[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 100 (Monday, June 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5456-H5458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE ONLINE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2020) to provide for an online repository for certain 
reporting requirements for recipients of Federal disaster assistance, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2020

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Post-Disaster Assistance 
     Online Accountability Act''.

     SEC. 2. SUBPAGE FOR TRANSPARENCY OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Establishment of Repository for Reporting 
     Requirements.--The Director of the Office of Management and 
     Budget, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury 
     and the head of each covered Federal agency, shall establish 
     a subpage within the website established under section 2 of 
     the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 
     2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) to publish the information 
     required to be made available to the public under this 
     section.
       (b) Submission of Information by Federal Agencies.--Not 
     later than 30 days after

[[Page H5457]]

     the end of a calendar quarter, each covered Federal agency 
     that made disaster assistance available to an eligible 
     recipient during such quarter shall, in coordination with the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget, make 
     available to the public on the subpage established under 
     subsection (a) the information described in subsection (c), 
     and ensure that any data asset of the agency is machine-
     readable.
       (c) Information Required.--The information described in 
     this subsection is, with respect to disaster assistance 
     provided by the covered Federal agency--
       (1) the total amount of disaster assistance provided by the 
     agency during such quarter;
       (2) the amount of disaster assistance provided by the 
     agency that was expended or obligated to projects or 
     activities; and
       (3) a detailed list of all projects or activities for which 
     disaster assistance dispersed by the agency was expended, 
     obligated, or used, including--
       (A) the name of the project or activity;
       (B) a description of the project or activity;
       (C) an evaluation of the completion status of the project 
     or activity;
       (D) any award identification number assigned to the 
     project;
       (E) the Catalog for Disaster Assistance number assigned by 
     the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
       (F) the location of the project, including ZIP codes; and
       (G) any reporting requirement information being collected 
     by a covered Federal agency with respect to that agency's 
     disaster assistance.
       (d) Guidance.--Each covered Federal agency, in coordination 
     with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
     the Secretary of the Treasury, shall issue such guidance as 
     is necessary to meet the requirements of this Act.
       (e) Agreement With Private Entity.--The Director, if 
     necessary for purposes of transparency, may enter into an 
     agreement with a private entity, including a nonprofit 
     organization, to develop the subpage required under this 
     section.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions apply:
       (1) Covered federal agency.--The term ``covered Federal 
     agency'' means--
       (A) any agency providing assistance under the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
       (B) the Small Business Administration; and
       (C) the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
       (2) Disaster assistance.--The term ``disaster assistance'' 
     means any funds that are made available by the Federal 
     Government in response to a specified natural disaster, 
     including--
       (A) any assistance provided by the Administrator of the 
     Small Business Administration as a result of a disaster 
     declared under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 636(b));
       (B) any assistance provided by the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development for--
       (i) 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, and economic revitalization in 
     the most impacted and distressed areas 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.); 
     and
       (ii) flood insurance coverage provided under the National 
     Flood Insurance Program pursuant to the National Flood 
     Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.); and
       (C) any assistance provided under the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
     et seq.).
       (3) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient''--
       (A) means any entity that receives disaster assistance 
     directly from the Federal Government (including disaster 
     assistance received through grant, loan, or contract) other 
     than an individual; and
       (B) includes a State that receives disaster assistance.
       (4) Specified natural disaster.--The term ``specified 
     natural disaster'' means--
       (A) a fire on public or private forest land or grassland 
     described in section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187);
       (B) a major disaster declared by the President under 
     section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170);
       (C) an emergency declared by the President under section 
     501 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); and
       (D) any other natural disaster for which a disaster 
     declaration is made by the Federal Government.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2020.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2020. This bill would create a 
new online system for tracking Federal disaster projects and 
assistance.
  When a major disaster strikes, the American people should know how 
and where their disaster funds are being spent without wading through 
reams of governmental paperwork. This legislation simplifies the data 
collection process for Federal disaster recovery projects.
  To increase transparency to the public, the bill would also create a 
page on USAspending.gov where everyone can track agency disaster 
recovery activities and the amount of assistance expended by an agency 
on a quarterly basis. Federal agencies need to be held accountable to 
the victims of disasters so that they can have peace of mind when they 
are at their most vulnerable.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides to join me and 
support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Small Business,

                                    Washington, DC, June 10, 2022.
     Hon. Peter A. DeFazio,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman DeFazio: I am writing with respect to H.R. 
     2020, the ``Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability 
     Act''. Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Small 
     Business regarding the matters in H.R. 2020 that fall within 
     the Committee's jurisdiction.
       As a result of your consultation with us on this measure 
     and in order to expeditiously move the bill to the floor, I 
     forego further consideration of H.R. 2020. The Committee on 
     Small Business takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and 
     the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as 
     the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may 
     address any remaining issues that fall within our 
     jurisdiction. Further, I request your support for the 
     appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from the 
     Committee on Small Business during any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming our understanding regarding H.R. 2020 and would 
     ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Committee Report and the Congressional Record 
     during floor consideration of the measure. Thank you for the 
     cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this 
     matter and others between our respective committees.
           Sincerely,
                                               Nydia M. Velazquez,
     Chairwoman.
                                  ____

         Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of 
           Representatives,
                                    Washington, DC, June 10, 2022.
     Hon. Nydia M. Velazquez,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ms. Velazquez: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2020, the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability 
     Act. I appreciate your decision to waive formal consideration 
     of the bill.
       I agree that the Committee on Small Business has valid 
     jurisdictional claims to certain provisions in this important 
     legislation, and I further agree that by forgoing formal 
     consideration of the bill, the Committee on Small Business is 
     not waiving any jurisdiction over any relevant subject 
     matter. Additionally, if requested I will support the 
     appointment of conferees from the Committee on Small Business 
     should a House-Senate conference be convened on this 
     legislation. Finally, this exchange of letters will be 
     included in the Congressional Record when the bill is 
     considered on the floor.
       Thank you again, and I look forward to continuing to work 
     collaboratively with the Committee on Small Business on this 
     important issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Peter A. DeFazio,
                                                            Chair.

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
and I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is often said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. 
It is said so often because it is true, and certainly, it is true in 
public affairs.

[[Page H5458]]

  This is a commonsense accountability measure introduced by my 
Republican colleague from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), and I 
applaud her for this.
  It is going to increase transparency for post-disaster Federal 
assistance. It makes sure for citizens who are curious--exactly as the 
chairman said--who want this information about what the Federal 
Government has done to help communities in need without their having to 
go on some massive research project. This gives them an opportunity in 
a clear and concise way to get a sense of what their Federal Government 
has done to respond to these disasters. This increased transparency is 
going to allow the American taxpayers to see where their hard-earned 
dollars are going.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, again, as the gentleman has just said, having some 
transparency when you have a number of Federal agencies coming into a 
community that has just been devastated, whether it is in my region by 
wildfire or on the Gulf Coast by a hurricane or in the Midwest and the 
South by tornado, people need timely and good information about how the 
disaster relief is flowing from the Federal Government, in what 
amounts, and to what places so that there can be actual oversight by 
people who were directly impacted by the disaster.
  That is why I believe this legislation has tremendous merit. I 
recommend that my colleagues lend their full support to it, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2020, 
the ``Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act.''
  H.R. 2020 is a bipartisan initiative to establish an online 
repository for reporting requirements for recipients of Federal 
disaster assistance.
  I would like to thank my colleague, Delegate Gonzalez-Colon, for 
introducing this legislation to increase transparency of post-disaster 
assistance.
  The Office of Management and Budget (0MB) along with the Sectretary 
of the Treasury and the head of each covered Federal agency will 
collaborate to create a subpage within the website, 
www.usaspending.gov, to make the following information available to the 
public:
  Total amount of disaster assistance provided by the agency during 
quarter;
  Amount of disaster assistance provided by the agency that was 
expanded or obligated to projects or activities; and
  Detailed list of all projects or activities for which disaster 
assistance dispersed by the agency was expended including:
  Name and description of project or activity;
  Evaluation of the completion status;
  Any award identification number assigned;
  Catalog Disaster Assistance number assigned by FEMA;
  Location of the project, including zip codes; and
  Any reporting requirement information collected by a covered Federal 
agency with respect to that agency's disaster assistance.
  H.R. 2020 will require the submission of information by covered 
federal agencies every 3 months.
  When enacted, H.R. 2020 would include natural disasters that are 
major disasters or emergency declared by the President as well as any 
other natural disaster made by the Federal Government.
  Within the past decade, we have witnessed an increase in the number 
of natural disasters and extreme weather as a result of climate change.
  In 2021, the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 
(NCEI) found that the United States experienced 20 separate billion-
dollar weather and climate disasters.
  Houston alone has been the site of 7 federally declared disasters 
since 2015 notably including Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri.
  The growing number of natural disasters makes this legislation 
increasingly relevant to maintain accountability of post-disaster 
funds.
  H.R. 2020 creates a necessary online reference portal that will be 
accessible by mayors, legislators, and residents to know the status of 
funds and their use.
  These funds are vital to communities devastated by natural disasters 
and it is important that we ensure the funds are used for their 
assigned use.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2020.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2020.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.

                          ____________________