[Senate Report 117-144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                     Calendar No. 482  
117th Congress     }                                   {       Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session        }                                   {      117-144
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     



              FEMA IMPROVEMENT, REFORM, AND EFFICIENCY ACT

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND

                          GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                              to accompany

                                S. 3092

            TO AMEND THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF
              AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT TO IMPROVE THE
    PROVISION OF CERTAIN DISASTER ASSISTANCE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES








[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


 





               September 12, 2022.--Ordered to be printed 
               
                             _________
                              
                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                 
29-010                   WASHINGTON : 2022
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
        COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                   GARY C. PETERS, Michigan, Chairman
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware           ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
MAGGIE HASSAN, New Hampshire         RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona              RAND PAUL, Kentucky
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
ALEX PADILLA, California             MITT ROMNEY, Utah
JON OSSOFF, Georgia                  RICK SCOTT, Florida
                                     JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri

                   David M. Weinberg, Staff Director
                    Zachary I. Schram, Chief Counsel
         Christopher J. Mulkins, Director of Homeland Security
           Naveed Jazayeri, Senior Professional Staff Member
                Pamela Thiessen, Minority Staff Director
            Sam J. Mulopulos, Minority Deputy Staff Director
       Clyde E. Hicks Jr., Minority Director of Homeland Security
                     Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk














                                                    Calendar No. 482  
117th Congress    }                                   {       Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session       }                                   {      117-144

======================================================================



 
              FEMA IMPROVEMENT, REFORM, AND EFFICIENCY ACT

                                _______
                                

               September 12, 2022.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Peters, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                    Affairs, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 3092]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 3092) to amend the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
to improve the provision of certain disaster assistance, and 
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                     Page
  I. Purpose and Summary..............................................  1
 II. Background and Need for the Legislation..........................  2
III. Legislative History..............................................  3
 IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported.............  4
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................  6
 VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................  6
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............  9

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    S. 3092, the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency 
(FIRE) Act of 2022, makes changes to the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to 
ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 
disaster preparedness and response efforts are better 
addressing wildfires and their impacts on communities. The FIRE 
Act will require FEMA to study the use of red flag warnings to 
pre-deploy resources before potential wildfire disasters occur, 
report on the use of relocation assistance for wildfire risk, 
and require FEMA to provide culturally competent crisis 
counseling and case managers to ensure that underserved and 
disadvantaged communities receive equity when accessing federal 
disaster assistance. This bill would also require the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a report on any 
gaps on responding to wildfires, ensure that tribal governments 
can access assistance to upgrade their emergency operation 
centers, require FEMA to prioritize survivors of disasters when 
selling portable housing units, and direct FEMA to study how to 
improve housing assistance for low-income residents who live in 
multi-family housing or lack proof of ownership documentation. 
It also requires FEMA to brief the appropriate Congressional 
committees on multiple topics, including increasing the current 
cap for emergency declarations, the Agency's work helping 
communities recover from wildfires, and efforts to use state or 
local housing solutions after a disaster. Finally, the FIRE Act 
would require FEMA to work with the National Academy of 
Sciences to study potential solutions to address the lack of 
available and affordable wildfire insurance.

              II. Background and the Need for Legislation

    Since 2000, annual averages of 70,600 wildfires have burned 
7 million acres of land across the United States per year. This 
figure is more than double the average annual acreage burned in 
the 1990s (3.3 million acres), although a greater number of 
fires occurred annually in the 1990s (78,600 average).\1\ 
Multiple studies have found that climate change has already led 
to an increase in wildfire season length, wildfire frequency, 
and burned areas due to factors such as warmer springs, longer 
summer dry seasons, and drier soils and vegetation.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Congressional Research Service, Wildfire Statistics (IF10244) 
(Oct. 4, 2021).
    \2\Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Indicators: 
Wildfires (Apr. 2021) (https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-
change-indicators-wildfires).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In response to the increased wildfire severity across the 
country, state, local, territorial, and tribal (SLTT) 
governments have led efforts to manage and provide assistance 
during and following a disaster. The role of the federal 
government, as described in the Stafford Act, is to 
``supplement the efforts and available resources of states, 
local governments, and disaster relief organizations in 
alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering.''\3\ As a 
result, SLTT governments solely manage disaster response and 
recovery, except in severe circumstances where federal 
assistance is needed to supplement those efforts. As 
devastating wildfires have affected communities more often in 
recent years, the federal government has increasingly aided 
SLTTs in responding to wildfires.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\42 U.S.C. Sec. 5122(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    When a state faces a wildfire disaster, the governor of the 
affected state must request that the President of the United 
States formally invoke the Stafford Act in order to utilize the 
resources and grants that FEMA is authorized to provide.\4\ A 
major disaster or emergency declaration allows for a range of 
federal assistance programs to be made available to state and 
local governments, private nonprofit organizations, and 
individuals through FEMA and other federal agencies. FEMA's 
Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Program makes limited 
assistance available to SLTT governments for the mitigation, 
management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned 
forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would 
constitute a major disaster.\5\ Although FEMA has primarily 
responded to other types of disasters in the past, such as 
hurricanes and floods, the rapidly increasing number of 
wildfires that are affecting communities in the country has 
forced FEMA to respond to more of these events.\ \
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Ron Nixon, What FEMA Is Doing, and Not Doing, in Response to 
California's Fires, New York Times (Nov. 22, 2018) (https://
www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/us/politics/fema-california-wildfires.html)
    \5\Federal Emergency Management Agency, Fire Management Assistance 
Grants (https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-
assistance) (accessed Mar. 22, 2022).
    \6\Federal Emergency Management Agency, Declared Disasters (https:/
/www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations) (accessed Feb. 25, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In 2019, GAO issued a report that highlighted FEMA's 
wildfire response performance and assessed where the Agency can 
improve in its response to these disasters.\7\ Challenges 
underscored by GAO included the onerous documentation 
requirements for FEMA's Public Assistance grant program and 
difficulties locating alternative housing for survivors whose 
homes were completely destroyed.\8\ GAO also found that FEMA's 
lack of experience with large-scale wildfires caused challenges 
in identifying response and recovery needs.\9\ For example, GAO 
testified in October 2019 before Congressional committees that 
``the unique challenge of removing wildfire debris led to 
confusion over soil excavation standards and led to over-
excavation of some homeowners'' lots, lengthening the recovery 
process.''\10\ As a result, GAO recommended that FEMA assess 
operations to identify any additional updates to its management 
controls--such as policies, procedures, or training--that could 
enhance future response and recovery from large-scale and 
severe wildfires.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\Government Accountability Office, Wildfire Disasters: FEMA Could 
Take Additional Actions to Address Unique Response and Recovery 
Challenges (GAO-20-5) (October 2019).
    \8\Id. at 19-20; 21-23.
    \9\Id. at 24-25.
    \10\House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency 
Management, Submitted for the Record of Chris P. Currie, Director, 
Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office, FEMA 
Priorities for 2022: Stakeholder Perspectives, 117th Cong. (Feb. 16, 
2022) (H. Hrg. 117-XX) at 9.
    \11\Id. at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    S. 3092 helps address these shortfalls by ensuring that 
FEMA's disaster preparedness and response efforts better 
address the unique nature of wildfires and their impacts on 
communities. Among other things, the bill would ensure cultural 
competency for FEMA's counseling and case management services, 
help to study the use of relocation assistance in fire prone 
areas, and prioritize survivors' housing needs after disasters. 
Finally, the bill would ensure equity of assistance for tribal 
communities and tribal governments for grants to emergency 
operation centers, and examine ways to speed up the federal 
assistance process and improve the availability of fire 
insurance.

                        III. Legislative History

    Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced S. 3092, the FEMA 
Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency Act of 2022, on October 27, 
2021, with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The bill was referred to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 
Senators Merkley (D-OR), Feinstein (D-CA), Murray (D-WA), and 
Rosen (D-NV) later joined as cosponsors.
    The Committee considered S. 3092 at a business meeting on 
February 2, 2022. During the business meeting, Senator Padilla 
offered a substitute amendment that added a requirement that 
the FEMA Administrator submit a report to Congress on the use 
of relocation assistance required by sections 203, 204, and 406 
of the Stafford Act. The substitute amendment was adopted by 
voice vote en bloc. Senators present for the vote were: Peters, 
Carper, Hassan, Sinema, Rosen, Padilla, Ossoff, Portman, 
Lankford, Scott, and Hawley. Senator Scott offered an amendment 
to strike the authorization of appropriations needed to carry 
out the wildfire insurance study by the National Academy of 
Sciences. Senator Scott's amendment was adopted by voice vote 
en bloc. Senators present for the vote were: Peters, Carper, 
Hassan, Sinema, Rosen, Padilla, Ossoff, Portman, Lankford, 
Scott, and Hawley.
    The bill, as amended, was ordered reported favorably by 
voice vote en bloc. Senators Peters, Carper, Hassan, Sinema, 
Rosen, Padilla, Ossoff, Portman, Lankford, Scott, and Hawley 
were present for the vote. Consistent with Committee Rule 3(G), 
the Committee reports the bill with a technical amendment by 
mutual agreement of the Chairman and Ranking Member.

        IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported


Section 1. Short title

    This section designates the name of the bill as the ``FEMA 
Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency Act of 2022'' or the ``FIRE 
Act.''

Section 2. Definitions

    This section includes definitions of the terms 
``administrator,'' ``agency,'' ``appropriate committees of 
Congress,'' ``emergency,'' ``Indian tribal government,'' 
``local government,'' ``State,'' and ``major disaster.''

Section 3. Report on relocation assistance

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to submit a 
report regarding the use of relocation assistance 180 days 
after enactment of this bill. The report must include 
information regarding fire risk-related projects, benefits or 
disadvantages of relocation assistance, how FEMA may optimize 
relocation assistance, the cost-effectiveness of mitigation 
measures and relocation assistance when an applicant applies to 
move from a high-risk to a medium or low-risk area with respect 
to wildfires, the need for the federal government to produce 
maps with wildfire zones, and the need for more data regarding 
wildfires.

Section 4. Red flag warnings and predisaster actions

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to conduct a 
study of, develop recommendations for, and initiate a process 
for the use of Red Flag Warnings within one year of this bill's 
enactment, and transmit the results of the study to Congress.

Section 5. Assistance for wildfire damage

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to brief 
Congress 180 days after the enactment of the legislation about 
the assistance FEMA provides in response to wildfires and the 
damage that results from wildfires.

Section 6. GAO report on gaps

    This section requires GAO to submit a report to Congress 
regarding the gaps in FEMA's wildfire hazard policies and the 
speed by which disaster response, including grants, is 
initiated.

Section 7. Crisis counseling cultural competency

    This section amends Section 416 of the Stafford Act to 
require that individuals providing professional counseling 
services to survivors of major disasters be trained to address 
cultural competency, respectful care practices, and the impact 
of major disasters on socio-economically disadvantaged 
individuals and communities.

Section 8. Case management cultural competency

    This section amends Section 426 of the Stafford Act to 
require that the individual providing case management services 
to survivors of major disasters be trained to address cultural 
competency, respectful care practices, and the impact of major 
disasters on socio-economically disadvantaged individuals and 
communities.

Section 9. Study and plan for disaster housing assistance

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator, within 180 
days of the bill's enactment, to conduct a study and develop a 
plan to address the unique housing challenges that are a result 
of wildfire disasters. The FEMA Administrator must also make 
recommendations for legislative changes to better meet the 
housing needs of disaster survivors. 30 days after the 
submission of the report and recommendations required by this 
section, the FEMA Administrator is required to brief Congress 
on the findings and recommendations required by this section.

Section 10. Reimbursement

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to brief 
Congress 180 days after the enactment of this bill regarding 
the extent to which FEMA is using housing solutions proposed by 
a state or local government to reduce the time or cost required 
to implement housing solutions after a major disaster.

Section 11. Wildfire insurance study by the national academies

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to work with 
the National Academy of Sciences, State insurance regulations, 
consumer organizations, representatives of the insurance 
industry, policyholders, and other appropriate stakeholders to 
conduct a study of insurance plans for wildfires, the ability 
of states, communities, and individuals to mitigate wildfire 
risks, the effects of land use policies and building codes on 
solutions to wildfires, the role of wildfire insurance 
providers, incentives for wildfire risk mitigation efforts, and 
the state of modeling and mapping wildfire risks and solutions.

Section 12. Increased cap for emergency declaration based on regional 
        cost of living

    This section requires the FEMA Administrator to brief 
Congress no later than 180 days after enactment of this 
legislation regarding the benefits and disadvantages of 
establishing a maximum amount for assistance provided for an 
emergency that is based on the cost of living in the region in 
which the emergency occurs.

Section 13. Facilitating disposal of temporary transportable housing 
        units to survivors

    This section amends Section 408(d)(2)(B)(i) of the Stafford 
Act to give priority to disaster survivors who have suffered 
significant property loss in the purchase of temporary 
transportable housing units.

Section 14. Deadline on code enforcement and management cost 
        eligibility

    This section amends Section 406(a)(2)(D) of the Stafford 
Act by increasing the period during which base and overtime 
wages for extra hires are implemented for code enforcement and 
management cost eligibility from 180 days to one year after a 
major disaster has been declared.

Section 15. Permit applications for tribal upgrades to emergency 
        operations centers

    This section amends Section 614(a) of the Stafford Act by 
inserting the phrase ``Indian tribal governments'' to the text 
to ensure that tribal governments can also access assistance to 
upgrade their emergency operation centers in equal standing 
with state and local governments.

                   V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule 
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has 
considered the regulatory impact of this bill and determined 
that the bill will have no regulatory impact within the meaning 
of the rules. The Committee agrees with the Congressional 
Budget Office's statement that the bill contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs 
on state, local, or tribal governments.

             VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, August 12, 2022.
Hon. Gary Peters,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 3092, the FIRE Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    The bill would:
           Authorize the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency (FEMA) to reimburse local governments for costs 
        incurred to enforce building codes for up to one year 
        after a disaster is declared
           Authorize FEMA to cover the costs of 
        emergency operations centers for tribal governments
           Require FEMA and other federal agencies to 
        conduct several reports and studies, mostly related to 
        wildfires
    Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from:
           Providing additional assistance from the 
        Disaster Relief Fund for specified activities
           Increasing administrative costs for FEMA and 
        other agencies to conduct studies and produce reports
    Bill summary: S. 3092 would authorize the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) to use the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) 
to reimburse costs incurred by local governments to enforce 
building codes, construct emergency operations centers for 
tribal governments, and provide cultural competency training 
for crisis counselors.
    In addition, S. 3092 would require FEMA and other federal 
agencies to conduct several reports and studies, mostly related 
to wildfires.
    Estimated Federal cost: The estimated budgetary effect of 
S. 3092 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall 
within budget function 450 (community and regional 
development).

                                                    TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF S. 3092
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2022   2023   2024   2025   2026   2027   2028   2029   2030   2031   2032  2022-2027  2022-2032
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Increases in Direct Spending
 
Estimated Budget Authority...........................      0      0      0      0      0      0      0      0      0      0      0         0          0
Estimated Outlays....................................      0      4      5      6      6      7      7      8      8      9      9        28         69
 
                                                     Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
 
Estimated Authorization..............................      0      2      1      0      0      0      0      0      0      0      0         3          3
Estimated Outlays....................................      0      2      1      *      0      0      0      0      0      0      0         3          3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = between zero and $500,000.

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
bill will be enacted late in fiscal year 2022 and that FEMA 
will begin implementing its requirements in 2023. CBO's 
estimate of outlays is based on historical patterns of spending 
for similar FEMA programs, as well as information provided by 
the agency.
    Direct spending: Disaster assistance for programs 
authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act is paid from the DRF. CBO expects that 
enacting several provisions in the bill would expand the use of 
previously appropriated balances from that fund, some of which 
CBO estimates would be unspent over the 2022-2032 period. As a 
result, those provisions would increase direct spending. In 
total, CBO estimates that enacting S. 3092 would increase 
direct spending by $69 million over the 2022-2032 period. That 
higher spending would be offset by reductions in spending after 
2032.
    Expanded Period for Covering Code Enforcement. Section 14 
would authorize FEMA to reimburse state and local governments 
for the costs of implementing and enforcing building codes for 
up to one year after a disaster is declared. Under current law, 
those governments may only be reimbursed for costs incurred 
during the first six months. In 2020 and 2021, FEMA reimbursed 
about $4 million of such costs annually.
    Using information from FEMA, CBO expects that increasing 
the window to one year would roughly double the amount of 
inspection costs that FEMA reimburses. On that basis, CBO 
estimates that enacting section 14 would increase direct 
spending by about $5 million annually, totaling $51 million 
over the 2022-2032 period.
    Emergency Operations Centers for Tribal Governments. 
Section 15 would authorize FEMA to cover the costs of 
equipping, upgrading, and constructing emergency operations 
centers (EOCs) operated by tribal governments. Under current 
law, FEMA may only cover such costs for state and local 
governments.
    In 2020 and 2021, FEMA awarded $50 million to state and 
local governments to fund 77such centers, at an average cost of 
about $650,000. CBO expects that, under S. 3092, FEMA would 
gradually increase the number of awards provided for tribal 
EOCs--from 2centers in 2023 to 5 centers by 2032. In total, CBO 
estimates enacting that section would increase direct spending 
by $17 million over the 2022-2032 period.
    Training in Cultural Competency for Crisis Counselors. 
Sections 7 and 8 would require FEMA to ensure that 
professionals who provide crisis counseling and case management 
services are trained in cultural competency when interacting 
with victims of disasters. FEMA reimburses local governments 
for the costs of providing those services, which are typically 
delivered by mental health and social service agencies. CBO 
expects that the additional costs of that training would 
increase the eligible costs that local governments submit to 
FEMA for reimbursement.
    In 2021, FEMA provided about $30 million for crisis 
counseling services. Using information from the agency, CBO 
estimates that implementing the requirements would increase the 
costs of providing counseling by less than $500,000 annually 
and a total of $1 million over the 2022-2032 period.
    Spending subject to appropriation: S. 3092 would require 
FEMA and other federal agencies to publish several reports and 
studies, mostly related to wildfires. Based on the cost of 
similar reports and studies, CBO estimates that implementing 
those requirements (discussed below) would cost $3 million over 
the 2022-2027 period. Any spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    The bill would require FEMA to contract with the National 
Academies of Sciences (NAS) to study the availability of 
wildfire insurance, the state of modeling and mapping wildfire 
risk, and several other topics related to wildfires. Using 
information about the cost of similar studies performed by NAS, 
CBO estimates implementing that requirement would cost about $2 
million over the 2022-2027 period.
    In addition, S. 3092 would require:
           The U.S. Fire Administration and the 
        National Weather Service to study the use of red flag 
        warnings and develop recommendations for improving 
        procedures to respond to wildfires;
           FEMA to conduct a study and on how to 
        improve the administration of housing assistance to 
        disaster survivors who lack the ability to document 
        ownership of residences, and to develop a plan to meet 
        their needs;
           FEMA to report on the use of relocation 
        assistance to mitigate the damages caused by wildfires, 
        analyze the cost-effectiveness of that assistance 
        relative to other mitigation options, and provide 
        policy recommendations; and
           The Government Accountability Office to 
        report on gaps in FEMA's wildfire policies and 
        recommend how to improve the speed and effectiveness of 
        the agency's responses.
    Based on information from those agencies about the costs of 
similar studies and reports, CBO estimates implementing each 
requirement would cost less than $500,000, and that those costs 
would total about $1 million over the 2022-2027 period. CBO 
expects most of those costs would be incurred in 2023 and 2024.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement 
procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or 
revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those 
pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 1.
    Increase in long-term deficits: CBO estimates that enacting 
S. 3092 would not increase on-budget deficits by more than $5 
billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 
beginning in 2033.
    Mandates: None.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jon Sperl; Mandates: 
Rachel Austin.
    Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance, 
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; H. Samuel 
Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

       VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows: (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is 
printed in italic, and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

UNITED STATES CODE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


CHAPTER 68--DISASTER RELIEF

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subchapter IV--Major Disaster Assistance Programs

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 5172. REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED FACILITIES

    (a) Contributions.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Associated expenses.--For the purpose of this 
        section, associated expenses shall include--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) * * *
                  (C) * * *
                  (D) base and overtime wages for extra hires 
                to facilitate the implementation and 
                enforcement of adopted building codes for a 
                period of not more than [180 days] 1 year after 
                the major disaster is declared.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5174. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS

    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) * * *
    (d) Terms And Conditions Relating to Housing Assistance
          (1) * * *
          (2) Disposal of units.--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) Other methods of disposal.--If not 
                disposed of under subparagraph (A), a temporary 
                housing unit purchased under this section by 
                the President for the purpose of housing 
                disaster victims--
                          (i) may be sold to any person, with 
                        priority given to a survivor of a major 
                        disaster who suffered a property loss 
                        as a result of the major disaster; or
                          (ii) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5183. CRISIS COUNSELING ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING

    (a) In General.--The President [The President] is 
authorized to provide professional counseling services, 
including financial assistance to State or local agencies or 
private mental health organizations to provide such services or 
training of disaster workers, to victims of major disasters in 
order to relieve mental health problems caused or aggravated by 
such major disaster or its aftermath.
    (b) Cultural Competency.--The President shall, in 
consultation with affected States, local governments, and 
Indian tribal governments and cultural experts, ensure that any 
individual providing professional counseling services to 
victims of a major disaster as authorized under subsection (a), 
including those working for nonprofit partners and recovery 
organizations, is appropriately trained to address--
          (1) cultural competency and respectful care 
        practices; and
          (2) impacts from major disasters in communities, and 
        to individuals, with socio-economically disadvantaged 
        backgrounds.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5189D. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

    (a) In General.--The President [The President] is 
authorized to provide case management services, including 
financial assistance to State or local government agencies or 
private organizations to provide such services or training of 
disaster workers, to victims of major disasters to identify and 
address unmet needs.
    (b) Cultural Competency.-- The President shall, in 
consultation with affected States, local governments, and 
Indian tribal governments and cultural experts, ensure that any 
individual providing professional counseling services to 
victims of a major disaster as authorized under subsection (a), 
including those working for nonprofit partners and recovery 
organizations, is appropriately trained to address--
          (1) cultural competency and respectful care 
        practices; and
          (2) impacts from major disasters in communities, and 
        to individuals, with socio-economically disadvantaged 
        backgrounds.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Subchapter IV-B--Emergency Preparedness

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



PART A--POWERS AND DUTIES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 5196C. GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS

    (a) Grants.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency may make grants to States and Indian tribal 
governments under this subchapter for equipping, upgrading, and 
constructing State and local emergency operations centers.
    (b) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                  [all]