[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8566-H8574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS CERTAIN BILLS

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 2 of 
House Resolution 1464, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: 
H.R. 4275, H.R. 5502, H.R. 5721, H.R. 6290, H.R. 7277, H.R. 7299, and 
H.R. 8416.
  The Clerk read the title of the bills.
  The text of the bills are as follows:


  Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable 
                    Connectivity Program Act of 2022

                               H.R. 4275

       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 ``Ensuring Phone and Internet 
     Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program 
     Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. REPORTS ON ENROLLMENT IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS.

       (a) Annual Report on Enrollment in Lifeline and Affordable 
     Connectivity Programs Through Qualifying Programs.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
     annually thereafter for 2 calendar years after the calendar 
     year during which the first report is submitted under this 
     subsection, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
     on--
       (1) enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals 
     participating in each of the Lifeline qualifying programs, 
     broken out by each of the Lifeline qualifying programs, to 
     the extent the Commission holds or has access to the 
     necessary data relating to such enrollment; and
       (2) enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program by 
     individuals participating in each of the Affordable 
     Connectivity Program qualifying programs, broken out by each 
     of the Affordable Connectivity Program qualifying programs, 
     to the extent the Commission holds or has access to the 
     necessary data relating to such enrollment.
       (b) GAO Study and Report on Efforts to Promote Enrollment 
     in Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a 
     report to Congress identifying outreach and publicity efforts 
     to promote participation and enrollment in the Lifeline 
     program and, separately, the Affordable Connectivity Program.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Affordable connectivity program qualifying program.--
     The term ``Affordable

[[Page H8567]]

     Connectivity Program qualifying program'' means the programs 
     set forth in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (6) of section 
     54.1800(j) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
     successor regulation.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (3) Lifeline qualifying program.--The term ``Lifeline 
     qualifying program'' means the programs set forth in 
     subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 54.409 of title 47, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for 
                             Consumers Act

                               H.R. 5502

       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 ``Integrity, Notification, and 
     Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act'' or 
     the ``INFORM Consumers Act''.

     SEC. 2. COLLECTION, VERIFICATION, AND DISCLOSURE OF 
                   INFORMATION BY ONLINE MARKETPLACES TO INFORM 
                   CONSUMERS.

       (a) Collection and Verification of Information.--
       (1) Collection.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall require any 
     high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's 
     platform to provide, not later than 10 days after qualifying 
     as a high-volume third party seller on the platform, the 
     following information to the online marketplace:
       (i) Bank account.--

       (I) In general.--A bank account number, or, if such seller 
     does not have a bank account, the name of the payee for 
     payments issued by the online marketplace to such seller.
       (II) Provision of information.--The bank account or payee 
     information required under subclause (I) may be provided by 
     the seller in the following ways:

       (aa) To the online marketplace.
       (bb) To a payment processor or other third party contracted 
     by the online marketplace to maintain such information, 
     provided that the online marketplace ensures that it can 
     obtain such information within 3 business days from such 
     payment processor or other third party.
       (ii) Contact information.--Contact information for such 
     seller as follows:

       (I) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that 
     is an individual, the individual's name.
       (II) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that 
     is not an individual, one of the following forms of contact 
     information:

       (aa) A copy of a valid government-issued identification for 
     an individual acting on behalf of such seller that includes 
     the individual's name.
       (bb) A copy of a valid government-issued record or tax 
     document that includes the business name and physical address 
     of such seller.
       (iii) Tax id.--A business tax identification number, or, if 
     such seller does not have a business tax identification 
     number, a taxpayer identification number.
       (iv) Working email and phone number.--A current working 
     email address and phone number for such seller.
       (B) Notification of change; annual certification.--An 
     online marketplace shall--
       (i) periodically, but not less than annually, notify any 
     high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's 
     platform of the requirement to keep any information collected 
     under subparagraph (A) current; and
       (ii) require any high-volume third party seller on such 
     online marketplace's platform to, not later than 10 days 
     after receiving the notice under clause (i), electronically 
     certify that--

       (I) the seller has provided any changes to such information 
     to the online marketplace, if any such changes have occurred; 
     or
       (II) there have been no changes to such seller's 
     information.

       (C) Suspension.--In the event that a high-volume third 
     party seller does not provide the information or 
     certification required under this paragraph, the online 
     marketplace shall, after providing the seller with written or 
     electronic notice and an opportunity to provide such 
     information or certification not later than 10 days after the 
     issuance of such notice, suspend any future sales activity of 
     such seller until such seller provides such information or 
     certification.
       (2) Verification.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
       (i) verify the information collected under paragraph (1)(A) 
     not later than 10 days after such collection; and
       (ii) verify any change to such information not later than 
     10 days after being notified of such change by a high-volume 
     third party seller under paragraph (1)(B).
       (B) Presumption of verification.--In the case of a high-
     volume third party seller that provides a copy of a valid 
     government-issued tax document, any information contained in 
     such document shall be presumed to be verified as of the date 
     of issuance of such document.
       (3) Data use limitation.--Data collected solely to comply 
     with the requirements of this section may not be used for any 
     other purpose unless required by law.
       (4) Data security requirement.--An online marketplace shall 
     implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and 
     practices, including administrative, physical, and technical 
     safeguards, appropriate to the nature of the data and the 
     purposes for which the data will be used, to protect the data 
     collected to comply with the requirements of this section 
     from unauthorized use, disclosure, access, destruction, or 
     modification.
       (b) Disclosure Required.--
       (1) Requirement.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
       (i) require any high-volume third party seller with an 
     aggregate total of $20,000 or more in annual gross revenues 
     on such online marketplace, and that uses such online 
     marketplace's platform, to provide the information described 
     in subparagraph (B) to the online marketplace; and
       (ii) disclose the information described in subparagraph (B) 
     to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner--

       (I) on the product listing page (including via hyperlink); 
     or
       (II) in the order confirmation message or other document or 
     communication made to the consumer after the purchase is 
     finalized and in the consumer's account transaction history.

       (B) Information described.--The information described in 
     this subparagraph is the following:
       (i) Subject to paragraph (2), the identity of the high-
     volume third party seller, including--

       (I) the full name of the seller, which may include the 
     seller name or seller's company name, or the name by which 
     the seller or company operates on the online marketplace;
       (II) the physical address of the seller; and
       (III) contact information for the seller, to allow for the 
     direct, unhindered communication with high-volume third party 
     sellers by users of the online marketplace, including--

       (aa) a current working phone number;
       (bb) a current working email address; or
       (cc) other means of direct electronic messaging (which may 
     be provided to such seller by the online marketplace), 
     provided that the requirements of this item shall not prevent 
     an online marketplace from monitoring communications between 
     high-volume third party sellers and users of the online 
     marketplace for fraud, abuse, or spam.
       (ii) Whether the high-volume third party seller used a 
     different seller to supply the consumer product to the 
     consumer upon purchase, and, upon the request of an 
     authenticated purchaser, the information described in clause 
     (i) relating to any such seller that supplied the consumer 
     product to the purchaser, if such seller is different than 
     the high-volume third party seller listed on the product 
     listing prior to purchase.
       (2) Exception.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), upon the 
     request of a high-volume third party seller, an online 
     marketplace may provide for partial disclosure of the 
     identity information required under paragraph (1)(B)(i) in 
     the following situations:
       (i) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace that 
     the seller does not have a business address and only has a 
     residential street address, or has a combined business and 
     residential address, the online marketplace may--

       (I) disclose only the country and, if applicable, the State 
     in which such seller resides; and
       (II) inform consumers that there is no business address 
     available for the seller and that consumer inquiries should 
     be submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of 
     electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online 
     marketplace.

       (ii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace 
     that the seller is a business that has a physical address for 
     product returns, the online marketplace may disclose the 
     seller's physical address for product returns.
       (iii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace 
     that the seller does not have a phone number other than a 
     personal phone number, the online marketplace shall inform 
     consumers that there is no phone number available for the 
     seller and that consumer inquiries should be submitted to the 
     seller's email address or other means of electronic messaging 
     provided to such seller by the online marketplace.
       (B) Limitation on exception.--If an online marketplace 
     becomes aware that a high-volume third party seller has made 
     a false representation to the online marketplace in order to 
     justify the provision of a partial disclosure under 
     subparagraph (A) or that a high-volume third party seller who 
     has requested and received a provision for a partial 
     disclosure under subparagraph (A) has not provided responsive 
     answers within a reasonable time frame to consumer inquiries 
     submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of 
     electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online 
     marketplace, the online marketplace shall, after providing 
     the seller with written or electronic notice and an 
     opportunity to respond not later than 10 days after the 
     issuance of such notice, suspend any future sales activity of 
     such seller unless such seller consents to the disclosure of 
     the identity information required under paragraph (1)(B)(i).
       (3) Reporting mechanism.--An online marketplace shall 
     disclose to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner on 
     the product listing of any high-volume third party seller a 
     reporting mechanism that allows for electronic and telephonic 
     reporting of suspicious marketplace activity to the online 
     marketplace.

[[Page H8568]]

       (4) Compliance.--If a high-volume third party seller does 
     not comply with the requirements to provide and disclose 
     information under this subsection, the online marketplace 
     shall, after providing the seller with written or electronic 
     notice and an opportunity to provide or disclose such 
     information not later than 10 days after the issuance of such 
     notice, suspend any future sales activity of such seller 
     until the seller complies with such requirements.
       (c) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--
       (1) Unfair and deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of 
     subsection (a) or (b) by an online marketplace shall be 
     treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or 
     deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 
     18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 
     57a(a)(1)(B)).
       (2) Powers of the commission.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall enforce subsections 
     (a) and (b) in the same manner, by the same means, and with 
     the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all 
     applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade 
     Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into 
     and made a part of this section.
       (B) Privileges and immunities.--Any person that violates 
     subsection (a) or (b) shall be subject to the penalties, and 
     entitled to the privileges and immunities, provided in the 
     Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
       (3) Regulations.--The Commission may promulgate regulations 
     under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, with 
     respect to the collection, verification, or disclosure of 
     information under this section, provided that such 
     regulations are limited to what is necessary to collect, 
     verify, and disclose such information.
       (4) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any 
     other provision of law.
       (d) Enforcement by State Attorneys General.--
       (1) In general.--If the attorney general of a State has 
     reason to believe that any online marketplace has violated or 
     is violating this section or a regulation promulgated under 
     this section that affects one or more residents of that 
     State, the attorney general of the State may bring a civil 
     action in any appropriate district court of the United 
     States, to--
       (A) enjoin further such violation by the defendant;
       (B) enforce compliance with this section or such 
     regulation;
       (C) obtain civil penalties in the amount provided for under 
     subsection (c);
       (D) obtain other remedies permitted under State law; and
       (E) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on 
     behalf of residents of the State.
       (2) Notice.--The attorney general of a State shall provide 
     prior written notice of any action under paragraph (1) to the 
     Commission and provide the Commission with a copy of the 
     complaint in the action, except in any case in which such 
     prior notice is not feasible, in which case the attorney 
     general shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting 
     such action.
       (3) Intervention by the commission.--Upon receiving notice 
     under paragraph (2), the Commission shall have the right--
       (A) to intervene in the action;
       (B) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising 
     therein; and
       (C) to file petitions for appeal.
       (4) Limitation on state action while federal action is 
     pending.--If the Commission has instituted a civil action for 
     violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under 
     this section, no State attorney general, or official or 
     agency of a State, may bring a separate action under 
     paragraph (1) during the pendency of that action against any 
     defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for any 
     violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under 
     this section that is alleged in the complaint. A State 
     attorney general, or official or agency of a State, may join 
     a civil action for a violation of this section or regulation 
     promulgated under this section filed by the Commission.
       (5) Rule of construction.--For purposes of bringing a civil 
     action under paragraph (1), nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to prevent the chief law enforcement officer, or 
     official or agency of a State, from exercising the powers 
     conferred on such chief law enforcement officer, or official 
     or agency of a State, by the laws of the State to conduct 
     investigations, administer oaths or affirmations, or compel 
     the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary 
     and other evidence.
       (6) Actions by other state officials.--
       (A) In general.--In addition to civil actions brought by 
     attorneys general under paragraph (1), any other officer of a 
     State who is authorized by the State to do so, except for any 
     private person on behalf of the State attorney general, may 
     bring a civil action under paragraph (1), subject to the same 
     requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection 
     to civil actions brought by attorneys general.
       (B) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection may be 
     construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from 
     initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the 
     State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the 
     State.
       (e) Severability.--If any provision of this section, or the 
     application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held 
     invalid, the remainder of this section and the application of 
     such provision to other persons not similarly situated or to 
     other circumstances shall not be affected by the 
     invalidation.
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Trade Commission.
       (2) Consumer product.--The term ``consumer product'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Magnuson-
     Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2301) and section 700.1 of title 16, Code of Federal 
     Regulations.
       (3) High-volume third party seller.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``high-volume third party 
     seller'' means a participant on an online marketplace's 
     platform who is a third party seller and, in any continuous 
     12-month period during the previous 24 months, has entered 
     into 200 or more discrete sales or transactions of new or 
     unused consumer products and an aggregate total of $5,000 or 
     more in gross revenues.
       (B) Clarification.--For purposes of calculating the number 
     of discrete sales or transactions or the aggregate gross 
     revenues under subparagraph (A), an online marketplace shall 
     only be required to count sales or transactions made through 
     the online marketplace and for which payment was processed by 
     the online marketplace, either directly or through its 
     payment processor.
       (4) Online marketplace.--The term ``online marketplace'' 
     means any person or entity that operates a consumer-directed 
     electronically based or accessed platform that--
       (A) includes features that allow for, facilitate, or enable 
     third party sellers to engage in the sale, purchase, payment, 
     storage, shipping, or delivery of a consumer product in the 
     United States;
       (B) is used by one or more third party sellers for such 
     purposes; and
       (C) has a contractual or similar relationship with 
     consumers governing their use of the platform to purchase 
     consumer products.
       (5) Seller.--The term ``seller'' means a person who sells, 
     offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product 
     through an online marketplace's platform.
       (6) Third party seller.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``third party seller'' means any 
     seller, independent of an online marketplace, who sells, 
     offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product in 
     the United States through such online marketplace's platform.
       (B) Exclusions.--The term ``third party seller'' does not 
     include, with respect to an online marketplace--
       (i) a seller who operates the online marketplace's 
     platform; or
       (ii) a business entity that has--

       (I) made available to the general public the entity's name, 
     business address, and working contact information;
       (II) an ongoing contractual relationship with the online 
     marketplace to provide the online marketplace with the 
     manufacture, distribution, wholesaling, or fulfillment of 
     shipments of consumer products; and
       (III) provided to the online marketplace identifying 
     information, as described in subsection (a), that has been 
     verified in accordance with that subsection.

       (7) Verify.--The term ``verify'' means to confirm 
     information provided to an online marketplace pursuant to 
     this section, which may include the use of one or more 
     methods that enable the online marketplace to reliably 
     determine that any information and documents provided are 
     valid, corresponding to the seller or an individual acting on 
     the seller's behalf, not misappropriated, and not falsified.
       (g) Relationship to State Laws.--No State or political 
     subdivision of a State, or territory of the United States, 
     may establish or continue in effect any law, regulation, 
     rule, requirement, or standard that conflicts with the 
     requirements of this section.
       (h) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

       VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021

                               H.R. 5721

       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 ``VA Infrastructure Powers 
     Exceptional Research Act of 2021'' or the ``VIPER Act of 
     2021''.

     SEC. 2. INAPPLICABILITY OF PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 120. Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act

       ``Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
     Code (commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act') shall 
     not apply to research activities of the Department, including 
     activities under subchapter V of chapter 73.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``120. Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act.''.

     SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Office of Research and Development.--Chapter 73 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subchapter:

[[Page H8569]]

  


                ``SUBCHAPTER V--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

     ``Sec. 7381. Office of Research and Development

       ``(a) Office of Research and Development.--There is in the 
     Veterans Health Administration an Office of Research and 
     Development (in this section referred to as the `Office').
       ``(b) Purposes.--The function of the Office is to serve 
     veterans through a full spectrum of research (including pre-
     clinical, clinical, and health systems science), technology 
     transfer, and application.
       ``(c) Chief Research and Development Officer.--The head of 
     the Office is the Chief Research and Development Officer.
       ``(d) Organization and Personnel.--The Office shall be 
     organized in such manner, and its personnel shall perform 
     such duties and have such titles, as the Secretary may 
     prescribe.

     ``Sec. 7382. Research personnel

       ``(a) Waiver of Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility 
     Program Limits.--The Secretary may waive the limit on the 
     period and number of assignments required under section 
     3372(a) of title 5 with respect to an individual who performs 
     research for the Department under the mobility program under 
     subchapter VI of chapter 33 of such title (commonly referred 
     to as the `Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility 
     Program').
       ``(b) Outside Earned Income for Research for the 
     Department.--(1) Compensation from a nonprofit corporation 
     established under subchapter IV of this chapter, or a 
     university affiliated with the Department, may be paid, 
     without regard to section 209 of title 18, to an employee 
     described in paragraph (2), for research conducted pursuant 
     to section 7303 of this title if--
       ``(A) the research has been approved in accordance with 
     procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health;
       ``(B) the employee conducts research under the supervision 
     of personnel of the Department; and
       ``(C) the Secretary agreed to the terms of such 
     compensation in writing.
       ``(2) An employee described in this subsection is an 
     employee who has an appointment within the Department, 
     whether with or without compensation, and without regard to 
     the source of such compensation.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

                ``subchapter v--research and development

``7381. Office of Research and Development.
``7382. Research personnel.''.

     SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF HIRING AUTHORITIES FOR CERTAIN CLASSES 
                   OF RESEARCH OCCUPATIONS.

       Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``statisticians, economists, informaticists, 
     data scientists, and'' after ``blind rehabilitation 
     outpatient specialists,''.

                         Manufacturing.gov Act

                               H.R. 6290

       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 ``Manufacturing.gov Act''.

     SEC. 2. MANUFACTURING.GOV HUB.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Secretary'' 
     means the Secretary of Commerce.
       (b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with 
     the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Commerce, 
     shall modify the manufacturing.gov website by establishing a 
     section of the website to be known as the ``manufacturing.gov 
     hub''.
       (c) Functions.--The manufacturing.gov hub established under 
     subsection (b) shall--
       (1) serve as the primary hub for information relating to 
     every Federal manufacturing program, including the programs 
     identified in the report of the Government Accountability 
     Office entitled ``U.S. Manufacturing'' (GAO 17-240), 
     published on March 28, 2017;
       (2) provide the contact information of relevant program 
     offices carrying out the Federal manufacturing programs 
     described in paragraph (1);
       (3) provide an avenue for public input and feedback 
     relating to--
       (A) the functionality of the website of the Department of 
     Commerce;
       (B) the Federal manufacturing programs described in 
     paragraph (1); and
       (C) any other manufacturing-related challenges experienced 
     by manufacturers in the United States;
       (4) establish web pages within the hub that shall focus 
     on--
       (A) technology and research and development;
       (B) trade;
       (C) workforce development and training;
       (D) industrial commons and supply chains; and
       (E) small and medium manufacturers; and
       (5) use machine learning to--
       (A) identify frequently asked questions; and
       (B) disseminate to the public answers to the questions 
     identified under subparagraph (A).
       (d) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are 
     authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out 
     this section.

  Improving Oversight of Veterans Community Care Providers Act of 2022

                               H.R. 7277

       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 ``Improving Oversight of 
     Veterans Community Care Providers Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE NOT 
                   ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN VETERANS COMMUNITY 
                   CARE PROGRAM.

       (a) Plan.--
       (1) Requirement.--Beginning not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for 
     Health, shall carry out a plan to improve the methods by 
     which the Secretary identifies health care providers that are 
     not eligible to participate in the Veterans Community Care 
     Program.
       (2) Matters included.--The plan under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Modifying the standard operating procedures of the 
     Office of Community Care of the Veterans Health 
     Administration regarding the exclusion of health care 
     providers from participating in the Veterans Community Care 
     Program to require the automated continuous matching of 
     health care providers in the Provider Profile Management 
     System of the Veterans Health Administration, or such 
     successor system, with covered data systems using multiple 
     unique identifiers, including taxpayer identification number, 
     national provider identifier, Social Security number, and 
     date of birth.
       (B) A fraud risk analysis conducted by the Office of 
     Community Care regarding the exclusion of health care 
     providers from participating in the Veterans Community Care 
     Program that includes--
       (i) an assessment of the likelihood and impact of inherent 
     fraud risks relating to the self-certification of State 
     licenses and addresses provided by health care providers;
       (ii) a determination of the fraud risk tolerance; and
       (iii) an examination of the suitability of existing fraud 
     controls.
       (C) Any other matters the Under Secretary determines will 
     improve the oversight of health care providers participating 
     in the Veterans Community Care Program.
       (b) Certification.--Not later than 270 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate that the Secretary has 
     implemented the plan under subsection (a).
       (c) Reports.--
       (1) Initial report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a report that--
       (A) describes the progress the Under Secretary has made in 
     carrying out the plan under subsection (a); and
       (B) includes recommendations for legislative action to 
     further improve the methods by which the Secretary identifies 
     health care providers that are not eligible to participate in 
     the Veterans Community Care Program.
       (2) Update.--Not later than two years after the date on 
     which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate an 
     update to the report.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered data systems'' means the following:
       (A) The List of Excluded Individuals/Entities of the Office 
     of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.
       (B) The System for Award Management Exclusions list 
     described in part 9 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     and part 180 of title 2 of such Code, or successor 
     regulations.
       (C) The monthly deactivation file of the National Plan and 
     Provider Enumeration System of the Centers for Medicare & 
     Medicaid Services.
       (D) The National Practitioner Data Bank established 
     pursuant to the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 
     (42 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.).
       (2) The term ``Veterans Community Care Program'' means the 
     program established under section 1703 of title 38, United 
     States Code.

               Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022

                               H.R. 7299

       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 ``Strengthening VA 
     Cybersecurity Act of 2022'' or the ``SVAC Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT CYBERSECURITY ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION 
                   SYSTEMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Independent Assessment Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded 
     research and development center to provide to the Secretary 
     an independent cybersecurity assessment of--
       (A) five high-impact information systems of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs; and
       (B) the effectiveness of the information security program 
     and information security management system of the Department.

[[Page H8570]]

       (2) Detailed analysis.--The independent cybersecurity 
     assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall include a 
     detailed analysis of the ability of the Department--
       (A) to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and 
     availability of the information, information systems, and 
     devices of the Department; and
       (B) to protect against--
       (i) advanced persistent cybersecurity threats;
       (ii) ransomware;
       (iii) denial of service attacks;
       (iv) insider threats;
       (v) threats from foreign actors, including state sponsored 
     criminals and other foreign based criminals;
       (vi) phishing;
       (vii) credential theft;
       (viii) cybersecurity attacks that target the supply chain 
     of the Department;
       (ix) threats due to remote access and telework activity; 
     and
       (x) other cyber threats.
       (3) Types of systems.--The independent cybersecurity 
     assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall cover on-
     premises, remote, cloud-based, and mobile information systems 
     and devices used by, or in support of, Department activities.
       (4) Shadow information technology.--The independent 
     cybersecurity assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall 
     include an evaluation of the use of information technology 
     systems, devices, and services by employees and contractors 
     of the Department who do so without the heads of the elements 
     of the Department that are responsible for information 
     technology at the Department knowing or approving of such 
     use.
       (5) Methodology.--In conducting the cybersecurity 
     assessment to be provided under paragraph (1), the federally 
     funded research and development center shall take into 
     account industry best practices and the current state-of-the-
     art in cybersecurity evaluation and review.
       (b) Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date on 
     which an independent assessment is provided to the Secretary 
     by a federally funded research and development center 
     pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (a), 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a plan 
     to address the findings of the federally funded research and 
     development center set forth in such assessment.
       (2) Elements.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Improvements to the security controls of the 
     information systems of the Department assessed under 
     subsection (a) to--
       (i) achieve the goals specified in subparagraph (A) of 
     paragraph (2) of such subsection; and
       (ii) protect against the threats specified in subparagraph 
     (B) of such paragraph.
       (B) Improvements to the information security program and 
     information security management system of the Department to 
     achieve such goals and protect against such threats.
       (C) A cost estimate for implementing the plan.
       (D) A timeline for implementing the plan.
       (E) Such other elements as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Comptroller General of the United States Evaluation and 
     Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     submission of the plan under subsection (b)(1), the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall--
       (1) commence an evaluation and review of--
       (A) the independent cybersecurity assessment provided under 
     subsection (a); and
       (B) the response of the Department to such assessment; and
       (2) provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the 
     results of the evaluation and review, including any 
     recommendations made to the Secretary regarding the matters 
     covered by the briefing.

                Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022

                               H.R. 8416

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster 
     Survivors Fairness Act of 2022''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Information sharing for Federal agencies.
Sec. 3. Universal application for individual assistance.
Sec. 4. Repair and rebuilding.
Sec. 5. Direct assistance.
Sec. 6. State-managed housing pilot authority.
Sec. 7. Management costs.
Sec. 8. Individual assistance post-disaster housing study.
Sec. 9. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 10. Individual assistance dashboard.
Sec. 11. FEMA reports.
Sec. 12. Sheltering of emergency response personnel.
Sec. 13. GAO report on preliminary damage assessments.
Sec. 14. Applicability.
       (c) Definitions.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms 
     used in this Act have the meanings given such terms in 
     section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).

     SEC. 2. INFORMATION SHARING FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       (a) Establishment of Electronic Information Sharing 
     System.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall establish and maintain a web-based 
     interagency electronic information sharing system, to be 
     known as ``DisasterAssistance.gov'', to--
       (A) facilitate the administration of the universal 
     application for direct Federal disaster assistance 
     established under section 3;
       (B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs 
     swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with 
     applicable laws, regulations, and the privacy and data 
     protections provided under this section; and
       (C) support the detection, prevention, and investigation of 
     waste, fraud, abuse, inequitable allocation of resources, or 
     discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance 
     programs.
       (2) Authorities of administrator.--In establishing and 
     maintaining the electronic information sharing system under 
     this subsection, the Administrator may collect and maintain 
     disaster assistance information received from a disaster 
     assistance agency, a block grant recipient, or an applicant 
     for a disaster assistance program and share such information 
     with any other disaster assistance agency or block grant 
     recipient using such electronic information sharing system.
       (b) Data Security.--The Administrator may facilitate the 
     collection of disaster assistance information into the 
     electronic information sharing system established under this 
     section only after the following requirements have been met:
       (1) The Administrator certifies that the electronic 
     information sharing system substantially complies with the 
     data security standards and best practices established 
     pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
     States Code, and any other applicable Federal information 
     security policy.
       (2) The Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a privacy 
     impact assessment for the electronic information sharing 
     system, in accordance with section 222 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 142).
       (3) The Administrator, after consulting with disaster 
     assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for 
     disaster assistance agencies, block grant recipients, and 
     personnel granted access to disaster assistance information 
     to protect such information from improper disclosure.
       (c) Collection and Sharing of Additional Records and 
     Information.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator may authorize the 
     collection, maintenance, sharing, and use of additional 
     disaster assistance information by publishing a notice on 
     DisasterAssistance.gov that includes a detailed description 
     of--
       (A) the specific amendments to the collection, maintenance, 
     and sharing of disaster assistance information authorized;
       (B) why each such amendment to how disaster assistance 
     information is collected, maintained, or shared is necessary 
     to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program 
     and consistent with the fair information practice principles; 
     and
       (C) the disaster assistance agencies and block grant 
     recipients that will be granted access to the additional 
     information to carry out the purposes of any disaster 
     assistance program.
       (2) Notice and publication requirements.--The publication 
     of a notice under paragraph (1) of a revision to the 
     DisasterAssistance.gov system of records prior to any new 
     collection, or uses, of Privacy Act categories of records, to 
     carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program with 
     regard to a disaster 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; 5191), shall be 
     deemed to satisfy the notice and publication requirements of 
     section 552a(e)(4) of title 5, United States Code, for the 
     entire period of performance for any assistance provided 
     under a disaster assistance program.
       (3) Waiver of information collection requirements.--
       (A) In general.--Upon the declaration of a major disaster 
     or emergency pursuant to sections 401 or 501 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170; 5191), the President may direct the 
     Administrator to waive the requirements of subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, with respect to 
     voluntary collection of information for the duration of such 
     major disaster or emergency.
       (B) Transparency.--Upon exercising the waiver authority 
     under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall--
       (i) promptly post on a website of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency a brief justification for such waiver, the 
     anticipated period of time such waiver will be in effect, and 
     the disaster assistance offices within the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to which such waiver shall apply; and
       (ii) update the information relating to such waiver, as 
     applicable.
       (4) GAO review of waiver of information collection 
     requirements.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall issue a report describing the benefits

[[Page H8571]]

     and potential risks associated with authorizing the waiver of 
     the information collection requirements described in 
     paragraph (3).
       (B) Contents.--The report required under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include an assessment of the extent to which a waiver 
     described in paragraph (3) would--
       (i) affect the paperwork burden for individuals, small 
     businesses, State, local and tribal governments, and other 
     persons;
       (ii) affect the consistent application of Federal laws 
     relating to--

       (I) privacy and confidentiality;
       (II) security of information; and
       (III) access to information; and

       (iii) encourage or deter a State or other entity from 
     participating in the voluntary collection of information for 
     the duration of a major disaster or emergency.
       (d) Use by Other Federal Agencies.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator may permit a Federal 
     agency other than a disaster assistance agency listed in 
     subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (f)(3) to use the 
     electronic information sharing system established under this 
     section for the purpose of facilitating disaster-related 
     assistance if such agency enters into an agreement containing 
     the terms described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Agency agreement.--An agreement entered into under 
     paragraph (1) shall contain the following terms:
       (A) The Federal agency shall--
       (i) collect, share, maintain, and use disaster assistance 
     information in compliance with this section and any policies 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and any 
     information protection and use policies of such Federal 
     agency; and
       (ii) train any personnel granted access to disaster 
     assistance information on the rules of behavior established 
     by the Administrator under subsection (b)(3).
       (B) In the event of any unauthorized disclosure of disaster 
     assistance information, the Federal agency shall--
       (i) notify the Administrator within 24 hours of discovering 
     any such unauthorized disclosure;
       (ii) cooperate fully with the Administrator in the 
     investigation and remediation of any such disclosure;
       (iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person 
     responsible for such disclosure; and
       (iv) assume the responsibility for any compensation, civil 
     liability, or other remediation measures, whether awarded by 
     a judgment of a court or agreed as a compromise of any 
     potential claims by or on behalf of an applicant, including 
     by obtaining credit monitoring and remediation services, for 
     an improper disclosure that is--

       (I) caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or 
     omissions of officers, employees, and contractors of the 
     agency; or
       (II) from any electronic system of records that is created 
     or maintained by the agency pursuant to section 552a(e) of 
     title 5, United States Code.

       (3) Publication of agency agreement.--The Administrator 
     shall publish an agency agreement entered into under this 
     subsection on the same website as the electronic information 
     sharing system established under this section.
       (e) Rule of Construction.--The sharing and use of disaster 
     assistance information that is subject to the requirements of 
     section 552a of title 5, United States Code, by disaster 
     assistance agencies and block grant recipients shall not--
       (1) be construed as a matching program for purposes of 
     section 552a(a)(8) of such title; or
       (2) be subject to the remaining computer matching 
     provisions of section 552a of such title.
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means--
       (A) a person who applies for disaster assistance from a 
     disaster assistance program; and
       (B) a person on whose behalf a person described in 
     subparagraph (A) has applied for disaster assistance.
       (2) Block grant recipient.--The term ``block grant 
     recipient'' means a State, local government, or Indian Tribe 
     that receives assistance through the disaster assistance 
     program described in paragraph (5)(B)(i).
       (3) Disaster assistance agency.--The term ``disaster 
     assistance agency'' means--
       (A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
       (B) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
       (C) the Small Business Administration;
       (D) the Department of Agriculture;
       (E) any other Federal agency that the Administrator permits 
     to use the electronic information sharing system under 
     subsection (d).
       (4) Disaster assistance information.--The term ``disaster 
     assistance information'' includes any personal, demographic, 
     biographical, geographical, financial information, or other 
     information that a disaster assistance agency or block grant 
     recipient is authorized to collect, maintain, share, or use 
     to process an application for disaster assistance or 
     otherwise carry out a disaster assistance program.
       (5) Disaster assistance program.--The term ``disaster 
     assistance program'' means--
       (A) any program that provides assistance to individuals and 
     households under title IV or title V of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170 et seq.); and
       (B) any other assistance program carried out by a disaster 
     assistance agency that provides assistance to an individual, 
     household, or organization related to a major disaster or 
     emergency declared under sections 401 or 501 of such Act, 
     including--
       (i) assistance for activities related to disaster relief, 
     long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and 
     housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation that are 
     authorized under title I of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
       (ii) any loan that is authorized under section 7(b) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and
       (iii) the distribution of food benefit allotments as 
     authorized under section 412 of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5179) 
     and section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
     2014(h)).

     SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL APPLICATION FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Universal Application.--The Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency shall develop and 
     establish a universal application for direct Federal disaster 
     assistance for individuals in areas impacted by emergencies 
     or disasters.
       (b) Consultation and Support.--
       (1) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Administrator shall consult with the following:
       (A) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
       (B) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
       (C) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
       (D) The Secretary of Agriculture.
       (2) Support.--The entities described in paragraph (1) shall 
     provide prompt support to the Administrator.
       (c) Survey.--The application established under subsection 
     (a) shall include a voluntary survey to collect the 
     demographic data of an applicant.
       (d) GAO Assessment on Identity Theft and Disaster Fraud in 
     Disaster Assistance Programs.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall--
       (1) conduct an assessment of improper and potentially 
     fraudulent Federal disaster assistance for individuals made 
     to victims of major disasters declared in 2020 and 2021, 
     including through identity theft; and
       (2) 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 that describes--
       (A) the prevalence of improper and potentially fraudulent 
     Federal disaster assistance for individuals made to 
     registrants who used invalid information to apply for 
     disaster assistance, including through identity theft;
       (B) the number of disaster victims whose claims for Federal 
     disaster assistance for individuals were denied due to 
     another individual filing a fraudulent application using 
     their personal identifying information;
       (C) the adequacy of existing fraud prevention protocols in 
     place on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's online 
     application for Federal disaster assistance for individuals; 
     and
       (D) recommendations for improving the identity verification 
     protocols in place for Federal disaster assistance for 
     individuals.

     SEC. 4. REPAIR AND REBUILDING.

       (a) In General.--Section 408(b)(1) of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5174(b)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``rendered uninhabitable'' and inserting 
     ``damaged by a major disaster''; and
       (2) by striking ``uninhabitable, as a result of damage 
     caused by a major disaster'' and inserting ``damaged by a 
     major disaster''.
       (b) Hazard Mitigation.--Section 408 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Hazard mitigation.--
       ``(A) In general.--The President may provide financial 
     assistance to individuals and households, whose primary 
     residence, utilities, or residential infrastructure are 
     damaged by a major disaster, for cost-effective hazard 
     mitigation measures that reduce threats to life and property, 
     or future damage to such residence, utilities, or 
     infrastructure in future disasters.
       ``(B) Relationship to other assistance.--A recipient of 
     assistance provided under this paragraph shall not be 
     required to show that the assistance can be met through other 
     means, except insurance proceeds.''; and
       (2) in subsection (h)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``, financial assistance 
     for hazard mitigation under subsection (c)(5)(A),'' after 
     ``subsection (c)(1)(A)(i)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Hazard mitigation.--The maximum financial assistance 
     any individual or household may receive under subsection 
     (c)(5) shall be equivalent to the amount set forth in 
     paragraph (1) with respect to a single major disaster.''.

     SEC. 5. DIRECT ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5174(c)) is further amended by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(2) Repairs.--

[[Page H8572]]

       ``(A) Financial assistance for repairs.--The President may 
     provide financial assistance for the repair of owner-occupied 
     private residences, utilities, and residential infrastructure 
     (such as a private access route) damaged by a major disaster, 
     or with respect to individuals with disabilities, rendered 
     inaccessible by a major disaster.
       ``(B) Direct assistance for repairs.--
       ``(i) In general.--The President may provide direct 
     assistance to individuals and households who are unable to 
     make use of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) and 
     when there is a lack of available resources, for--

       ``(I) the repair of owner-occupied private residences, 
     utilities, and residential infrastructure (such as a private 
     access route) damaged by a major disaster, or with respect to 
     individuals with disabilities, rendered inaccessible by a 
     disaster; and
       ``(II) eligible hazard mitigation measures that reduce the 
     likelihood and future damage to such residences, utilities, 
     and infrastructure.

       ``(ii) Eligibility.--A recipient of assistance under this 
     subparagraph shall not be eligible for assistance under 
     paragraph (1), unless otherwise determined by the 
     Administrator.
       ``(C) Relationship to other assistance.--A recipient of 
     assistance provided under this paragraph shall not be 
     required to show that the assistance can be met through other 
     means, except insurance proceeds.''.
       (b) State- or Indian Tribal Government-administered 
     Assistance and Other Needs Assistance.--Section 408(f) of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(f)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``paragraphs (1)(B), 
     (2)(B), and (4) of subsection (c) and subsection (e)''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ``subsection (c)(1)(B), 
     (c)(4), or (e)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)(B), (2)(B), or 
     (4) of subsection (c) or subsection (e)''.

     SEC. 6. STATE-MANAGED HOUSING PILOT AUTHORITY.

        Section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (f)(3)--
       (A) by striking subparagraph (F);
       (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (G), (H), (I), and (J) 
     as subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), and (I), respectively; and
       (C) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated--
       (i) in clause (ii) by striking ``Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the'' and 
     inserting ``The''; and
       (ii) in clause (iii) by striking--

       (I) ``2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph 
     or'' and
       (II) ``, whichever occurs sooner''; and

       (2) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Disaster assistance.--In the case of assistance 
     provided under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(2)(B), and (c)(4), 
     the Federal share shall be not less than 75 percent.''.

     SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT COSTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 324(b)(2) of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5165b(b)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(C) Individual assistance.--A grantee under section 
     408(f) may be reimbursed not more than 12 percent of the 
     total award amount under each such section.
       ``(D) Crisis counseling assistance, training, and case 
     management services.--A grantee and subgrantee, cumulatively, 
     may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total 
     amount of the grant award under either section 416 or 426.''.
       (b) Administrative Costs.--Section 408(f)(1) of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(A) grant to state.--'' and all that 
     follows through ``subsection (g),'' and inserting ``Subject 
     to subsection (g),'' ; and
       (2) by striking subparagraph (B).

     SEC. 8. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE POST-DISASTER HOUSING STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency shall--
       (1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the 
     Agency will address the challenges associated with providing 
     housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or 
     emergencies pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), 
     including circumstances in which--
       (A) the presence of multiple families within a single 
     household; and
       (B) the near loss of a community, with the majority of 
     homes destroyed in such community, with discrete assessments 
     on flood, wildfire, and earthquake events; and
       (2) make recommendations for legislative changes needed to 
     address the challenges described in paragraph (1).
       (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Administrator shall consult with other relevant 
     Federal agencies and stakeholders.
       (c) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the activities 
     carried out under subsection (a), 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 
     containing the study and recommendations required under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 9. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of 
     the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.
       (b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency may enter into a cooperative 
     agreement to provide funding to a State agency established 
     under subsection (c) to establish and operate a website to 
     provide information relating to post-disaster recovery 
     funding and resources to a community or an individual 
     impacted by a major disaster or emergency.
       ``(2) Management.--A website created under this subsection 
     shall be--
       ``(A) managed by the State agency; and
       ``(B) suitable for the residents of the State of the State 
     agency.
       ``(3) Content.--The Administrator may enter into a 
     cooperative agreement to establish a website under this 
     subsection only to provide 1 or more of the following:
       ``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-
     disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available 
     to a community after a major disaster or emergency.
       ``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-
     disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available 
     to an individual impacted by a major disaster or emergency.
       ``(C) A technical guide that lists and explains the costs 
     and benefits of alternatives available to a community to 
     mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency and 
     prepare for sequential hazards such as flooding after a 
     wildfire.
       ``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that enters into a 
     cooperative agreement under this subsection shall cooperate 
     with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
     the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and 
     the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     in developing a website under this subsection.
       ``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to 
     establish a website under this subsection shall update the 
     website not less than once every 6 months.''.

     SEC. 10. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DASHBOARD.

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

     ``SEC. 431. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DASHBOARD.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after a 
     declaration by the President that a major disaster exists 
     under section 401, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall publish on a website of the Agency an 
     interactive web tool displaying the following information 
     with respect to such disaster:
       ``(1) The number of applications for assistance under 
     section 408, including a description of the number of 
     applications for assistance related to housing under such 
     section and the number of applications for assistance to 
     address other needs under section 408(e).
       ``(2) The number of applications for such assistance that 
     are approved.
       ``(3) The number of applications for such assistance that 
     are denied.
       ``(4) A ranked list of the reasons for the denial of such 
     applications, including the number of applications for each 
     reason for denial.
       ``(5) If available, the dollar amount of assistance 
     provided pursuant to section 408 to applicants who are--
       ``(A) property owners with a household annual income--
       ``(i) above the national median household income; and
       ``(ii) below the national median household income; and
       ``(B) renters with a household annual income--
       ``(i) above the national median household income; and
       ``(ii) below the national median household income.
       ``(6) The estimated percentage of residential property that 
     was destroyed as a result of the major disaster, if 
     available.
       ``(b) Personally Identifiable Information.--The 
     Administrator shall ensure that none of the information 
     published under subsection (a) contains the personally 
     identifiable information of an applicant.''.

     SEC. 11. FEMA REPORTS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the 
     Senate a report with respect to fiscal year 2016 through the 
     most recent fiscal year ending before the date of enactment 
     of this

[[Page H8573]]

     Act, and an annual report for any fiscal year beginning on or 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, describing--
       (1) the average amount of individual assistance and 
     individual and household assistance provided under section 
     408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) to, and the rate of 
     denial of individual assistance and individual and household 
     assistance provided under such section for--
       (A) all individuals;
       (B) households;
       (C) individuals and households with an annual income under 
     75 percent of the national median household income;
       (D) individuals with an annual income over 125 percent of 
     the national median household income; and
       (E) individuals with an annual income between 75 percent 
     and 125 percent of the national median household income; and
       (2) an explanation for any factors causing an increase in 
     the rate of denial of the assistance described in paragraph 
     (1), if applicable.

     SEC. 12. SHELTERING OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL.

       Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Sheltering of Emergency Response Personnel.--
       ``(1) In general.--For any major disaster for which the 
     President has authorized emergency protective measures for an 
     area within the jurisdiction of a State, tribal, or local 
     government, the Administrator may reimburse the State, 
     tribal, or local government for costs relating to sheltering 
     emergency response personnel, including individuals that are 
     a part of the same predisaster household as such personnel, 
     in exclusive-use congregate or non-congregate settings if the 
     Governor of the State or chief executive of the tribal or 
     local government determines that the damage or disruption to 
     such area is of such a magnitude as to disrupt the provision 
     of emergency protective measures within such area.
       ``(2) Limitation of assistance.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may only reimburse a 
     State, tribal, or local government for the costs of 
     sheltering emergency response personnel under paragraph (1) 
     for such a period of time as the Administrator determines 
     reasonable based in the individual characteristics of and 
     impacts to the affected area, including the extent of damage, 
     the availability of alternative housing options, the 
     availability of utilities, and disruptions to transportation 
     infrastructure.
       ``(B) Maximum duration of reimbursement.--The period of 
     reimbursement under subparagraph (A) may not exceed the 6-
     month period beginning on the date on which the incident 
     period ends.
       ``(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `emergency 
     response personnel' means--
       ``(A) employees or contracted employees providing law 
     enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical, 
     emergency management, or emergency communications services; 
     and
       ``(B) elected officials, except members of Congress, 
     responsible for the overseeing or directing emergency 
     response operations or recovery activities.''.

     SEC. 13. GAO REPORT ON PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study on the practices, including the 
     accuracy of such practices, that the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency uses when conducting preliminary damage 
     assessments for the purposes of providing assistance under 
     section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42. U.S.C. 5174).
       (b) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
     study conducted under subsection (a) the following:
       (1) A comparison of the process and procedures used by the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete preliminary 
     damage assessments to the process and procedures used by 
     private insurance companies following a major disaster.
       (2) A review of training provided to individuals conducting 
     preliminary damage assessments.
       (3) A comparison of damage estimates for homes owned by 
     individuals above the national median income to homes owned 
     by individuals at or below the national median income.

     SEC. 14. APPLICABILITY.

       The amendments made by sections 4, 5, 7, 9, and 12 shall 
     only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 2 of House Resolution 
1464, the ordering of the yeas and nays on postponed motions to suspend 
the rules with respect to such measures is vacated to the end that all 
such motions are considered as withdrawn.
  The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bills.
  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. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the en bloc motion to suspend the rules will be followed 
by 5-minute votes on motions to suspend the rules and pass: S. 3369, S. 
4359, H.R. 2250, and H.R. 3630.
  This is a 15-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 381, 
nays 39, not voting 12, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 481]

                               YEAS--381

     Adams
     Aderholt
     Aguilar
     Allen
     Allred
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bentz
     Bera
     Bergman
     Beyer
     Bice (OK)
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brady
     Brown (MD)
     Brown (OH)
     Brownley
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Burchett
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carey
     Carl
     Carson
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (LA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cherfilus-McCormick
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Cole
     Comer
     Connolly
     Conway
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Curtis
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Davis, Rodney
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Ellzey
     Emmer
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Finstad
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fletcher
     Flood
     Flores
     Foster
     Foxx
     Frankel, Lois
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green, Al (TX)
     Griffith
     Grijalva
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Harder (CA)
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hayes
     Herrell
     Higgins (LA)
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill
     Himes
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Hudson
     Huffman
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jacobs (NY)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Keller
     Kelly (IL)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (CA)
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamb
     Lamborn
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Long
     Lowenthal
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Luria
     Lynch
     Mace
     Malinowski
     Malliotakis
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Mann
     Manning
     Mast
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McKinley
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meijer
     Meng
     Meuser
     Mfume
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (UT)
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Murphy (FL)
     Murphy (NC)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Obernolte
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Pallone
     Palmer
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Peltola
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Pfluger
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (NY)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Ross
     Rouzer
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Rutherford
     Ryan (NY)
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sempolinski
     Sessions
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Simpson
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Smucker
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Spartz
     Speier
     Stansbury
     Stanton
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stevens
     Stewart
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Tenney
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Turner
     Underwood
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Duyne
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Velazquez
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Waltz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Williams (TX)

[[Page H8574]]


     Wilson (FL)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Yakym
     Yarmuth
     Zeldin

                                NAYS--39

     Babin
     Biggs
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Brooks
     Buck
     Budd
     Burgess
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Davidson
     Donalds
     Fulcher
     Gohmert
     Good (VA)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Harris
     Hern
     Hice (GA)
     Loudermilk
     Massie
     McHenry
     Miller (IL)
     Moore (AL)
     Norman
     Perry
     Posey
     Rice (SC)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Roy
     Taylor
     Van Drew
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--12

     Cheney
     Clarke (NY)
     Estes
     Ferguson
     Herrera Beutler
     Jackson
     Johnson (GA)
     Jordan
     Kinzinger
     Mullin
     Pence
     Welch

                              {time}  1406

  Messrs. VAN DREW and HARRIS changed their vote from ``yea'' to 
``nay.''
  So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and 
the bills were passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.


    members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress

     Aderholt (Guest)
     Bass (Cicilline)
     Brooks (Moore (AL))
     Cawthorn (Gaetz)
     Conway (Valadao)
     Courtney (Perlmutter)
     Cuellar (Correa)
     DeFazio (Pallone)
     Demings (Kelly (IL))
     DesJarlais (Fleischmann)
     Green (TN) (Fleischmann)
     Higgins (NY) (Cicilline)
     Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski)
     Johnson (TX) (Pallone)
     Khanna (Neguse)
     Kind (Beyer)
     Kirkpatrick (Pallone)
     Larson (CT) (Cicilline)
     Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz)
     Long (Fleischmann)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     Maloney, Sean P. (Cicilline)
     McBath (Kelly (IL))
     McEachin (Beyer)
     Meng (Rice (NY))
     Morelle (Rice (NY))
     Murphy (FL) (Wasserman Schultz)
     Napolitano (Correa)
     Newman (Correa)
     O'Halleran (Pappas)
     Palazzo (Bilirakis)
     Pascrell (Pallone)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Porter (Neguse)
     Rice (SC) (Valadao)
     Rush (Beyer)
     Sires (Pallone)
     Stevens (Neguse)
     Thompson (CA) (Correa)
     Timmons (Mace)
     Waltz (Valadao)
     Wilson (FL) (Cicilline)

                          ____________________