### §5184. Community disaster loans

#### (a) In general

The President is authorized to make loans to any local government which may suffer a substantial loss of tax and other revenues as a result of a major disaster, and has demonstrated a need for financial assistance in order to perform its governmental functions.

#### (b) Amount

The amount of any such loan shall be based on need, shall not exceed—

(1) 25 percent of the annual operating budget of that local government for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs, and shall not exceed $5,000,000; or

(2) if the loss of tax and other revenues of the local government as a result of the major disaster is at least 75 percent of the annual operating budget of that local government for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs, 50 percent of the annual operating budget of that local government for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs, and shall not exceed $5,000,000.

#### (c) Repayment

#### (1) Cancellation

Repayment of all or any part of such loan to the extent that revenues of the local government during the three full fiscal year period following the major disaster are insufficient to meet the operating budget of the local government, including additional disaster-related expenses of a municipal operation character shall be cancelled.

#### (2) Condition on continuing eligibility

A local government shall not be eligible for further assistance under this section during any period in which the local government is in arrears with respect to a required repayment of a loan under this section.

#### (d) Effect on other assistance

Any loans made under this section shall not reduce or otherwise affect any grants or other assistance under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 93–288, title IV, §417, formerly §414(a), (b), May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 158; renumbered §417, Pub. L. 100–707, title I, §106(j), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4705; Pub. L. 106–390, title II, §207, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1571; Pub. L. 109–347, title VI, §608, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1942.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables.

#### Codification

Prior to renumbering as section 417, section 414 of Pub. L. 93–288 contained a subsec. (c) which was repealed by Pub. L. 97–258, §5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1082.

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 417 of Pub. L. 93–288 was renumbered section 420 by Pub. L. 100–707 and is classified to section 5187 of this title.

#### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–347 substituted "exceed—

"(1) 25 percent"

for "exceed 25 per centum" and "; or" for period at end and added par. (2).

2000—Pub. L. 106–390, §207(1)–(3), designated first sentence of subsec. (a) as subsec. (a) and inserted subsec. heading, designated second sentence of subsec. (a) as subsec. (b) and inserted subsec. heading, and designated third sentence of subsec. (a) as subsec. (c)(1) and inserted subsec. and par. headings. Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–390, §207(5), substituted "shall not exceed" for "and shall not exceed" and inserted before period at end ", and shall not exceed $5,000,000".

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 106–390, §207(6), added par. (2).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–390, §207(4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d) and inserted subsec. heading.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Cancellation of Repayments of Remaining Loan Balances

Pub. L. 117–43, div. B, title VI, §1601(a), Sept. 30, 2021, 135 Stat. 365, provided that: "Repayments of the remaining balances of all loans, as of September 30, 2021, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under section 417 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184) are hereby cancelled."

#### Community Emergency Drought Relief

Pub. L. 95–31, title I, May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 169, provided: "That this Act be cited as the 'Community Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1977'.

"Sec. 101. (a) Upon the application of any State, political subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit organization, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to make grants and loans to applicants in drought impacted areas for projects that implement short-term actions to augment community water supplies where there are severe problems due to water shortages. Such assistance may be for the improvement, expansion, or construction of water supplies, and purchase and transportation of water, which in the opinion of the Secretary of Commerce will make a substantial contribution to the relief of an existing or threatened drought condition in a designated area.

"(b) The Secretary of Commerce may designate any area in the United States as an emergency drought impact area if he or she finds that a major and continuing adverse drought condition exists and is expected to continue, and such condition is causing significant hardships on the affected areas.

"(c) Eligible applicants shall be those States or political subdivisions of States with a population of ten thousand or more, Indian tribes, or public or private nonprofit organizations within areas designated pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

"(d) Projects assisted under this Act shall be only those with respect to which assurances can be given to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Commerce that the work can be completed by April 30, 1978, or within such extended time as the Secretary may approve in exceptional circumstances.

"Sec. 102. Grants hereunder shall be in an amount not to exceed 50 per centum of allowable project costs. Loans shall be for a term not to exceed 40 years at a per annum interest rate of 5 per centum and shall be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Commerce shall determine. In determining the amount of a grant assistance for any project, the Secretary of Commerce may take into consideration such factors as are established by regulation and are consistent with the purposes of this Act.

"Sec. 103. In extending assistance under this Act the Secretary shall take into consideration the relative needs of applicant areas for the projects for which assistance is requested, and the appropriateness of the project for relieving the conditions intended to be alleviated by this Act.

"Sec. 104. The Secretary of Commerce shall have such powers and authorities under this Act as are vested in the Secretary by sections 701 and 708 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended [sections 3211 and 3218 of this title], with respect to that Act [section 3121 et seq. of this title].

"Sec. 105. The National Environmental Protection Act of 1969, as amended [section 4321 et seq. of this title], shall be implemented to the fullest extent consistent with but subject to the time constraints imposed by this Act, and the Secretary of Commerce when making the final determination regarding an application for assistance hereunder shall give consideration to the environmental consequences determined within that period.

"Sec. 106. (a) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, $225,000,000 of which sum $150,000,000 is to be for the loan program herein, including administration thereof, and $75,000,000 of which is to be used for the grant program herein, including administration thereof, and such additional amounts for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, as may be reasonably needed for administrative expenses in monitoring and closing out the program authorized by the Act. Funds authorized by this Act shall be obligated by December 31, 1977.

"(b) Funds available to the Secretary for this Act shall be available for expenditure for drought impact projects conducted heretofore by eligible applicants during fiscal year 1977 if such projects are found to be compatible with the broad purposes of this Act."