Bill Summary
The **Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act** amends the **Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018** to enhance the efficiency of disaster recovery processes in the United States. Specifically, it mandates a study to streamline and consolidate the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees, aiming to reduce redundancy and the burden on these individuals and organizations.
Key provisions include:
1. **Information Collection:** Within two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with various federal agencies, must develop a plan to simplify and expedite the information collection process for disaster assistance.
2. **Preliminary Damage Assessments:** The Act also requires the formation of a working group to assess potential duplications in preliminary damage assessments conducted by different federal agencies. The group will explore the possibility of having a single agency responsible for these assessments and investigate the use of emerging technologies to improve the assessment process.
3. **Comprehensive Report:** A detailed report summarizing the findings and recommendations from the study must be submitted to Congress and made publicly accessible via the FEMA website.
Overall, the Act aims to improve the federal response to disasters by making assistance processes more efficient and user-friendly for those affected.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act" could affect people:
1. **Reduced Administrative Burden for Applicants**: The legislation aims to streamline and consolidate the information collection process for disaster assistance applicants. This means that individuals and businesses affected by disasters may face fewer bureaucratic hurdles when applying for aid. The simplification and reduction of duplicate requirements can lead to quicker access to necessary resources, allowing them to focus on recovery rather than getting tangled in red tape.
2. **Faster Preliminary Damage Assessments**: By establishing a working group to identify potential duplications in preliminary damage assessments and exploring the use of emerging technologies (such as drones), the Act could lead to faster evaluations of damages after a disaster. This efficiency can result in quicker financial assistance and support for communities, which is crucial for recovery efforts. Residents may receive help sooner, enabling them to rebuild their lives more effectively.
3. **Increased Transparency and Access to Information**: The Act mandates the development of a public website to present information on federal disaster assistance awarded. This increased transparency allows affected individuals and communities to better understand the resources available to them and how federal funds are being allocated. Enhanced access to this information can empower residents to navigate available assistance programs more effectively and hold agencies accountable for the distribution of aid.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 152 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 152
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 14, 2025
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to develop a study
regarding streamlining and consolidating information collection and
preliminary damage assessments, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Disaster Assistance
Coordination Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION COLLECTION AND
PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 1223 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act
of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1223. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION COLLECTION
AND PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.
``(a) Information Collection.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator, in coordination
with the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, the Disaster Assistance Working Group of the Council
of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and other
appropriate agencies, shall--
``(1) conduct a study and develop a plan, consistent with
law, under which the collection of information from disaster
assistance applicants and grantees will be modified,
streamlined, expedited, efficient, flexible, consolidated, and
simplified to be 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, including the establishment and maintenance of a
website for presenting the information to the public.
``(b) Preliminary Damage Assessments.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator, in
consultation with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity
and Efficiency, shall convene a working group on a regular basis with
the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator
of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Transportation,
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and other
appropriate agencies as the Administrator considers necessary, to--
``(1) identify and describe the potential areas of
duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments
after disaster declarations;
``(2) determine the applicability of having one Federal
agency make the assessments for all agencies; and
``(3) identify potential emerging technologies, such as
unmanned aircraft systems, consistent with the requirements
established in the FEMA Accountability, Modernization and
Transparency Act of 2017 (42 U.S.C. 5121 note), to expedite the
administration of preliminary damage assessments.
``(c) Comprehensive Report.--The Administrator shall submit one
comprehensive report that comprises the plans developed under
subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) and a report of the findings of the
working group convened under subsection (b), which may include
recommendations, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
``(d) Public Availability.--The comprehensive report developed
under subsection (c) shall be made available to the public and posted
on the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency--
``(1) in pre-compressed, easily downloadable versions that
are made available in all appropriate formats; and
``(2) in machine-readable format, if applicable.
``(e) Sources of Information.--In preparing the comprehensive
report, any publication, database, or web-based resource, and any
information compiled by any government agency, nongovernmental
organization, or other entity that is made available may be used.
``(f) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after submission of the
comprehensive report, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, or a designee, and a member of the Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, or a designee, shall
brief, upon request, the appropriate congressional committees on the
findings and any recommendations made in the comprehensive report.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--The item relating to section 1223 in the
table of contents of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law
115-254) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1223. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection
and preliminary damage assessments.''.
Passed the House of Representatives January 13, 2025.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.