described in subsection (a).
       (2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
       (A) the grantee or subgrantee receiving assistance for an 
     open space project described in subsection (a);
       (B) the State in which such project is located; and
       (C) the applicable Regional Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency.

     SEC. 2034. LOCAL IMPACT.

       In making recommendations to the President regarding a 
     major disaster declaration, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency shall give greater weight and 
     consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple 
     disasters. Further, the Administrator shall make 
     corresponding adjustments to the Agency's policies and 
     regulations regarding such consideration. Not later than 1 
     year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
     Administrator shall 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 on the changes made to regulations and policies 
     and the number of declarations that have been declared based 
     on the new criteria.

     SEC. 2035. ADDITIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES.

       Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is further amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) 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 earthquake hazards, including--
       ``(1) improvements to regional seismic networks in support 
     of building a capability for earthquake early warning;
       ``(2) improvements to geodetic networks in support of 
     building a capability for earthquake early warning; and
       ``(3) improvements to seismometers, Global Positioning 
     System receivers, and associated infrastructure in support of 
     building a capability for earthquake early warning.''.

     SEC. 2036. NATIONAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PREDISASTER HAZARD 
                   MITIGATION.

       (a) 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 
     Infrastructure'' 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 
     may--
       ``(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

[[Page H10381]]

     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;
       ``(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 
     Assistance.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President may set aside from the 
     Disaster Relief Fund, with respect to each major disaster, an 
     amount equal to 6 percent of the estimated aggregate amount 
     of the grants to be made pursuant to sections 403, 406, 407, 
     408, 410, and 416 for the major disaster in order to provide 
     technical and financial assistance under this section.
       ``(2) Estimated aggregate amount.--Not later than 180 days 
     after each major disaster declaration pursuant to this Act, 
     the estimated aggregate amount of grants for purposes of 
     paragraph (1) shall be determined by the President and such 
     estimated amount need not be reduced, increased, or changed 
     due to variations in estimates.
       ``(3) No reduction in amounts.--The amount set aside 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not reduce the amounts 
     otherwise made available for sections 403, 404, 406, 407, 
     408, 410, and 416 under this Act.''; and
       (6) by striking subsections (j) and (m) and redesignating 
     subsections (k), (l), and (n) as subsections (j), (k), and 
     (l), respectively.
       (b) Applicability.--The amendments made to section 203 of 
     the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) by paragraphs (3) and (5) of 
     subsection (a) shall apply to funds appropriated after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 2037. 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) Other Eligible Cost.--Section 406(e)(1) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5172(e)(1)) is further amended by inserting at the end 
     the following:
       ``(C) Contributions.--Contributions for the eligible cost 
     made under this section may be provided on an actual cost 
     basis or on cost-estimation procedures.''.
       (d) 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) Interim guidance.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
     issue interim guidance to implement this subsection. Such 
     interim guidance shall expire 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this paragraph or upon issuance of final 
     regulations pursuant to subparagraph (A), whichever occurs 
     first.
       ``(C) 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.
       ``(D) 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.''.
       (e) 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. 2038. 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, weighted appropriately based on 
     actuarial assessments of eligible actions, that will be 
     recognized for the purpose of increasing the Federal share 
     under this section. Guidance shall ensure that the agency's 
     review of eligible measures and investments does not unduly 
     delay determining the appropriate Federal cost share.
       ``(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.''.

                       DIVISION C--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 3001. TREATMENT OF SEED COTTON.

       (a) Definition.--Section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 
     2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(25) Seed cotton.--The term `seed cotton' means unginned 
     upland cotton that includes both lint and seed.''.
       (b) Designation as Covered Commodity.--Section 1111(6) of 
     the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011(6)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Effective 
     beginning with the 2018 crop year, the term includes seed 
     cotton.''.
       (c) Reference Price.--Section 1111(18) of the Agricultural 
     Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011(18)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(O) For seed cotton, $0.367 per pound.''.
       (d) Payment Yield.--Section 1113(d) of the Agricultural Act 
     of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9013(d)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) Payment yield for seed cotton.--
       ``(A) Payment yield.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     payment yield for seed cotton for a farm shall be equal to 
     2.4 times the payment yield for upland cotton for the farm 
     established for purposes of subsection (e)(3) of section 1104 
     of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 
     110-246; 122 Stat. 1672), as in effect immediately before the 
     repeal of such section by section 1102(a) of the Agricultural 
     Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79; 128 Stat. 658).
       ``(B) Update.--At the sole discretion of the owner of a 
     farm with a yield described in subparagraph (A), the owner of 
     the farm shall have a 1-time opportunity to update the 
     payment yield for upland cotton for the farm, as provided in 
     subsection (d), for the purpose of calculating the payment 
     yield for seed cotton under such subparagraph.''.
       (e) Payment Acres.--Section 1114(b) of the Agricultural Act 
     of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Seed cotton rule.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall require 
     the owner of a farm to allocate all generic base acres on the 
     farm under subparagraph (B) or (C), or both.
       ``(B) No recent history of covered commodities.--In the 
     case of a farm where no covered commodities (including seed 
     cotton) were planted or were prevented from being planted at 
     any time during the 2009 through 2016 crop years, the owner 
     of such farm shall allocate generic base acres on the farm to 
     unassigned crop base for which no payments may be made under 
     section 1116 or 1117.

[[Page H10382]]

       ``(C) Recent history of covered commodities.--In the case 
     of a farm not described in subparagraph (B), the owner of 
     such farm shall allocate generic base acres on the farm--
       ``(i) subject to subparagraph (D), to seed cotton base 
     acres in an amount equal to the greater of--

       ``(I) 80 percent of the generic base acres on the farm; or
       ``(II) the average seed cotton acres planted or prevented 
     from being planted on the farm during the 2009 through 2012 
     crop years (not to exceed the total generic base acres on the 
     farm); or

       ``(ii) to covered commodities (including seed cotton), by 
     applying subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), and (F) of section 
     1112(a)(3).
       ``(D) Treatment of residual generic base acres.--In the 
     case of a farm where generic base acres are allocated under 
     subparagraph (C)(i), the residual generic base acres shall be 
     allocated to unassigned crop base for which no payments may 
     be made under section 1116 or 1117.
       ``(E) Effect of failure to allocate.--If the owner of a 
     farm fails to allocate generic base acres on the farm, the 
     owner of the farm shall be deemed to have allocated all 
     generic base acres in accordance with subparagraph (C)(i).''.
       (f) Recordkeeping Regarding Unassigned Crop Base.--Section 
     1114 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Unassigned Crop Base.--The Secretary shall maintain 
     information on generic base acres on a farm allocated as 
     unassigned crop base pursuant to subsection (b)(4).''.
       (g) Special Election Period for Price Loss Coverage or 
     Agriculture Risk Coverage.--Section 1115 of the Agricultural 
     Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014(b)) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``For'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in subsection (g), for''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Special Election.--
       ``(1) Election required.--In the case of acres allocated on 
     a farm to seed cotton, all of the producers on the farm shall 
     be given the opportunity to make a new 1-time election under 
     subsection (a) to reflect the designation of seed cotton as a 
     covered commodity for that crop year under section 1111(6).
       ``(2) Effect of failure to make unanimous election.--If all 
     of the producers on a farm fail to make a unanimous election 
     under paragraph (1), the producers on the farm shall be 
     deemed to have elected price loss coverage under section 1116 
     for all acres allocated on the farm to seed cotton.''.
       (h) Effective Price.--Section 1116 of the Agricultural Act 
     of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(h) Effective Price for Seed Cotton.--
       ``(1) In general.--The effective price for seed cotton 
     under subsection (b) shall be equal to the marketing year 
     average price for seed cotton, as calculated under paragraph 
     (2).
       ``(2) Calculation.--The marketing year average price for 
     seed cotton for a crop year shall be equal to the quotient 
     of--
       ``(A) a dividend that is equal to the sum of--
       ``(i) the product obtained when the upland cotton lint 
     marketing year average price is multiplied by total United 
     States upland cotton lint production measured in pounds; and
       ``(ii) the product obtained when the cottonseed marketing 
     year average price is multiplied by total United States 
     cottonseed production measured in pounds; and
       ``(B) a divisor that is equal to the sum of--
       ``(i) total United States upland cotton lint production 
     measured in pounds; and
       ``(ii) total United States cottonseed production measured 
     in pounds.''.
       (i) Deemed Loan Rate for Seed Cotton.--Section 1202 of the 
     Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9032) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Rule for Seed Cotton.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 1116(b)(2) and 
     paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (2)(A)(ii)(II) of section 1117(b) 
     only, seed cotton shall be deemed to have a loan rate equal 
     to $0.25 per pound.
       ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed to authorize nonrecourse marketing 
     assistance loans under this part for seed cotton.''.
       (j) Limitation on Stacked Income Protection Plan for 
     Producers of Upland Cotton.--Section 508B of the Agricultural 
     Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1508b) is amended by adding 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Limitation.--Beginning with the 2018 crop year, in 
     the case of a farm that is enrolled for a crop year in price 
     loss coverage under section 1116 of the Agricultural Act of 
     2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016) or agriculture risk coverage under 
     section 1117 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 9017) and the coverage on 
     the farm includes seed cotton, the farm shall not be eligible 
     for a Stacked Income Protection Plan for upland cotton for 
     that crop year.''.
       (k) Technical Correction.--Section 1114(b)(2) of the 
     Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014(b)(2)) is amended by 
     striking ``paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraphs (1) and (2)''.
       (l) Administration.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     carry out the amendments made by this section in the manner 
     provided under section 1601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
     (7 U.S.C. 9091).
       (m) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall 
     apply beginning with the 2018 crop year.

     SEC. 3002. LIMITATION ON CROP INSURANCE LIVESTOCK-RELATED 
                   EXPENDITURES.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (10) of section 523(b) of the 
     Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1523) is repealed.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 516 of the Federal Crop 
     Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516) is amended in subsections 
     (a)(2)(C) and (b)(1)(D) by striking ``subsections 
     (a)(3)(E)(ii) and (b)(10) of section 523'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (a)(3)(E)(ii) of such section''.

     SEC. 3003. NATIONAL ACCURACY CLEARINGHOUSE.

       The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) 
     is amended at the end by adding the following:

     ``SEC. 30. NATIONAL ACCURACY CLEARINGHOUSE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     interstate database, or system of databases, of supplemental 
     nutrition assistance program information to be known as the 
     National Accuracy Clearinghouse.
       ``(b) Purpose.--Any database or system of databases 
     established pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used by 
     States when making eligibility determinations to prevent 
     supplemental nutrition assistance program participants from 
     receiving duplicative benefits in multiple States.
       ``(c) Implementation.--
       ``(1) Issuance of interim final regulations.--Not later 
     than 18 months after the effective date of this section, the 
     Secretary shall issue interim final regulations to carry out 
     this section that--
       ``(A) incorporate best practices and lessons learned from 
     the regional pilot project referenced in section 4032(c) of 
     the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 2036c(c));
       ``(B) safeguard the security of the data stored in the 
     National Accuracy Clearinghouse and protect the privacy of 
     supplemental nutrition assistance program participants and 
     applicants; and
       ``(C) detail the process States will be required to follow 
     for--
       ``(i) conducting initial and ongoing matches of participant 
     and applicant data;
       ``(ii) identifying and acting on all apparent instances of 
     duplicative participation by participants or applicants in 
     multiple States; and
       ``(iii) complying with such other rules and standards the 
     Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this section.
       ``(2) Timing.--The initial match and corresponding actions 
     required by paragraph (1)(C) shall occur within 3 years after 
     the effective date of this section.''.

     SEC. 3004. PUERTO RICO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TREATED AS 
                   QUALIFIED OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

       (a) In General.--Section 1400Z-1(b) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986, as added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Special rule for puerto rico.--Each population census 
     tract in Puerto Rico that is a low-income community shall be 
     deemed to be certified and designated as a qualified 
     opportunity zone.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1400Z-1(d)(1) of such 
     Code is amended by inserting ``and subsection (b)(3)'' after 
     ``paragraph (2)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     13823 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and the deemed 
     certification and designation under section 1400Z-1(b)(3) of 
     such Code, as added by this section, shall treated as 
     effective on the date of the enactment of such Act.

                     DIVISION D--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

     SEC. 4001. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       (a) In General.--The budgetary effects of division B and 
     each succeeding division (other than division E) shall not be 
     entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to 
     section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.
       (b) Senate PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of 
     division B and each succeeding division (other than division 
     E) shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for 
     purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).
       (c) Classification of Budgetary Effects.--Notwithstanding 
     Rule 3 of the Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the 
     joint explanatory statement of the committee of conference 
     accompanying Conference Report 105-217 and section 250(c)(8) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985, the budgetary effects of division B and each succeeding 
     division (other than division E) shall not be estimated--
       (1) for purposes of section 251 of such Act; and
       (2) for purposes of paragraph (4)(C) of section 3 of the 
     Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 as being included in an 
     appropriation Act.

          DIVISION E--TAX RELIEF RELATING TO CERTAIN DISASTERS

                       TITLE I--CALIFORNIA FIRES

     SEC. 5001. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this title--
       (1) California wildfire disaster zone.--The term 
     ``California wildfire disaster zone'' means that portion of 
     the California wildfire

[[Page H10383]]

     disaster area determined by the President to warrant 
     individual or individual and public assistance from the 
     Federal Government under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by reason of wildfires in 
     California.
       (2) California wildfire disaster area.--The term 
     ``California wildfire disaster area'' means an area with 
     respect to which during 2017 a major disaster has been 
     declared by the President under section 401 of such Act by 
     reason of wildfires in California.

     SEC. 5002. SPECIAL DISASTER-RELATED RULES FOR USE OF 
                   RETIREMENT FUNDS.

       (a) Tax-Favored Withdrawals From Retirement Plans.--
       (1) In general.--Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 shall not apply to any qualified wildfire 
     distribution.
       (2) Aggregate dollar limitation.--
       (A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
     aggregate amount of distributions received by an individual 
     which may be treated as qualified wildfire distributions for 
     any taxable year shall not exceed the excess (if any) of--
       (i) $100,000, over
       (ii) the aggregate amounts treated as qualified wildfire 
     distributions received by such individual for all prior 
     taxable years.
       (B) Treatment of plan distributions.--If a distribution to 
     an individual would (without regard to subparagraph (A)) be a 
     qualified wildfire distribution, a plan shall not be treated 
     as violating any requirement of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 merely because the plan treats such distribution as a 
     qualified wildfire distribution, unless the aggregate amount 
     of such distributions from all plans maintained by the 
     employer (and any member of any controlled group which 
     includes the employer) to such individual exceeds $100,000.
       (C) Controlled group.--For purposes of subparagraph (B), 
     the term ``controlled group'' means any group treated as a 
     single employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of 
     section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (3) Amount distributed may be repaid.--
       (A) In general.--Any individual who receives a qualified 
     wildfire distribution may, at any time during the 3-year 
     period beginning on the day after the date on which such 
     distribution was received, make one or more contributions in 
     an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such 
     distribution to an eligible retirement plan of which such 
     individual is a beneficiary and to which a rollover 
     contribution of such distribution could be made under section 
     402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or 457(e)(16), of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the case may be.
       (B) Treatment of repayments of distributions from eligible 
     retirement plans other than iras.--For purposes of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if a contribution is made 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A) with respect to a qualified 
     wildfire distribution from an eligible retirement plan other 
     than an individual retirement plan, then the taxpayer shall, 
     to the extent of the amount of the contribution, be treated 
     as having received the qualified wildfire distribution in an 
     eligible rollover distribution (as defined in section 
     402(c)(4) of such Code) and as having transferred the amount 
     to the eligible retirement plan in a direct trustee to 
     trustee transfer within 60 days of the distribution.
       (C) Treatment of repayments for distributions from iras.--
     For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if a 
     contribution is made pursuant to subparagraph (A) with 
     respect to a qualified wildfire distribution from an 
     individual retirement plan (as defined by section 7701(a)(37) 
     of such Code), then, to the extent of the amount of the 
     contribution, the qualified wildfire distribution shall be 
     treated as a distribution described in section 408(d)(3) of 
     such Code and as having been transferred to the eligible 
     retirement plan in a direct trustee to trustee transfer 
     within 60 days of the distribution.
       (4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
       (A) Qualified wildfire distribution.--Except as provided in 
     paragraph (2), the term ``qualified wildfire distribution'' 
     means any distribution from an eligible retirement plan made 
     on or after October 8, 2017, and before January 1, 2019, to 
     an individual whose principal place of abode on October 8, 
     2017, is located in the California wildfire disaster area and 
     who has sustained an economic loss by reason of the wildfires 
     to which the declaration of such area relates.
       (B) Eligible retirement plan.--The term ``eligible 
     retirement plan'' shall have the meaning given such term by 
     section 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (5) Income inclusion spread over 3-year period.--
       (A) In general.--In the case of any qualified wildfire 
     distribution, unless the taxpayer elects not to have this 
     paragraph apply for any taxable year, any amount required to 
     be included in gross income for such taxable year shall be so 
     included ratably over the 3-taxable-year period beginning 
     with such taxable year.
       (B) Special rule.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), rules 
     similar to the rules of subparagraph (E) of section 
     408A(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply.
       (6) Special rules.--
       (A) Exemption of distributions from trustee to trustee 
     transfer and withholding rules.--For purposes of sections 
     401(a)(31), 402(f), and 3405 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986, qualified wildfire distributions shall not be treated 
     as eligible rollover distributions.
       (B) Qualified wildfire distributions treated as meeting 
     plan distribution requirements.--For purposes the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986, a qualified wildfire distribution shall 
     be treated as meeting the requirements of sections 
     401(k)(2)(B)(i), 403(b)(7)(A)(ii), 403(b)(11), and 
     457(d)(1)(A) of such Code.
       (b) Recontributions of Withdrawals for Home Purchases.--
       (1) Recontributions.--
       (A) In general.--Any individual who received a qualified 
     distribution may, during the period beginning on October 8, 
     2017, and ending on June 30, 2018, make one or more 
     contributions in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount 
     of such qualified distribution to an eligible retirement plan 
     (as defined in section 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986) of which such individual is a beneficiary and 
     to which a rollover contribution of such distribution could 
     be made under section 402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), or 
     408(d)(3), of such Code, as the case may be.
       (B) Treatment of repayments.--Rules similar to the rules of 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(3) shall apply 
     for purposes of this subsection.
       (2) Qualified distribution.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term ``qualified distribution'' means any 
     distribution--
       (A) described in section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(IV), 
     403(b)(7)(A)(ii) (but only to the extent such distribution 
     relates to financial hardship), 403(b)(11)(B), or 
     72(t)(2)(F), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
       (B) received after March 31, 2017, and before January 15, 
     2018, and
       (C) which was to be used to purchase or construct a 
     principal residence in the California wildfire disaster area 
     but which was not so purchased or constructed on account of 
     the wildfires to which the declaration of such area relates.
       (c) Loans From Qualified Plans.--
       (1) Increase in limit on loans not treated as 
     distributions.--In the case of any loan from a qualified 
     employer plan (as defined under section 72(p)(4) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986) to a qualified individual made 
     during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and ending on December 31, 2018--
       (A) clause (i) of section 72(p)(2)(A) of such Code shall be 
     applied by substituting ``$100,000'' for ``$50,000'', and
       (B) clause (ii) of such section shall be applied by 
     substituting ``the present value of the nonforfeitable 
     accrued benefit of the employee under the plan'' for ``one-
     half of the present value of the nonforfeitable accrued 
     benefit of the employee under the plan''.
       (2) Delay of repayment.--In the case of a qualified 
     individual with an outstanding loan on or after October 8, 
     2017, from a qualified employer plan (as defined in section 
     72(p)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)--
       (A) if the due date pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C) of 
     section 72(p)(2) of such Code for any repayment with respect 
     to such loan occurs during the period beginning on October 8, 
     2017, and ending on December 31, 2018, such due date shall be 
     delayed for 1 year,
       (B) any subsequent repayments with respect to any such loan 
     shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the delay in the 
     due date under paragraph (1) and any interest accruing during 
     such delay, and
       (C) in determining the 5-year period and the term of a loan 
     under subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 72(p)(2) of such 
     Code, the period described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
     disregarded.
       (3) Qualified individual.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term ``qualified individual'' means any individual whose 
     principal place of abode on October 8, 2017, is located in 
     the California wildfire disaster area and who has sustained 
     an economic loss by reason of wildfires to which the 
     declaration of such area relates.
       (d) Provisions Relating to Plan Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--If this subsection applies to any 
     amendment to any plan or annuity contract, such plan or 
     contract shall be treated as being operated in accordance 
     with the terms of the plan during the period described in 
     paragraph (2)(B)(i).
       (2) Amendments to which subsection applies.--
       (A) In general.--This subsection shall apply to any 
     amendment to any plan or annuity contract which is made--
       (i) pursuant to any provision of this section, or pursuant 
     to any regulation issued by the Secretary or the Secretary of 
     Labor under any provision of this section, and
       (ii) on or before the last day of the first plan year 
     beginning on or after January 1, 2019, or such later date as 
     the Secretary may prescribe.
     In the case of a governmental plan (as defined in section 
     414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), clause (ii) 
     shall be applied by substituting the date which is 2 years 
     after the date otherwise applied under clause (ii).
       (B) Conditions.--This subsection shall not apply to any 
     amendment unless--
       (i) during the period--

       (I) beginning on the date that this section or the 
     regulation described in subparagraph (A)(i) takes effect (or 
     in the case of a plan or contract amendment not required by 
     this section or such regulation, the effective date specified 
     by the plan), and

[[Page H10384]]

       (II) ending on the date described in subparagraph (A)(ii) 
     (or, if earlier, the date the plan or contract amendment is 
     adopted),

     the plan or contract is operated as if such plan or contract 
     amendment were in effect, and
       (ii) such plan or contract amendment applies retroactively 
     for such period.

     SEC. 5003. EMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS AFFECTED 
                   BY CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES.

       (a) In General.--For purposes of section 38 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986, in the case of an eligible employer, 
     the California wildfire employee retention credit shall be 
     treated as a credit listed in subsection (b) of such section. 
     For purposes of this subsection, the California wildfire 
     employee retention credit for any taxable year is an amount 
     equal to 40 percent of the qualified wages with respect to 
     each eligible employee of such employer for such taxable 
     year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the amount of 
     qualified wages which may be taken into account with respect 
     to any individual shall not exceed $6,000.
       (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
       (1) Eligible employer.--The term ``eligible employer'' 
     means any employer--
       (A) which conducted an active trade or business on October 
     8, 2017, in the California wildfire disaster zone, and
       (B) with respect to whom the trade or business described in 
     subparagraph (A) is inoperable on any day after October 8, 
     2017, and before January 1, 2018, as a result of damage 
     sustained by reason of the wildfires to which such 
     declaration of such area relates.
       (2) Eligible employee.--The term ``eligible employee'' 
     means with respect to an eligible employer an employee whose 
     principal place of employment on October 8, 2017, with such 
     eligible employer was in the California wildfire disaster 
     zone.
       (3) Qualified wages.--The term ``qualified wages'' means 
     wages (as defined in section 51(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986, but without regard to section 3306(b)(2)(B) of 
     such Code) paid or incurred by an eligible employer with 
     respect to an eligible employee on any day after October 8, 
     2017, and before January 1, 2018, which occurs during the 
     period--
       (A) beginning on the date on which the trade or business 
     described in paragraph (1) first became inoperable at the 
     principal place of employment of the employee immediately 
     before the wildfires to which the declaration of the 
     California wildfire disaster area relates, and
       (B) ending on the date on which such trade or business has 
     resumed significant operations at such principal place of 
     employment.
     Such term shall include wages paid without regard to whether 
     the employee performs no services, performs services at a 
     different place of employment than such principal place of 
     employment, or performs services at such principal place of 
     employment before significant operations have resumed.
       (c) Certain Rules To Apply.--For purposes of this section, 
     rules similar to the rules of sections 51(i)(1), 52, and 
     280C(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, shall apply.
       (d) Employee Not Taken Into Account More Than Once.--An 
     employee shall not be treated as an eligible employee for 
     purposes of this section for any period with respect to any 
     employer if such employer is allowed a credit under section 
     51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to such 
     employee for such period.

     SEC. 5004. ADDITIONAL DISASTER-RELATED TAX RELIEF PROVISIONS.

       (a) Temporary Suspension of Limitations on Charitable 
     Contributions.--
       (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 
     (2), subsection (b) of section 170 of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 shall not apply to qualified contributions and 
     such contributions shall not be taken into account for 
     purposes of applying subsections (b) and (d) of such section 
     to other contributions.
       (2) Treatment of excess contributions.--For purposes of 
     section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986--
       (A) Individuals.--In the case of an individual--
       (i) Limitation.--Any qualified contribution shall be 
     allowed only to the extent that the aggregate of such 
     contributions does not exceed the excess of the taxpayer's 
     contribution base (as defined in subparagraph (G) of section 
     170(b)(1) of such Code) over the amount of all other 
     charitable contributions allowed under section 170(b)(1) of 
     such Code.
       (ii) Carryover.--If the aggregate amount of qualified 
     contributions made in the contribution year (within the 
     meaning of section 170(d)(1) of such Code) exceeds the 
     limitation of clause (i), such excess shall be added to the 
     excess described in the portion of subparagraph (A) of such 
     section which precedes clause (i) thereof for purposes of 
     applying such section.
       (B) Corporations.--In the case of a corporation--
       (i) Limitation.--Any qualified contribution shall be 
     allowed only to the extent that the aggregate of such 
     contributions does not exceed the excess of the taxpayer's 
     taxable income (as determined under paragraph (2) of section 
     170(b) of such Code) over the amount of all other charitable 
     contributions allowed under such paragraph.
       (ii) Carryover.--Rules similar to the rules of subparagraph 
     (A)(ii) shall apply for purposes of this subparagraph.
       (3) Exception to overall limitation on itemized 
     deductions.--So much of any deduction allowed under section 
     170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as does not exceed 
     the qualified contributions paid during the taxable year 
     shall not be treated as an itemized deduction for purposes of 
     section 68 of such Code.
       (4) Qualified contributions.--
       (A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
     ``qualified contribution'' means any charitable contribution 
     (as defined in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986) if--
       (i) such contribution--

       (I) is paid during the period beginning on October 8, 2017, 
     and ending on December 31, 2017, in cash to an organization 
     described in section 170(b)(1)(A) of such Code, and
       (II) is made for relief efforts in the California wildfire 
     disaster area,

       (ii) the taxpayer obtains from such organization 
     contemporaneous written acknowledgment (within the meaning of 
     section 170(f)(8) of such Code) that such contribution was 
     used (or is to be used) for relief efforts described in 
     clause (i)(II), and
       (iii) the taxpayer has elected the application of this 
     subsection with respect to such contribution.
       (B) Exception.--Such term shall not include a contribution 
     by a donor if the contribution is--
       (i) to an organization described in section 509(a)(3) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or
       (ii) for the establishment of a new, or maintenance of an 
     existing, donor advised fund (as defined in section 
     4966(d)(2) of such Code).
       (C) Application of election to partnerships and s 
     corporations.--In the case of a partnership or S corporation, 
     the election under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be made 
     separately by each partner or shareholder.
       (b) Special Rules for Qualified Disaster-Related Personal 
     Casualty Losses.--
       (1) In general.--If an individual has a net disaster loss 
     for any taxable year--
       (A) the amount determined under section 165(h)(2)(A)(ii) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be equal to the sum 
     of--
       (i) such net disaster loss, and
       (ii) so much of the excess referred to in the matter 
     preceding clause (i) of section 165(h)(2)(A) of such Code 
     (reduced by the amount in clause (i) of this subparagraph) as 
     exceeds 10 percent of the adjusted gross income of the 
     individual,
       (B) section 165(h)(1) of such Code shall be applied by 
     substituting ``$500'' for ``$500 ($100 for taxable years 
     beginning after December 31, 2009)'',
       (C) the standard deduction determined under section 63(c) 
     of such Code shall be increased by the net disaster loss, and
       (D) section 56(b)(1)(E) of such Code shall not apply to so 
     much of the standard deduction as is attributable to the 
     increase under subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
       (2) Net disaster loss.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term ``net disaster loss'' means the excess of qualified 
     disaster-related personal casualty losses over personal 
     casualty gains (as defined in section 165(h)(3)(A) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
       (3) Qualified disaster-related personal casualty losses.--
     For purposes of this subsection, the term ``qualified 
     disaster-related personal casualty losses'' means losses 
     described in section 165(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 which arise in the California wildfire disaster area 
     on or after October 8, 2017, and which are attributable to 
     the wildfires to which the declaration of such area relates.
       (c) Special Rule for Determining Earned Income.--
       (1) In general.--In the case of a qualified individual, if 
     the earned income of the taxpayer for the taxable year which 
     includes the applicable date is less than the earned income 
     of the taxpayer for the preceding taxable year, the credits 
     allowed under sections 24(d) and 32 of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 may, at the election of the taxpayer, be 
     determined by substituting--
       (A) such earned income for the preceding taxable year, for
       (B) such earned income for the taxable year which includes 
     October 8, 2017.
       (2) Qualified individual.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term ``qualified individual'' means any individual whose 
     principal place of abode on October 8, 2017, was located--
       (A) in the California wildfire disaster zone, or
       (B) in the California wildfire disaster area (but outside 
     the California wildfire disaster zone) and such individual 
     was displaced from such principal place of abode by reason of 
     the wildfires to which the declaration of such area relates.
       (3) Earned income.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
     term ``earned income'' has the meaning given such term under 
     section 32(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (4) Special rules.--
       (A) Application to joint returns.--For purposes of 
     paragraph (1), in the case of a joint return for a taxable 
     year which includes October 8, 2017--
       (i) such paragraph shall apply if either spouse is a 
     qualified individual, and
       (ii) the earned income of the taxpayer for the preceding 
     taxable year shall be the sum of the earned income of each 
     spouse for such preceding taxable year.
       (B) Uniform application of election.--Any election made 
     under paragraph (1) shall

[[Page H10385]]

     apply with respect to both sections 24(d) and 32, of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (C) Errors treated as mathematical error.--For purposes of 
     section 6213 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, an 
     incorrect use on a return of earned income pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall be treated as a mathematical or clerical 
     error.
       (D) No effect on determination of gross income, etc.--
     Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied without regard to any 
     substitution under paragraph (1).

      TITLE II--TAX RELIEF FOR HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA, AND MARIA

     SEC. 5101. TAX RELIEF FOR HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA, AND MARIA.

       (a) Modification of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Disaster 
     Areas.--Subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of section 501 of the 
     Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 
     2017 (Public Law 115-63; 131 Stat. 1173) are both amended by 
     striking ``September 21, 2017'' and inserting ``October 17, 
     2017''.
       (b) Employee Retention Credit.--Subsections (a)(3), (b)(3), 
     and (c)(3) of section 503 of the Disaster Tax Relief and 
     Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-63; 
     131 Stat. 1181) are each amended by striking ``sections 
     51(i)(1) and 52'' and inserting ``sections 51(i)(1), 52, and 
     280C(a)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the provisions of title V 
     of the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension 
     Act of 2017 to which such amendments relate.

                      TITLE III--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

     SEC. 5201. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.

       This division is designated as an emergency requirement 
     pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 
     of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

     SEC. 5202. DESIGNATION IN SENATE.

       In the Senate, this division is designated as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 
     (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
     fiscal year 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 
1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and the gentlewoman 
from New York (Mrs. Lowey) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.R. 4667, a bill making 
emergency appropriations for hurricane and wildfire recovery.
  Parts of our Nation have been devastated by multiple back-to-back 
hurricanes and wildfires that have caused tremendous loss of life, 
livelihoods, and property.
  Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria are three of the top five most 
expensive hurricanes in the last 25 years. Combined with the horrific 
wildfires that continue to rage in California, the toll that these 
disasters have taken is unprecedented.
  We must stand by our fellow Americans to get them the help and 
resources they need to recover. To this end, this legislation provides 
a total of $81 billion for crucial Federal programs that support 
ongoing relief, recovery, and rebuilding.
  This includes $27.5 billion for FEMA to provide relief and recovery 
assistance; $26.1 billion for Community Development Block Grants for 
shelter and housing and infrastructure improvements, and the means to 
help large and small businesses recover; and $12.1 billion for the Army 
Corps of Engineers to repair and rebuild infrastructure projects that 
help protect against future disasters, building in resiliency.
  The bill also includes $3.8 billion for the Department of 
Agriculture, which will support critical agriculture disaster 
assistance for massive crop and livestock loss.
  Funding is also included to repair Federal highways and local transit 
systems, to help children displaced by the storms of Puerto Rico get 
back to school, and for small business disaster loans, which will allow 
businesses to reopen their doors as quickly as possible.
  Our Committee on Appropriations will continue to monitor these 
recovery efforts to ensure accountability, transparency, and that every 
dollar is spent wisely. From Florida and Texas, to Puerto Rico and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, to California, and all areas dealing with major 
disaster declarations, this Congress is committed to helping you.
  Congress has already provided $51.75 billion in two separate 
supplemental bills for these ongoing efforts. With this third tranche 
of emergency funding, it will bring the total funding for fiscal year 
2018 emergency response to $132 billion. This funding is desperately 
needed by thousands of American families, individuals, and communities 
to rebuild their homes and businesses, restore electric power and 
critical infrastructure, and to protect against further damage. It is 
the duty of Congress to provide this help to our fellow Americans in 
their times of need.
  Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to thank everyone who came 
to leadership and to the Appropriations Committee to make sure that 
Congress is getting the assistance to those hurricane and wildfire 
victims that they urgently need.
  I would also like to thank the clerks and professional staff and the 
chairs of the 12 Appropriations Subcommittees for their working 
tirelessly to bring this bill to the floor and, may I say, nearly 30 
others this year.
  It is time to get this emergency aid to those who need it. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill and this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a failure of both process and 
substance. When Congress received the paltry and insufficient disaster 
request from the administration, the House and Senate Appropriations 
Committees began a bipartisan and bicameral process to develop an 
emergency assistance package that would come closer to meeting the 
massive scale of need resulting from hurricanes and wildfires in the 
summer and fall 2017.
  I sincerely regret that the majority leadership abandoned that 
process, choosing, instead, to disregard input from Democrats and even 
from Senate Republicans, and developed their own partisan supplemental. 
The results of that decision is a poor product that will not be enacted 
into law.
  Despite some robust funding levels, this bill fails to fix a 
potentially calamitous Medicaid system situation for Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Without help from Congress, these programs 
will exhaust available funding within months. This bill also fails to 
waive unworkable and unjustifiable cost share requirements for FEMA and 
the Army Corps of Engineers' projects, which could put Federal funding 
out of reach.
  These and other serious shortcomings must be fixed before an 
emergency supplemental is enacted into law. Even if this supplemental 
passes today, the House majority's decision to exclude both Democrats 
and Senate Republicans from this process means that it will not be 
enacted this year because it cannot pass the Senate.
  Instead of the partisan product with no chance of advancement, we 
should be considering a responsible bipartisan emergency supplemental 
that both the House and the Senate could pass and enact into law.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Culberson), the chairman of the Commerce, Justice, and 
Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and 
Speaker Ryan for rejecting the Office of Management and Budget's 
completely inadequate funding request that they sent to Congress. It is 
the job of the Appropriations Committee and Congress to write 
these emergency spending bills, and we have done so.

  I am one of eight subcommittee chairmen who held public hearings at 
the request of the chairman. I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for 
listening to all of us to change the legislation to ensure that the 
State of Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico are a long way towards being 
made whole. This is a tremendous step in the right direction. We are 
grateful for the funding that is contained here. We are also grateful 
for a lot of the changes that the chairman and the committee have 
included.
  For example, we have got $12 billion here for the Army Corps of 
Engineers' projects that is going to be prioritized

[[Page H10386]]

and targeted to areas that have suffered repeated floods over the last 
2 years, to areas that have been declared disasters by the President. 
That will help ensure that the people of Texas, in particular, who had 
53 inches of rain over an area the size of New Jersey, the people of 
Texas and southwest Louisiana who suffered from Hurricane Harvey, those 
projects will receive priority consideration by the Army Corps of 
Engineers. That is going to help us get that third reservoir built in 
northwest Harris County.
  This funding is also sufficient to fully pay for all federally 
authorized flood control projects in southeast Texas. That means we 
will have front-loaded funding for a critical project to finish out 
Brays Bayou, to build it to the 100-year flood protection standard.
  The Army Corps of Engineers' funding is also going to allow us to 
dredge the Port of Houston, the Port of Beaumont, and open up those 
ports to full capacity.
  Another important change that the chairman included at my request, 
and I am very pleased it is in there, is that we had a lot of people 
flooded because the Army Corps of Engineers opened the floodgates 
necessarily on Addicks and Barker.
  These folks were flooded by the action of the government in the 
Neches River Waterway and the Sabine Waterway and on the San Jacinto 
River.
  Chairman Frelinghuysen included language that allows the Governor of 
the State of Texas to ask for a waiver of the prohibition against 
duplication of benefits.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to 
the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, it is important for the people of Texas 
to know that help is on the way to not only repair the damage caused by 
the flood, but if they were flooded by the action of the government, 
there is a provision in this legislation today that will allow the 
Governor to request that they be compensated, that they can take out an 
SBA loan at the front and they will pay the government back, and then 
receive a Community Development Block Grant at the end to help make 
them whole.
  Mr. Speaker, we will also be able to rebuild churches and synagogues. 
That is vitally important because we suffered so much damage in 
southeast Texas.
  I am proud to support this legislation, and I look forward to working 
with the chairman and my colleagues as we go forward, if there is 
additional funding needed. I am very grateful for the support of 
Congress. I urge Members to support this vital legislation to help the 
people of southeast Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico have a better 
Christmas.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Serrano), the ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  (Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the time.
  I rise to sadly oppose this disaster supplemental, which does not do 
enough to help Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  This is a bill created by Republicans with little Democratic input. 
At some point, they decided that rather than working in a bipartisan 
manner, they wanted to try and address these disasters without taking 
into account some of the most important Democratic priorities.
  In particular, it does not address many issues crucial to Puerto 
Rico's recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. For instance, 
it does nothing to address the looming Medicaid cliff, which will 
devastate health kits access and delivery on the island early next 
year. It does not waive numerous local cost share requirements, which 
will make it extremely difficult for the government of Puerto Rico to 
access large parts of the Federal funding made available here.
  It does not do enough to help States like New York and New Jersey and 
others that have generously opened their arms to our fellow citizens 
displaced by these storms.

                              {time}  1500

  It expands the powers of the Puerto Rico Fiscal Oversight Board, 
giving them authority to approve the recovery plans of Puerto Rico's 
government.
  The end result of all of this is further delay in Puerto Rico's 
recovery. This is not the message that we want to send to 3.4 million 
American citizens this holiday season.
  As I look at my notes and as I look at what this debate may become 
today, it really comes down to one point: we as Americans, we as the 
United States Congress, we as the U.S. Government still have not come 
to grips with the fact that, yes, we have territories, that, yes, we 
have colonies.
  If you ask the American people, ``Are the people of Puerto Rico 
American citizens?'' you would be shocked before all this information 
went out on the hurricanes how many would say: ``I don't know. I served 
with some in the Army, but I don't know if they are citizens.''
  Well, I think, more and more, we need to know that the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianna Islands, and 
Puerto Rico are part of the American family. It is not as a long gone 
member of my party once told me when I said: What are we going to do 
about Puerto Rico in this bill?
  He said: Well, we have no money left over.
  I said: Did you have money left over for the 50 States?
  He said: Well, they go first.
  I said: Why do they go first? Why can't the whole family go together?
  So my plea that I have made for years, I continue to make. There is a 
bigger issue than the one we are discussing today, and that is the fact 
that we have territories. We have colonies. They are part of the United 
States. They should be part of our family. We should treat them as 
such.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Carter), the chairman of the Homeland Security 
Subcommittee on Appropriations.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I recently flew in a C-130 with a gathering of my colleagues and 
members of the Senate the length and breadth of Florida, across the 
Gulf of Mexico, and up and down the Gulf Coast of my home State of 
Texas and looked at the devastation that, in 1 day, on about a 12-hour 
flight, we could see all the devastation that took place from these 
terrible storms.
  That is why this supplemental is so very important, because this is 
not about numbers, this is not about anything; it is about people, 
human beings. We helped people move their ruined furniture out of their 
houses when we were on that trip. We saw the devastation. We saw the 
tears and the pain that these people were dealing with.
  As chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, 
I am proud to have had a small part in working on this project.
  Let me explain that the supplement provides $28.6 billion for the 
Department of Homeland Security; $27.5 billion is for the Disaster 
Relief Fund to provide for the continued response and recovery efforts 
for all recent disasters. These funds will provide for the recovery 
efforts of all disasters that have received a major disaster 
declaration, to include, Texas, Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  This money is needed to ensure food, water, and temporary shelter is 
made available to disaster survivors. These funds are used for debris 
removal efforts, the first step in recovery. These funds will also 
support the long-term recovery efforts to help rebuild utilities, 
bridges, roads, and buildings.
  $4 billion of this can be used for community disaster loans to help 
communities pay for essential services while they get back on their 
feet.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to 
the gentleman.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  The bill also includes $1.1 billion to address the damages to 
important Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and 
Transportation Security Administration facilities.
  The supplement provides $4.4 billion more than requested, but we 
looked at

[[Page H10387]]

each project to ensure that funding was only going to projects that 
address damages, improve resiliency, and increase disaster responses.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for his leadership. He 
has been right on top of this, and we have got a good product here.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the supplemental.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Crowley), the chair of the Democratic Caucus.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for 
yielding me this time, and I thank her for her work. I thank Mr. 
Frelinghuysen, as well, for his work and my colleagues on the other 
side, but I have reservations, strong reservations about this bill.
  I appreciate the very real needs of those still recovering, our 
American citizens and friends and family in Florida and Texas, and that 
concern is genuine. I have always supported aid to other parts of the 
country, even when some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
refused to help New York and left New York hanging after Superstorm 
Sandy. I have never let that get in the way of my wanting to be helpful 
to my fellow citizens anywhere in this country who are under duress.
  But I can't, in good conscience, vote for this bill. It leaves some 
of the hardest hit and most vulnerable Americans, American citizens, 
without the help that they need. It treats Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
Islands as second-class citizens--not second-class people, but second-
class, literally, citizens--and will stall the efforts there to 
rebuild.
  I appreciate Mr. Culberson saying that the people of Puerto Rico and 
the Virgin Islands are a long way from recovery. I am paraphrasing what 
he said. I do appreciate those words. I do hope that it is an insight 
for my Republican colleagues and the leadership on the other side of 
the aisle that more help will be on the way for the people of Puerto 
Rico, but simply not enough is being done in this bill to help the men 
and women of Puerto Rico and the children of Puerto Rico today.

  Our fellow citizens of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are no less 
American than those in any of the 50 States.
  I wonder if anyone would argue that point as to whether they are 
citizens of the United States or not. I would argue they are no less 
citizens of the United States than any other individuals in the rest of 
the 50 States, and they should be treated the same and with the same 
respect.
  The people of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands suffered direct hits 
not from one, but from two massive hurricanes, the likes of which we 
have never seen before, not in our modern history. Maybe you have to go 
back to Alexander Hamilton and the hurricane that he wrote about back 
in the 1700s that rocketed him to stardom.
  Here we are 3 months later. Millions--not hundreds, not thousands, 
but millions--of our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin 
Islands are without power. Far too many still, because they are without 
power, lack clean drinking water. Thousands are unable to receive 
adequate healthcare, and earlier this week, the Governor of Puerto Rico 
ordered a recount of the storm's death toll, which could number, now, 
into the thousands. If that is not a sign of how neglectful the 
response has been to this disaster, then I don't know what would be.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Smith of Nebraska). The time of the 
gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to the gentleman 
from New York.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  We must provide the assistance that our territories need. We must 
fully fund Medicaid as the islands recover. We must eliminate 
disparities in the law that are holding back that recovery. We must 
stand up for not the people of the Virgin Islands, not the people of 
Puerto Rico, but the United States citizens who have fought in our 
wars, who have defended our freedoms, for the United States citizens of 
the Virgin Islands and the United States citizens of Puerto Rico.
  They deserve no less than how any other State is being treated after 
a disaster like this. They deserve no less. They deserve more than they 
are getting in this bill.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of the Interior, Environment, 
and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4667, which 
provides $81 billion in Federal disaster assistance to States and 
territories recently devastated by natural disasters. This is not a 
small amount of money.
  First, as chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Subcommittee on Appropriations, I am pleased to include $616.4 million 
for repairs, cleanup, and recovery at various agencies, including the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the National Park Service, and others.
  As chairman of the California Republican delegation, I have a 
particular interest in wildfire assistance in this bill. The 
coordination and collaboration between Republicans and Democrats on 
this bill to reflect the needs of California shows bipartisanship is 
alive and well.
  Mr. Speaker, I would certainly like to thank Congressman Mike 
Thompson for his tireless efforts in regard to the fires in northern 
California.
  Last month, I toured Santa Rosa, California, which was absolutely 
decimated after a wildfire tore through the area. Forty people lost 
their lives, and more than 14,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
  As a lifelong California resident, I have seen a lot of fires and the 
resulting devastation, but I have never witnessed anything like I saw 
in Santa Rosa. The stories of survival and heroics of our first 
responders truly are incredible. Now, in the aftermath, we must come 
together to recover and rebuild.
  This bill is the first step towards recovery and provides $27.5 
billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, a $4.5 billion increase from the 
request, a 90 percent Federal cost share for wildfire disasters; and 
$541 million for watershed and flood prevention efforts, which will be 
vital as the rainy season begins in California.
  California will be eligible for nearly all the various sources of 
disaster funding in this bill, including for crop losses, Army Corps of 
Engineers projects, Federal highway damages, small business assistance, 
displaced employees, and student assistance, among others.
  With my colleagues, I will continue to monitor the fire situation and 
respond as needed. The Thomas Fire in Ventura County has burned over 
272,000 acres, on track to be the largest wildfire in California 
history; and, unfortunately, the fire rages on.
  Mr. Speaker, I especially want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and 
the Appropriations Committee staff for their outreach and 
responsiveness to the fires in California. We greatly appreciate their 
assistance and ongoing support.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't thank all my staff and the 
Interior Subcommittee, but in particular, my chief of staff, Dave 
Kennett, and on the Interior Subcommittee, Betsy Bina, both of whom 
went above and beyond to deliver results for California.
  On a quick note, best wishes for Betsy, who is getting married today.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this emergency supplemental funding 
bill.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from 
New York; I want to thank the chairman; but I do want to take a moment 
and particularly thank the gentlewoman from New York for the kindness 
that she showed the first victims of this horrific hurricane season.
  I remember coming back to Congress in the immediacy of Hurricane 
Harvey. Many don't know, but I left my home in a firetruck--not out of 
desperation, but to go where my constituents were--and spent the rest 
of the time with 14,000 homeless evacuees in a shelter that had been 
set up immediately with concern about the city of Houston.
  We had meetings starting at 6 a.m. In the evening, as the waters 
started moving in different communities and different communities 
became flooded, we

[[Page H10388]]

could see evacuees carrying their only belongings--pillows, just a 
paper bag--flooding into the George R. Brown Convention Center.
  This is serious for me.
  I remember seeing elderly persons being evacuated after the Addicks 
Reservoir, Barker Reservoir was released and family members standing on 
what was now the shore waiting for those loved ones. I know the family 
and went to the funerals of the six family members who died in Greens 
Bayou in my congressional district.
  I introduced a bill, H.R. 3686, which the gentlewoman from New York 
was quite interested in. It was for $174 billion. If we had that amount 
now, I would be more than happy to share that with Puerto Rico and the 
Virgin Islands.
  We don't have that. And I am extremely disappointed that we have $81 
billion, not because of the lack of the hard work of those who worked 
on the Appropriations Committee, because I know they wanted to do more, 
but there were other distractions--like a $1.4 trillion tax cut.

                              {time}  1515

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentlewoman from Texas an additional 1 
minute.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. I want to thank my Texas colleagues. We worked 
together, and I truly appreciate that and will thank them for it.
  Today, I indicated that I have constituents who are down testifying 
in Houston about their devastation, so I want to make this point. First 
of all, I fought very hard for a $1 billion grant program for small 
businesses. I want to tell my constituents it is in, and I want to tell 
the State of Texas they have to put that in their application that they 
want to give small businesses grants and not loans.
  There is $12 billion in CDBG programs. I want to make sure that the 
State works with us to ensure that the elderly, the people who have no 
resources, families that have no resources have their homes rebuilt or 
they have their homes fixed.
  I want to make sure that the watershed study comes under section 
title IV, that the Army Corps is listening, that the watershed program 
that I have passed in two sessions to study the bayous, as to why 
Greens Bayou and Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou and Halls Bayou 
flood, and why people lose their lives. I want that watershed done, and 
the Army Corps of Engineers, I hope, will listen.
  There is a lot of work left to be done. We have got to get more 
money. And I am glad that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 
in, but you can count on me, Texas, and count on me, Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida. We will fight into the new year to 
ensure that we get more funding. But these items have to be considered. 
We fought hard for them.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 4667, ``Making Further 
Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017.''
  H.R. 4667, provides $81 billion in aid to respond to the damage 
caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the wildfires in California.
  I thank the Speaker and Rules Committee Chairman Sessions for acting 
favorably upon my request to bring this emergency disaster supplemental 
to the floor for debate and vote as a stand-alone measure.
  But the fact remains that the amount of funding provided in the 
disaster relief package is very disappointing because it is not nearly 
sufficient to ameliorate the suffering still being experienced by the 
people of the communities in the areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, 
Irma, and Maria.
  Congress has had more than three months to develop an aid package 
that it is commensurate to the challenge faced by the affected states 
and territories in rebuilding their devastated communities.
  Much of this time has been squandered by the Republican congressional 
leadership all-consuming focus on ramming through the Republican Tax 
Scam legislation that gives 83 percent of its benefits to the top 1 
percent, raises taxes on working and middle-class families, takes away 
health insurance from 13 million Americans, explodes the deficit by 
$1.5 trillion and the national debt by $1.7 trillion, and will be paid 
for by 5.4 trillion in cuts to vital programs Americans depend on, 
including an imminent $25 billion reduction in Medicare funding.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 6, 2017, ten days after Hurricane Harvey 
struck and joined by 44 of our colleagues, I introduced H.R. 3686, the 
``Hurricane Harvey Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2017,'' which 
provides $174 billion in disaster relief for the areas affected by 
Hurricane Harvey, the worst superstorm ever to strike the mainland 
United States.
  The $174 billion in funding provided by H.R. 3686 represents a 
comprehensive response commensurate to the challenge; specifically my 
legislation provides relief in the following amounts:
  1. Housing and Community Development Fund: $50 billion
  2. FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $35 billion
  3. Army Corps of Engineers--Construction: $15 billion
  4. Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies: $13 billion
  5. Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program: $33 billion
  6. Small Business Disaster Loans Program: $2 billion
  7. Emergency Conservation Activities: $650 million
  8. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: $321 million
  9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration: $50 million
  10. Legal Services Corporation: $10 million
  11. Army National Guard: $10 million
  12. Army Corps of Engineers--Civil Investigations: $150 million
  13. Coast Guard: $450 million
  14. National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund: $800 million
  15. EPA Environmental Programs and Management: $2.5 billion
  16. EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund: $7 million
  17. Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund: $15 million
  18. State and Tribal Assistance Grants: $600 million
  19. Employment and Training Services: $100 million
  20. Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund: $2.5 billion
  21. Airport and Airway Trust Fund: $90 million
  22. Federal-Aid Highways Emergency Relief Program: $6.5 billion
  And that is just for Texas and the areas affected by Hurricane 
Harvey; the damage wrought by Hurricane Irma in Florida, and Hurricane 
Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands was nearly as great in 
dollar terms and equal in the level of misery and suffering inflicted 
on the residents.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in 
Puerto Rico, along the southeastern coast, near the small town of 
Yabucoa.
  The devastation wrought on that beautiful Caribbean oasis and its 3.5 
million inhabitants, our fellow citizens of the United States, is 
unimaginable, except perhaps to those of us who have lived through and 
survived similar natural disasters, like Hurricanes Harvey and Katrina.
  At least 48 people have died as a result of the storm as rescue and 
recovery operations proceed, a number likely to rise, especially with 
so many elderly, sick, and very young persons at risk.
  Much of Puerto Rico's population is still without potable drinking 
water and large swaths of the population still lack electrical power.
  Hurricane Maria destroyed 80 percent of Puerto Rico's agricultural 
industry, including banana, plantain and coffee crops, which translates 
into lost income of approximately $780 million.
  On August 30, 2017, Hurricane Irma struck, inflicting horrific damage 
on the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, the 
Caribbean nations of Barbuda, St. Maarten, Cuba, and Anguilla, before 
making landfall in the Florida Keys.
  In Florida alone, 6.4 million people told to evacuate to safety, 
leading to days of jammed highways and frantic searches for gasoline 
amid one of the nation's largest ever emergency evacuations.
  At least 124 persons are known to have lost their lives in Hurricane 
Irma, more than 200,000 Floridians took refuge in shelters, and nearly 
6.5 million homes and businesses were without power.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not yet know the full extent of the damage and 
devastation suffered by our fellows Americans in Florida, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and 
Maria.
  But what we do know is that the costs of recovery and reconstruction 
will be extensive, best estimates place the cost in the range of $50-
$100 billion.
  This puts in perspective the inadequacy of the amount of disaster 
relief provided under H.R. 4667 and why more, much more, must be done.
  Mr. Speaker, right now, at this very moment, approximately 300,000 
Texans--in Port Arthur, in Port Aransas, in Houston and Harris County--
remain homeless or are living in substandard homes with blue tarp roofs 
and infected with mold.

[[Page H10389]]

  Today, residents of the Cashmere Gardens community are meeting with 
local government officials to highlight their plight and those of other 
residents in the northeastern part of Houston.
  They are angry and frustrated and anxious, and who can blame them?
  Mr. Speaker, this is personal to them; and it is personal to me.
  That is why right now my highest priority is to ensure that funding 
that has been made available expeditiously gets in the hands of local 
governments so that relief can be deliver the resources and services so 
desperately needed.
  And I will be working with the Texas General Land Office and HUD 
Secretary Carson to relieve the emergency housing crisis in my 
congressional district and state.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the bipartisan leadership of both 
chambers, and my colleagues in the Texas congressional delegation for 
their diligence and commitment in bringing this package to the floor 
for debate and vote.
  I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey, and Speaker 
Ryan and Democratic Leader Pelosi, and their Senate counterparts for 
the work that has been done thus far and for their assistance in the 
work that lies ahead.
  I also thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey, and T-
HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Diaz-Balart, and Energy and 
Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Simpson and Ranking Member 
Kaptur for including in the legislation before us the following 
beneficial measures that I requested, including:
  1. Authority to establish an implement a $1 billion pilot program to 
provides small business disaster recovery grants, modeled on H.R. 3930, 
the ``Hurricane Harvey Small Business Recovery Grants Act,'' 
legislation I introduced on October 3, 2017 and co-sponsored by 16 of 
our colleagues.
  2. $75 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Investigations 
account, which is to be used in areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, 
Irma, and Maria, and can be used to finance the $3 million Houston-Area 
Watershed Assessment Study I have worked to secure and previously 
approved by the House.
  3. The bill also includes helpful legislative language to ensure that 
in awarding CDBG-Disaster Relief funds to states, the Secretary of HUD 
should to the maximum extent practicable award grants to units of local 
government and public housing authorities that have the financial and 
administrative capacity to manage a grant awarded under the program.
  Let me describe briefly some of the major provisions contained in the 
Disaster Relief Supplemental:
  1. FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $27.5 billion to provide critical 
funding to assist the ongoing federal disaster response. allows up to 
$4 billion to be provided for Community Disaster Loans (CDLs).
  2. Community Development Block Grants Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR): 
$26.1 billion for housing and infrastructure needs. $13.56 billion for 
grants to states, tribes, and territories for unmet housing needs and 
business losses.
  3. $12.5 billion for mitigation efforts to help communities protect 
against future disasters.
  4. This funding can provide for housing elevation, buyouts in the 
flood plain, water/sewer infrastructure enhancements, public 
infrastructure hardening (e.g. storm proofing public buildings).
  5. Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief: $1.4 billion to 
address all current damages to federal highways caused by designated 
disasters
  6. $12.11 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair existing 
damages by natural disasters and for studies and projects to reduce the 
risk of future natural disasters, $75 million to expedite studies to 
help mitigate future disaster damage.
  7. 2.9 billion to help displaced students get back to school. funding 
can be used for both public and private schools
  8. $3.8 billion for agriculture assistance.
  9. $1.66 billion for Small Business Administration Disaster Loans to 
assist small businesses and homeowners repair or replace real estate, 
personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business 
assets.
  Mr. Speaker, there is much more work to be done in my city of 
Houston, and across the areas affected by the terrible, awesome storm 
that will be forever known simply as Hurricane Harvey, and by 
Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
  That is why I am disappointed that only $81 billion is being provided 
at this time.
  That is why it must be emphasized and understood that this can only 
be understood as a partial response because much more funding will be 
needed to provide our fellow Americans in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, 
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands the help and support they need 
to restore their communities to their previous greatness.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), the chairman of the Transportation, 
Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the chairman of the 
committee for his spectacular work on this bill.
  Look, this bill provides much-needed relief and resources to Texas, 
Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, California, and Puerto Rico. I have 
heard a lot in this debate, but let's be very clear. This bill treats 
Florida, the folks in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and California exactly the same--exactly the same.
  Significant portions, Mr. Speaker, of my district were hit hard by 
Hurricane Irma. Communities are still working to get back on their 
feet, communities like Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Plantation Island, 
Immokalee, and Montura Ranch.
  This bill helps meet our Federal obligation to ensure the full, 
appropriate Federal commitment is there for long-term recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, for highways, this bill funds repairs for the 2017 
storms and clears the backlog of prior years.
  On the housing side, this bill provides $26.1 billion for Community 
Development Block Grants. Of that, $13.6 billion is provided to meet 
all remaining unmet housing, business, and infrastructure needs for 
those hurricanes, and, yes, that includes the Virgin Islands and Puerto 
Rico.
  The remaining $12.5 billion is provided for mitigation grants, again, 
also to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Florida and California 
and Texas. All of those are treated exactly the same. So, again, these 
grants provide resources to our communities so that they can rebuild.
  Additionally, I am pleased that $3.8 billion is allocated for the 
Department of Agriculture. This will go a long way to help those 
affected, those farmers, like the ag industry and the citrus industry 
in the State of Florida.
  So, again, I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on this important 
supplemental.
  I once again want to thank the chairman, Chairman Frelinghuysen, for 
his leadership, for his courage, for bringing forward a good bill that 
helps the folks in our country and that treats everybody equally, 
equitably, and fairly.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, this year has been the worst 
fire season in California history. The October fires included 21 major 
fires that were fought by over 11,000 firefighters.
  They were driven by powerful winds that reached speeds of over 80 
miles an hour, and these fires moved, at times, as fast as 200 feet per 
second. That is 40 football fields in a minute. They burned nearly 
300,000 acres.
  They forced over 100,000 people to evacuate their homes, and they 
destroyed over 9,000 homes and structures. And, most tragically, 44 
people lost their lives.
  Our communities have been devastated, Mr. Speaker, but they have also 
come together and supported each other in inspiring ways, and now they 
begin the very long road to recovery.
  I am pleased to see this supplemental funding package will deliver 
much-needed funds for fire recovery. I want to specifically thank 
Congressmen Calvert, McCarthy, and Pelosi, who came out and saw this 
devastation and have been working with us to make sure we get the funds 
that we need. I want to thank the appropriators and the appropriations 
staff for all their help as well.
  With the support of the entire California House delegation, the State 
of California has requested $4.4 billion for fire-related disaster 
relief. These funds will be vital to helping families rebuild their 
homes and their lives and to supporting our community as they rebuild 
critical infrastructure and restore essential services.
  It is critical that the Federal Government steps up and does its part 
to support our long-term recovery. This funding package is an important 
first step in that effort.
  I have a picture of one of the devastated areas. This is over 3,000 
homes in one swath that were just burned to the ground. Folks in 
California who experienced this terrible disaster need our help.

[[Page H10390]]

  I ask for an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I 
thank the chairman and the Appropriations Committee for bringing 
forward this extremely important legislation, which includes important 
FEMA reforms which were approved unanimously by the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee partially in response to this year's historic 
hurricane season.
  The bipartisan, bicameral Disaster Recovery Reform Act addresses the 
rising costs of disasters in the United States. It reforms Federal 
disaster programs to ensure our communities are more resilient and 
better prepared for the next hurricane, flood, earthquake, wildfire, or 
other disaster.
  It focuses on predisaster planning and mitigation and creates 
incentives for communities to build better and smarter to speed 
recovery when disaster does strike. This will save lives, and it will 
also save money.
  Putting our focus on mitigation is good government and is fiscally 
responsible. For every dollar we spend on mitigation, between $4 and $8 
is saved in avoided disaster recovery costs later. This is good policy 
that will benefit every single congressional district across the 
country.
  I want to thank many Members who contributed, but especially to my 
Democratic colleagues who contributed to this effort: Congressmen 
Johnson, DeFazio, Huffman, Wilson, Maloney, Ruiz, Sinema, Frankel, and 
Nadler. And again, many, many others contributed to this important 
reform legislation.

  Many Americans are still recovering from hurricane damage, and 
California is in the middle of fighting massive wildfires. This is 
extremely important legislation. I would urge all my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), the chairman of the Water Resources and 
Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure.
  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for 
working with us on this and for yielding time.
  I also want to thank the chairman of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee and the ranking member for all their 
assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill doesn't just include money, which, of course, 
is very, very important. It also includes language and changes that I 
would consider to be priceless. It includes things like applying 
lessons learned, reducing disaster response costs, and, importantly, 
speeding up recovery--things outside Washington called common sense and 
applying it to how we handle disasters. It pivots from being reactive 
and spending billions of dollars after disasters to being proactive.
  You can look back since 1980. We have had well over 200 disasters in 
this Nation that have cost over $1 billion each. In fact, when you add 
it all up, we are looking at approximately $1.3 trillion in disaster 
costs in this Nation.
  As the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
said, this bill includes text from H.R. 4460 and H.R. 4438 that 
transforms this process: instead of just coming in and picking up the 
pieces after a disaster, actually leaning forward and making sure our 
communities are more resilient, making sure they are prepared for 
disasters, making sure they are prepared for the future.
  This bill includes very important provisions to the State of 
Louisiana that address this duplication of benefits issue, some 
nonsensical policy that someone came up with that a loan is duplicative 
of a grant. It eliminates these barriers that prevent us from spending 
hazard mitigation grant programs on federally authorized Corps of 
Engineer projects to prevent flooding and prevent hurricane damage to 
our communities.
  It applies common sense. It ensures that deficiencies like the I-12 
barrier in Louisiana are addressed. It provides funding to respond to 
the 2016, 1,000-year flood that we had in the capital region in 
Louisiana.
  It provides flexibility for these STEP program housing program-type 
concepts that ensure that we are not wasting money that is only ripped 
out later on, but it truly provides long-term solutions.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, it addresses inefficiency in food banks and 
churches and others, and it makes them eligible. I urge adoption of 
this bill.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta).
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4667, 
which includes provisions of my bill, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act.
  In 2017, 8 percent of the United States population was affected by at 
least one disaster. This startling statistic highlights the importance 
of investing in mitigation infrastructure before tragedy strikes.
  Studies have repeatedly shown that, for every $1 invested up front, 
we can save between $4 and $8 in avoided recovery costs. My bill would 
allow us to realize those savings by transforming how we approach 
disaster spending.
  It would provide FEMA with the programs, authorities, and resources 
to help our communities plan for, mitigate against, respond to, and 
recover from disasters.
  Every one of our districts, Republicans and Democrats alike, will be 
impacted by disaster at some point. In 2011, my own district was 
devastated by flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. 
People lost everything, and homes and businesses were completely wiped 
out.
  I visited with families and employers affected by this tragedy, and 
it made me realize that we need to do something to help communities 
build better and smarter before disaster strikes. My bill, the Disaster 
Recovery Reform Act, will do just that. It will save lives, lessen 
damage, and speed up recovery.
  I thank Chairman Shuster and my colleagues on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee and the Senate for their work on this 
bipartisan and bicameral agreement.
  Again, I urge swift passage of H.R. 4667.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, my congratulations go out 
to Chairman Frelinghuysen and to Chairman Shuster for putting these 
FEMA reforms into law that were long overdue. I thank the gentlemen for 
their support.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4667, the critical disaster assistance 
legislation to help those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and 
Maria this year.
  I have said on the floor of this House numerous times that I believe 
it is important for Congress to come together when disaster strikes to 
help those impacted. Helping our fellow Americans after a disaster is 
the right thing to do.
  And, don't forget, you never know when a disaster may hit your State. 
That is why I am thankful to Chairman Frelinghuysen and Chairman 
Shuster for including language important to my home State of Illinois 
in this bill. My bill, the Disaster Declaration Improvement Act, 
requires FEMA to place greater weight and consideration on the severe, 
localized impact of the damage following a disaster.

                              {time}  1530

  I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, for working 
with me on this bipartisan bill.
  FEMA currently takes into account several factors when determining 
the need for public and individual assistance. However, there is no 
standard to determine which factor is more important than another, 
which leads to a highly subjective process, and one that has left rural 
counties in very populated States, like Illinois, left without help 
from the Federal Government.
  It is because one major factor used by FEMA is a State's population. 
Currently, FEMA multiplies a State's population by $1.39 to use it for 
the threshold to determine need, meaning, for Illinois to receive 
assistance, damages would have to be $18 million or more.
  As you can see by this chart, that is more than or nearly double that 
of all

[[Page H10391]]

of our neighboring States. There have been multiple times where a storm 
hits both Illinois and our neighbors, but Illinois is the only one 
denied assistance.
  One of the most recent examples is, 2 years ago this Christmas, flood 
damage throughout 16 counties cost $15 million in damages. Missouri, 
who was also impacted by this same storm, received assistance, but 
Illinois did not.
  This is wrong. My constituents pay into the Disaster Relief Fund to 
help other States. It should be there when they need it.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman 
from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).
  Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California. Mr. Speaker, California is 
experiencing the worst fire season in its history. Tragically, these 
fires have taken 46 lives, including one of our brave Cal Fire 
firefighters, Cory Iverson.
  California has lost nearly 10,000 homes and structures since the 
start of the October wildfires. The need for relief and assistance is 
immediate.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the swift passage of the Emergency Disaster 
Aid Package, which includes legislation I introduced, the California 
Wildfire Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2017.
  These specific provisions will allow victims to deduct property 
damages and access retirement funds without penalty, as well as 
encourage charitable giving.
  Passage of this bill will help mitigate the burden of these 
devastating wildfires and allow people to begin rebuilding their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, California faces a long road to recovery and rebuild 
from this devastating fire season. I urge my colleagues to aid in that 
recovery by voting for the Emergency Disaster Aid Package.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for 
yielding time to me and for his tremendous bill. It is a great 
bipartisan piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, after Superstorm Sandy, I and others saw how leaders and 
volunteers of churches, synagogues, and other religious centers helped 
feed, clothe, and shelter tens of thousands of victims, yet they were 
left out and left behind when it came to repairs of their own 
facilities.
  The FEMA policy was and is unfair, unjustified, and discriminatory. 
Over 4 years ago, the House came together in the wake of Superstorm 
Sandy and passed legislation that I authored by 354-72. Surprise, 
surprise, the Senate never acted, so the policy continues to this day.
  I want to thank the chairman for including a provision in this bill 
that will ensure that houses of worship, churches, and synagogues get 
the kind of help they need on an equal basis with other nonprofits. I 
also want to thank him for including language that will get rid of this 
misnamed duplication of benefits clause.
  Imagine this: men and women who are victimized by Superstorm Sandy or 
any other storm, they go to FEMA, they are advised to take out an SBA 
loan, then a little later in the recovery time, they are told that 
there is a HUD grant available, and they are precluded from getting 
that grant to even pay off the SBA loan.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
emergency supplemental bill.
  This emergency funding provides much-needed and, frankly, overdue 
relief to my district in northeast Florida.
  In September, Hurricane Irma caused flooding that the city of 
Jacksonville had not seen in more than 150 years. Downtown was 
literally under water, power was out for many days, and homes and 
businesses were shuttered.
  In our more rural agricultural communities in Nassau County and St. 
Johns County, crops were wiped out, hurting our agriculture community 
for months, if not years to come.
  The city of Jacksonville recently projected that Hurricane Irma will 
cost the city $85 million.
  I would be remiss if I did not commend the quick Federal response, 
the leadership of our Governor, and the planning and coordination of 
local emergency management officials and first responders, who saved 
lives and made our community safe and quickly back up and running.
  But the Federal support in this bill provides the next phase in 
emergency response that we so desperately need.
  I would like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and his committee and 
committee staff for their work to get this bill over the line. I urge 
my colleagues in the strongest way possible to support this bill.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.
  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me and for his work.
  Mr. Speaker, it is only 4 days until Christmas. I look forward to 
going home and being with my family. I know every single Member in this 
body looks forward to that, too. I count my blessings that my family is 
safe and that I have a community and home to head back to.
  There are people in this country who don't have that. Their homes 
were destroyed by wind, flood, and fires. Their communities were torn 
apart by hurricanes and flames.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the somber privilege of traveling to these places. 
I went to Texas and spent time with Members from both sides of the 
aisle, seeing the flooded homes and streets filled with water. We 
visited NRG Stadium to meet the people forced to evacuate their homes.
  I stood with Representatives like Sheila Jackson Lee, Al Green, Randy 
Weber, and Brian Babin. These folks don't often agree on much in 
politics. But you know what we did that day? We all promised to help 
the people of Texas.
  I flew to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with Minority Whip Steny 
Hoyer, and I would like to thank Delegate Stacey Plaskett and Resident 
Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon for welcoming us and opening the 
eyes of the Nation to what was happening.
  In the Virgin Islands, we visited a hospital. The storm left half of 
it unusable. No dialysis machines. They had to come to the mainland. 
Nurses and doctors were working, doing the best they could to help 
people in the most difficult of circumstances.
  In Puerto Rico, we were the first congressional delegation to visit 
the interior after the storm. We were with Members like Jeff Denham, 
Anthony Brown, and Norma Torres. We met people without power for weeks, 
low on food, low on medicine. We saw schools and homes destroyed and 
completely washed away.
  We then went to Florida to see the other towns hit by Hurricane Irma, 
places that face storms year after year.
  I returned to my home State of California with Congressmen Mike 
Thompson and Jared Huffman during the worst wildfire season our State 
has ever seen. We saw the fires rage up north, where it destroyed 
entire communities. Forty-six people have lost their lives in the fires 
in California this year.
  You could see the devastation, block after block. Ash heaps of homes 
and trees, standing like barren pillars.
  I met with firefighters down south, still battling what may become 
the largest wildfire in California's history. As it looks right now, 
they will still be standing on the front lines of those fires come 
Christmas day.
  Every single place I went, Democrats and Republicans stood together. 
We saw the devastation together. We spoke to the suffering that the 
people were having together, and together we made a promise that we 
would return here to Washington and work hand-in-hand to help them as 
soon as possible.
  That is why you heard Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, on September 26, say 
that he would ``work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
ensure Congress provides all funding necessary to ensure that all 
Americans affected by these storms can recover and rebuild.''
  That is why he said on November 2 that he believes ``we can work 
together in a bipartisan way to ensure that the affected areas receive 
the resources they need from Congress.''

[[Page H10392]]

  That is why I appreciated joining him in an op-ed piece that was in 
The Washington Post on November 8, where we wrote: ``We are determined 
to ensure that there is strong bipartisan support for the next 
supplemental emergency funding package so that affected areas, such as 
those we visited, have the resources they need.''
  Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke similarly. She signed a letter 
with Members across California saying to President Trump that: We look 
forward to working with you to ensure that all Americans who have been 
severely impacted by recent natural disasters across the United States 
receive the Federal support they need and deserve.
  She told the Appropriations Committee that: Congress has an urgent 
responsibility to the California families, whose lives have been 
upended by disastrous wildfires.
  I couldn't agree more with these statements. In the past few weeks 
and months, we did--we worked together. We analyzed the damage. We 
studied the requests from Governors and legislators. We even made 
significant reforms to respond to disaster in the most effective and 
responsible way possible.
  The legislation today is the result. It provides funding for every 
single State and territory affected by natural disasters.
  I remind all my friends from California that this legislation 
accommodates exactly what our entire delegation requested.
  In all this work, we did it together in a bipartisan way; the way the 
American people expect this body to work.
  Now, I know it is the habit of this town to play politics. Mr. 
Speaker, I do want to tell my friends on the other side: If they feel 
like they have to, play politics on tax cuts. Call it whatever you want 
to call it. Play politics on all the other legislation that comes to 
this floor.
  But if I can request one thing: Please don't do it here. Don't play 
politics on a vote to give aid to the people of Texas; to the people of 
Puerto Rico; to the people of the Virgin Islands; to the people of 
Florida, and to the people of California, who are still fighting the 
fires.
  Don't play politics on a bill that you are going to hope to maybe 
stop another. That would be the worst of any politics I have seen 
played here.
  Mr. Speaker, I beg my friends on the other side: Please don't do what 
they did 2 weeks ago when they whipped against the funding bill to shut 
the government down. If they don't like tax cuts, I understand; 
vot against them. If they don't want to vote for the funding of the 
government and they want to shut it down, fine, take that vote.

  But here and now, right before Christmas, don't vote against aid for 
Americans who just lost everything. They don't understand the politics 
in it. Don't vote against aid we promised to deliver. Don't vote 
against aid we worked so hard together to put on this floor.
  Washington, D.C., can be far from our homes. We may all be dreaming 
of being home with our kids, eating Christmas dinner, opening presents, 
and enjoying time with our family and friends; but what we do here and 
now has consequences. What we do here and now will either give tens of 
thousands of people something to hope for this Christmas, or take that 
hope away.
  We can deliver that hope if those who stood with me on the flood 
plains of Texas and on the burnt hills of California keep the promise 
they made. We can deliver that hope if those who worked with us for so 
long continue to work with us today.
  People need our help. Vote to give them the help they need, the help 
we all promised.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their 
remarks to the Chair.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time 
to me.
  Mr. Speaker, at this moment I would like to speak on behalf of the 
people who I represent, the people of the Virgin Islands.
  I am thankful that this House has decided that they wanted to work in 
a bipartisan manner on supplemental aid for the unprecedented disasters 
that have occurred in the Virgin Islands.
  I did hear the voice of so many of my colleagues who said that they 
would be willing to do whatever was necessary to support the people of 
the Virgin Islands.
  But right now, as I stand here, people of the Virgin Islands, almost 
60 percent of them, still do not have power.

                              {time}  1545

  I have no power in my own home, and those of you in Florida, Texas, 
and in other places would not stand for that. But you expect us to 
stand for it. We are supposed to muddle through.
  We are only supposed to have hope this Christmas of what is supposed 
to come?
  Mr. Speaker, you can have hope at your Christmas dinner because you 
have got some lights on. My house I will go empty to, it will be cold, 
and it will be dark there until my husband and I crank up the generator 
and get it going for a couple of hours so that maybe we can wash, cook 
some food, and turn it back off again later in the day.
  Today, I am urging my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 4667, not 
because I don't want supplemental support, not because the people of 
the Virgin Islands don't need it, but because I understand that I have 
said, when this measure was unveiled, that the funding in this bill is 
woefully insufficient, and it has not improved since that time.
  This measure provides only $81 billion to be split between Texas, 
Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other places. If history 
is any indication, that money is not going to get to the people of the 
Virgin Islands, because while the California delegation and the Texas 
delegation can lobby in late hours to get what they need in the bill, I 
am the only person from the Virgin Islands here to support the people 
of the Virgin Islands. Not only do I not get invited to those 
negotiations, I don't even have a vote when the bill that comes to 
providing for the people that I represent comes on this floor.
  One of the things that is noticeably absent from this disaster 
package is funding for Medicaid programs, the same type of funding that 
was put in, in discussions for Katrina, for the people of Texas and 
Louisiana.
  The government of the Virgin Islands cannot shoulder the current 
burden of the local matching requirements for Medicaid funding which 
the government of the Virgin Islands has recently submitted to be $64 
million and an additional $50 million. The government of the Virgin 
Islands has respectfully requested that the Medicaid provisions, that 
the cap be removed, the arbitrary cap be removed for us for a period of 
time for us to be stabilized and for 100 percent the same way it was 
for Katrina in other places be given to us.
  Now, the people of the Virgin Islands and the people of Puerto Rico--
I know it may be news to many people--but we are U.S. citizens. We 
decide to live on an island because that is where we were brought.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Because of that, we have been treated 
disproportionately and unfairly in the ways that some of this funding 
has come about.
  In addition, the bill does not include important local cost-share 
waivers for the Virgin Islands and contains unnecessary limitations on 
the ability of the Virgin Islands to use Federal assistance to rebuild 
with more resilience.
  Furthermore, the Virgin Islands cannot wait for the community 
development funds provided in this bill. HUD should immediately award 
community development funds to the Virgin Islands on the damage 
assessments that have been completed.
  Those are things that I can get around. Those are real support in a 
real bill that is really working in a bipartisan way to help all 
Americans--not just delegations who can get together in the dark of the 
night and in the cold of the night and make provisions for themselves 
leaving those of us. I have told my colleagues on this side of the 
aisle that they are going to pick off Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
Islands, we are going to be left out.
  Some of you are going to get what you want, and you are going to vote 
for

[[Page H10393]]

this. Once again, the people who have no vote on this floor, the people 
who have no say in this country, although they are U.S. citizens, are 
going to be left out.
  Mr. Speaker, I am urging all of my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that the bill before us is 
insufficient to meet the needs of those living in Puerto Rico and the 
Virgin Islands. Months after hurricanes devastated the islands, 
hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans have died, and far too many 
people are living without basic necessities that all Americans should 
have.
  I include in the Record a letter from Puerto Rico's Resident 
Commissioner, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, which requests Medicaid 
assistance and 100 percent Federal costs for FEMA and Army Corps 
projects which are not included in the bill.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, December 20, 2017.
     Hon. Thad Cochran,
     Chairman, Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senate, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Member, Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Rodney Frelinghuysen,
     Chairman, Appropriations Committee, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Nita M. Lowey,
     Ranking Member, Appropriations Committee, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairmen Cochran and Frelinghuysen and Ranking Members 
     Leahy and Lowey: I write to draw your attention to several 
     disaster supplemental appropriations matters that are 
     important to Puerto Rico's recovery from the catastrophic 
     damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The revisions I 
     propose to the disaster supplemental legislation that 
     Congress is currently considering are necessary for 
     rebuilding the lives of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens who 
     live on the island.
       Regarding any federal funding for Medicaid in Puerto Rico, 
     it is imperative that disaster supplemental legislation 
     provide that for not less than two years Puerto Rico will 
     receive 100% federal funding (FMAP). This funding is 
     necessary because there is no question about Puerto Rico's 
     looming Medicaid crisis: within the first months of 2018, 
     absent emergency funding, Puerto Rico's Medicaid program will 
     exhaust its current funds and the island's Medicaid system 
     will collapse, which will bring to a halt Puerto Rico's 
     entire healthcare system.
       The disaster supplemental legislation must be revised so to 
     statutorily waive for two years Puerto Rico's state cost 
     share for FEMA Public Assistance. Moreover, the disaster 
     supplemental legislation must be revised so to include a two 
     year waiver of the cost-sharing requirements for all Army 
     Corps of Engineers projects in Puerto Rico.
       As you know, the recent hurricanes have destroyed Puerto 
     Rico. The lives of millions of U.S. citizens are now in the 
     federal government's hands. I look forward to continuing to 
     work with you to move forward the proposals I have outlined 
     in this letter. Together we can rebuild Puerto Rico better 
     than ever and make the island anew. At this moment, the 
     federal government has an opportunity to demonstrate 
     America's commitment to all its citizens, including those who 
     reside in Puerto Rico.
           Sincerely,
                                         Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon,
                                  Member of Congress, PR-At Large.

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill--put together after eight public hearings, 
input from all Governors, all Members of Congress, and all Delegates, 
especially those who represent Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, and California--represents a fair and a 
compassionate treatment of all hurricane and fire victims.
  Like the first two emergency supplementals put together by our 
leadership, our committee, and Congress, we acted within days to help. 
I ask that we do it again this afternoon without delay. Get this $81 
billion disaster package into the hands of the States, the territories, 
and the communities that continue to suffer.
  Let me associate myself with the remarks of our majority leader. 
Let's get the money into those communities that have been suffering. 
That money is going to the Virgin Islands, it is going to Puerto Rico, 
and it is going to Florida, Texas, and California. There has been no 
discrimination at all.
  This bill has been put together with the cooperation of all the 
chairs and ranking members, and it deserves to be acted on promptly. 
People are suffering. Let's get the money out the door to help them as 
we have done in the past on the first two supplementals.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Division B of this 
bill, which has bipartisan, bicameral support of the leadership of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate. It includes H.R. 4460, the ``Disaster Recovery 
Reform Act'', and several other Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) bills that passed the House earlier this year.
  While there are many good provisions in Division B, I will focus my 
comments on a few provisions that I believe will have the most impact 
in making the United States a leader in disaster recovery. Under 
Division B, the Nation will be on the right track to build stronger and 
more resilient communities and it will encourage better behavior before 
and after disaster strikes.
  We know that for every dollar invested in mitigation to make our 
communities stronger before disaster strikes, the taxpayer saves $3 to 
$4 in future disaster costs. Section 2036 of this bill furthers the 
goal of investing in mitigation before disaster strikes by establishing 
a steady funding stream for FEMA's Predisaster Mitigation (PDM) 
program.
  Under Section 2036, the President must provide a specific amount of 
additional funding from the Disaster Relief Fund for the PDM program. 
The specific amount of additional funding is equal to six percent of 
the estimated amount of disaster assistance provided for each major 
disaster. The President will then distribute these funds in accordance 
with existing law, with a certain amount provided to each State and the 
remainder made available through a competitive grant process.
  Section 2036 uses language similar to language in the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) 
authorizing FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which is 
mandatory funding provided post-disaster with each disaster 
declaration. Although Section 2036 uses the term ``may'', the intent is 
that FEMA will set aside funds for the PDM program, just as they do for 
HMGP. We have had several bipartisan conversations with FEMA confirming 
that FEMA understands the intent of this section and will interpret the 
``may set-aside'' language included in section 2036 as mandatory. The 
mandatory funding for the PDM program from the Disaster Relief Fund 
required under this section will provide consistency to a program with 
a proven record of saving taxpayers money.
  In addition, section 2036 authorizes FEMA to withdraw and 
redistribute funds that remain unobligated three fiscal years after 
FEMA awarded the funds to the grantee. The intent of this provision is 
to provide FEMA with discretionary authority to move funding that is 
not being used to States and projects that will use it. However, FEMA 
is not required to withdraw these funds from grantees and shall make 
these decisions on a case-by-case basis. For instance, a grantee may 
have commenced work on a project or is actively working on a project 
but the project is not at the point where funds need to be obligated. 
In this instance, we would not expect FEMA to withdraw the funds.
  In addition, while this section will apply to PDM funds awarded prior 
to enactment of this Division, the intent is to give grantees three 
fiscal years from the date of enactment of this Act to obligate these 
funds. Grantees with existing PDM funds are now on notice that they 
have three years to obligate these funds or at least be actively 
working on projects that will allow those funds to be obligated shortly 
thereafter.
  I have noted time and time again how nonsensical it is that the 
Federal Government pays to rebuild communities after a disaster to 
inadequate standards only to have those facilities destroyed again by a 
later disaster, with the Federal Government once again on the hook for 
the cost of rebuilding. Under this legislation, this nonsense will 
finally stop. Section 2037 requires communities to rebuild to the 
latest consensus-based, design standards and in a more resilient 
manner, thereby ensuring stronger, smarter facilities going forward. 
The cycle of repeatedly rebuilding and repairing disaster-damaged 
public infrastructure will end under this measure.
  Although FEMA must define ``resilient'' and ``resiliency'' pursuant 
to regulations within two years of the date of enactment of this Act, 
FEMA is required to adopt guidance to immediately implement the 
``resiliency'' requirements of this legislation. The need for resilient 
construction has become even more apparent after the 2017 disaster 
season. FEMA must use this opportunity to invest taxpayer funds wisely 
while saving lives and reducing injuries. FEMA has the ability to 
ensure that the United

[[Page H10394]]

States leads the way in disaster recovery and I urge FEMA to seize this 
moment.
  Accordingly, as FEMA works to develop the definition of ``resilient'' 
and ``resiliency'', the agency needs to ensure that it takes into 
account the extent to which the improved facilities:
  reduce deaths and injuries during and after a major disaster;
  sustain minimal damage allowing the facility to continue to provide 
the primary function and services of the facility during and after a 
natural hazard;
  prepare for and withstand all hazards that could result in a major 
disaster; and
  reduce the magnitude or duration of a disruption to the facility's 
primary function and services to a facility.
  In addition, any ``resilient'' facility should be constructed:
  in consideration of current and future environmental conditions based 
upon the best-available science, changes in demand, and extreme weather 
events;
  to reduce potential disruptions to the facility, including by 
building in operational redundancies, and increasing the ability of the 
facility to recover more rapidly; using techniques and materials that 
have the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and recoverability to 
withstand a potentially disruptive event;
  to the maximum extent practicable, using durable and sustainable 
material; and
  to incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable, natural and 
nature-based measures and energy efficiency improvements.
  Currently, FEMA provides HMGP funds when a State receives a disaster 
declaration, but HMGP funds are not provided when a State receives a 
Fire Management Assistance Grant to respond to wildfires on non-Federal 
lands. Unfortunately, wildfires destroy the landscape often causing 
mudslides and flooding that then result in a disaster declaration. 
Under Division B, States will receive HMGP funds if they have received 
Fire Management Assistance Grants to respond to wildfires. With HMGP 
funds, States will be able to restore landscapes and vegetation 
destroyed by wildfires and make the land less susceptible to future 
mudslides and floods. This legislation also clarifies that wildfire-
related mitigation activities are eligible under both the PDM and HMGP 
programs. Together, these provisions will help prevent wildfires and 
related disasters and I commend our colleague from California (Mr. 
Ruiz) for his leadership on these issues.
  Division B also clarifies that earthquake-related activities are 
eligible for mitigation assistance. The West Coast faces the most risk 
from multiple and extreme earthquakes, and Oregon is long overdue for 
an earthquake and tsunami on the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Yet, the 
United States' earthquake early warning system lags behind those of 
other nations. Clarifying for grantees that mitigation funds are 
available for earthquake-related activities will save lives and reduce 
injuries in a future disaster.
  Finally, important to the State of Oregon, section 2029 clarifies 
that for purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA 
is not responsible for privately funded actions taken by private 
parties on private land. Under actions proposed by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, the entire State of Oregon would become a critical 
habitat, seriously impeding economic development. The proposed 
requirements, are so onerous, the State of Oregon, which already has 
strict land use regulations, would have difficulty implementing them, 
as they violate federal and state property rights. This provision will 
help ensure that FEMA implements the NFIP in a manner that is 
consistent from state-to-state and does not become a land use 
regulatory agency.
  I support all of these important provisions and urge their adoption.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 670, the previous question is ordered on 
the bill, as amended.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas 
and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings are postponed.

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