[Senate Report 118-321]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 741
118th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-321
_______________________________________________________________________
DISASTER SURVIVORS FAIRNESS ACT
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
to accompany
S. 5067
TO IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.--Ordered to be
printed
------
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
59-010 WASHINGTON : 2025
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
GARY C. PETERS, Michigan, Chairman
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware RAND PAUL, Kentucky
MAGGIE HASSAN, New Hampshire RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada MITT ROMNEY, Utah
JON OSSOFF, Georgia RICK SCOTT, Florida
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri
ADAM SCHIFF, California ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas
David M. Weinberg, Staff Director
Alan S. Kahn, Chief Counsel
Christopher J. Mulkins, Director of Homeland Security
Naveed Jazayeri, Senior Professional Staff Member
William E. Henderson III, Minority Staff Director
Christina N. Salazar, Minority Chief Counsel
Andrew J. Hopkins, Minority Counsel
Megan M. Krynen, Minority Professional Staff Member
Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk
Calendar No. 741
118th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-321
======================================================================
DISASTER SURVIVORS FAIRNESS ACT
_______
December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.--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. 5067]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 5067) to improve
individual assistance provided by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments 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.............3
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................5
VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................6
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............9
I. Purpose and Summary
S. 5067, the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2024, makes
a number of changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)'s Individual Assistance (IA) programs. Changes include
giving FEMA new authorities that expand their ability to fund
mitigation projects to make disaster damaged homes more
resilient; authorizing FEMA to directly provide repairs to a
disaster survivor's owner-occupied home; giving FEMA the
authority to reimburse states for the costs to shelter working
emergency response personnel in non-congregate shelters;
enabling FEMA to reimburse states that implement their own
innovative post-disaster direct housing solutions; and
requiring FEMA to develop new post-disaster solutions for
renters and share them with Congress. The bill also requires
FEMA to publish an online web tool that displays for each major
disaster declaration information on the applications received
and aid provided for IA for each major disaster declaration.
FEMA is also required to annually report to Congress on the
average amount of IA received by homeowners and renters at
various income levels
II. Background and Need for the Legislation
After a disaster, there are various types of federal
assistance that may be made available to disaster survivors,
including FEMA's IA programs.\1\ For example, direct assistance
may be used to repair owner occupied residences damaged by a
major disaster, rendered inaccessible for individuals with
disabilities, and to carry-out certain hazard mitigation
measures that reduce the likelihood of future damage. In 2021,
witnesses testified before Congress that FEMA's post-disaster
sheltering and temporary housing solutions are not cost-
effective and are often administered unfairly.\2\ In addition,
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in 2020 that
FEMA's analyses of the cost-effectiveness of housing assistance
programs were limited because program cost data were incomplete
or not readily useable.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Federal Emergency Management Agency, Assistance (www.fema.gov/
assistance) (accessed June 7, 2023).
\2\House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency
Management Hearing, ``Are FEMA's Assistance Programs Adequately
Designed to Assist Communities Before, During, and After Wildfire?''
(Oct. 6, 2021).
\3\Government Accountability Office, DISASTER HOUSING: Improved
Cost Data and Guidance Would Aid FEMA Activation Decisions (GAO-21-116)
(Dec. 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology and
Brookings Institute shows that following disasters, rent rises
by four to six percent initially and may continue to climb for
three years before leveling off, and often remains higher than
the original rate.\4\ To address this issue, this bill directs
the FEMA Administrator to consider post-disaster rent increases
when offering rental assistance to applicants. The bill also
requires the Administration to conduct a study and develop a
plan on the challenges faced by renters when seeking federal
assistance after a disaster. By expanding FEMA's authorities,
this bill would enable FEMA to reimburse states that implement
their own innovative post-disaster housing solutions and
bolster development of post-disaster solutions for renters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\Georgia Institute of Technology and the Brookings Institution,
Renters Need Better Policies To Cope With Natural Disasters, New
Research Shows (Feb. 27, 2024).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This bill also increases transparency in federal disaster
policy by requiring a series of reports be submitted to
Congress from both FEMA and GAO. Specifically, FEMA must submit
a report to Congress detailing the average amount of IA funding
received by homeowners and renters at various income levels.
FEMA must also publish an online web tool that displays
information on the applications received and aid provided for
IA for each major disaster declaration. In addition, two
reports are required to be conducted by GAO. The first requires
GAO to study the accuracy and fairness of FEMA's practices when
conducting preliminary damage assessments for the purposes of
providing assistance, and the second requires GAO to study the
challenges under the Public Assistance alternative procedures
for rural areas and small impoverished communities.
III. Legislative History
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced S. 5067, the Disaster
Survivors Fairness Act of 2024, on September 17, 2024, with
original cosponsor Senator Thomas Tillis (R-NC). The bill was
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs. Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Peter Welch (D-VT)
joined as cosponsors on September 18, 2024.
The Committee considered S. 5067 at a business meeting on
September 25, 2024. The bill was ordered reported favorably by
roll call vote of 8 yeas to 1 nay, with Senators Peters,
Hassan, Sinema, Rosen, Blumenthal, Butler, Lankford, and Hawley
voting in the affirmative, and Senator Paul voting in the
negative. Senators Carper, Ossoff, Johnson, Scott, and Marshall
voted yea by proxy, and Senator Romney voted nay by proxy, for
the record only.
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; table of contents
This section establishes the short title of the bill as the
``Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2024.'' The section lays
out the table of contents and provides definitions consistent
with section 102 of the Stafford Act.
Section 2. Repair and rebuilding
This section amends Section 408(c) of the Stafford Act by
making households that have been damaged by a major disaster
eligible for additional hazard mitigation assistance.
Section 3. Direct assistance
This section amends section 402(c)(2) of the Stafford Act
by authorizing repair assistance for owner-occupied homes
damaged by a major disaster. It also authorizes direct
assistance to individuals and households if applicants are
unable to make use of financial assistance for repairs when
there is a lack of available resources for the repair of owner-
occupied residences. The section also makes technical
corrections to the Stafford Act.
Section 4. State-managed housing pilot authority
This section gives the Administrator of FEMA the authority
to implement the State-Managed Housing Pilot Authority until
the issuance of final regulations or through 2028. The pilot
authority to run this program, created by the Disaster Recovery
Reform Act of 2018, sunset in 2020. This section revives the
pilot program and removes burdensome requirements for states
administering housing programs by striking section 408(f)(3)(F)
of the Stafford Act. This section also implements a 25 percent
non-federal cost share for FEMA direct housing programs to
create consistency with other programs across disaster
preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
Subsection (b) requires GAO to issue a report on the
effectiveness and challenges of any pilot program carried out
under this Act and to make recommendations on improvement.
Section 5. Management costs
This section authorizes FEMA to provide grantees under
section 408(f) of the Stafford Act greater reimbursement for
management costs for the purposes of implemented the State
Managed Housing Pilot Authority created by Section 4.
Additionally, this section strikes Section 408(f)(1)(B) of the
Stafford Act, removing the 5 perfect administrative cost cap by
a State receiving grant funding.
Section 6. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance
This section authorizes a 1-year pilot for the purposes of
establishing and operating a website to provide information
related to disaster recovery.
Section 7. Individual assistance dashboard
This section adds Sec. 431, Individual Assistance Dashboard
to Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act.
Subsection (a) of Sec. 431 directs the Administrator of
FEMA to publish an online web tool that displays the number of
individual assistance applications received, the number of
applications approved and denied, a ranked list of the reasons
for denials, the total dollar amount of assistance provided to
property owners and renters, and the percentage of housing
stock destroyed for each major disaster declaration.
Additionally, this section directs the FEMA Administrator to
ensure that no personally identifiable information is published
on the dashboard.
Section 8. FEMA reports
Subsection (a) directs the Administrator of FEMA to submit
a report within 180 days and annually thereafter to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House and
the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of
the Senate on the average amount of Individual Assistance
received by homeowners and renters at various income levels.
The section specifies the information required in the report
and requires the first report submitted to include fiscal year
2016 to the latest fiscal year.
Section 9. Sheltering of emergency response personnel
This section amends section 403 of the Stafford Act by
adding subsection (e) to give the Administrator of FEMA the
authority to reimburse states for costs to shelter working
emergency response personnel in exclusive-use congregate or
non-congregate settings.
Section 10. Improved rental assistance
Subsection (a) codifies FEMA's authority to offer local
post-disaster increases to its rental assistance program. It
directs the Administrator of FEMA to consider post-disaster
rent increases when offering rental assistance to applicants.
Subsection (b) directs the Administrator to conduct a study
and develop a plan and recommendations pertaining to the unique
challenges faced by renters when seeking federal disaster
assistance.
Subsection (c) requires FEMA to submit a report to Congress
on the study and recommendation required under Subsection (b).
Section 11. GAO report on preliminary damage assessments
This section directs the GAO to study the accuracy and
fairness of FEMA's practices when conducting preliminary damage
assessments for the purposes of providing assistance under
section 408 of the Stafford Act.
Section 12. Applicability
This section delays the implementation of amendments made
by sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 until additional appropriations
have been made on or after the date of enactment.
Section 13. GAO report to Congress on challenges under public
assistance alternative procedures
This section requires GAO submit a report to Congress
within 1 year of enactment on the challenges to states and
territories in obtaining disaster assistance in rural areas and
small impoverished communities.
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
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
The bill would:
Increase the maximum amount that the Federal
Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) can pay state
governments for administering the other needs
assistance program
Expand assistance for mitigation projects
for households that receive assistance to repair or
replace damaged housing
Authorize FEMA to directly repair damaged
homes in some cases
Authorize state and tribal governments to
administer certain benefits under the Individuals and
Households Program
Require FEMA and the Government
Accountability Office to study and report on federal
disaster assistance programs
Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from:
Providing additional assistance to
households and to state and tribal governments
Requiring federal agencies to conduct
studies, produce reports, and make grants
Areas of significant uncertainty include:
Anticipating the costs of federal assistance
in response to disasters
Anticipating how many households would
qualify for new assistance under the bill and how much
assistance they would receive
Bill summary: S. 5067 would modify the Individuals and
Households Program (IHP) of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), which assists households following a disaster.
Specifically, the bill would increase the maximum amount that
FEMA can pay state governments for administering the other
needs assistance program and would expand assistance for
households' mitigation projects, which protect against future
damage. In addition, S. 5067 would newly authorize FEMA to
directly repair damaged homes in some cases and would allow
state and tribal governments to administer direct housing
assistance in place of FEMA under a pilot program.
Finally, the bill would require FEMA and the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to report on disaster assistance
programs, and it would authorize FEMA to provide grants to
states for creating online guides about disaster recovery
funding and other resources for affected people and
communities.
Estimated Federal cost: The estimated budgetary effect of
S. 5067 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall
within budget function 450 (community and regional
development).
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
bill will be enacted by the end of calendar year 2024 and that
the estimated amounts will be provided beginning in fiscal year
2025. CBO's estimates of outlays are based on historical
spending patterns for the affected programs and on information
provided by FEMA.
Spending subject to appropriation: CBO estimates that
implementing S. 5067 would cost $24 million over the 2025-2029
period. Any related spending would be subject to appropriation
of the estimated amounts.
TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER S. 5067
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
------------------------------------------------
2025-
2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2029
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Costs:
Estimated Authorization.................................... 3 3 3 3 3 15
Estimated Outlays.......................................... 3 3 3 3 3 15
Mitigation Assistance for Households:
Estimated Authorization.................................... * 1 1 1 1 4
Estimated Outlays.......................................... * 1 1 1 1 4
Reports and Online Guides:
Estimated Authorization.................................... 2 1 * 1 1 5
Estimated Outlays.......................................... 2 1 * 1 1 5
Total Increases:
Estimated Authorization.................................... 5 5 4 5 5 24
Estimated Outlays.......................................... 5 5 4 5 5 24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = between zero and $500,000.
Management Costs: S. 5067 would increase the maximum amount
that FEMA can pay for certain administrative expenses. For
states that administer the Other Needs Assistance program
(ONA), which provides benefits for replacement of personal
property, transportation, and medical expenses following a
disaster, the bill would authorize FEMA to cover administrative
costs up to 12percent of the cost of assistance provided, an
increase from a maximum of 5 percent under current law.
Two states--Texas and Washington--jointly administer the
ONA program with the federal government. Based on spending
patterns in recent years, CBO estimates those states will spend
roughly $125 million per year on program benefits over the
2025-2029 period. Based on data from other disaster relief
programs, CBO estimates that the federal government would
increase its reimbursement to these states by 3 percentage
points, amounting to $15million in additional federal costs
over that period.
Mitigation Assistance for Households: The bill would exempt
mitigation assistance--that is, repairs made to protect
property from damage caused by future disasters--from the IHP's
current cap on assistance of $42,500 per household. In
addition, the bill would allow households to use mitigation
funds for projects that are designed to protect human life,
such as building a tornado shelter. Current law requires the
use of mitigation funds only for projects that reduce the
likelihood of future damage to homes, utilities, and
infrastructure. CBO expects that under the bill, more
households would qualify for assistance and that additional
types of projects would be funded.
In fiscal years 2021 and 2022, FEMA awarded mitigation
assistance to an average of 84,000 households annually, or
roughly 60 percent of the households that received assistance
to repair their homes. Using information provided by the agency
about the number of applications for mitigation assistance that
were denied because the total amount would have exceeded the
assistance cap, CBO expects that enacting S. 5067 would
increase the number of households that qualify for mitigation
assistance by roughly 1 to 2 percent--or about 700 additional
households per year on average. CBO estimates those households
would receive about $1,200, on average, and that providing the
additional assistance would cost $4million over the 2025-2029
period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.
Reports and Online Guides: S. 5067 would require FEMA and
GAO to publish several reports related to the effectiveness and
costs of federal disaster relief programs. Based on the cost of
similar efforts, CBO estimates that implementing those
requirements would cost $3 million over the 2025-2029 period.
In addition, the bill would authorize FEMA to make grants
to state agencies to create online guides that provide
information about disaster assistance and other resources.
Using information from the agency, CBO expects that by 2029
roughly 15 states would participate and that the cost to create
the websites would be about $100,000 each, for a total cost of
$2 million over the 2025-2029 period.
Direct Assistance for Home Repairs: The bill would
authorize FEMA to contract directly to repair damaged homes
instead of providing financial assistance to households, if the
agency determines that a household cannot make effective use of
financial assistance.
There is significant uncertainty surrounding the extent to
which FEMA would decide to directly repair damaged housing
units, the willingness of households to accept such assistance,
and how the costs would differ from current practice. Based on
conversations with FEMA officials, CBO expects that the agency
would generally exercise the new authority in a small number of
cases. In some cases, the costs of direct repair could be lower
than under current law because the agency would complete
repairs more quickly, reducing the costs of providing temporary
housing or rental assistance. In other cases, the costs of
direct repair could be the same or greater than assistance
provided under current law. Because of the limited information
available for comparing the costs of competing options, CBO
does not estimate a net change in costs due to the new
authority.
State-Managed Housing Pilot Authority: The bill would
establish a pilot program authorizing state and tribal
governments to administer direct assistance for home repair
(discussed in the previous section) and housing construction in
place of the federal government. Under these types of
assistance, the government directly contracts for the repair of
damaged homes and for the procurement or construction of
temporary or permanent housing. (In contrast, other assistance
provided under the IHP is financial, where FEMA provides
monetary benefits to households to use for temporary lodging
and repair or replacement of damaged homes.)
Under the bill, FEMA would need to cover at least 75
percent of the costs of direct housing assistance but would be
allowed to require that states cover the remaining portion.
Based on conversations with agency officials, CBO expects that
FEMA would cover 90percent of the costs of direct housing
assistance for states and tribal governments that participate
in the pilot--10 percent less than the federal government
currently spends for those activities; state and tribal
governments would be responsible for the remaining costs. The
bill would allow FEMA to cover state and tribal governments'
administrative costs up to 12 percent of the total amount of
assistance delivered to households.
CBO expects that for states who chose to participate in the
pilot, the reduction in federal spending due to the 90 percent
cost-share would be roughly offset by the additional
reimbursement of state administrative expenses. Therefore, CBO
estimates that the pilot would have negligible effects on total
program spending.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: Enacting the bill would not
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
Increase in long-term net direct spending and deficits: CBO
estimates that enacting S. 5067 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2035.
Mandates: The bill contains no intergovernmental or
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act.
Previous CBO estimate: On September 22, 2023, CBO
transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 1796, the Disaster
Survivors Fairness Act of 2023, as ordered reported by the
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 23,
2023. Because H.R. 1796 includes several provisions that are
not in S. 5067, CBO's estimate of the costs of implementing S.
5067 is smaller than H.R. 1796. For example, H.R. 1796 also
would change the damage threshold for receiving housing
assistance, fund management costs for crisis counseling and
case management services, and require improvements to the
website DisasterAssistance.gov.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jon Sperl; Mandates:
Rachel Austin.
Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance,
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; Kathleen
FitzGerald, Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit; Emily
Stern, Senior Adviser for Budget Analysis.
Estimate approved by: Phillip L. Swagel, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
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):
ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RE-
LIEF AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND MITIGATION ASSISTANCE
* * * * * * *
SEC. 201. FEDERAL AND STATE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS.
(a) * * *
(1) * * *
(2) * * *
(3) * * *
(4) * * *
(5) * * *
(6) * * *
(7) research[.] ; and
(8) post-disaster assistance.
(b) * * *
(c) * * *
(d) * * *
(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency may provide funding to a
State agency established under subsection (c) to
establish, update, or 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 established, updated, or
operated under this subsection shall be--
(A) managed by the State agency to which
funding is provided under paragraph (1); and
(B) suitable for the residents of the State
of the State agency.
(3) Content.--The Administrator may provide funding
to a State agency under this subsection to establish a
website that contains only 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 receives
funding 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 establishing, updating,
or operating a website under this subsection.
(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to
establish, update, or operate a website under this
subsection shall update the website not less than once
every 6 months.
(6) Termination of authority.--The authority provided
under this subsection shall terminate 1 year after the
first date on which appropriations are made on or after
the date of enactment of this subsection to carry out
this subsection.
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--MAJOR DISASTER AND
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINIS-
TRATION
* * * * * * *
SEC. 324. MANAGEMENT COSTS.
(a) * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(2) * * *
(A) * * *
(B) * * *
(C) Individual assistance.--A grantee under
section 408(f) may be reimbursed not more than
12 percent of the total award amount under such
section.
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--MAJOR DISASTER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 403. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(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, Indian tribal government, or local government,
the Administrator may reimburse the State, Indian
tribal government, 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 Indian
tribal government 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, Indian tribal government, 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 on
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. 408. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS.
* * * * * * *
(c) Types of House Assistance.--
(1) * * *
(A) * * *
(i) * * *
(ii) Amount.--The amount of
assistance under clause (i) shall be
based on the fair market rent for the
accommodation provided, including local
post-disaster rent increases, plus the
cost of any transportation, utility
hookups, security deposits, or
installation not provided directly by
the President.
(B) * * *
(2) [Repairs.--
(A) In general.--The President may provide
financial assistance for--
(i) the repair of owner-occupied
private residences, utilities, and
residential infrastructure (such as
private access route) damaged by a
major disaster to a safe and sanitary
living or functioning condition; and
(ii) eligible hazard mitigation
measures that reduce the likelihood of
future damage to such residences,
utilities, or infrastructure.
(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.]
(2) Repairs.--
(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 President.
(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.
(3) * * *
(4) * * *
(5) Hazard mitigation.--
(A) In general.--The President may provide
financial assistance to an individual or
household whose primary residence, utility, or
residential infrastructure is damaged by a
major disaster for cost-effective hazard
mitigation measures that reduce, in future
disaster--
(i) threats to life and property; or
(ii) future damage to such residence,
utility, or infrastructure.
(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.
(d) * * *
(e) * * *
(f) State Role.--
(1) State- or indian tribal government-administered
assistance and other needs.--[assistance.--
(A) Grant to state.--Subject to subsection
(g),] (A) Assistance.--Subject to subsection
(g), a Governor may request a grant from the
President to provide assistance to individuals
and households in the State under [subsections
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)] paragraphs (1)(B),
(2)(B), and (4) of subsection (c) and
subsection (e) if the President and the State
or Indian tribal government comply, as
determined by the Administrator, with paragraph
(3).
[(B) Administrative costs.--A State that
receives a grant under subparagraph (A) may
expend not more than 5 percent of the amount of
the grant for the administrative costs of
providing assistance to individuals and
households in the State under subsections
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)]
(2) * * *
(3) * * *
(A) * * *
(i) In general.--A State [A State] or
Indian tribal government desiring to
provide assistance under [subsection
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), or (e) paragraph
1(B), (2)(B), or (4) of subsection (c)
or subsection (e) shall submit to the
President an application for a grant to
provide financial assistance under the
program.
(ii) Transparency.--The President
shall make public the criteria used to
evaluate applications under clause (i)
to determine if a State or Indian
tribal government meets the criteria
described in subparagraph (B) to
administer grants described in
paragraph (1)(A).
(B) * * *
(C) * * *
(i) * * *
(ii) * * *
(I) outline the approach of
the State in working with
Federal partners, Indian tribal
governments, local communities,
nongovernmental organizations,
and individual disaster
survivors to meet disaster-
related sheltering and housing
needs[; and];
(II) * * *
(III) outline the approach of
the State or Indian tribal
government to help disaster
survivors create a permanent
housing plan; and
(IV) outline the approach of
the State or Indian tribal
government to provide
individual disaster survivors
some choice of communities and
properties, as practicable.
(D) Quality assurance.--Before approving an
application submitted under this section, the
President, or the designee of the President,
shall institute adequate policies, procedures,
and internal controls to prevent waste, fraud,
abuse, and program mismanagement for this
program and for programs under [subsections
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)] paragraphs (1)(B),
(2)(B), and (4) of subsection (c) and
subsection (e). The President shall monitor and
conduct quality assurance activities on a State
or Indian tribal government's implementation of
programs under [subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4),
and (e)] paragraphs (1)(B), (2)(B), and (4) of
subsection (c) and subsection (e). If, after
approving an application of a State or Indian
tribal government submitted under this
paragraph, the President determines that the
State or Indian tribal government is not
administering the program established by this
section in a manner satisfactory to the
President, the President shall withdraw the
approval.
(E) * * *
[(F) Applicable laws.--All Federal laws
applicable to the management, administration,
or contracting of the programs by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency under this section
shall be applicable to the management,
administration, or contracting by a non-Federal
entity under this section.]
([G]F) * * *
([H]G) * * *
([J]I) * * *
(i) * * *
(ii) Final rule.--[Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of
this paragraph, the] The Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency shall issue final regulations to
implement this subsection as amended by
the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of
2018.
(iii) Waiver and expiration.--The
authority under clause (i) and any
pilot program implemented pursuant to
such clause shall expire [2 years] 10
years after the date of enactment of
this paragraph or upon issuance of
final regulations pursuant to clause
(ii), whichever occurs sooner.
(g) Cost Sharing.--
(1) * * *
(2) * * *
(3) Disaster assistance.--In the case of assistance
provided under paragraph (1)(B), (2)(B), or (4) of
subsection (c), the Federal share shall be not less
than 75 percent.
(h) Maximum Amount of Assistance.--
(1) In general.--No individual or household shall
receive financial assistance greater than $25,000 under
this section with respect to a single major disaster,
excluding financial assistance to rent alternate
housing accommodations under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i),
financial assistance for hazard mitigation under
subsection (c)(5)(A), and financial assistance to
address other needs under subsection (e).
(2) * * *
(3) Adjustment of limit.--The limit
established under [paragraphs (1) and (2)]
paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) shall be adjusted
annually to reflect changes in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers published
by the Department of Labor.
(4) * * *
(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. 431. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DASHBOARD.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 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 a major 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 section 408(3).
(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 applications 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; and
(6) The estimated percentage of residential property
that was destroyed as a result of the major disaster,
if available.
(7) Any other information that the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency determines to
be relevant.
(b) Personally Identifiable Information.--The administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall ensure that
none of the information published under subsection (a) contains
the personally identifiable information of an applicant.
* * * * * * *
[all]