[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3300 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 563
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3300
[Report No. 113-732, Part I]
To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 22, 2013
Mr. Shuster (for himself, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Barletta, and Mr. Carson of
Indiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
January 2, 2015
Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security for a period ending not later than January 2, 2015, for
consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall
within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(j) of
rule X
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
January 2, 2015
The Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October
22, 2013]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
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 ``FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2013''.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF FEMA AND MODERNIZATION OF INTEGRATED PUBLIC
ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.
Section 699 of Public Law 109-295 (6 U.S.C. 811) is amended--
(1) by striking ``administration and operations'' each
place it appears and inserting ``management and
administration'';
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``and'';
(3) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) for fiscal year 2014, $972,145,000;
``(5) for fiscal year 2015, $972,145,000; and
``(6) for fiscal year 2016, $972,145,000.''.
SEC. 102. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Integrated
Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2013''.
(b) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization.--
(1) In general.--To provide timely and effective disaster
warnings under this section, the President, acting through the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
shall--
(A) modernize the integrated public alert and
warning system of the United States (in this section
referred to as the ``public alert and warning system'')
to ensure that the President under all conditions is
able to alert and warn governmental authorities and the
civilian population in areas endangered by disasters;
and
(B) implement the public alert and warning system.
(2) Implementation requirements.--In carrying out paragraph
(1), the Administrator shall, consistent with the
recommendations in the final report of the Integrated Public
Alert and Warning System Advisory Committee (established under
subsection (c))--
(A) establish or adopt, as appropriate, common
alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology,
and operating procedures for the public alert and
warning system;
(B) include in the public alert and warning system
the capability to adapt the distribution and content of
communications on the basis of geographic location,
risks, or personal user preferences, as appropriate;
(C) include in the public alert and warning system
the capability to alert and warn, and provide the
equivalent amount of information to individuals with
disabilities and individuals with access and functional
needs;
(D) ensure that training, tests, and exercises are
conducted for the public alert and warning system and
that the system is incorporated into other training and
exercise programs of the Department of Homeland
Security, as appropriate;
(E) establish and integrate into the National
Incident Management System a comprehensive and periodic
training program to instruct and educate Federal,
State, tribal, and local government officials in the
use of the Common Alerting Protocol enabled Emergency
Alert System;
(F) conduct, at least once every 3 years, periodic
nationwide tests of the public alert and warning
system; and
(G) ensure that the public alert and warning system
is resilient, secure, and can withstand acts of
terrorism and other external attacks.
(3) System requirements.--The public alert and warning
system shall--
(A) incorporate multiple communications
technologies;
(B) be designed to adapt to, and incorporate,
future technologies for communicating directly with the
public;
(C) to the extent technically feasible, be designed
to provide alerts to the largest portion of the
affected population, including nonresident visitors and
tourists and individuals with disabilities and access
and functional needs, and improve the ability of remote
areas to receive alerts;
(D) promote local and regional public and private
partnerships to enhance community preparedness and
response;
(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms if
practicable so as to reach the greatest number of
people regardless of whether they have access to, or
utilize, any specific medium of communication or any
particular device; and
(F) include a mechanism to ensure the protection of
individual privacy.
(4) Implementation plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of submission of the report of the Integrated Public Alert
and Warning System Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a detailed plan to implement
the public alert and warning system. The plan shall include a
timeline for implementation, a spending plan, and
recommendations for any additional authority that may be
necessary to fully implement this subsection.
(5) Maximum funds.--The Administrator may use not more than
$12,733,000 of the amount made available pursuant to section
699 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006
(6 U.S.C. 811) for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 to
carry out the provisions of this section.
(c) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Advisory
Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall establish an advisory
committee to be known as the Integrated Public Alert and
Warning System Advisory Committee (in this subsection referred
to as the ``Advisory Committee'').
(2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed
of the following members (or their designees) to be appointed
by the Administrator as soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act:
(A) The Chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission.
(B) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration of the Department of
Commerce.
(C) The Assistant Secretary for Communications and
Information of the Department of Commerce.
(D) The Director of the Office of Disability
Integration and Coordination of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
(E) Representatives of State and local governments,
representatives of emergency management agencies, and
representatives of emergency response providers,
selected from among individuals nominated by national
organizations representing governments and personnel.
(F) Representatives from federally recognized
Indian tribes and national Indian organizations.
(G) Individuals who have the requisite technical
knowledge and expertise to serve on the Advisory
Committee, including representatives of--
(i) communications service providers;
(ii) vendors, developers, and manufacturers
of systems, facilities, equipment, and
capabilities for the provision of
communications services;
(iii) third-party service bureaus;
(iv) the broadcasting industry, including
commercial and noncommercial radio and
television stations;
(v) the commercial mobile radio service
industry;
(vi) the cable industry;
(vii) the satellite industry; and
(viii) national organizations representing
individuals with disabilities and access and
functional needs and national organizations
representing the elderly.
(H) Qualified representatives of such other
stakeholders and interested and affected parties as the
Administrator considers appropriate.
(3) Chairperson.--The Administrator shall serve as the
Chairperson of the Advisory Committee.
(4) Meetings.--
(A) Initial meeting.--The initial meeting of the
Advisory Committee shall take place not later than 120
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(B) Other meetings.--After the initial meeting, the
Advisory Committee shall meet, at least annually, at
the call of the Chairperson.
(C) Notice; open meetings.--Meetings held by the
Advisory Committee shall be duly noticed at least 14
days in advance and shall be open to the public.
(D) Interested persons.--Interested persons shall
be permitted to attend, appear before, or file
statements with the Advisory Committee, in accordance
with subsection (c) of section 552b of title 5, United
States Code.
(E) Meeting minutes.--The Advisory Committee shall
keep detailed minutes of each meeting, which shall
contain a record of the persons present, a complete and
accurate description of matters discussed and
conclusions reached, and copies of all reports
received, issued, or approved by the Advisory
Committee.
(F) Availability of information.--The records,
reports, transcripts, minutes, appendixes, working
papers, drafts, studies, agenda, or other documents
which were made available to or prepared for or by the
Advisory Committee shall be available for public
inspection and copying, subject to section 552 of title
5, United States Code, at a single location in the
office of FEMA until the Advisory Committee ceases to
exist.
(5) Rules.--
(A) Quorum.--One-third of the members of the
Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for
conducting business of the Advisory Committee.
(B) Subcommittees.--To assist the Advisory
Committee in carrying out its functions, the
Chairperson may establish appropriate subcommittees
composed of members of the Advisory Committee and other
subject matter experts as the Chairperson considers
necessary.
(C) Additional rules.--The Advisory Committee may
adopt such other rules as are necessary to carry out
its duties.
(6) Consultation with nonmembers.--The Advisory Committee
and the program offices for the integrated public alert and
warning system for the United States shall regularly meet with
groups that are not represented on the Advisory Committee to
consider new and developing technologies that may be beneficial
to the public alert and warning system. Such groups may
include--
(A) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency;
(B) entities engaged in federally funded research;
and
(C) academic institutions engaged in relevant work
and research.
(7) Recommendations.--The Advisory Committee shall develop
recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning
system, including--
(A) recommendations for common alerting and warning
protocols, standards, terminology, and operating
procedures for the public alert and warning system; and
(B) recommendations to provide for a public alert
and warning system that--
(i) has the capability to adapt the
distribution and content of communications on
the basis of geographic location, risks, or
personal user preferences, as appropriate;
(ii) has the capability to alert and warn
individuals with disabilities and individuals
with limited English proficiency;
(iii) incorporates multiple communications
technologies;
(iv) is designed to adapt to, and
incorporate, future technologies for
communicating directly with the public;
(v) is designed to provide alerts to the
largest portion of the affected population
feasible, including nonresident visitors and
tourists, and improve the ability of remote
areas to receive alerts;
(vi) promotes local and regional public and
private partnerships to enhance community
preparedness and response;
(vii) provides redundant alert mechanisms
if practicable in order to reach the greatest
number of people regardless of whether they
have access to, or utilize, any specific medium
of communication or any particular device; and
(viii) promotes the participation of
representatives from traditionally underserved
and underrepresented communities, to ensure
that alerts and warnings reach such
populations.
(8) Initial and annual report.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Committee shall
submit to the Administrator, the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report
containing the recommendations of the Advisory Committee.
(9) Federal advisory committee act.--Neither the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) nor any rule, order, or
regulation promulgated under that Act shall apply to the
Advisory Committee.
(10) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate
not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to authorize or require FEMA or any other government
entity to require any action on the part of the Federal Communications
Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Office of Emergency
Communications, or any other nongovernment entity nor impact any
existing obligations of these entities.
TITLE II--STAFFORD ACT AND OTHER PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 327. NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE SYSTEM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
``(2) Agency.--The term `Agency' means the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
``(3) Hazard.--The term `hazard' has the meaning given that
term by section 602.
``(4) Nonemployee system member.--The term `nonemployee
System member' means a System member not employed by a
sponsoring agency or participating agency.
``(5) Participating agency.--The term `participating
agency' means a State or local government, nonprofit
organization, or private organization that has executed an
agreement with a sponsoring agency to participate in the
System.
``(6) Sponsoring agency.--The term `sponsoring agency'
means a State or local government that is the sponsor of a task
force designated by the Administrator to participate in the
System.
``(7) System.--The term `System' means the National Urban
Search and Rescue Response System to be administered under this
section.
``(8) System member.--The term `System member' means an
individual who is not a full-time employee of the Federal
Government and who serves on a task force or on a System
management or other technical team.
``(9) Task force.--The term `task force' means an urban
search and rescue team designated by the Administrator to
participate in the System.
``(b) General Authority.--Subject to the requirements of this
section, the Administrator shall continue to administer the emergency
response system known as the National Urban Search and Rescue Response
System.
``(c) Functions.--In administering the System, the Administrator
shall provide for a national network of standardized search and rescue
resources to assist States and local governments in responding to
hazards.
``(d) Task Forces.--
``(1) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate task
forces to participate in the System. The Administrator shall
determine the criteria for such participation.
``(2) Sponsoring agencies.--Each task force shall have a
sponsoring agency. The Administrator shall enter into an
agreement with the sponsoring agency with respect to the
participation of each task force in the System.
``(3) Composition.--
``(A) Participating agencies.--A task force may
include, at the discretion of the sponsoring agency,
one or more participating agencies. The sponsoring
agency shall enter into an agreement with each
participating agency with respect to the participation
of the participating agency on the task force.
``(B) Other individuals.--A task force may also
include, at the discretion of the sponsoring agency,
other individuals not otherwise associated with the
sponsoring agency or a participating agency. The
sponsoring agency of a task force may enter into a
separate agreement with each such individual with
respect to the participation of the individual on the
task force.
``(e) Management and Technical Teams.--The Administrator shall
maintain such management teams and other technical teams as the
Administrator determines are necessary to administer the System.
``(f) Appointment of System Members Into Federal Service.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator may appoint a System
member into Federal service for a period of service to provide
for the participation of the System member in exercises,
preincident staging, major disaster and emergency response
activities, and training events sponsored or sanctioned by the
Administrator.
``(2) Nonapplicability of certain civil service laws.--The
Administrator may make appointments under paragraph (1) without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service.
``(3) Relationship to other authorities.--The authority of
the Administrator to make appointments under this subsection
shall not affect any other authority of the Administrator under
this Act.
``(4) Limitation.--A System member who is appointed into
Federal service under paragraph (1) shall not be considered an
employee of the United States for purposes other than those
specifically set forth in this section.
``(g) Compensation.--
``(1) Pay of system members.--Subject to such terms and
conditions as the Administrator may impose by regulation, the
Administrator shall make payments to the sponsoring agency of a
task force--
``(A) to reimburse each employer of a System member
on the task force for compensation paid by the employer
to the System member for any period during which the
System member is appointed into Federal service under
subsection (f)(1); and
``(B) to make payments directly to a nonemployee
System member on the task force for any period during
which the non-employee System member is appointed into
Federal service under subsection (f)(1).
``(2) Reimbursement for employees filling positions of
system members.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to such terms and
conditions as the Administrator may impose by
regulation, the Administrator shall make payments to
the sponsoring agency of a task force to reimburse each
employer of a System member on the task force for
compensation paid by the employer to an employee
filling a position normally filled by the System member
for any period during which the System member is
appointed into Federal service under subsection (f)(1).
``(B) Limitation.--Costs incurred by an employer
shall be eligible for reimbursement under subparagraph
(A) only to the extent that the costs are in excess of
the costs that would have been incurred by the employer
had the System member not been appointed into Federal
service under subsection (f)(1).
``(3) Method of payment.--A System member shall not be
entitled to pay directly from the Agency for a period during
which the System member is appointed into Federal service under
subsection (f)(1).
``(h) Personal Injury, Illness, Disability, or Death.--
``(1) In general.--A System member who is appointed into
Federal service under subsection (f)(1) and who suffers
personal injury, illness, disability, or death as a result of a
personal injury sustained while acting in the scope of such
appointment shall, for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter
81 of title 5, United States Code, be treated as though the
member were an employee (as defined by section 8101 of that
title) who had sustained the injury in the performance of duty.
``(2) Election of benefits.--
``(A) In general.--If a System member (or, in the
case of the death of the System member, the System
member's dependent) is entitled--
``(i) under paragraph (1) to receive
benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 of
title 5, United States Code, by reason of
personal injury, illness, disability, or death,
and
``(ii) to receive benefits from a State or
local government by reason of the same personal
injury, illness, disability, or death,
the System member or dependent shall elect to receive
either the benefits referred to in clause (i) or (ii).
``(B) Deadline.--A System member or dependent shall
make an election of benefits under subparagraph (A) not
later than 1 year after the date of the personal
injury, illness, disability, or death that is the
reason for the benefits or until such later date as the
Secretary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause
shown.
``(C) Effect of election.--An election of benefits
made under this paragraph is irrevocable unless
otherwise provided by law.
``(3) Reimbursement for state or local benefits.--Subject
to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may impose by
regulation, in the event that a System member or dependent
elects benefits from a State or local government under
paragraph (2)(A), the Administrator shall reimburse the State
or local government for the value of those benefits.
``(i) Liability.--A System member appointed into Federal service
under subsection (f)(1), while acting within the scope of the
appointment, is deemed an employee of the Federal Government under
section 1346(b) of title 28, United States Code, and chapter 171 of
that title, relating to tort claims procedure.
``(j) Employment and Reemployment Rights.--With respect to a System
member who is not a regular full-time employee of a sponsoring agency
or participating agency, the following terms and conditions apply:
``(1) Service.--Service as a System member is deemed
`service in the uniformed services' for purposes of chapter 43
of title 38, United States Code, relating to employment and
reemployment rights of individuals who have performed service
in the uniformed services (regardless of whether the individual
receives compensation for such participation). All rights and
obligations of such persons and procedures for assistance,
enforcement, and investigation shall be as provided for in such
chapter.
``(2) Preclusion.--Preclusion of giving notice of service
by necessity of appointment under this section is deemed
preclusion by `military necessity' for purposes of section
4312(b) of title 38, United States Code, pertaining to giving
notice of absence from a position of employment. A
determination of such necessity shall be made by the
Administrator and shall not be subject to judicial review.
``(k) Licenses and Permits.--If a System member holds a valid
license, certificate, or other permit issued by any State or other
governmental jurisdiction evidencing the member's qualifications in any
professional, mechanical, or other skill or type of assistance required
by the System, the System member is deemed to be performing a Federal
activity when rendering aid involving such skill or assistance during a
period of appointment into Federal service under subsection (f)(1).
``(l) Advisory Committee.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish and
maintain an advisory committee to provide expert
recommendations to the Administrator in order to assist the
Administrator in administering the System.
``(2) Composition.--The advisory committee shall be
composed of members from geographically diverse areas, and
shall include--
``(A) the chief officer or senior executive from at
least three sponsoring agencies;
``(B) the senior emergency manager from at least
two States that include sponsoring agencies; and
``(C) at least one representative recommended by
the leaders of the task forces.
``(3) Inapplicability of termination requirement.--Section
14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)
shall not apply to the advisory committee under this
subsection.
``(m) Preparedness Cooperative Agreements.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator shall enter
into an annual preparedness cooperative agreement with each
sponsoring agency. Amounts made available to a sponsoring
agency under such a preparedness cooperative agreement shall be
for the following purposes:
``(A) Training and exercises, including training
and exercises with other Federal, State, and local
government response entities.
``(B) Acquisition and maintenance of equipment,
including interoperable communications and personal
protective equipment.
``(C) Medical monitoring required for responder
safety and health in anticipation of and following a
major disaster, emergency, or other hazard, as
determined by the Administrator.
``(2) Availability of appropriations.--Notwithstanding
section 1552(b) of title 31, United States Code, amounts made
available for cooperative agreements under this subsection that
are not expended shall be deposited in an agency account and
shall remain available for such agreements without fiscal year
limitation.
``(n) Response Cooperative Agreements.--The Administrator shall
enter into a response cooperative agreement with each sponsoring
agency, as appropriate, under which the Administrator agrees to
reimburse the sponsoring agency for costs incurred by the sponsoring
agency in responding to a major disaster or emergency.
``(o) Obligations.--The Administrator may incur all necessary
obligations consistent with this section in order to ensure the
effectiveness of the System.
``(p) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out the System and the provisions of this section
$35,180,000 for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016.
``(2) Administrative expenses.--The Administrator may use
not to exceed 6 percent of the funds appropriated for a fiscal
year pursuant to paragraph (1) for salaries, expenses, and
other administrative costs incurred by the Administrator in
carrying out this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Applicability of title 5, united states code.--Section
8101(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by moving subparagraph (F) to appear after
subparagraph (E);
(C) in subparagraph (F)--
(i) by striking ``United States Code,'';
and
(ii) by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the
following:
``(G) an individual who is a System member of the
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System during
a period of appointment into Federal service pursuant
to section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act;''.
(2) Inclusion as part of uniformed services for purposes of
userra.--Section 4303 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (13) by inserting ``, a period for
which a System member of the National Urban Search and
Rescue Response System is absent from a position of
employment due to an appointment into Federal service
under section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act'' before ``, and a
period''; and
(B) in paragraph (16) by inserting after ``Public
Health Service,'' the following: ``System members of
the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System
during a period of appointment into Federal service
under section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act,''.
SEC. 202. ELIGIBILITY OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING FACILITIES FOR CERTAIN
DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Private Nonprofit Facility Defined.--Section 102(11)(B) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5122(11)(B)) is amended by inserting ``public broadcasting
facilities,'' after ``workshops,''.
(b) Critical Services Defined.--Section 406(a)(3)(B) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ``communications,''
and inserting ``communications (including public broadcasting),''.
SEC. 203. FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE NONPROFIT FAIRNESS.
(a) Definition of Private Nonprofit Facility.--Section 102(10)(B)
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5122(10)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) Additional facilities.--In addition to the
facilities described in subparagraph (A), the term
`private nonprofit facility' includes any private
nonprofit facility that provides essential services of
a governmental nature to the general public (including
museums, zoos, performing arts facilities, community
arts centers, community centers, including houses of
worship exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, libraries, homeless
shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation
facilities, shelter workshops, and facilities that
provide health and safety services of a governmental
nature), as defined by the President.''.
(b) Repair, Restoration, and Replacement of Damaged Facilities.--
Section 406(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(a)(3)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(C) Nonprofit fairness.--A church, synagogue,
mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a
private nonprofit facility operated by a religious
organization, shall be eligible for contributions under
paragraph (1)(B), without regard to the religious
character of the facility or the primary religious use
of the facility.''.
(c) Applicability.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall apply to the provision of assistance in response to a
major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.
SEC. 204. REAUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT
GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title VI of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 617. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency may make grants to provide for implementation of the
Emergency Management Assistance Compact consented to by Congress in the
joint resolution entitled `Joint resolution granting the consent of
Congress to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact' (Public Law
104-321; 110 Stat. 3877).
``(b) Eligible Grant Recipients.--States and the Administrator of
the Emergency Management Assistance Compact shall be eligible to
receive grants under subsection (a).
``(c) Use of Funds.--A grant received under this section shall be
used--
``(1) to carry out recommendations identified in the
Emergency Management Assistance Compact after-action reports
for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons;
``(2) to administer compact operations on behalf of States,
as such term is defined in the compact, that have enacted the
compact;
``(3) to continue coordination with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and appropriate Federal agencies;
``(4) to continue coordination with States and local
governments and their respective national organizations; and
``(5) to assist State and local governments, emergency
response providers, and organizations representing such
providers with credentialing the providers and the typing of
emergency response resources.
``(d) Coordination.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall consult with the Administrator of the Emergency
Management Assistance Compact to ensure effective coordination of
efforts in responding to requests for assistance.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Such sums shall remain available
until expended.''.
(b) Repeal.--Section 661 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management
Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 761) is repealed.
SEC. 205. PHYSICAL TESTING STANDARDS FOR ELECTRIC UTILITY FACILITIES.
(a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency shall conduct a study to compare the differences between--
(1) the physical testing standards that the Administrator
applies with respect to electric utility facilities as a
condition for Federal assistance; and
(2) the physical testing standards that are applied to
electric utility facilities by the electric utilities industry
and by the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of
Agriculture.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
of the Senate a report on the results of the study.
(c) Funding.--The Administrator shall carry out this section using
funds available to the Administrator for management and expenses.
SEC. 206. REVIEW AND REPORT REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN
HOUSING ENTITIES TO RECEIVE DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) shall, using funds from FEMA's management and expenses
account, complete a review of, and submit to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a
report describing, options, both commercial and governmental, available
to housing cooperatives and condominium associations to assist in
repairing and rebuilding common areas following a major disaster.
(b) Report Specifics.--The report shall include--
(1) a description of the current eligibility of housing
cooperative and condominium association owners and residents to
receive disaster relief funds under FEMA disaster relief
programs;
(2) a description of the availability of individual
assistance for such owners and residents to help cover the
costs of repairing disaster-related damage to common areas,
including any details of instances in the past 10 years in
which cooperative or condominium owners or residences received
such assistance to help cover costs and assessments for repairs
to common areas;
(3) a description of commercial options and requirements,
including insurance coverage, that may be applicable; and
(4) a discussion of options, including any proposed changes
to law, for addressing any gaps identified in available
assistance to address disaster-related damage to common areas.
SEC. 207. AUDIT TIMEFRAME LIMITATION.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue a
rule that limits the timeframe of any audit conducted under section 318
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5161).
Union Calendar No. 563
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3300
[Report No. 113-732, Part I]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the programs and activities of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 2, 2015
Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security for a period ending not later than January 2, 2015, for
consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall
within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(j) of
rule X
January 2, 2015
The Committee on Homeland Security discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed