[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3839-S3843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DISASTER ASSISTANCE SIMPLIFICATION ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 93, S. 1528.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1528) to streamline the sharing of information 
     among Federal disaster assistance agencies, to expedite the 
     delivery of life-saving assistance to disaster survivors, to 
     speed the recovery of communities from disasters, to protect 
     the security and privacy of information provided by disaster 
     survivors, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs with amendments, as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are in boldfaced 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are in 
italic.)
       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 ``Disaster Assistance 
     Simplification Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE S.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The disaster response and recovery framework of the 
     United States relies on a unified, integrated, agile, and 
     adaptable whole-of-community effort by Federal, State, and 
     local disaster assistance agencies, and by voluntary 
     organizations, to respond to any natural and man-made 
     disasters that may strike communities.
       (2) Federal disaster assistance agencies must be ready to 
     support States, Indian Tribes, communities, and volunteer 
     agencies immediately after unpredictable catastrophic 
     disasters that occur without notice.
       (3) The immediate sharing of information is essential to an 
     efficient and effective delivery of disaster assistance--
       (A) when lives and property are at risk; and
       (B) as communities seek to recover from disasters as 
     quickly as possible.
       (4) Section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Privacy Act of 1974''), and subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of

[[Page S3840]]

     title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the 
     ``Paperwork Reduction Act''), require multiple layers of 
     review, notice, and publication in the Federal Register 
     before Federal disaster assistance agencies can amend or 
     adapt their information sharing practices.
       (5) Such extended review processes can have the effect of 
     inhibiting efficiency, innovation, and interoperability among 
     Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, local, private, and 
     volunteer partners in delivering disaster assistance within a 
     whole-of-community disaster assistance effort.
       (6) Legal, regulatory, and policy limitations on the 
     interagency sharing of information submitted by applicants 
     for disaster assistance may require those applicants to 
     submit separate applications to multiple Federal, State, 
     Tribal, territorial, and local disaster assistance agencies, 
     which increases the burden on those applicants, reduces the 
     efficiency of disaster assistance programs, and places 
     additional costs on taxpayers.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) streamline the sharing of information among Federal, 
     State, Tribal, territorial, and local disaster assistance 
     agencies;
       (2) modernize the legal safeguards against the unauthorized 
     disclosure or misuse of information about applicants for 
     disaster assistance; and
       (3) modernize, streamline, and consolidate the overlapping 
     requirements of section 552a of title 5, United States Code, 
     subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, 
     and the agency policies that implement those authorities to 
     improve the speed, convenience, efficiency, and effectiveness 
     of disaster relief programs.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE INTAKE 
                   PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

       The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 707. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE 
                   INTAKE PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       ``(2) Applicant.--The term `applicant' means--
       ``(A) an individual, business, or organization that applies 
     for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program;
       ``(B) an individual, business, or organization on behalf of 
     which an individual described in subparagraph (A) applies for 
     disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; and
       ``(C) an individual, business, or organization that seeks 
     assistance as a beneficiary of a State, local government, or 
     Indian [Tribe] tribal government that received assistance 
     under a disaster assistance program.
       ``(3) Disaster assistance agency.--The term `disaster 
     assistance agency' means--
       ``(A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
       ``(B) any Federal agency that provides disaster assistance 
     to individuals, businesses, organizations, States, local 
     governments, Indian [Tribes] tribal governments, communities, 
     or organizations that the Administrator certifies as a 
     disaster assistance agency in accordance with subsection (f) 
     to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.
       ``(4) Disaster assistance information.--The term `disaster 
     assistance information' includes any personal, biographical, 
     demographic, geographical, financial, application decision, 
     or other information that a disaster assistance agency, or a 
     recipient of a Federal block grant from a disaster assistance 
     agency, is authorized to collect, maintain, disclose, or use 
     to--
       ``(A) process an application for disaster assistance from a 
     disaster assistance program; or
       ``(B) otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster 
     assistance program.
       ``(5) Disaster assistance program.--The term `disaster 
     assistance program' means--
       ``(A) a program that provides disaster assistance to 
     individuals and households under title IV or V in accordance 
     with sections 408 and 502; or
       ``(B) any other assistance program authorized by a Federal 
     statute or funded with Federal appropriations under which a 
     disaster assistance agency awards or distributes disaster 
     assistance to an individual, household, or organization, or 
     provides a Federal block grant for these purposes, that 
     arises from a major disaster or emergency declared under 
     section 401 or 501, respectively, including--
       ``(i) disaster assistance;
       ``(ii) long-term disaster recovery assistance;
       ``(iii) the post-disaster restoration of infrastructure and 
     housing;
       ``(iv) post-disaster economic revitalization;
       ``(v) a loan authorized under section 7(b) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and
       ``(vi) food benefit allotments under section 412 of this 
     Act and section 5(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
     U.S.C. 2014(h)).
       ``(6) Record.--The term `record' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 552a of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(b) Unified Disaster Assistance Intake Process and 
     System.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 360 days after the date 
     of enactment of the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, 
     the Administrator shall, in consultation with appropriate 
     Federal, State, local, and [Tribal] Indian tribal governments 
     and entities, develop and establish a unified intake process 
     and system for applicants for disaster assistance provided by 
     a disaster assistance agency to--
       ``(A) facilitate a consolidated application for any form of 
     disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency 
     when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the 
     assistance;
       ``(B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance 
     programs swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance 
     with applicable laws and privacy and data protections; and
       ``(C) support the detection, prevention, and investigation 
     of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the 
     administration of disaster assistance programs.
       ``(2) Capabilities of the consolidated application 
     system.--The unified intake [and] process and system 
     established under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) accept applications for disaster assistance programs;
       ``(B) allow for applicants to receive status updates on 
     applications for disaster assistance programs;
       ``(C) allow for applicants to update disaster assistance 
     information throughout the recovery journeys of those 
     applicants;
       ``(D) allow for the distribution of information on 
     additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may 
     be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction, in 
     coordination with appropriate Federal, State, local, and 
     Tribal partners;
       ``(E) provide disaster survivors with information and 
     documentation on the applications of those disaster survivors 
     for a disaster assistance program;
       ``(F) allow for the distribution of application data to 
     support faster and more effective distribution of Federal 
     disaster assistance, including block grant assistance, for 
     disaster recovery;
       ``(G) allow for disaster assistance agencies to communicate 
     directly with disaster survivors; and
       ``(H) contain other capabilities determined necessary by 
     the heads of disaster assistance agencies.
       ``(3) Updates.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
     which the Administrator receives a request from a disaster 
     assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated 
     application described in paragraph (1) needed to administer 
     the disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance 
     agency, the Administrator shall make those updates.
       ``(c) Authorities of Administrator.--The Administrator 
     may--
       ``(1) collect, maintain, disclose, and use disaster 
     assistance information, including such information received 
     from any disaster assistance agency, with any other disaster 
     assistance agency for purposes of subsection (b)(1); and
       ``(2) subject to subsection (d), authorize the collection, 
     [sharing] maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster 
     assistance information collected on or after the date of 
     enactment of the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act by 
     publishing a notice on a public website that--
       ``(A) includes a detailed description of--
       ``(i) the specific disaster assistance information 
     authorized to be collected, maintained, [and] disclosed, and 
     used;
       ``(ii) why the collection, maintenance, [or] disclosure, or 
     use of the disaster assistance information is necessary to 
     carry out the purpose of a disaster assistance program;
       ``(iii) how the collection, maintenance, [and] disclosure, 
     and use of disaster assistance information incorporates fair 
     information practices; and
       ``(iv) the disaster assistance agencies that will be 
     granted access to the disaster assistance information to 
     carry out the purpose of any disaster assistance program; and
       ``(B) provides that the submission of an application 
     through a unified disaster application constitutes prior 
     written consent to disclose disaster assistance information 
     to disaster assistance agencies for the purpose of section 
     552a(b) of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(d) Collection and Sharing of Records and Information.--
       ``(1) Effect of publication of notice on public website.--
     The publication of a notice by the Administrator on a public 
     website of a revision to the system of records of the 
     [uniform] unified intake process and system established under 
     subsection (b)(1) prior to any new collection, maintenance, 
     disclosure, or use [s,] of records to carry out the purposes 
     of a disaster assistance program with respect to a major 
     disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 
     401 or 501, respectively, of this Act 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.
       ``(2) Paperwork reduction act waiver.--
       ``(A) In general.--Upon the declaration of a major disaster 
     or emergency pursuant to section 401 or 501, respectively, of 
     this Act, the Administrator may waive the requirements of 
     subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
     (commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act'), with 
     respect to the voluntary collection of information specific 
     to the declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry 
     out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.
       ``(B) Duration.--A waiver described in subparagraph (A) 
     shall be in effect for the entire period of performance for 
     any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program 
     with respect to a declared major disaster or emergency.

[[Page S3841]]

       ``(C) Transparency.--If the Administrator waives the 
     requirements described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
     shall--
       ``(i) promptly post on a public website--

       ``(I) a brief justification for the waiver; and
       ``(II) the agencies and offices to which the waiver shall 
     apply;

       ``(ii) update the information posted under clause (i), as 
     applicable; and
       ``(iii) comply with the requirements of subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the `Paperwork Reduction Act') upon the expiration of the 
     period of performance of any assistance provided under a 
     disaster assistance program if the collection of information 
     may be utilized for the purposes of supporting the disaster 
     assistance program in future major disaster or emergency 
     declarations.
       ``(D) Effectiveness of waiver.--Any waiver under 
     subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date on which the 
     Administrator posts information on the internet website as 
     provided for under subparagraph (C).
       ``(e) Data Security.--The Administrator shall facilitate 
     the collection of disaster assistance information into a 
     unified application only after--
       ``(1) the Administrator certifies that the unified 
     application substantially complies with the data security 
     standards 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 unified application that is 
     similar to the privacy assessment conducted under section 
     208(b)(1)(B) of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
     note); and
       ``(3) the Administrator, in consultation with disaster 
     assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for 
     disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to 
     disaster assistance information to protect such information 
     from improper disclosure.
       ``(f) Certification of Disaster Assistance Agencies.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may certify a Federal 
     agency as a disaster assistance agency after posting an 
     agreement between the Administrator and the Federal agency on 
     a public website that contains the detailed terms of the 
     agreement.
       ``(2) Contents of agreement.--An agreement between the 
     Administrator and a Federal agency described in paragraph (1) 
     shall state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
     the Federal agency will--
       ``(A) collect, disclose, maintain, and use disaster 
     assistance information in accordance with--
       ``(i) this section; and
       ``(ii) subject to subsection (i)(2), any existing policies 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal 
     agency for information protection and use;
       ``(B) train any personnel granted access to disaster 
     assistance information on the rules of behavior established 
     by the Administrator under subsection (e)(3);
       ``(C) in the event of any unauthorized disclosure of 
     disaster assistance information--
       ``(i) not later than 24 hours after discovering the 
     unauthorized disclosure--

       ``(I) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the 
     Federal agency, notify the Administrator of the disclosure; 
     and
       ``(II) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, notify disaster 
     assistance agencies of the disclosure;

       ``(ii) cooperate fully with the Administrator and disaster 
     assistance agencies in the investigation and remediation of 
     the disclosure; and
       ``(iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person 
     responsible for the disclosure; and
       ``(D) assume responsibility for any compensation, civil 
     liability, or other remediation measure awarded by a judgment 
     of a court or agreed upon as a compromise of any potential 
     claim by or on behalf of an applicant, including by obtaining 
     credit monitoring and remediation services, for an improper 
     disclosure of disaster assistance information that is--
       ``(i) caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or 
     omissions of an officer, employee, or contractor of the 
     Federal agency; or
       ``(ii) from any electronic system of records that was 
     created or maintained by the Federal agency pursuant to 
     section 552a(e) of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(g) Reports.--
       ``(1) FEMA.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 2 
     years, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of 
     disaster assistance agencies, shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the implementation of this section, including--
       ``(A) how disaster assistance agencies are working together 
     to implement the requirements under this section;
       ``(B) the effect of this section on disaster survivor 
     burden and the speed and efficiency of delivering disaster 
     assistance; and
       ``(C) a description of any other challenges that require 
     further legislative action.
       ``(2) GAO.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to Congress a report on how the 
     implementation of this section has affected the disaster 
     survivor experience, and any recommendations for improvements 
     to the requirements under this section.
       ``(h) Briefings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and again not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this section, the 
     Administrator shall brief Congress on--
       ``(1) the status of the implementation of the requirements 
     under this section; and
       ``(2) how disaster assistance agencies are working together 
     to implement the requirements under this section.
       ``(i) Rules of Construction.--
       ``(1) Inapplicability of matching program provisions.--The 
     disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject 
     to the requirements of section 552a of title 5, United States 
     Code, among disaster assistance agencies or with State, 
     local, or Tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance 
     programs shall not--
       ``(A) be construed as a matching program for the purpose of 
     section 552a(a)(8) of title 5, United States Code; or
       ``(B) be subject to subsection (e)(12), (o), (p)(1)(A)(ii), 
     (q), (r), or (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States 
     Code.
       ``(2) Authorities in other laws.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to 
     share disaster assistance information regarding programs 
     funded or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any 
     other law or agency policy.
       ``(3) Applying to multiple programs.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply 
     to more than 1 disaster assistance program.''.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
amendments be considered and agreed to; that the Peters 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 with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendments were agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 1088) was agreed to as follows:

                     (Purpose: To improve the bill)

       On page 20, strike line 2 and insert ``ance program.
       ``(4) Program authorization.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed to authorize a program that is not authorized by 
     law as of the date of enactment of this section.''.

  The bill (S. 1528), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                S. 1528

       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 ``Disaster Assistance 
     Simplification Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The disaster response and recovery framework of the 
     United States relies on a unified, integrated, agile, and 
     adaptable whole-of-community effort by Federal, State, and 
     local disaster assistance agencies, and by voluntary 
     organizations, to respond to any natural and man-made 
     disasters that may strike communities.
       (2) Federal disaster assistance agencies must be ready to 
     support States, Indian Tribes, communities, and volunteer 
     agencies immediately after unpredictable catastrophic 
     disasters that occur without notice.
       (3) The immediate sharing of information is essential to an 
     efficient and effective delivery of disaster assistance--
       (A) when lives and property are at risk; and
       (B) as communities seek to recover from disasters as 
     quickly as possible.
       (4) Section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Privacy Act of 1974''), and subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the ``Paperwork Reduction Act''), require multiple layers of 
     review, notice, and publication in the Federal Register 
     before Federal disaster assistance agencies can amend or 
     adapt their information sharing practices.
       (5) Such extended review processes can have the effect of 
     inhibiting efficiency, innovation, and interoperability among 
     Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, local, private, and 
     volunteer partners in delivering disaster assistance within a 
     whole-of-community disaster assistance effort.
       (6) Legal, regulatory, and policy limitations on the 
     interagency sharing of information submitted by applicants 
     for disaster assistance may require those applicants to 
     submit separate applications to multiple Federal, State, 
     Tribal, territorial, and local disaster assistance agencies, 
     which increases the burden on those applicants, reduces the 
     efficiency of disaster assistance programs, and places 
     additional costs on taxpayers.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) streamline the sharing of information among Federal, 
     State, Tribal, territorial, and local disaster assistance 
     agencies;
       (2) modernize the legal safeguards against the unauthorized 
     disclosure or misuse of information about applicants for 
     disaster assistance; and
       (3) modernize, streamline, and consolidate the overlapping 
     requirements of section 552a

[[Page S3842]]

     of title 5, United States Code, subchapter I of chapter 35 of 
     title 44, United States Code, and the agency policies that 
     implement those authorities to improve the speed, 
     convenience, efficiency, and effectiveness of disaster relief 
     programs.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE INTAKE 
                   PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

       The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 707. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE 
                   INTAKE PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
       ``(2) Applicant.--The term `applicant' means--
       ``(A) an individual, business, or organization that applies 
     for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program;
       ``(B) an individual, business, or organization on behalf of 
     which an individual described in subparagraph (A) applies for 
     disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; and
       ``(C) an individual, business, or organization that seeks 
     assistance as a beneficiary of a State, local government, or 
     Indian tribal government that received assistance under a 
     disaster assistance program.
       ``(3) Disaster assistance agency.--The term `disaster 
     assistance agency' means--
       ``(A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
       ``(B) any Federal agency that provides disaster assistance 
     to individuals, businesses, organizations, States, local 
     governments, Indian tribal governments, communities, or 
     organizations that the Administrator certifies as a disaster 
     assistance agency in accordance with subsection (f) to carry 
     out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.
       ``(4) Disaster assistance information.--The term `disaster 
     assistance information' includes any personal, biographical, 
     demographic, geographical, financial, application decision, 
     or other information that a disaster assistance agency, or a 
     recipient of a Federal block grant from a disaster assistance 
     agency, is authorized to collect, maintain, disclose, or use 
     to--
       ``(A) process an application for disaster assistance from a 
     disaster assistance program; or
       ``(B) otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster 
     assistance program.
       ``(5) Disaster assistance program.--The term `disaster 
     assistance program' means--
       ``(A) a program that provides disaster assistance to 
     individuals and households under title IV or V in accordance 
     with sections 408 and 502; or
       ``(B) any other assistance program authorized by a Federal 
     statute or funded with Federal appropriations under which a 
     disaster assistance agency awards or distributes disaster 
     assistance to an individual, household, or organization, or 
     provides a Federal block grant for these purposes, that 
     arises from a major disaster or emergency declared under 
     section 401 or 501, respectively, including--
       ``(i) disaster assistance;
       ``(ii) long-term disaster recovery assistance;
       ``(iii) the post-disaster restoration of infrastructure and 
     housing;
       ``(iv) post-disaster economic revitalization;
       ``(v) a loan authorized under section 7(b) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and
       ``(vi) food benefit allotments under section 412 of this 
     Act and section 5(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
     U.S.C. 2014(h)).
       ``(6) Record.--The term `record' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 552a of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(b) Unified Disaster Assistance Intake Process and 
     System.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 360 days after the date 
     of enactment of the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, 
     the Administrator shall, in consultation with appropriate 
     Federal, State, local, and Indian tribal governments and 
     entities, develop and establish a unified intake process and 
     system for applicants for disaster assistance provided by a 
     disaster assistance agency to--
       ``(A) facilitate a consolidated application for any form of 
     disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency 
     when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the 
     assistance;
       ``(B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance 
     programs swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance 
     with applicable laws and privacy and data protections; and
       ``(C) support the detection, prevention, and investigation 
     of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the 
     administration of disaster assistance programs.
       ``(2) Capabilities of the consolidated application 
     system.--The unified intake process and system established 
     under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) accept applications for disaster assistance programs;
       ``(B) allow for applicants to receive status updates on 
     applications for disaster assistance programs;
       ``(C) allow for applicants to update disaster assistance 
     information throughout the recovery journeys of those 
     applicants;
       ``(D) allow for the distribution of information on 
     additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may 
     be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction, in 
     coordination with appropriate Federal, State, local, and 
     Tribal partners;
       ``(E) provide disaster survivors with information and 
     documentation on the applications of those disaster survivors 
     for a disaster assistance program;
       ``(F) allow for the distribution of application data to 
     support faster and more effective distribution of Federal 
     disaster assistance, including block grant assistance, for 
     disaster recovery;
       ``(G) allow for disaster assistance agencies to communicate 
     directly with disaster survivors; and
       ``(H) contain other capabilities determined necessary by 
     the heads of disaster assistance agencies.
       ``(3) Updates.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
     which the Administrator receives a request from a disaster 
     assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated 
     application described in paragraph (1) needed to administer 
     the disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance 
     agency, the Administrator shall make those updates.
       ``(c) Authorities of Administrator.--The Administrator 
     may--
       ``(1) collect, maintain, disclose, and use disaster 
     assistance information, including such information received 
     from any disaster assistance agency, with any other disaster 
     assistance agency for purposes of subsection (b)(1); and
       ``(2) subject to subsection (d), authorize the collection, 
     maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster assistance 
     information collected on or after the date of enactment of 
     the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act by publishing a 
     notice on a public website that--
       ``(A) includes a detailed description of--
       ``(i) the specific disaster assistance information 
     authorized to be collected, maintained, disclosed, and used;
       ``(ii) why the collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use 
     of the disaster assistance information is necessary to carry 
     out the purpose of a disaster assistance program;
       ``(iii) how the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and 
     use of disaster assistance information incorporates fair 
     information practices; and
       ``(iv) the disaster assistance agencies that will be 
     granted access to the disaster assistance information to 
     carry out the purpose of any disaster assistance program; and
       ``(B) provides that the submission of an application 
     through a unified disaster application constitutes prior 
     written consent to disclose disaster assistance information 
     to disaster assistance agencies for the purpose of section 
     552a(b) of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(d) Collection and Sharing of Records and Information.--
       ``(1) Effect of publication of notice on public website.--
     The publication of a notice by the Administrator on a public 
     website of a revision to the system of records of the unified 
     intake process and system established under subsection (b)(1) 
     prior to any new collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use 
     of records to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance 
     program with respect to a major disaster or emergency 
     declared by the President under section 401 or 501, 
     respectively, of this Act 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.
       ``(2) Paperwork reduction act waiver.--
       ``(A) In general.--Upon the declaration of a major disaster 
     or emergency pursuant to section 401 or 501, respectively, of 
     this Act, the Administrator may waive the requirements of 
     subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
     (commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act'), with 
     respect to the voluntary collection of information specific 
     to the declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry 
     out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.
       ``(B) Duration.--A waiver described in subparagraph (A) 
     shall be in effect for the entire period of performance for 
     any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program 
     with respect to a declared major disaster or emergency.
       ``(C) Transparency.--If the Administrator waives the 
     requirements described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
     shall--
       ``(i) promptly post on a public website--

       ``(I) a brief justification for the waiver; and
       ``(II) the agencies and offices to which the waiver shall 
     apply;

       ``(ii) update the information posted under clause (i), as 
     applicable; and
       ``(iii) comply with the requirements of subchapter I of 
     chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the `Paperwork Reduction Act') upon the expiration of the 
     period of performance of any assistance provided under a 
     disaster assistance program if the collection of information 
     may be utilized for the purposes of supporting the disaster 
     assistance program in future major disaster or emergency 
     declarations.
       ``(D) Effectiveness of waiver.--Any waiver under 
     subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date on which the 
     Administrator posts information on the internet website as 
     provided for under subparagraph (C).
       ``(e) Data Security.--The Administrator shall facilitate 
     the collection of disaster assistance information into a 
     unified application only after--
       ``(1) the Administrator certifies that the unified 
     application substantially complies with the data security 
     standards established pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 35 
     of title 44, United States Code, and any other applicable 
     Federal information security policy;

[[Page S3843]]

       ``(2) the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a 
     privacy impact assessment for the unified application that is 
     similar to the privacy assessment conducted under section 
     208(b)(1)(B) of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
     note); and
       ``(3) the Administrator, in consultation with disaster 
     assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for 
     disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to 
     disaster assistance information to protect such information 
     from improper disclosure.
       ``(f) Certification of Disaster Assistance Agencies.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may certify a Federal 
     agency as a disaster assistance agency after posting an 
     agreement between the Administrator and the Federal agency on 
     a public website that contains the detailed terms of the 
     agreement.
       ``(2) Contents of agreement.--An agreement between the 
     Administrator and a Federal agency described in paragraph (1) 
     shall state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
     the Federal agency will--
       ``(A) collect, disclose, maintain, and use disaster 
     assistance information in accordance with--
       ``(i) this section; and
       ``(ii) subject to subsection (i)(2), any existing policies 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal 
     agency for information protection and use;
       ``(B) train any personnel granted access to disaster 
     assistance information on the rules of behavior established 
     by the Administrator under subsection (e)(3);
       ``(C) in the event of any unauthorized disclosure of 
     disaster assistance information--
       ``(i) not later than 24 hours after discovering the 
     unauthorized disclosure--

       ``(I) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the 
     Federal agency, notify the Administrator of the disclosure; 
     and
       ``(II) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, notify disaster 
     assistance agencies of the disclosure;

       ``(ii) cooperate fully with the Administrator and disaster 
     assistance agencies in the investigation and remediation of 
     the disclosure; and
       ``(iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person 
     responsible for the disclosure; and
       ``(D) assume responsibility for any compensation, civil 
     liability, or other remediation measure awarded by a judgment 
     of a court or agreed upon as a compromise of any potential 
     claim by or on behalf of an applicant, including by obtaining 
     credit monitoring and remediation services, for an improper 
     disclosure of disaster assistance information that is--
       ``(i) caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or 
     omissions of an officer, employee, or contractor of the 
     Federal agency; or
       ``(ii) from any electronic system of records that was 
     created or maintained by the Federal agency pursuant to 
     section 552a(e) of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(g) Reports.--
       ``(1) FEMA.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 2 
     years, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of 
     disaster assistance agencies, shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the implementation of this section, including--
       ``(A) how disaster assistance agencies are working together 
     to implement the requirements under this section;
       ``(B) the effect of this section on disaster survivor 
     burden and the speed and efficiency of delivering disaster 
     assistance; and
       ``(C) a description of any other challenges that require 
     further legislative action.
       ``(2) GAO.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to Congress a report on how the 
     implementation of this section has affected the disaster 
     survivor experience, and any recommendations for improvements 
     to the requirements under this section.
       ``(h) Briefings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, and again not later than 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of this section, the 
     Administrator shall brief Congress on--
       ``(1) the status of the implementation of the requirements 
     under this section; and
       ``(2) how disaster assistance agencies are working together 
     to implement the requirements under this section.
       ``(i) Rules of Construction.--
       ``(1) Inapplicability of matching program provisions.--The 
     disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject 
     to the requirements of section 552a of title 5, United States 
     Code, among disaster assistance agencies or with State, 
     local, or Tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance 
     programs shall not--
       ``(A) be construed as a matching program for the purpose of 
     section 552a(a)(8) of title 5, United States Code; or
       ``(B) be subject to subsection (e)(12), (o), (p)(1)(A)(ii), 
     (q), (r), or (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States 
     Code.
       ``(2) Authorities in other laws.--Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to 
     share disaster assistance information regarding programs 
     funded or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any 
     other law or agency policy.
       ``(3) Applying to multiple programs.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply 
     to more than 1 disaster assistance program.''.
       ``(4) Program authorization.--Nothing in this section shall 
     be construed to authorize a program that is not authorized by 
     law as of the date of enactment of this section.''.

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