[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2247 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2247
To enhance local capacity and expand local control over the disaster
response, recovery, and preparedness process, to guarantee stable
Federal funding streams for disaster-impacted communities, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 10, 2025
Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance local capacity and expand local control over the disaster
response, recovery, and preparedness process, to guarantee stable
Federal funding streams for disaster-impacted communities, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster
Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act'' or the ``Disaster AID
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION
Sec. 101. State hazard mitigation officer funding.
Sec. 102. Hazard mitigation grant program sliding scale.
Sec. 103. Hazard mitigation.
Sec. 104. Report on hazard mitigation grant program reform.
Sec. 105. Predisaster hazard mitigation.
Sec. 106. Regulations.
TITLE II--PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Sec. 201. Public assistance management costs.
Sec. 202. Advance assistance; training.
Sec. 203. Technical assistance pilot program.
Sec. 204. Simplified procedures.
Sec. 205. Simplified procedures pilot program.
Sec. 206. Regulations.
TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Substantially damaged structures.
Sec. 302. Eligibility of subgovernmental units for assistance.
Sec. 303. General administration of disaster and emergency assistance.
Sec. 304. Deduction for traveling expenses for Federal disaster relief
workers away from home for more than 1
year.
Sec. 305. Dual compensation.
Sec. 306. Excess funds for management costs.
Sec. 307. Timeline for award of management costs.
Sec. 308. Regulation simplification.
Sec. 309. Report on advance assistance.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Chief executive; governor; state; indian tribal
government.--The terms ``Chief Executive'', ``Governor'',
``State'', and ``Indian tribal government'' have the meanings
given the terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
(4) High-capacity jurisdiction.--The term ``high-capacity
jurisdiction'' means a jurisdiction that has sufficient
resources to administer projects funded with assistance under
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) with minimal support, as
determined by the Governor or Chief Executive of the State or
Indian tribal government in which the jurisdiction is located
and based on criteria established by the Administrator.
(5) Low-capacity jurisdiction.--The term ``low-capacity
jurisdiction'' means a jurisdiction that faces structural
barriers to planning for, securing, implementing, or sustaining
public investments in disaster resilience due to limited
staffing, institutional partnerships, fiscal resources, or
access to technical expertise that make it difficult to
administer projects funded with assistance under the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)--
(A) as determined by the Governor or Chief
Executive of the State or Indian tribal government in
which the jurisdiction is located; and
(B) based on criteria established by the
Administrator.
(6) Public assistance.--The term ``public assistance''
means assistance awarded under the programs under section 403,
406, 407, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (5170b, 5172, 5173, 5192).
TITLE I--DISASTER MITIGATION
SEC. 101. STATE HAZARD MITIGATION OFFICER FUNDING.
Tile II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 207. STATE HAZARD MITIGATION OFFICE FUNDING.
``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `State hazard
mitigation office' means the official office or representative of a
State or Indian tribal government that is the primary point of contact
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other Federal agencies,
and local governments in mitigation planning and implementing
mitigation programs and activities required under this Act.
``(b) Funding.--The President may award financial assistance to
States and Indian tribal governments for the purpose of funding the
State hazard mitigation office of the State or Indian tribal
government.
``(c) Amount.--The amount of financial assistance awarded to each
State or Indian tribal government under subsection (b)--
``(1) shall be not less than 1 percent of the total
financial assistance awarded under that paragraph in any fiscal
year; and
``(2) after satisfying paragraph (1), shall be proportional
to the population of each State and Indian tribal government.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the President to carry out this section $100,000,000
for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 102. HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM SLIDING SCALE.
Section 404(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The President may'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Financial assistance.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
President may''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Sliding scale.--The President may increase the
percentage contributed towards hazard mitigation measures under
paragraph (1) to not more than 85 percent for low-capacity
jurisdictions (as defined in section 2 of the Disaster
Assistance Improvement and Decentralization Act).''.
SEC. 103. HAZARD MITIGATION.
(a) Program Administration by States.--Section 404(c) of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170c(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Multiple awards.--With respect to a State or Indian
tribal government that receives multiple concurrent
contributions under subsection (a), the State or Indian tribal
government may--
``(A) combine amounts from each of those
contributions to create a single fund for management
costs (as defined in section 324(a)) and audit
purposes; and
``(B) apply any project completion, auditing, or
reporting deadline associated with the most recent
contribution to any other concurrent contribution.''.
(b) Advance Assistance.--Section 404(e) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(e)) is
amended by striking ``25 percent'' and inserting ``50 percent''.
SEC. 104. REPORT ON HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM REFORM.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator, in consultation with State hazard mitigation offices (as
defined in section 404(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, as added by this Act), State, local, Tribal,
and territorial governments, and other stakeholders, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on necessary reforms
to reduce administrative burdens and enhance the delivery of assistance
under the program established under section 404 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170c).
SEC. 105. PREDISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION.
Section 203(i) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may set aside'' and
inserting ``shall set aside''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Prohibition.--The President may not use amounts set
aside under paragraph (1) for a purpose other than a purpose
described in paragraph (1).
``(5) Requirement.--Of the amounts set aside under
paragraph (1) each fiscal year, the President shall obligate
not less than the lesser of--
``(A) 10 percent; and
``(B) $500,000,000, as adjusted annually to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers published by the Department of Labor.''.
SEC. 106. REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rulemaking
that implements this title and the amendments made by this title.
(b) Interim Guidance.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue interim guidance
to implement this title and the amendments made by this title that
expires upon the earlier of--
(1) 540 days after the of enactment of this Act; and
(2) the issuance of the final rulemaking under subsection
(a).
(c) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the
Administrator issues the final rulemaking under subsection (a), the
Administrator shall issue any necessary guidance related to the
rulemaking.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report summarizing the rulemaking and
guidance issued under subsections (a) and (c).
TITLE II--PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
SEC. 201. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT COSTS.
Section 324(b)(2)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b(b)(2)(B))--
(1) by striking ``12 percent'' and inserting ``15
percent''; and
(2) by striking ``7 percent'' and inserting ``10 percent''.
SEC. 202. ADVANCE ASSISTANCE; TRAINING.
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. 328. TRAINING.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which
the President declares a major disaster under section 401 with respect
to a jurisdiction and upon the request of the Governor or Chief
Executive of the jurisdiction, the President shall conduct an intensive
training for the jurisdiction and any governmental agency of the
jurisdiction.
``(b) Supplement.--The training conducted under subsection (a) for
a jurisdiction shall supplement any training or briefing convened by
the jurisdiction.
``(c) Contents.--The training conducted under subsection (a) shall,
at a minimum, explain--
``(1) the process of receiving resources and financial
assistance relating to a major disaster under this Act,
beginning with the declaration of the major disaster and ending
with the disbursement of resources or financial assistance;
``(2) each resource and financial assistance award
available to the jurisdiction under this Act;
``(3) the required documentation and eligibility criteria
for each resource and financial assistance award available to
the jurisdiction under this Act;
``(4) acronyms and other terms of art regularly used by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
``(5) any other concepts or processes the President
determines necessary.
``(d) Virtual Offering.--The training required under subsection (a)
may be offered virtually when reasonably practicable.
``SEC. 329. ADVANCE ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Public Assistance Defined.--In this section, the term `public
assistance' means assistance awarded under the programs under section
403, 406, 407, and 502.
``(b) Advance Assistance.--With respect to a grantee or subgrantee
of public assistance using the public assistance for a project, the
President--
``(1) may provide not more than 75 percent of the estimated
cost of the project before costs are incurred; and
``(2) upon request of the grantee or subgrantee, shall
provide not less than 25 percent and not more than 75 percent
of the estimated cost of a project before costs are incurred if
the grantee or subgrantee sustains damage, as measured by a
preliminary damage assessment, which may include the sum of
multiple preliminary damage assessments for projects using
public assistance in the jurisdiction, that is--
``(A) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population of not more than
2,000, not less than the annual budget of the grantee
or subgrantee during the preceding fiscal year;
``(B) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population between 2,001 and
3,500, not less than 2 times larger than the annual
budget of the grantee or subgrantee during the
preceding fiscal year; and
``(C) with respect to a project being performed in
a jurisdiction with a population between 3,501 and
5,000, not less than 3 times larger than the annual
budget of the grantee or subgrantee during the
preceding fiscal year.
``(c) Safeguards.--A grantee or subgrantee of public assistance
receiving assistance under subsection (b) shall provide to the
Administrator methodology of the grantee or subgrantee to ensure
safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse.''.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator may establish a program under
which, upon the request of a Governor or Chief Executive of a State or
Indian Tribal government, the Administrator may award assistance to the
State or Indian tribal government that includes--
(1) the assignment of employees of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to the State or Indian tribal government to
provide technical assistance for low-capacity jurisdictions
throughout the public assistance process, including with the
respect to--
(A) project scoping;
(B) damage documentation;
(C) training State or Indian tribal government
personnel to be knowledgeable about all available
programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
and
(D) other related tasks; or
(2) funding to hire additional employees or contractors of
the State to help low-capacity jurisdictions navigate the
process of applying for and receiving for assistance under this
Act, including--
(A) project scoping;
(B) damage documentation;
(C) the grant application process; and
(D) other related tasks.
(b) Selection.--In selecting States and Indian tribal governments
to which to award assistance under this section, the Administrator
shall determine the need of the State or Indian tribal government for
assistance based on--
(1) the hazard risk of the State or Indian tribal
government based on the National Risk Index;
(2) the existing disaster management capacity of the State
or Indian tribal government, as measured by the number of
available personnel and the amount of resources of the State or
Indian tribal government;
(3) the availability of a nongovernmental disaster response
and recovery capacity in the State or Indian tribal government;
and
(4) any other factor determined necessary by the
Administrator.
(c) Termination.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the establishment of
the program.
(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), and annually
thereafter until the date described in subsection (d), the
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report on the program that includes--
(1) a list of the States and Indian tribal governments that
have received assistance under the program; and
(2) an account of the form and scope of the assistance
provided under the program to each State and Indian tribal
government.
(e) GAO Audit.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the
establishment of the program under subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall--
(1) conduct an audit of the program;
(2) study the effectiveness of the program; and
(3) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
recommendation whether to extend or expand the program.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031 to carry out this section.
SEC. 204. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES.
Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is amended by striking subsection (a)
and the undesignated matter preceding subsection (b) and inserting the
following:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Eligible project.--In this subsection, the term
`eligible project' means a project--
``(A)(i) under section 406 that includes repairing,