US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB255

Introduced
1/10/23  
Refer
1/10/23  
Engrossed
1/26/23  

Caption

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act This bill extends the deadline by which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must (1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be made less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; and (2) develop a plan for the regular collection and reporting of information on federal disaster assistance awarded. Not later than two years after enactment of this bill, FEMA shall convene a working group on a regular basis to identify (1) potential areas of duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments after disaster declarations; and (2) potential emerging technologies, such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (i.e., drones), to expedite the administration of preliminary damage assessments. FEMA must submit a comprehensive report on the plans for streamlining and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage assessments and the findings and recommendations of the working group to Congress with a briefing. The report must be made available to the public and posted on FEMA's website.

Impact

Should HB255 be enacted, it would significantly influence the way federal disaster assistance is administered. The provisions of the bill would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a comprehensive study, in collaboration with multiple federal agencies, aimed at identifying areas of duplication in current damage assessment processes. Additionally, the bill would mandate the establishment of a public-facing website dedicated to reporting disaster assistance information, making it more accessible for stakeholders and the public.

Summary

House Bill 255, known as the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, is proposed legislation aimed at amending the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018. Its primary focus is to streamline and consolidate the process of information collection related to disaster assistance, as well as to facilitate preliminary damage assessments following disaster declarations. The goal is to reduce burdens on applicants and grantees by simplifying and expediting information collection, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of federal disaster assistance.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB255 appears to be constructive, as it addresses the often cumbersome processes tied to disaster recovery efforts. Supporters argue that by streamlining procedures for damage assessments and improving information management, the bill will bolster emergency preparedness and response efforts. However, there might be concerns regarding how effectively such a consolidation can be implemented without compromising local needs and specific contexts in disaster-affected areas.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding the bill involve the logistics of information consolidation and the initial assessment processes it seeks to improve. Critics may raise questions about whether a standardized approach to damage assessment could overlook unique local factors that require more tailored responses. Additionally, the emphasis on expediting processes must be balanced with ensuring thorough and accurate assessments that take into account the complexities of various disaster scenarios.

Congress_id

118-HR-255

Policy_area

Emergency Management

Introduced_date

2023-01-10

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB259

Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act This bill establishes a centralized location to publish information on disaster assistance provided by federal agencies. The Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any agencies providing disaster assistance must make available to the public on a quarterly basis information regarding (1) the total amount of assistance provided by the agency; (2) the amount provided that was expended or obligated; and (3) all projects or activities for which assistance was expended, obligated, or used.

US HB152

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

US HB316

Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 2025This bill establishes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding sources for unmet needs caused by major disasters, expands FEMA’s assistance for housing and home repair, and requires certain considerations in FEMA’s recommendations on presidential emergency/disaster declarations.The bill establishes the National Disaster Recovery Reserve Fund for FEMA to provide grants to states and Indian tribal governments for unmet need. The bill defines unmet need as any necessary expense for activities related to a declared major disaster, including disaster relief or resilience activities. In addition, the bill authorizes FEMA to set aside funding from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide grants to states and Indian tribal governments for unmet needs resulting from a declared disaster, including home repair, economic recovery measures, and other services assisting disaster victims. Also, the bill makes the following changes regarding housing assistance:authorizes FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to provide home repair assistance directly to homeowners when there is a lack of available housing resources, expands IHP home repair assistance for persons with disabilities, extends the maximum duration of IHP’s direct housing assistance from 18 to 24 months,authorizes IHP permanent housing construction where FEMA considers it a cost-effective alternative, and authorizes minor home repairs in the essential assistance federal agencies may provide following a disaster. Additionally, the bill requires FEMA to give greater weight to local impacts, and events over the past five years, when making recommendations to the President regarding emergency or major disaster declarations.

US HB176

This bill allows a deduction from gross income (above the line deduction) for attorney fees and court costs awarded with respect to a qualifying wildfire disaster (i.e., any forest or range fire that is a federally declared disaster, occurs in a disaster area, and occurs in 2015 or later). The bill excludes from the gross income of a taxpayer, for income tax purposes, amounts paid to compensate victims for losses or damages in connection with a qualifying wildfire disaster.

US HB243

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals Act This bill requires producers to develop disaster preparedness plans that include adverse weather plans to be eligible for livestock indemnity payments and emergency loans due to adverse weather under certain agricultural disaster assistance programs.

US HB422

No Subsidies for Wealthy Universities ActThis bill limits the indirect costs that are allowable under federal research awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) with endowments above specified thresholds. (Generally, indirect costs represent expenses that are not specific to a research project but are needed to maintain the infrastructure and administrative support for federally funded research.)Specifically, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) must annually collect information regarding the endowments of each IHE that has entered into a program participation agreement with the Department of Education.With this collected information, NCES must identify and make lists of (1) each IHE with an endowment of more than $5 billion, and (2) each IHE with an endowment of more than $2 billion (but not more than $5 billion). NCES must submit these lists to the Office of Management and Budget, which must then distribute the lists to federal agencies, Congress, and the public.The bill establishes the following limits on the indirect costs allowable under federal research awards:for an IHE with an endowment of more than $5 billion, the IHE is prohibited from using these awards for indirect costs;for an IHE with an endowment of more than $2 billion (but not more than $5 billion), the IHE is limited to an indirect cost rate of 8%; andfor all other IHEs, an indirect cost rate of 15%.The Government Accountability Office must annually report to Congress on indirect cost reimbursement on federal research awards for IHEs.

US SCR67

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force to study disaster mitigation, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and planning for natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth.

US HCR78

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force to study disaster mitigation, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and planning for natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth.

US S01984

Suspends state assessments during a state disaster emergency; requires the commissioner of education to suspend state assessments during a state disaster emergency and for thirty days after such emergency has ended.

US AB1866

California Disaster Assistance Act: minimum damages thresholds.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.