[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HAZARD ELIGIBILITY AND LOCAL PROJECTS ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged 
and the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1917.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1917) to modify eligibility requirements for 
     certain hazard mitigation assistance programs, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged and the Senate 
proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the Peters substitute 
amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the 
bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that 
the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 6525) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Hazard Eligibility and Local 
     Projects Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF ACQUISITION AND 
                   DEMOLITION ASSISTANCE PROJECTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       (2) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a 
     project that--
       (A) is an acquisition and demolition project for which an 
     entity began implementation, including planning or 
     construction, before or after requesting assistance for the 
     project under a hazard mitigation assistance program; and
       (B) qualifies for a categorical exclusion under the 
     National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
     seq.).
       (3) Hazard mitigation assistance program.--The term 
     ``hazard mitigation assistance program'' means--
       (A) any grant program authorized under section 203 of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5133);
       (B) the hazard mitigation grant program authorized under 
     section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c); and
       (C) the flood mitigation assistance program authorized 
     under section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
     1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c).
       (b) Eligibility for Assistance for Covered Projects.--
       (1) In general.--An entity seeking assistance under a 
     hazard mitigation assistance program may be eligible to 
     receive that assistance for a covered project if--
       (A) the entity--
       (i) complies with all other eligibility requirements of the 
     hazard mitigation assistance program for acquisition or 
     demolition projects, including extinguishing all incompatible 
     encumbrances; and
       (ii) complies with all Federal requirements for the covered 
     project; and
       (B) the Administrator determines that the covered project--
       (i) qualifies for a categorical exclusion under the 
     National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
     seq.);
       (ii) is compliant with applicable floodplain management and 
     protection of wetland regulations and criteria; and
       (iii) does not require consultation under any other 
     environmental or historic preservation law or regulation or 
     involve any extraordinary circumstances.
       (2) Costs incurred.--An entity seeking assistance under a 
     hazard mitigation assistance program shall be responsible for 
     any project costs incurred by the entity for a covered 
     project if the covered project is not awarded, or is 
     determined to be ineligible for, assistance.
       (c) Applicability.--This Act shall apply to covered 
     projects started on or after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 years, 
     the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on use of 
     the authority under this Act, including--
       (1) how many applicants used the authority;
       (2) how many applicants using the authority successfully 
     obtained a grant;
       (3) how many applicants were not able to successfully 
     obtain a grant;
       (4) the reasons applicants were not able to obtain a grant; 
     and
       (5) the extent to which applicants using the authority were 
     able to comply with all necessary Federal environmental, 
     historic preservation, and other related laws and 
     regulations.
       (e) Termination.--The authority provided under this Act 
     shall cease to be effective on the date that is 3 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  The bill (H.R. 1917), as amended, was passed.

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